From My Autobiography : 1986 : Age 39 (Part 1)

Sometime this year, I submit a proposal to New Life Church for a Night of Revival and Personal Ministry. No one shows an interest or gets back to me about it.

2 JANUARY
Thursday
    ■  Character Idea:
        ‘Loose-Lips Lidia’—a gossipy woman.


5 JANUARY
Sunday
I think of doing a monologue called Judas Iscariot for Easter Sunday but it never materializes.


12 JANUARY
Sunday
This day marks the beginning of my doublemindedness on The Righteous and the Wicked as I can't decide how to approach the novel or even begin writing.

This doublemindedness began to slip into my writing of The Righteous and the Wicked because I couldn’t decide on a format for the book; I couldn’t decide on whether to have a male or female protagonist; I couldn’t decide on whether to make it one book or a series; and sometimes, I couldn’t even decide on whether I really wanted to be a writer or not.


15 JANUARY
Wednesday
At Trade-Aid, my boss, Bill and my workmate, Linda, give me some anecdotes for my novel.


21 JANUARY
Tuesday
I enter Call of the Heart: The Statue in Alberta Culture's screenplay writing competition.


23 JANUARY
Thursday
I receive a word tonight [at Bible study] that God will use humour in my ministry; that He will greatly anoint the ministries I already have; and that He will use me in the gifts of discernment and the word of knowledge.

Although I did experience some of this [particularly the Word of Knowledge], most of it didn’t materialize.


28 JANUARY
Tuesday
Challenger Space Shuttle explodes, killing all six passengers


2, 4, 25 FEBRUARY
Sundays
I lead praise and worship at New Life Church.


3 FEBRUARY
Monday
The Producers Limited can’t use Crucified Rose, my science-fiction screenplay trilogy, the other two parts being Curfew and Requiem.

Now re-named, the reader may remember, as Dystopia.


18 FEBRUARY
Tuesday
I'm beginning to feel that The Righteous and the Wicked is too structured. I originally wanted it to have five books with five chapters containing five scenes.

This anal-retentive approach permeated a lot of my projects and life.

When I first started writing, I would create mock-ups of a book or screenplay cover and find pictures of actors and actresses or other people to help me visualize the finished novel or movie.


    ■  Sci-Fi Idea:
        Certain smells will make you recall things you experienced in the past. Will other kinds of smells cause you to remember things you never experienced? How would that be possible?


20 FEBRUARY
Thursday
I send the 'Prologue' and first scene of The Righteous and the Wicked to the Canadian Author's Association Blue Pencil Session for discussion on 12 March.


1 MARCH
Saturday
We move to the Ogden area.

Residence:
Ogden Road SE
Calgary, Alberta, Canada


12 MARCH
Wednesday
At the C.A.A. Blue Pencil Session, I receive great critiques for the 'Prologue' and first scene. This bolsters my confidence in being a writer.


24 MARCH
Monday
I send a new Lady Carlinea story idea, Song of the Siren, to Harlequin Books for their ‘Romantic Intrigue’ line; however, I later learn it's not what they're looking for.


SPRING
I try to start up a singing-preaching-and-teaching ministry called The Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Again, like so many of my other projects, it went nowhere.


11 APRIL
Friday
I enter A Rose in the Garden and Till the Last Man Falls in the Alberta Scriptwriting Competition. The first gains a favorable review, the latter a scathing one as it’s considered ‘too preachy’.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

29 APRIL
Tuesday
I renew my interest in fashion and glamour photography.

Still dealing with my identity crisis, on business cards, I used ‘Livingstone’ as the last name for Lana and me.

Look On the Fields

 

LOOK ON THE FIELDS
Written,Composed & Arranged by Michael Woodhead
Copyright ©1974, 2024 by Michael Woodhead
(Melody also used for my EarthGirls song, 'Farewell, Noelle')

[Music only; vocals pending]

From My Autobiography : 1985 : Age 38

With our friends, Mario & Lila, Lana and I attend a Boby Curtola concert. Lana and I receive a personalized autograph.

We’ve known Mario and Lila for many years and have gone with them to numerous concerts when we were able to do so [usually Elvis impersonator shows]. Later, we would also take a trip with them to Coeur d’Alene.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I create a Witnesses dramatic monologue program, but I never get to use it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 14 - 16, 21 - 23, 28 - 30 MARCH
Thursday – Saturday
I appear as 'Harry' in Theatre 80's production of Stephen Sondheim's Company. Although I think we all did rather well, the reviews aren’t that enthusiastic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aside from more church and Christian productions, Theatre 80 would be the last time I acted and sang with a large professional performing company even though most of the actors were [I think] volunteers. Company was one of the most difficult shows I’ve ever done, but I enjoyed myself. Friends and family who saw it couldn’t believe the choreographed dancing I had to do in it. It was great fun.
 

24 MAY
Friday
I join the Calgary Fashion Council.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUMMER
I start to dream about a new Christian art conglomerate of some sort, but I don’t exactly know yet of what it will comprise.

13 AUGUST
Tuesday
I receive another letter from the City of Calgary offering services for the Theatre of the Renaissance, now long defunct.

I’ve had so many dreams and visions go nowhere. It’s been very frustrating and demoralizing for me.

31 AUGUST
Saturday
I begin work on a novel or screenplay called Sapphira Nyx: Song of the S.I.R.E.N. without really knowing what the story is about. I see it as some sort of Modesty Blaise type of thing.

S.I.R.E.N.
    I haven’t yet worked out what the acronym means.

 

15 NOVEMBER
Friday
Remember the C.A.T.S. scandal from last year?  This year I receive a letter from Samuel French [Canada] Ltd, looking for payment for seven copies of California Suite and the royalties for that production. Somewhat humbled and embarrassed, I write back to explain the situation—we never ordered said copies, nor did we produce the play. And the police had arrested the so-called ‘treasurer’.

6 DECEMBER
Friday
I sing at the Cornerstone Coffee House in Brooks, Alberta.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I remember this night in particular because we played a game of indoor soccer after my performance, and I was totally exhausted after we finished.

 

10 DECEMBER
Tuesday
I receive a letter of thanks from Florra-Ida Mork for composing music to some of her poetry.

More on this later [next year]...

 

14 DECEMBER
Saturday
I finish the first draft of a TV series named Call of the Heart featuring a 14-year-old Carlinea in her first incarnation as a teenage sleuth [another rewrite of The Case of the Crimson Cat a.k.a. The Statue].

As you read in my last entry, I eventually published Call of  the Heart: The Statie in 2022.

16 DECEMBER
Monday
I submit Call of the Heart to the Alberta Culture/CFAC script competition and receive a favorable response from ‘Jim’. However, as they are in the process of moving their studio to a different location, he’s not sure whether they’ll be able to go ahead with it. I never hear back from him.

29 DECEMBER
Sunday
I begin a new journal, this time expecting to record the writing of a novel called The Righteous and the Wicked. This first draft idea is about ‘the life of a girl whose path may [or may not] have been what I might have chosen to do had I not become a Christian’.

Over the past thirty-nine years, I’ve managed to find and use the same type of 300-page 5-subject notebook for all my subsequent journals.

The Woodheads

Jesus Is the Key

 

JESUS IS THE KEY
Written, Composed & Arranged by Michael Woodhead
Copyright ©1978, 2024 by Michael Woodhead
(Melody also used for my Graffiti Pop song, 'And I Will Send You Love')

[Music only; vocals pending]

Jesus Gave His Life

 

JESUS GAVE HIS LIFE
Written, Composed & Arranged by Michael Woodhead
Copyright ©1985, 2024 by Michael Woodhead

[Music only; vocals pending]

From My Autobiography : 1984 : Age 37

I start The Adventures of Deirdre Smith series which I intend to write under the pseudonym, ‘Sheena E Chryseis’ — with titles like Doomsday’s Dawn, GodQuest, Labyrinth and  The Indian Princess.

‘Sheena E Chryseis’ - My search for an identity continued to include female nommes de plume.


16 JANUARY
Monday
I start the first draft of Paralyticum.


SPRING
I conceive of some sort of science fiction novel called Stars of Refuge—places where people who unwittingly murder someone can go to for refuge. Here they stay until the magistrate judges them; or until the magistrate dies, at which time they can go free. If, however, they leave the sanctuary before then, bounty hunters can hunt them down and capture or kill them.

The concept for Stars of Refuge was inspired by passages I read in the Old Testament books — Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Joshua.


10 APRIL
Tuesday
I play the part of ‘Judas’ in The Witness at New Life Church.

Even though the part was written for a tenor, they chose me to do it because I was the only guy who could sing it half decently. However, some of the high notes were a definite strain on my voice since—as I noted earlier—I am a baritone.

 

 

 16 APRIL
Monday
I send out more inquiries to record companies regarding my fantasy filk, love songs, and galactic ballads once again, but I get nowhere with them.

Filk - Folk songs with fantasy or science fiction subject matter
 

23 APRIL
Monday
I submit an article, Amateur Production: An Effective Outreach, to the City Light News.


MAY
City Light News publishes my article, Amateur Production: An Effective Outreach [re-named Easter Cantata Strong Witness by Sonshine News, which was City Light News also re-named].

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

28 MARCH, 7 MAY – ? SEPTEMBER
Wednesday, Monday - ?
I decide to further my theatrical talents and — with a loan and a grant — apply to take a film-and-television acting course at the John Casablancas Career College. Larry Parish is the Acting course director.

I have since learned that Larry died on 24 January 2017.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

28 APRIL
Saturday
I begin another ‘first draft’ of Crucified Rose.


7 JULY
Saturday 

In an attempt to further my education in movie production, I write to and ask for information on the Alberta Motion Picture Industries Association [A.M.P.I.A.]


12 JULY
Thursday
I begin yet another ‘first draft’ of Crucified Rose


24 JULY
Tuesday
I receive a response from the CBC offering to read one of my TV scripts.


27 JULY
Friday
I start still another draft of Crucified Rose.

29 – 31 JULY
Friday – Sunday
Lana and I attend another Christian Arts Conference at King’s Fold.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This turned out to be another relaxing time for us both. It felt good to be around creative Christian people.

1 AUGUST
Wednesday
I submit The Case of the Crimson Cat [a teen mystery] to Laurie Seligman at the CBC. Although he likes it, he says it’s not “regional”.


I begin yet another ‘first draft’ of Crucified Rose


7 AUGUST
Tuesday
I receive a response and information from A.M.P.I.A.

I begin to do some background research on fashion, models, photographers, stylists, etc., hoping to use it in a novel based on the fashion industry. I send letters to John Casablancas and the Falconer Academy.

The novel, CoverGirls, was the eventual book I wrote, and then published in 2020. I also used assorted re-written scenes from it in my other novel, Child of Promise.

I write two Christian stage plays — Till the Last Man Falls and A Rose in the Garden.

I published these in my Two In One book in 2022


21 AUGUST
Tuesday
I receive a letter from the City of Calgary offering services for the Theatre of the Renaissance which is, of course, now defunct.


24 AUGUST
Friday
The Case of the Crimson Cat—I change the title to The Statue and submit it to Gordon Larson at CFCN. They apparently ‘lose’ the script somewhere.

I later published this as Call of the Heart: The Statue featuring Carlinea as a teenager

SEPTEMBER
I graduate the John Casablancas film-and-television acting course as the ‘Most Consistent Student’.

I really enjoyed the time I spent in the acting course. There were some great students, and we all had fun creating different videos of scenes from scripts and assorted commercials. Even the improvisation classes proved to be a lot of fun, and I did better than I thought I would do. I still have copies of all the videos in which I appeared.

 

 

 

 

 

After graduation, several of us students decide to form a new theatrical company. We call it the Calgary Amateur Talent Society [C.A.T.S.]. However, one of the promoters for it [he was also a student] scams me into giving him my phone number to use. Before he’s eventually caught and arrested, he racks up quite a phone bill that I end up having to pay off.

More on this next year....

My months at John Casablancas also helped me develop a real interest in fashion and model photography in which I would later become involved, albeit on an amateur level.


18 SEPTEMBER
Tuesday
I audition for and eventually film scenes as ‘The Judge’ in a short docu-drama film called The 7th Step which is supposed to be used in penitentiaries.

I’ve been trying to find more information on this film, but so far my inquiries have proved fruitless


 

 

 

28 SEPTEMBER
Friday
I create the characters for a comedy screenplay I want to write called Yes, Well, We Already Have Lawrence Olivier…; however, I never write the script.


28 DECEMBER
Friday
The Alberta Culture correspondence screenwriting course I previously applied to  rejects my application.

Publicity headshots for the John Casablancas acting course

A scene with The Judge from the script

 

 

Opening splash page for my Curfew storyboards that I drew

 

 

 

 

My preliminary estimated budget for Crucified Rose, the trilogy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Handbill for the 1st Con-Version convention in Calgary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Rose of Sharon

 

MY ROSE OF SHARON
Written, Composed & Arranged by Michael Woodhead
Copyright ©1972, 1976, 2024 by Michael Woodhead
(Melody also used for my Graffiti Pop song, 'Touch My Body')

[Music only; vocals pending]

Let Jesus In

 

LET JESUS IN
Written, Composed, and Arranged  by Michael Woodhead
Copyright ©1974, 2024  by Michael Woodhead
(Melody also used for my Graffiti Pop song, 'Where Have You Gone')

[Music only; vocals pending]

From My Autobiography : 1983 : Age 36

After I’ve worked there almost two years, Nu-West Homes closes [because of the newly implemented National Energy Policy coupled with the effects of the recession of the early 1980s], but I'm able to find work at Trade-Aid Instant Print with Bill and Erika Anderson.


SPRING
I consider writing some sort of a novel taking place during a Calgary Stampede rodeo event which will, of course, be called Rodeo.

This still sits in my ‘to-do’ file.


APRIL
I begin a short story called Doomsday's Dawn, which I begin to serialize in the Canadian Author's Association Calgary newsletter, Hints ’n’ Prods. I never do finish this.


I write some more instruction material for Christians—Created in the Image of God, and Water Baptism and teach them at New Life Church.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5 APRIL
Tuesday
I attend the Woodward’s Short Story Contest award dinner.

7 APRIL
Thursday
For my birthday, Lana and I go to see George Maharis in I Ought to Be in Pictures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15 - 17 JULY
Friday – Sunday
I attend the 2nd All-Alberta Writer's Workshop and create a cover for the programme.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I continue to develop story material about Lady Carlinea.

I send a letter to Gold Eagle Books to see if they would be interested in a novel about Lady Carlinea.


29 - 31 JULY
Friday – Sunday
Lana and I attend the Christian Arts Conference at King’s Fold.


1 AUGUST
Monday
We move to Pineridge in northeast Calgary.

Residence:
5919 - 24 Avenue NE
Calgary, Alberta, Canada


7 AUGUST
Sunday
I continue to try and market both me and my songs, this time to Praise Records, but still hit a blank wall.

I feel so very discouraged.


25 SEPTEMBER
Sunday
I begin a journal in which I want to express my thoughts and feelings as far as my life is concerned. I feel as if my dreams and aspirations have died. I begin to realize that, overall, my life feels very unfulfilled—I've tried to start so many different things, many of which never got beyond the first steps.

Although the ‘journal’ mentioned here didn’t see more than a day or two of existence, I didn’t start serious journal-writing until the end of 1985. One of the greatest regrets I’ve had is that I didn’t start writing journals earlier in my life. There is so much that I can’t remember about certain periods about which I’m sure I would have made notes back then; and there are other periods I do remember but can’t recall the year[s].


27 SEPTEMBER
Tuesday
I conceive of another theatre company—TriUnity Arts Guild—with ‘Tri’ not only pointing to the Godhead, but also the visual, literary, and performing arts. I also get nowhere with this.

 

 

 

 

I continue working on Schöpfung or ‘Creation’—Part 1 of The Revelation of Jesus Christ stage musical trilogy. I envision several themes [leitmotivs à la Richard Wagner] for various aspects of the music drama, each using a separate musical key, as well as the use of colour symbology. Again, like so many other projects, I soon put it aside.

After re-reading many of these entries here and in my journals, I’ve concluded that, in a lot of cases, I became overwhelmed by the size of my own creative concepts and just couldn’t drum up the enthusiasm to see them through to completion. 

 

More thoughts of grandeur and the continuing identity crisis

Embryonic version of proposed newsletter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My God Answers Prayer

 

MY GOD ANSWERS PRAYER
Written, Composed & Arranged by Michael Woodhead
Copyright © 1978, 2024 by Michael Woodhead

[Music only; vocals pending]

Make Known That God Is Near

 

MAKE KNOWN THAT GOD IS NEAR
Written, Composed & Arranged by Michael Woodhead
Copyright ©1970, 1974, 2024 by Michael Woodhead
(Melody first used for my Psychedelic Passion song, 'Make Known')

[Music only; vocals pending]

From My Autobiography : 1982 : Age 35

12 JANUARY
Tuesday
I send a letter to Arthur Hailey [author of Airport, Wheels, et al.] to thank him for being such an inspiration to me and my own writing.

Several other writers’ novels in those early years of learning to write influenced me besides Arthur Hailey, most notably Edgar Rice Burroughs, Robert E Howard, Robert A Heinlein, Harold Robbins, Irving Wallace, and William Goldman. Also, Stan Lee and his stories in Marvel Comics.


16 FEBRUARY
Tuesday
I receive a lovely response from Arthur’s wife, Sheila, along with a form letter that they send out to anyone who writes to Arthur.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 15 MARCH
Monday
I start a second draft of Crucified Rose.


18 MARCH
Thursday
I send my Crucified Rose proposal to Joanne Kellock, literary agent.


2 APRIL
Friday
In a return letter, Joanne offers to read Crucified Rose, when completed, for $30.00.

At the time, I thought the reading fee was a little exorbitant; today, I think it’s very reasonable.


28 APRIL
Wednesday
Since the Calgary chapter of the Association of Christian Artists is in danger of dissolving, I volunteer and take over as acting president.

Although I was [and still am] basically an introvert, I did volunteer a lot for various creative groups. In a few cases, it’s because they couldn’t find anyone else willing to do it. In others, I thought it might eventually prove interesting and educational for me.

I write some instruction material for Christians — Gifts of the Spirit; Meditation; The Relationships of the Holy Spirit; and The Will of God and teach them at New Life Church.

 

I recall that a few people were upset with my meditation class because they thought I was teaching ‘new age’ or ‘buddhist’ principles. But most thanked me for making meditation clearer to them.

I begin work on Joan of A.R.C., a novel with one of the characters I had envisioned for the Michael Storme series.

A.R.C.:
    Agency for Reconnaissance & Counterespionage


2 MAY
Thursday
After I read Franky Schaeffer’s book, Addicted to Mediocrity, I realize this is what I’ve been wrestling with for the past several years. I soon create a pamphlet called MasterWorks which contains a ‘prospectus for a renaissance of Christian creativity’ and which borrows heavily from principles indicated in the book..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I begin work on The Swordmaster Chronicles, a fantasy story which will eventually morph into Warrior Maid of Vasuda.


10 MAY
Monday
A bit hastily, I try to change some of the tenets of the Calgary chapter of the Association of Christian Artists to align with MasterWorks, and I produce the Art Beauté newsletter. This creates an uproar at the home office in Toronto.


6 JUNE
Sunday
With encouragement from other Calgary chapter members of the Association of Christian Artists, I try to make my position clear on a few points around which contention seems to centre. However, the Toronto head office virtually ignores my pleas, so I decide to leave well enough alone and step down as acting president. With no continued support, the Calgary chapter folds.


SUMMER
I work out the embryonic synopses for Doomsday’s Dawn and Mystery, Babylon.

23 – 25 JULY
Friday – Sunday
I attend the All-Alberta Writers Workshop and design the programme cover for it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

27 JULY
Friday
I send the Crucified Rose proposal to William B Hanna.


4 AUGUST
Wednesday
I receive a rejection letter re: Crucified Rose from General Publishing [via William B Hanna].


5 AUGUST
Thursday
I start a shooting script for Curfew.


25 AUGUST
Friday
For Lana’s birthday, she and I go to Stage West to see Linda Thorson in My Fat Friend.

Previous to this production, I secretly arranged for Lana to meet with the former ‘New Avengers’ actress after the show and she received the personally signed photo. Lana was thrilled

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23 SEPTEMBER
Thursday
I volunteer as president of the Calgary chapter of the Canadian Author's Association.

During the rest of this year, and into the following one, I also designed assorted covers for their Hints ‘n’ Prods magazine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FALL
I design the cover for another personal art newsletter, but that’s all there is to it.

Further to my previous comments on newsletters and magazines—I’ve tried creating several different newsletters over the years, none of which lasted more than one or two issues. Again, it was lack of sufficient funds to see my dreams for these materialize.

Our Creator

 

OUR CREATOR
Written, Composed & Arranged by Michael Woodhead
Copyright ©1974, 2024 by Michael Woodhead
(Melody first used for my Fantasy Folk song, 'Child of Ocean')

[Music only; vocals pending]

From My Autobiography : 1981 : Age 34

Sometime this year, I attempted to write a Christian Blueprint for Success as a teaching tool; however, it’s probably a good thing that I didn’t get to teach it anywhere because, quite frankly, once again I didn’t feel successful in any part of my Christian life as it was.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sometime this year, I write my first draft of Curfew


Sometime this year, I write the article, Metamorphosis: The Process of Change.


Sometime this year, I attempt to start up The Studio of l’Art Beauté, a business offering fashion, glamour, and decorative art as well as music and writing.

20 JANUARY
Tuesday
I propose an idea for a television variety show called The Maid & the Minstrel to CFAC Television. Even though they think the idea is great, unfortunately, it just isn't what they're looking for at the present time.

The Maid and the Minstrel would have been a variety show that takes place in a tavern. Waitresses would dress in medieval-style clothes and take food and drink round to various tables. Assorted guests—primarily from Calgary, and in the folk  and  filk  genres—would appear. I would have been the headliner, performing my own original fantasy folk songs and galactic ballad compositions. I later used this idea in my stage play, A Rose in the Garden.

4 MARCH
Wednesday
I win Cliff Richard concert tickets and a copy of his new Wired for Sound album from a Calgary Sun contest.

 

 

 

My opinion is that this is one of his best albums. I also find it rather amusing that, even after all these years, some people still spell ‘Richard’ with an ‘s’ added on the end.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7 MARCH
Saturday
Lana and I go to the Cliff Richard Wired for Sound concert at the Jubilee Auditorium. We enjoy it thoroughly.

I write an introduction to a possible novel, Thera, about a jungle princess. 

Obviously influenced by the Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan series. Thera may eventually become part my Scrolls of Solomon Magus series.

19 MAY
Tuesday
I send a cassette to John Pantry [a Christian singer in England] to see what my chances of performing over there would be like. Although he likes my songs and voice, he believes it would be quite hard for me due to the current recession and lack of concert attendances at the present time.

Over the years, I’ve often wondered if I should have become a minister in the Church of England [Anglican]. There have been times when watching their services on television deeply resonated with me.

 

I audition by cassette tape for the Calgary Folk Club, but they’re unable to fit me in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUMMER
I try to develop a Michael Storme: Agent for C.H.R.I.S.T. novel series but, again, it flounders, and I lose interest.

C.H.R.I.S.T.—
    ‘Christian Headquarters for Research and Investigation into Satanic Tactics’.

Sometime later, I changed the meaning of the acronym several times and used this idea for a Christian role-playing game after being introduced to Advanced Dungeons & Dragons®.


18 JUNE
Thursday
After I submit a sample of my writing, I’m accepted for the Advanced Authors Workshop in Fiction Techniques.

 

24 - 26 JULY
Friday – Sunday
I attend the Advanced Authors Workshop in Fiction Techniques in Edmonton under the instruction of John Pearce [Editorial Director of Clarke Irwin publishers]; Pauline Gedge [Author of Child of the Morning, and Eagle and the Raven]; and Ted Ferguson—reporter, columnist, and editor.
    I take with me what I currently have completed for The Saga of Man to have it critiqued by John.
    John’s very impressed with what I’ve done so far and says I should finish it.

 

12 AUGUST
Wednesday
Clarke, Irwin & Company reject the sample pages from The Saga of Man.

5 – 7 SEPTEMBER
Saturday – Monday
Using the Labor Day Weekend 3-Day Novel Contest as impetus, I complete Curfew [Part Two of The Saga of Man].

Later, I re-named it Apokalpyse, and then, Dystopia. Several of my projects went through numerous name/title changes because I couldn’t make up my mind in my quest for the ‘perfect’ title.

(Although as of late there has been some controversy surrounding it) I highly recommend the 3-Day Novel Contest to anyone who wants to write a novel, even an embryonic version [what I call the first draft].
    My suggestion [unless you like to write by the seat of your pants] is to make a preliminary outline before the contest so you will have some idea of what you will be writing: —
    ■  The Beginning during Day 1
    ■  The Middle during Day 2
    ■  The End during Day 3
    Alternatively, you could decide on how many scenes or chapters your novel might have, write short synopses for them, and divide those up amongst the three days.
    The actual writing of the novel itself must be done during the three-day weekend.

 

19 OCTOBER
Monday
I receive a ‘Certificate of Merit’ from the 3-Day Novel Contest for completing Curfew.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Century 21 Studios contacts me and wonders if I might be interested in recording an LP. However, I soon learn that they are a custom recording facility, not a record producer, and of course, I can’t afford their prices.

 

5 NOVEMBER
Thursday
I try to join the Cliff Richard Grapevine newsletter club, but they return my post-dated cheque because they require fees in English Pounds, and I didn’t include enough for the exchange.

Trying to grow a beard. 

This much takes me nearly two weeks to grow!

Trust In the Lord

 

TRUST IN THE LORD
Written, Composed & Arranged by Michael Woodhead
Copyright ©1975, 2024 by Michael Woodhead

{Music only; vocals pending]