Sitting in the sun with one of the cats and writing you while my tummy is in jumbles because as you read this I'm on set for Day 2.

Yesterday we had fight choreography practice in a cute park in Piedmont I'd never been too, and I've been living down the street for 18 years.

So, earlier this year most people were surprised to hear me say with high-pitched excitement: "I'm making a movie!"

Okay, deep breath.

Here's the thing.

For 17 years, I've been nurturing the dream of Henrietta The Dragon Slayer (my award-winning fantasy trilogy) coming to a screen.

And now it's happening.

For the last year I've been meeting with small production team who have shown up with enthusiasm and interest.

We're all hungry to make a thing.

Filmmaking is one of those industries that only happens because you problem solve and make the decisions; and turn on a camera, and do all the things that go into filmmaking.

While I'm very familiar with problem solving and decision making, I had no experience doing so to make a short film.

Maybe you can relate. You're probably quite capable of doing the skills required to write the story you're working on, but never have applied those skills in exactly the way you need to for the story in front of you.

Each creative project has new questions that need new answers.

When I was on set last week for Day 1 and I was the one who was about to call "Action!" I can tell you my tummy was full of butterflies and part of wanted to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming.

This closely held dream was happening in real time all around me. And the 11 other people there with me (1 actor and 10 crew) were there because I had the courage to ask someone for help.

Thankfully, she not only said, "Yes, you can pick my brain!" (my original request). She said, "Let's make it!"

So, my takeaway is to continue asking people for help to do this amazing thing. Because I don't just want to make a short 10-minute film. I want to make a TV series!

What bold step are you ready to take today to transform your novel into reality? (More real than it was yesterday.)

I'd love to hear.

❤️

On to the podcast where I share how to handle too many details in the page that can stop a reader from moving forward. And we really don't want that...

Then a request and a few offers (including a trip to France!)...

❤️