Do you ever wonder what drives you to do what you do? What are the intentions behind your actions? Why is success so important to you? What rewards do you expect to earn? These questions led me to read the book "Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us" written by Daniel H. Pink. Daniel writes, "If we want to strengthen our organizations, get beyond our decade of underachievement, and address the inchoate sense that something's gone wrong in our businesses, our lives, and our world, we need to move from Type X to Type I. Type I behavior is fueled more by intrinsic desires than extrinsic ones. It concerns itself less with the external rewards to which an activity leads and more with the inherent satisfaction of the activity itself."
For more on my blog "What Drives You To Succeed", press here.
My latest blog "Follwing Your Art" - The Huffington Post.
BOOK
Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us
by Daniel H. Pink by Riverhead Hardcover
Hardcover
List Price: $26.95
Our Price: $13.39
Buy Now
"Drive" is the book I discuss in my latest blog. It is EXCELLENT. If you've ever wondered what drives you, why it drives you, what rewards mean to you and how to discover a direction that will work for you, you will want to read this book.
Symbols * Images * Codes: The Secret Language of Meaning in Film, TV, Games, and Visual Media
by Pamela Jaye Smith by Michael Wiese Productions
Paperback
List Price: $29.95
Our Price: $17.75
Buy Now
If you're a writer and you want to understand more about the meaning behind your words, you will want to read Pamela Jaye Smith's latest book. It will help drive your writing to a deeper place.
THE AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL
I LOVED the Austin Film Festival! It is an event that every person who has an artistic drive inside needs to attend.
Here is a blurb I wrote:
I LOVED the Austin Film Festival experience from start to finish. Celebrating the accomplishments of writers and experiencing the panels that motivate us to dig further into story is the core of this magical experience. I left there feeling inspired, empowered and motivated to continue on my creative path. Every artist should attend this festival. It will deepen your craft. Being on three panels and looking out into a room full of eager eyes reminded me why I love teaching story. Watching Michael Arndt speak about how he structured TOY STORY 3 was among my favorite moments of the weekend. Hearing the stories behind Randall Wallace, Robert Rodriguez, Shane Black and John Lee Hancock was brilliant. Celebrating the accomplishments of the winners of the competitions and learning more about their stories and being a part of their joy at the Awards Luncheon was amazing! Sitting next to Jon Lucas at brunch topped it off! The beauty and warmth of Austin, along with the triple chocolate chip cookie at Bakerman's Bakery, made this a memory I will never forget.
INTERVIEW
The Hollywood Temp Diaries - This is an interview I did on Writing For Television.
NEW STORE PAGE
 Since I believe that the best way to learn is by highlighting outstanding examples of strong writing, I do just that in my workbooks. I believe it helps the writer access their own possibility. If you follow those who have been where you want to go, you will be driven in the same direction.
The most popular products on my Store Page this month are STORY STRUCTURE FOR THE TV SPEC AND PILOT SCRIPT (shows discussed in this workbook - THE C WORD, RIZZOLI & ISLES, UNDERCOVERS, FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS, DETROIT 1-8-7, THE GOOD WIFE, GLEE and MODERN FAMILY) and GEARING UP FOR STAFFING AND DEVELOPMENT SEASON (shows discussed - DEXTER, BREAKING BAD, MAD MEN, BROTHERS & SISTERS, WHITE COLLAR, PARENTHOOD, HUNG, HANK and MODERN FAMILY.)
One of the products you'll find on my new store page is particularly exciting. You can now pre-order my book STORY LINE: FINDING GOLD IN YOUR LIFE STORY for 34% off the retail price. The book will be out in March 2011 and you can learn more about it by watching this video promo:
 ADVANCE BLURB FOR STORY LINE
"Like many great books STORY LINE requires time, patience and reflection. Each section and each chapter takes you deeper into the process of writing great and insightful screenplays. And every page delivers a new life lesson or observation that makes one pause. Jen Grisanti is walking that perilous tightrope between pure fiction and autobiography. But this is a tightrope that must be traveled by every great writer, or every writer that wishes to create great stories. This book is a must for any serious writer."Mark W. Travis - Author, Director and Consultant.Author of "The Director's Journey", "Directing Feature Films" and "The Director's Bag of Tricks." Lecturer and tutor of film directing in film schools throughout Europe, Asia and America.
RESTAURANTS
SUNPOWER NATURAL CAFE 3711 Cahuenga Blvd
Studio City, CA 91604
(818) 308-7420 This is my new favorite place that specializes in vegan, raw food and gluten-free. It is FANTASTIC! My favorite salad is the Kale Colossus - Kale salad topped with sunflower sausage, marinated mushrooms-red peppers-onions, nacho and cashew "cheese," banana, and cranberries. I also love the Nachos!
BOTTEGA LOUIE
700 S Grand Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Neighborhood: Downtown
(866) 418-9162 www.bottegalouie.comThis is a very hip, happening place and it was totally packed on a rainy Sunday night. The food and the ambiance are fantastic, it feels like a scene out of SEX AND THE CITY. It has a bakery at the front with lots of delicious goodies and a a beautiful menu. They don't take reservations so there is often a wait but it is worth the whole experience. FRIDAY NIGHT DRINKS
The next Friday Night Drinks is Friday, November 5th (TONIGHT) at the X Bar at the Century Plaza Hotel at 2025 Ave. of the Stars. There is going to be an incredible group. Many of the new Writers on the Verge will be there. Also, I met lots of new writers when I did a class at the Screenwriting Expo and panels at The Austin Film Festival. So, it is going to be AMAZING!
PODCAST SERIES I had to take some time off recording the podcasts because of WOTV, The Screenwriting Expo and The Austin Film Festival. I will be starting them up again this month. Over the next few months, I am scheduling Peter Lenkov (HAWAII FIVE-0), Kyle Killen (LONESTAR), Jeff Melvoin (ARMY WIVES), Gina Monreal (BROTHERS & SISTERS), Paiman Kalayeh (THE CLEVELAND SHOW), Michael Kramer (LIFE UNEXPECTED.)
My latest podcasts include: Janet Tamaro (RIZZOLI & ISLES, TRAUMA, BONES, SLEEPER CELL, C .S.I, NY) Nick Wauters(THE EVENT, EUREKA, NEUROTICA, THE 4400, MEDIUM )
You can listen to all my podcasts on my website or iTunes.
EVENTS AROUND TOWN WRITERS GUILD FOUNDATION - NOTES ON CRAFT 2010
Weekly, Starting October 14 - 7:30 PST
At the WGF/WGA headquarters, 7000 W 3rd St, Los Angeles 90048 This autumn, the Writers Guild Foundation will host its second series of six discussion evenings entitled Notes on Craft. Each evening will feature two or three writers in conversation with Academy-nominated writer Dan Petrie Jr. on various aspects of the screenwriting craft. The formal part of the evening will be followed by an audience Q & A. Free parking included. Get tickets to the entire series! Speakers listed below subject to availability, more to come.
Thursday October 14: Premise and Concept:
Dan Pyne (Fracture) Allan Loeb (Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps), Ann Peacock (The First Grader)
Get Tickets to this night only
Wednesday October 20: Story and Structure:
Jane Anderson (The Prize Winner of Defiance Ohio) Nicholas Kazan (Reversal of Fortune)
Get Tickets to this night only
Thursday October 28: Characters:
Jennifer Salt (Eat, Pray, Love), Howard A. Rodman (Savage Grace)
Get Tickets to this night only
If you have an interest in how my business works, you will want to watch this promo video produced by Superneato Productions.
CONGRATS
Gina Monreal - For writing her first produced episode of BROTHERS AND SISTERS. It airs this Sunday. She co-wrote it. She is also working on her second episode.
Vanessa Rojas - For writing her first produced episode of THE EVENT.
Vivien Lee - For getting staffed on "Chaos."
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
A man can be as great as he wants to be. If you believe in yourself and have the courage, the determination, the dedication, the competitive drive and if you are willing to sacrifice the little things in life and pay the price for the things that are worthwhile, it can be done.
~ Vince Lombardi
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