The Buzz on Grey's Anatomy

Apparently, I've been turning the television off too soon on Sunday nights... because I've totally slept on Grey's Anatomy, the show that follows the hightly popular Desperate Housewives on ABC.

Well Grey's Anatomy has become a bonafide hit on its own, holding up its ratings even while DH is in reruns. And after talking with a friend about it last night, I think I've been sold on the show. Read Darrious Hilmon's blog entry Simply The Best to hear his thoughts on why the show is so good.

But I think what sold me wasn't necessarily the plotline (medical dramas don't usually do it for me), but the fact that the creator, executive producer, and writer is a black woman (a MAJOR feat in Hollywood) named Shonda Rhimes who, during the casting process, was very vocal that there weren't enough actors of color -- all colors -- being brought through for auditions. She wanted the best actors, period, and that meant looking at actors from all hues of the human spectrum, even though "the industry" only sent white actors her way. You can hear all about Shonda and the process at Tavis Smiley's site.

Thus, the multicultural cast of Grey's Anatomy that reflects our daily realities. And the actors of color aren't cast in stereotypical, comedy sidekick, best buddy kind of roles. Apparently (because I still have to watch) all the actors and characters are integral to the overall story. And the show is a hit!

That in itself made me perk up and want to watch and support.

Have you seen Grey's Anatomy? Please tell me what's good about the show...
fs

New Year Resolutions on Writing

Many of us will probably make a ton of New Years resolutions in about a month... or perhaps some of us kept some from last year.

But one that I know I hear from many folks is this: I want to write.

And just like all resolutions, the advice I hear most is this: Start it and stick with it.

For writers, starting could mean a number of things:

1) Signing up for a first fiction class at your local community college or university extension program

2) If you don't like, or don't have money, for classes, it might mean checking out your local bookstore -- the independent or chain stores -- to see if there are any free one-time workshops happening in the coming weeks. Sometimes they offer free workshops.

3) If working with groups isn't your thing, maybe you'll want to check out some tips on beginning here or here. The second site, Paperback Writer, is a great site with daily tips on writing, editing, and publishing.

4) Even though most writers must work alone to create, eventually you'll have to share your work with someone. Is there a co-worker who's a secret writer? A neighbor who likes to read? Perhaps there's a gathering like Derrick L. Briggs' Stories in NYC, where folks can come together and share what they're writing and working on, in a non-judgmental environment? A favorite teacher you can share with? Or even an online buddy? It's nice to share with someone who'll be willing to support and challenge your work.

5) I would definitely encourage you to go to bookstore events where authors are reading and talking about their work. Where better to learn about getting started than from someone who has done it? Even if it means going to see writers you don't even know about... you'll learn something you never knew you never knew.

6) Finally, the main thing is just to write. Keep that notebook handy for jotting down ideas or funny lines you hear people say. And try to be consistent and persistent. For me, the early mornings work best -- like 5 am-ish. For others, it's from dinner to bedtime. Choose the time that's best for you, shut off the TV, cell phone, and IM (and maybe cut back on a bit of blog reading, lol) and you'll find time. There's always time for the things we find to be important. And one thing I find really handy: do NOT edit until your first draft is done... otherwise, you'll spend forever re-writing and never making progress forward. You can always edit later... once the piece is done. Keep that notebook handy for new ideas and new directions that come to you.

What other supplies might you need to get started or move ahead in your writing? Tayari Jones, who is celebrating a birthday, has a list of her favorite writing things on her blog.

And, as always, if you have questions you can always send me a quick note: fsmith827 at gmail dot com.

I know it's a month away before we're punch-drunk love and full of resolutions. But maybe thinking and planning for it now, whether it's writing or losing weight or smiling more, will help you when January 1 rolls in.

Others... feel free to chime in on getting started, please. Thanks!
fs

Holiday Reading

I got a couple of e-mails asking me what books would I recommend they get for other people for the holidays.

It's hard. I'm friends with many writers, and never want to slight anyone.

And, asking about which books I like is like asking someone if they want a Pomegranate or Lemon Drop martini. They're all good, just depends on the flavor you want.

This year, I've highlighted a number of books that I've read. Usually, that means it's something I would pass along. Some of those have included books by Tayari Jones, Denise Hamilton, Kerry Madden, Pearl Cleage, Darrious Hilmon, and others. Many, many others...

Regarding books related to the black gay and lesbian community, I would definitely say pick up Beyond The Down Low by Keith Boykin. But there are a number of great writers and friends I've made this year while out touring for Down For Whatever. There is indeed a "Renaissance" happening, and black LGBT fiction is coming from all over the country. Check out this list on Amazon, highlighting black gay and lesbian focused literature, by T. Kelley. It's really good, comprehensive and can help with your book-buying decisions. It includes books by folks like Keith, Rashid Darden, Alphonso Morgan, Trent Jackson, and Dayne Avery, and many many others.

Other than that, if you're unsure of specific books to buy, store gift certificates are excellent for the reader in your life. And... especially those certificates from your local, independent booksellers. We gotta help keep them in business, you know?

What books will you be buying for folks this holiday season? Or asking for on your holiday wish list?
fs

Call For Submissions: LOUDmouth Magazine

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: LOUDmouth Spring Issue

LOUDmouth magazine -- a feminist magazine coming out of Cal State LA -- is seeking essays (critical and/or personal), reportage, poetry, fiction, photography, illustrations, artwork and more for our spring issue on FOOD.

Topics may include but are by no means limited to:

• struggles for food rights/anti-privatization movements
• gendered and racialized aspects of restaurant work/women chefs/family restaurants
• class and food/accessibility of food/buying food on credit/trendy food
• sex and food/aphrodisiacs/fast-food commercials/gastroporn
• urban agriculture/community farm projects
• food and familial/community/ethnic traditions and connections
• vegetarianism and feminism/food-related beliefs and lifestyles/eating organic
• family recipes/recipes with a story
• labor and food
• feelings about and approaches to eating/joy of eating/disordered eating
• food options in schools
• food marketed toward women
• starvation/obesity
• food-related waste
  DIY: gardening/composting/eating on a budget/nutrition as healthcare

Deadline for pitches: December 12th

(What this means: If you want to write about any of the above topics or another topic related to food, send a pitch regarding your idea as soon as possible. Just send a brief note about what you're thinking and we'll start a back-and-forth about how it might work for this issue.)

Please note: Contributors need not be students nor Angelenos nor members of any particular identity group. Contributors do need to write from a feminist perspective that takes as a given the interconnectedness of multiple systems of oppression and that consciously avoids reinforcing whiteness, heterosexuality and the like as invisible/normative. Contributors who are enthusiastic and good with deadlines are greatly appreciated.

Please send all submissions to Christine Petit, Editor in Chief, at activistgrrrl@aol.com.

LOUDmouthwww.calstatela.edu/usu/loudmouth
feminism: fem'e-niz'em -n. [The] movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation and [all] oppression. - bell hooks

Can You Keep A Secret?

It's amazing the things people will share, when assured of complete confidentiality or anonimity.

One of my favorite sites to check out is Post A Secret, where people send in postcards with one or two sentence lines of a secret they're keeping. New secrets are generally posted on Sundays. There are some mild secrets and there are some major life-changing ones that people keep... and share on the site.

If you're into writing fiction, some of these types of lines would be great opening lines and concepts for your work. Of course, you can't use the exact lines from the site. But these lines and secrets make you want to know more about the secret holder and the back story and the lengths the person goes to keep the secret. That in itself can drive a novel-length work. Or a great short story.

That's all for now. Enjoy the rest of the weekend... while there's still time left.

And keep this between you and me... :-)
fs

Club Fighting

First, hope you all had a nice weekend. I did.

One thing I never understood was the idea of fighting at a club/bar. I mean, you're out to have a good time supposedly, and maybe sometimes that good time gets a little warped with the addition of alcohol or other things. Still it should be a good time... and especially when the venue is in an area of town where black and brown people are more likely to be service staff than consumers.

So Ivan of IvanDanielProductions/First Fridayz L.A. and I were volunteering at the same Thanksgiving Day location, when he shared that the Wednesday evening party, Metro, would be moving from its current West Hollywood location to a site at Hollywood and Vine. More information on the new venue on Ivan's site coming soon.

It only takes one or two to spoil the party... or get the crowd asked to leave... The physical fighting needs to be left on the big screen, and not in real life when regular people are just trying to have a good time. Let me add, I've always had fun at Ivan's events... whether it's First Fridayz, Metro, or the High Lyfe arts night at The Catch... Ivan's done a lot to energize the party scene for the black and brown crowds in L.A. in the past couple years.

But with some people already kinda sketchy about black and brown folks in certain parts of town, the third grade "he said/she said," "you stepped on my shoe," "you looked at my man" stuff needs to be eliminated from the list of things that make us upset. Gossip is more about the gossiper than you. Shoes can be cleaned. Men come and go...

Now, if you've been in a club fight... or know someone who has, maybe you can shed a little light on the subject. We hold no blame or judgment on past behavior here...
fs

Happy Thanksgiving!

This four-day weekend will be full of activities, and I hope you enjoy all of them -- parties, food, travel, shopping -- as much as possible.

And throughout all of it, I hope you take time to reflect on the large and small things you are thankful for... and enjoy each moment as it happens.

I'll be volunteering on Thursday morning and then going to dinner at a friend's family home. It'll be like a Midwest and East Coast reunion... so many of us in L.A. are transplants and won't be heading home to see our families until Christmas.

Anyway, I hope you have a great holiday weekend.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Young and The (Don't Say It...)

You're only as old as your state of mind makes you feel...

Part of my weekend was spent with the 18 - 21 year old set, doing a little bit of research to develop of my characters for a writing project I'm working on.

It's been years since I've been in an 18+ club, and I went with a couple of my students to kinda show me the ropes, the ins and outs, blah blah blah. I don't spend much time in West Hollywood clubs, except for some Sundays at The Abbey -- Black Sunday, as we often joke, since the crowd is a little more black and brown on Sunday evenings.

But we spent time at places that are standards for the 18 - 21 set... Mickey's and Rage. And it's fun(ny) stuff listening to the language, seeing the parade of trendy work-study-bought fashions, and watching the dynamics of our 1984 - 1987 born neighbors.

It's like a fun time-warp that you're just kinda observing and reminiscing and then remembering that all the fun(ny) silly things and choices you made back then... these young folks will do. Not much changes. Except jheri curls are now replaced with mohawks of all shapes and sizes.

However... every single song that moved the crowd was a freaking sample of songs from my growing up years. Funny how music can make you feel... your age.

But... I had to let them know that there was once a group called Ready For The World whose song "Tonight" was the inspiration for the "slow jam" they were cuddling up next to each other onthe dance floor... Twista and Trey Songz "Girl Tonite."

You should have seen the jaws drop. For reals, they asked?

I wanted to... but just couldn't give musical history lessons. Didn't want to feel like I'm 875 years old :-)
fs