Vera Caccioppoli, MFA

Greetings!

The Thanksgiving holiday may be past, but there’s still so much I am grateful for.

I’m grateful for all my clients! I’m grateful for the wonderful writers I work with in one-to-one coaching sessions, and in the Haven’s Drop-in Screenwriters Workshop, and those writers who come to me for screenplay or novel manuscript analysis. You are all fun, open, immensely talented, and brave. 

Yes, brave. Because honest writing can be a bit like opening your veins and letting the blood flow out.

I am deeply grateful that my primary job as a writing coach is to help the writers I work with to complete their projects. All writers dream of selling their novels or screenplays, and a key part of my job as your coach is to help you hold fast to that dream. But we must also know that only when we have completed our unique story do we have something to sell. I congratulate all of my clients who have completed their novels, screenplays, and memoirs this year. Bravo! 

I offer additional gratitude and congratulations to the following members of the Haven community who have not only completed their projects but have begun to experience the reality of making their dreams come true:

Congratulations to Amy Albani, a long and valued contributor to the Haven’s Drop-in Screenwriters Workshop. Amy, along with her co-writer Leonie Tremaine, recently signed a film option with the R. Charles Entertainment Inc. for their biopic screenplay “Barnstormer! The Bessie Coleman Story.” Amy is a prolific and terrific writer. Watch for more good news from this Haven writer!

Congratulations to Grat Crabtree who has completed writing, directing, and producing his own short film, “The Twenty.” Fellow members of the Haven’s Drop-in Screenwriter’s Workshop have had the opportunity to read and critique Grat’s script, which he has turned into a fine film with a twist ending. If you’d like to connect with Grat and work on his next production or look at a small portion of his work, you can go to www.gratco.com Way to go Grat!

“Clown Act,” a newly completed feature film screenplay by Sue Ploeger, was a quarter-finalist in Page Awards, and made the top 25% in the Final Draft Big Break competition. Another of Sue’s completed projects, “Flypaper,” a short film, was a quarterfinalist in the Slam Dance shorts contest. The Haven’s Screenwriters group read and critiqued (and rolled with laughter) sections from “Clown Act” as fast as Sue could write it! Congratulations, Sue!

Congratulations to Mo Kindel, who made the quarter-finals in Final Draft Big Break competition, with his screenplay, “Stalker, Stalker.”

And, finally, congratulations to Faith Paulus on the publication of her novel, “Popcorn Poppin’ on the Apricot Tree.” Faith’s comical perspective is at the heart of this most unusual coming-of-age story. For more about Faith and a list of her personal appearances and book signings, check out www.popcornpoppinontheapricottree.com. We’re grateful to have Faith as one of our many fabulous colleagues in the Haven’s Drop-in Screenwriters group!

And what about you? Will this New Year be the one in which you finish your screenplay? Your novel?  Your Memoir? 

You can’t finish if you don’t start. 

Until you complete the story that only you can tell, there is nothing to show, nothing to sell. Every year, countless people start screenplays or novels, but fewer than 25% will finish them. Don’t be one of those people who have unfinished novels and screenplays gathering dust in drawers and file cabinets. 

I teach writers how to complete their projects and reach their dreams. But only you can write your screenplay or novel or memoir. So ask yourself, “Do I truly want to know, to feel, what it's like to have made my dream true?”

Then consider that all you may need to fulfill your dream is the one-to-one support and guidance of a writing coach—and to never never never let go of your dream.

What are you waiting for?

NOW is always the only time to start living your dream.

I am writing this letter to tell you this one thing: You can do it.