Movies About Writers by Shannon Lawrence
As long as there are movies, there will be movies about writers. After all, who's writing the screenplays? Writers. The crazy thing about it is that movies about writers are rarely realistic, which seems odd, because, as we've already discussed, it's actual writers writing about writers. I suppose if they made them realistic the films would be pretty dull. Who wants to watch a person struggling over a typewriter, notepad, or laptop? There'd be no dialogue except muttered profanity and the same line read repeatedly aloud to figure out if it sounded right. Is this adverb too much? What kind of clause is this? Still, accurate or not there are many superb movies about writers. Here are five of the better ones, in no particular order:
1. The Shining - All work and no play makes writers...well, out of shape. But in The Shining, one of several movies about writers based on Stephen King stories, that plus cabin fever make Jack a rampaging madman. I guess we're lucky this isn't true, as we've all got a little cabin fever after the last couple years.
2. Dead Poets Society - I debated putting this one on the list, but come on, it's such an excellent film. "Oh, Captain, my Captain." If only all readers stood atop their desks out of sheer inspiration.
3. Romancing the Stone - Writers spend a lot of time at their desks instead of living life to its fullest. In this classic, a timid romance author gets the adventure and romance of her fantasies and takes us along for the ride.
4. Capote - With the excellent acting pair of Philip Seymour Hoffman and Catherine Keener, you can't go wrong with this film. Truman Capote gets in over his own egotistical head when researching a true crime with the intention of turning it into a full length novel.
5. Julie and Julia - While the writing in this one has to do with cookbooks and blogs, it only seems right that the blogging community be represented. The least serious of the movies above, this one's sweet, light, and...tasty.
Though short story writers are rarely featured on film, many short stories are made into movies. All the better a reason to get into writing short stories!
Shannon's book, The Business of Short Stories: Writing, Submitting, Publishing, and Marketing, releases February 1 in digital and paperback. Pre-order The Business of Short Stories from Amazon
Shannon Lawrence has made a career of short stories, with over a decade of experience and more than fifty short stories published in magazines and anthologies. In addition, she's released three horror collections with a mix of new and previously published stories. Her true crime podcast Mysteries, Monsters, & Mayhem is going into its third season.
Find Shannon here - Website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, BookBub, Goodreads, and Amazon
The Journey to Publication
How did I get here —here being published with my first book (KNIGHT RISE) out in the marketplace? To say that I took a long and winding path would be an understatement and probably take more than 300 words to tell, but I’ll do my best. Knight Rise was my first attempt at writing a novel, penned in 2009. In the book a main character is a blogger, so I started a blog as research. That inevitably led me here to Alex’s site. Unfortunately, it didn’t take me long to discover that I’d made all the mistakes an aspiring author could make with KR. I decided to shelve it and move on, which I did, writing five more novels over the course of twelve years. Along the way I was signed by not one, but two different literary agents, had multiple books put on submission with publishers, came REALLY close a couple of times, but could never land the deal that would put a book into a reader’s hands.
In 2021 two things happened, both virtually at the same time. The first was I decided to pull Knight Rise off the shelf. I figured I had developed as a writer to the point where I could repair all the missteps I had made when I first wrote it, and besides, I always loved its story and the characters. Around the same time, I was contacted by a woman who I had become acquainted with at one of the writer’s conferences I attended years prior. She had plans to open her own bookstore (Wild Lark Books) and at the same time offer small press publishing deals – the kicker being the authors would keep all the rights to their material. The best part was she wanted me to be her first published author. The rest, they say, is history.
It’s been quite a ride and I want to thank Alex for all his support over the years, as well as the time here today. It means a lot!
Here’s the pitch. KNIGHT RISE is a fast-paced, intriguing page-turner with a lot of heart. Follow a crew of enjoyable characters through stunning plot twists for a thrilling ride you won’t forget! If this sounds like something you’d enjoy, or you want to find out more about DL or his journey, go HERE. The book can also be found on Amazon.
DL Hammons wrote his first piece of fiction to impress a girl in high school (it was moderately successful) and he’s never looked back. A business graduate from Louisiana State University, DL now lives in Central Arkansas with his best friend (wife of 38 years) enjoying the empty nest his two grown sons and daughter have left him with. He has spent the last dozen years perfecting his writing voice, splitting time between YA and adult Mystery/Suspense. He also hosts an annual contest for other aspiring writers entitled WRiTE CLUB on his popular blog.
DL is represented by Tina P. Schwartz of the Purcell Agency.
Top Movies and Albums of 2021
Movies were still a bit limited this year but albums certainly weren’t—near the end of 2021, I was downloading a new album every week. The following is my list of the best of the best. Understand that I lean toward science fiction, fantasy, and superheroes when it comes to movies and my musical genre of choice is progressive rock.
Top 2021 movies:
6 – Godzilla vs. Kong
5 – Dune
4 – Spider-Man: No Way Home
3 – Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
2 – The Suicide Squad
1 – Zach Snyder’s Justice League
Top 2021 Albums
9 – Mastodon – Hushed and Grim
8 – Silver Lake – Silver Lake
7 – Jerry Cantrell – Brighten
6 – Insomnium – Argent Moon
5 – Katetonia – Mnemosynean
4 – Omnium Gatherum – Origin
3 – Gojira – Fortitude
2 – Chevelle – NIRATIAS
1 – Dream Theater – View From the Top of the World
Jeremy Hawkins Tribute
On January 3, we lost an amazing guy – Jeremy Hawkins.
On February 2, we are going to pay tribute and give back to one who was so giving and involved in our community.
To honor his life and support the family he leaves behind, on that day:
• Post a story or memory about Jeremy.
• Post photos of Jeremy.
• Share some of the graphics he made for you.
• Post a photo of you wearing one of the t-shirts he designed.
• And to support his family, between now and then, purchase one of his t-shirt designs, one of his books, or one of his prints. (He also created the IWSG t-shirt.)
Spread the word and let’s pay tribute to one of the most supportive and loyal guys ever to cross our paths, Jeremy Hawkins.
On January 3, we lost an amazing guy – Jeremy Hawkins.
On February 2, we are going to pay tribute and give back to one who was so giving and involved in our community.
To honor his life and support the family he leaves behind, on that day:
• Post a story or memory about Jeremy.
• Post photos of Jeremy.
• Share some of the graphics he made for you.
• Post a photo of you wearing one of the t-shirts he designed.
• And to support his family, between now and then, purchase one of his t-shirt designs, one of his books, or one of his prints. (He also created the IWSG t-shirt.)
Spread the word and let’s pay tribute to one of the most supportive and loyal guys ever to cross our paths, Jeremy Hawkins.
#IWSGPit is this Wednesday!
If you’ve never participated in a Twitter pitch party, this is your chance.
Dozens have signed book contracts as a result – you could be next.
Visit the #IWSGPit page for the rules and hashtags.
And then join us on January 26!
If you’ve never participated in a Twitter pitch party, this is your chance.
Dozens have signed book contracts as a result – you could be next.
Visit the #IWSGPit page for the rules and hashtags.
And then join us on January 26!
What movies about writers do you enjoy? Would you stick with it as long as DL did? What were some of your favorite movies and albums of 2021? Helping us celebrate Jeremy’s life next week? And who’s up for #IWSGPit this Wednesday?
See you February 2 for IWSG day!
See you February 2 for IWSG day!