April? April? I haven’t blogged since April! Oh forgive this lengthy absence you fine human beings. Let’s play catch up again shall we?
-Working Indy, Idol and Sleuths as always. Auditioning for more shows to keep diversifying myself within the company.
-Also continuing to audition for commercials and anything else my agent puts me up for.
-My acting reel is finished! It looks mighty good I tell ya. http://www.youtube.com/user/TheCharlesWaters?feature=mhum
-Finished another mud run. A 3.2 mile obstacle course called Savage Race. Sliding down muddy hills, running up hills made of sand, climbing up 25 foot walls. All in a morning’s work.
-Am now down 35 inches in my body thanks in part to the workout regime of Armor Gym owner Jeremy Brassard and cooking from Isabel Garcia http://www.facebook.com/IsaVegan.
-Published more poems in various issues of the magazine SPOTLIGHT ON RECOVERY. http://spotlightonrecovery.com/default.aspx
-There was some big news I wrote about in the last blog entry that I wasn’t entitled to share with you until now. My commissioned poem FENWAY PARK was accepted for inclusion in the upcoming book AMAZING PLACES edited by Lee Bennett Hopkins www.leebennetthopkins.com and scheduled to be published by Lee and Low Books in Spring 2014. For those of you who don’t know, Lee holds the Guinness Book of World Records for compiling more children’s poetry anthologies than anyone else in history. Combine this with my poems in the Winter 2012 book THE ARROW FINDS ITS MARK edited by Georgia Heard www.georgiaheard.com and SPOTLIGHT magazine and I’ve made more money writing poems this year than any other so far. Please let’s this be just the beginning.
-Thanks to the partial scholarship issued to me I was able to attend the weeklong HIGHLIGHTS FOR CHILDREN writing retreat with Rebecca Kai Dotlich as our leader. http://www.highlightsfoundation.org/ Let me tell you this was a game changer for me. From 7:30am – 11:00pm (sometimes later) for 5 days myself and my retreat participants wrote, rewrote, read, received critiques, offered critiques and ate some of the best food I’ve ever had. I came in with an idea for a manuscript and left with that idea not only coming to fruition but then having a heck of a head start on said manuscript. Rebecca is a patient, honest teacher who asks tough questions when a poem needs help and is a cheerleader at her core. What a blessing that week was. I wrote it on Facebook and I’ll write it here, teachers really thing about bringing Rebecca to your school for workshops. You will not be disappointed. www.rebeccakaidotlich.com
-Was asked and accepted to participate in an e-book for teens. Poetry Tagtime or p*tag for short is where a children’s poet writes about a certain topic and then tags another poet to write one of their own. In this installment over 30 children’s poets chose a picture, wrote about what it reminded them of, tagged another poet, they would choose another picture and use any 3 words from the poem that was sent to them. Dr. Sylvia Vardell and poet extraordinaire Janet Wong came up with this idea. http://www.poetrytagtime.com/Poetry_Tag_Time/p_tag.html
I’d like to leave you with a poem of mine. A call to arms so to speak. Until we meet again dear friends.
WHO
Who could distill life’s essence?
Who in the world would show it?
I know for a fact I can
Because I am a poet.
© Charles Waters 2011
Friday, September 30, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
CREATING MY OWN LUCK
Well things have been busy in the past 4 months so let’s play catch up.
-Continuing to do the Disney jobs to the best of my ability and am thankful for the employment.
-Same thing goes for Sleuths.
-I will be performing my own poems for the first time on April 23rd at the Orlando Public Library Southwest Branch for their National Poetry Month Celebration. Afterwards there will be a Q & A and writing/performing workshop conducted by myself. This is a big deal to me because after performing over 150 of other people’s poems for 3 years at Poetry Alive at last the time has come where I act out my own words to an audience.
-I’ll also be performing at the IRA (International Reading Association) poetry extravaganza in May which will be held in my own backyard of Orlando, FL. I can’t thank performance poets Sara Holbrook (www.saraholbrook.com) and Michael Salinger (www.michaelsalinger.com) enough for this opportunity.
-I’ve been accepted to the Highlights Foundation retreat called The Poetry Muse which is a week-long children’s poetry residency mentored by Rebecca Kai Dotlich (www.rebeccakaidotlich.com). I was able to secure a partial scholarship for this event which made it all possible. Rebecca has become a welcome addition to my life as I’ve gotten to know her personally aside from the hours I had spent reading her books and performing her poems with Poetry Alive in the past. The retreat will run from August 13-18 in the hills of Northeastern PA near the town of Honesdale.
-3 poems of mine have been accepted by Georgia Heard (www.georgiaheard.com) for her anthology called The Arrow Finds Its Mark: Found Poems. According to Wikipedia Found Poems are: a type of poetry created by taking words, phrases, and sometimes whole passages from other sources and reframing them as poetry by making changes in spacing and/or lines (and consequently meaning), or by altering the text by additions and/or deletions. The resulting poem can be defined as either treated: changed in a profound and systematic manner; or untreated: virtually unchanged from the order, syntax and meaning of the original.
I should add that in Found Poems you’re allowed to create your own title to the piece as well. I sent Georgia 36 poems, she took 3 of them and they’ll be known in the book as “School Poems.” Needless to say I’m thrilled to be in my first anthology and am looking forward to receiving the check in the mail! The book is scheduled to be released in early 2012 by Roaring Brook Press out of NYC.
-Continuing to write commissioned poems for the magazine Spotlight on Recovery (www.spotlightonrecovery.com). A magazine that deals with overcoming issues that life may bring you; it’s a worthy endeavor spearheaded by a wonderful woman out of Brooklyn, NY named Robin Graham.
-Got another poem accepted by a major children’s poetry anthologist for a big deal publishing house. However I’m not at liberty to reveal anything other than that but believe me once I receive the go ahead I’m shouting it from the rooftops!!!
-Was asked to once again to participate in 30 Poets/30 Days where a new poem by a children’s poet will be published every day during the National Poetry Month of April. This event was spearheaded by poet/social networking extraordinaire Greg Pincus (www.gottabook.blogspot.com).
-My dear friend/web designing visionary Isabel will be giving my website a good old fashioned facelift this month with new additions including my acting reel, more poems and each poem read by me.
-Got cast in a Home Depot commercial where I’m helping customers find the material they’re looking for.
-Got cast in a Pepsi commercial as a vintage baseball player, then a day later found out they didn’t want me after all. This is a good lesson for young people because sometimes you can do the best job you can and still have it not be enough for reasons COMPLETELY out of your control.
-Participated in a Navy Seal designed 3.1 mile obstacle course called The Rugged Maniac in February finishing in the top 3rd of my heat. I was pretty proud of myself, considering that I’ve never done anything like that before. There was lots of jumping in and crawling through mud as well as climbing 20 foot high walls. It was so much fun (or I’m losing my mind) that I’m doing a similar race called The Rugged Warrior on April 30th. Wish me luck … with everything!
-Continuing to do the Disney jobs to the best of my ability and am thankful for the employment.
-Same thing goes for Sleuths.
-I will be performing my own poems for the first time on April 23rd at the Orlando Public Library Southwest Branch for their National Poetry Month Celebration. Afterwards there will be a Q & A and writing/performing workshop conducted by myself. This is a big deal to me because after performing over 150 of other people’s poems for 3 years at Poetry Alive at last the time has come where I act out my own words to an audience.
-I’ll also be performing at the IRA (International Reading Association) poetry extravaganza in May which will be held in my own backyard of Orlando, FL. I can’t thank performance poets Sara Holbrook (www.saraholbrook.com) and Michael Salinger (www.michaelsalinger.com) enough for this opportunity.
-I’ve been accepted to the Highlights Foundation retreat called The Poetry Muse which is a week-long children’s poetry residency mentored by Rebecca Kai Dotlich (www.rebeccakaidotlich.com). I was able to secure a partial scholarship for this event which made it all possible. Rebecca has become a welcome addition to my life as I’ve gotten to know her personally aside from the hours I had spent reading her books and performing her poems with Poetry Alive in the past. The retreat will run from August 13-18 in the hills of Northeastern PA near the town of Honesdale.
-3 poems of mine have been accepted by Georgia Heard (www.georgiaheard.com) for her anthology called The Arrow Finds Its Mark: Found Poems. According to Wikipedia Found Poems are: a type of poetry created by taking words, phrases, and sometimes whole passages from other sources and reframing them as poetry by making changes in spacing and/or lines (and consequently meaning), or by altering the text by additions and/or deletions. The resulting poem can be defined as either treated: changed in a profound and systematic manner; or untreated: virtually unchanged from the order, syntax and meaning of the original.
I should add that in Found Poems you’re allowed to create your own title to the piece as well. I sent Georgia 36 poems, she took 3 of them and they’ll be known in the book as “School Poems.” Needless to say I’m thrilled to be in my first anthology and am looking forward to receiving the check in the mail! The book is scheduled to be released in early 2012 by Roaring Brook Press out of NYC.
-Continuing to write commissioned poems for the magazine Spotlight on Recovery (www.spotlightonrecovery.com). A magazine that deals with overcoming issues that life may bring you; it’s a worthy endeavor spearheaded by a wonderful woman out of Brooklyn, NY named Robin Graham.
-Got another poem accepted by a major children’s poetry anthologist for a big deal publishing house. However I’m not at liberty to reveal anything other than that but believe me once I receive the go ahead I’m shouting it from the rooftops!!!
-Was asked to once again to participate in 30 Poets/30 Days where a new poem by a children’s poet will be published every day during the National Poetry Month of April. This event was spearheaded by poet/social networking extraordinaire Greg Pincus (www.gottabook.blogspot.com).
-My dear friend/web designing visionary Isabel will be giving my website a good old fashioned facelift this month with new additions including my acting reel, more poems and each poem read by me.
-Got cast in a Home Depot commercial where I’m helping customers find the material they’re looking for.
-Got cast in a Pepsi commercial as a vintage baseball player, then a day later found out they didn’t want me after all. This is a good lesson for young people because sometimes you can do the best job you can and still have it not be enough for reasons COMPLETELY out of your control.
-Participated in a Navy Seal designed 3.1 mile obstacle course called The Rugged Maniac in February finishing in the top 3rd of my heat. I was pretty proud of myself, considering that I’ve never done anything like that before. There was lots of jumping in and crawling through mud as well as climbing 20 foot high walls. It was so much fun (or I’m losing my mind) that I’m doing a similar race called The Rugged Warrior on April 30th. Wish me luck … with everything!
Monday, December 27, 2010
TRANSITION
Well as 2010 leaves us let’s do a quick year in review.
ACTING FRONT
-Booked 2 SAG commercials and got my first taste of residual income. Whoever created residuals needs to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom!
-Continued working at the Mouse and being thankful for that good theme park money during these strenuous financial times for our country.
-Attended workshops with the top casting directors in the Southeast and learned more and more about auditioning.
WRITING FRONT
-Continued writing and networking with children’s poets and editors from across the country.
-Was asked by children’s poets Georgia Heard and Lee Bennett Hopkins to contribute to their upcoming anthologies. I sent my poems to Georgia and am still working on the one for Lee.
-Applied for the HIGHLIGHTS FOUNDATION retreat with Rebecca Kai Dotlich. It’s a weeklong retreat where writers get one-on-one interaction with Rebecca as they work on their latest manuscript. Also applied for their scholarship to help defray the costs of lodging and round trip airfare.
-Sent in my manuscript for the NEW VOICES AWARD for minority writers sponsored by the NYC publishing house Lee and Low.
-Attended the NCTE (National Council for Teachers of English) conference held at Walt Disney World. Made MANY new friends and set up a dinner at CAFÉ D’ANTONIO in downtown Celebration, FL for the top children’s poets and bloggers in the country, among them Lee Bennett Hopkins, Rebecca Kai Dotlich, Marilyn Singer, Janet Wong, Tricia Stohr-Hunt, Amy Ludwig Vanderwater, Elaine Magliaro and Sylvia Verdell. The next few days I then met other children’s poets such as David L. Harrison, Carole Boston Weatherford, Arnold Adoff and Joyce Sidman and in the evening dined with Heidi Mordhorst. For a person like me to finally meet the poets whose work I performed with POETRY ALIVE for 3 years was very humbling. To have a chance converse with them was even more so.
PERSONAL FRONT
-Lost over 25 inches in my body (so far) thanks to a personal training/nutrition curriculum designed by Jeremy Brassard with additional nutrition information courtesy of Isabel Garcia.
-Signed up for the RUGGED MANIAC 5K event in late February. It’s a Navy Seal designed obstacle course and is going to be a good barometer to how in shape I am.
What’s most exciting about 2011 is I have a slew of projects that I can’t wait to get too such as an acting reel, performing/recording my poems, manuscript ideas, a revamped website and better health among them. So thank you 2010 for everything and let’s get keep the forward momentum in 2011. Carpe diem!
ACTING FRONT
-Booked 2 SAG commercials and got my first taste of residual income. Whoever created residuals needs to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom!
-Continued working at the Mouse and being thankful for that good theme park money during these strenuous financial times for our country.
-Attended workshops with the top casting directors in the Southeast and learned more and more about auditioning.
WRITING FRONT
-Continued writing and networking with children’s poets and editors from across the country.
-Was asked by children’s poets Georgia Heard and Lee Bennett Hopkins to contribute to their upcoming anthologies. I sent my poems to Georgia and am still working on the one for Lee.
-Applied for the HIGHLIGHTS FOUNDATION retreat with Rebecca Kai Dotlich. It’s a weeklong retreat where writers get one-on-one interaction with Rebecca as they work on their latest manuscript. Also applied for their scholarship to help defray the costs of lodging and round trip airfare.
-Sent in my manuscript for the NEW VOICES AWARD for minority writers sponsored by the NYC publishing house Lee and Low.
-Attended the NCTE (National Council for Teachers of English) conference held at Walt Disney World. Made MANY new friends and set up a dinner at CAFÉ D’ANTONIO in downtown Celebration, FL for the top children’s poets and bloggers in the country, among them Lee Bennett Hopkins, Rebecca Kai Dotlich, Marilyn Singer, Janet Wong, Tricia Stohr-Hunt, Amy Ludwig Vanderwater, Elaine Magliaro and Sylvia Verdell. The next few days I then met other children’s poets such as David L. Harrison, Carole Boston Weatherford, Arnold Adoff and Joyce Sidman and in the evening dined with Heidi Mordhorst. For a person like me to finally meet the poets whose work I performed with POETRY ALIVE for 3 years was very humbling. To have a chance converse with them was even more so.
PERSONAL FRONT
-Lost over 25 inches in my body (so far) thanks to a personal training/nutrition curriculum designed by Jeremy Brassard with additional nutrition information courtesy of Isabel Garcia.
-Signed up for the RUGGED MANIAC 5K event in late February. It’s a Navy Seal designed obstacle course and is going to be a good barometer to how in shape I am.
What’s most exciting about 2011 is I have a slew of projects that I can’t wait to get too such as an acting reel, performing/recording my poems, manuscript ideas, a revamped website and better health among them. So thank you 2010 for everything and let’s get keep the forward momentum in 2011. Carpe diem!
Monday, October 18, 2010
CONTINUATION
Well heck time just seems to fly by. It’s been a good long while since I’ve updated the blog so let’s play some catch up.
-Continuing to put in consistent hours at the Mouse with IDOL, INDY and once and awhile WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS.
-The same goes for SLEUTHS which I portray the wacky security guard at least once a week.
-Submitted my children’s poetry manuscript for the Lee and Low NEW VOICES AWARD. It was lots of hard work putting it together but I feel like I improved as a writer from the effort it took. I can’t thank Lee Bennett Hopkins enough for suggesting that I submit to them which gave me the opportunity to put something together that I wouldn’t have thought of otherwise. Also a huge shout out to my meta-readers Isabel Garcia and Jan Eldredge for their thoughtful and honest critiques of every draft I sent them. No matter if I win or not (and forgive me if this to comes off as corny) I’ve learned so much from the process. Especially about listening to critiques and deciding what makes sense to me and what doesn’t, in other words finding my voice. Plus I truly believe that one day it will be published SOMEWHERE.
-Booked my 3rd on camera acting gig this year. This one for Publix supermarket chain where I play a Publix employee who helps a customer find what she needs in the store. So besides pocketing some money for myself and my diligent agent I get another commercial to add to my acting reel which is being put together soon. If you want to act on camera having a reel is a must and thank goodness I have just enough material for Isabel to work her magic and put it together.
-Read some darn good children’s poetry books in the past couple of months during Read-a-thon which I created for myself and would love to one day share with the world. Think of Oprah’s Book Club except for children’s poetry and (as of right now) with FAR less people. Some of the books I’ve flipped over since August include BRICKYARD SUMMER by Paul B. Janeczko, BRONZEVILLE BOYS AND GIRLS by Gwendolyn Brooks and AMAZING FACES edited by Lee Bennett Hopkins. Currently I’m reading a book called THE BALLPARK BOOK by Ron Smith because I’ve been asked to write a poem about a famous baseball stadium. I’m not sure I can reveal more than that right now but I’m very excited about it. The important thing for me at this moment is research, doodling and more research until it comes to me (or I go to it) which in any event takes time.
-Continuing to workout with my trainer and now great friend Jeremy Brassard. In the past 9 weeks I’ve gone down 7 ½ inches in my waist, 2 inches in my chest and have gained 2 inches of muscle in my biceps. I haven’t felt this good psychically in years! I also eat so much better. I wouldn’t even call if a diet. It’s basically a plant based way of eating with lots of smoothies thrown in. It’s very filling and I eat tasty (mostly organic) meals made by Isabel. Oh and once or twice a week I use my Jack La lanne juicer which means (along with my smoothies) I drink my fruits and veggies instead of eating them which come to think of it is something I’ve always wanted to do since I was a child.
With Halloween coming up in a couple weeks I thought it’d be a good idea to leave this blog posting with a poem celebrating that day of disguise. Enjoy!
MY DOORBELL RINGS
My doorbell rings, what a surprise
Boys and girls dressed in disguise;
Pirates, Monsters, Beauty Queens
Each shout, “Happy Halloween.”
Bags are open … Anticipation
All across our grateful nation,
Pop Rocks, Pixie Sticks, Jujubes,
All of them scream, “We want more please.”
© Charles Waters 2010
-Continuing to put in consistent hours at the Mouse with IDOL, INDY and once and awhile WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS.
-The same goes for SLEUTHS which I portray the wacky security guard at least once a week.
-Submitted my children’s poetry manuscript for the Lee and Low NEW VOICES AWARD. It was lots of hard work putting it together but I feel like I improved as a writer from the effort it took. I can’t thank Lee Bennett Hopkins enough for suggesting that I submit to them which gave me the opportunity to put something together that I wouldn’t have thought of otherwise. Also a huge shout out to my meta-readers Isabel Garcia and Jan Eldredge for their thoughtful and honest critiques of every draft I sent them. No matter if I win or not (and forgive me if this to comes off as corny) I’ve learned so much from the process. Especially about listening to critiques and deciding what makes sense to me and what doesn’t, in other words finding my voice. Plus I truly believe that one day it will be published SOMEWHERE.
-Booked my 3rd on camera acting gig this year. This one for Publix supermarket chain where I play a Publix employee who helps a customer find what she needs in the store. So besides pocketing some money for myself and my diligent agent I get another commercial to add to my acting reel which is being put together soon. If you want to act on camera having a reel is a must and thank goodness I have just enough material for Isabel to work her magic and put it together.
-Read some darn good children’s poetry books in the past couple of months during Read-a-thon which I created for myself and would love to one day share with the world. Think of Oprah’s Book Club except for children’s poetry and (as of right now) with FAR less people. Some of the books I’ve flipped over since August include BRICKYARD SUMMER by Paul B. Janeczko, BRONZEVILLE BOYS AND GIRLS by Gwendolyn Brooks and AMAZING FACES edited by Lee Bennett Hopkins. Currently I’m reading a book called THE BALLPARK BOOK by Ron Smith because I’ve been asked to write a poem about a famous baseball stadium. I’m not sure I can reveal more than that right now but I’m very excited about it. The important thing for me at this moment is research, doodling and more research until it comes to me (or I go to it) which in any event takes time.
-Continuing to workout with my trainer and now great friend Jeremy Brassard. In the past 9 weeks I’ve gone down 7 ½ inches in my waist, 2 inches in my chest and have gained 2 inches of muscle in my biceps. I haven’t felt this good psychically in years! I also eat so much better. I wouldn’t even call if a diet. It’s basically a plant based way of eating with lots of smoothies thrown in. It’s very filling and I eat tasty (mostly organic) meals made by Isabel. Oh and once or twice a week I use my Jack La lanne juicer which means (along with my smoothies) I drink my fruits and veggies instead of eating them which come to think of it is something I’ve always wanted to do since I was a child.
With Halloween coming up in a couple weeks I thought it’d be a good idea to leave this blog posting with a poem celebrating that day of disguise. Enjoy!
MY DOORBELL RINGS
My doorbell rings, what a surprise
Boys and girls dressed in disguise;
Pirates, Monsters, Beauty Queens
Each shout, “Happy Halloween.”
Bags are open … Anticipation
All across our grateful nation,
Pop Rocks, Pixie Sticks, Jujubes,
All of them scream, “We want more please.”
© Charles Waters 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
PROGRESSION
I (as I'm sure you might agree) cannot believe that we're 8 1/2 months done in 2010. It's been a year of continuing to learn, work hard and prosper. Here's what I've up to since the last update in June.
- Got another poem published in a blog. This one courtesy of David L. Harrison who has the distinction of being the only (as far as I know) living children's poet to have a school named after him. You can check my poem out by copy/pasting here:
http://davidlharrison.wordpress.com/2010/06/16/charles-waters-today/
- Was on the receiving end of my first poetry interview. Also courtesy of Mr. Harrison. You can check out my interview by copy/pasting here:
http://davidlharrison.wordpress.com/2010/07/09/charles-waters-today-2/
- Finished up sending the last of my Found Poems to writer Georgia Heard for her next poetry anthology. At final count I was able to send her around 35 poems. While she will not be able to choose all or most of them for that matter I feel I have a solid shot on something making the cut. Thanks again for asking me to be a part of it Georgia! The experience was challenging and enjoyable.
- Working on a children's poetry manuscript for THE NEW VOICES AWARD sponsored by LEE AND LOW books. This contest is for writers of color to submit their work in the hopes that their manuscript will be published. There's also a cash prize thrown in as well that ain't too shabby. Lee Bennett Hopkins, a legendary figure in children's poetry, encouraged me to take a shot at it so who am I to turn him down? So far it's coming along well I'm proud of the progress being made. I'll give you more information on it after the deadline for submission is over on September 30th.
- I hired a personal trainer! His name is Jeremy Brussard and he's putting me through my paces. I started working out a week ago because, well, I've been lazy about my health. Diabetes and heart disease are in my genes so it was time to get serious about living as long a life as I can. I have HUGE goals and dreams and it would be a shame they were all cut short because I didn't take care of myself. I've also been eating a whole lot better since going organic with my eating habits. My Jack Lalanne Power Juicer is in the mail (my first infomercial purchase ever) so I really feel I'm taking positive steps in making better choices in my life.
- Still doing the Disney thing at IDOL, INDY and WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS.
-Received my first residual checks from a SAG commercial I did for Verizon. Wow has that been a lovely thing to happen to me. May I get residual checks from now to the end of time!
- Looking forward to taking a seminar with Lori Wyman on Saturday. Lori is one of the most respected Casting Directors in the southeast. She's casted everything from MIAMI VICE to RECOUNT to THE GLADES as well as over 1,000 commercials. I've been sending my headshot/resume to her for months and am thrilled to not only meet her but learn how to be a better actor on camera.
I don't know if anyone reads these blog postings of mine but I do feel it's important to chart your progression. Let's continue to take charge of our lives and be thankful for the blessings we've received. I'd like to leave this post with a poem of mine. Enjoy.
THIS IS HOW I SEE THE WORLD
This is how I see the world,
I see a lot of pain
Filled with bitter compromise
We can barely maintain.
This is how I see the world,
I see a helping hand
To prop you up when you are down
Across this grateful land.
This is how I see the world,
I see innocence lost
Thanks to greedy egocentrics
Who don’t care of the cost.
This is how I see the world,
I see a steady rise
Of people giving of themselves,
Our world is very wise.
(C) Charles Waters 2010
- Got another poem published in a blog. This one courtesy of David L. Harrison who has the distinction of being the only (as far as I know) living children's poet to have a school named after him. You can check my poem out by copy/pasting here:
http://davidlharrison.wordpress.com/2010/06/16/charles-waters-today/
- Was on the receiving end of my first poetry interview. Also courtesy of Mr. Harrison. You can check out my interview by copy/pasting here:
http://davidlharrison.wordpress.com/2010/07/09/charles-waters-today-2/
- Finished up sending the last of my Found Poems to writer Georgia Heard for her next poetry anthology. At final count I was able to send her around 35 poems. While she will not be able to choose all or most of them for that matter I feel I have a solid shot on something making the cut. Thanks again for asking me to be a part of it Georgia! The experience was challenging and enjoyable.
- Working on a children's poetry manuscript for THE NEW VOICES AWARD sponsored by LEE AND LOW books. This contest is for writers of color to submit their work in the hopes that their manuscript will be published. There's also a cash prize thrown in as well that ain't too shabby. Lee Bennett Hopkins, a legendary figure in children's poetry, encouraged me to take a shot at it so who am I to turn him down? So far it's coming along well I'm proud of the progress being made. I'll give you more information on it after the deadline for submission is over on September 30th.
- I hired a personal trainer! His name is Jeremy Brussard and he's putting me through my paces. I started working out a week ago because, well, I've been lazy about my health. Diabetes and heart disease are in my genes so it was time to get serious about living as long a life as I can. I have HUGE goals and dreams and it would be a shame they were all cut short because I didn't take care of myself. I've also been eating a whole lot better since going organic with my eating habits. My Jack Lalanne Power Juicer is in the mail (my first infomercial purchase ever) so I really feel I'm taking positive steps in making better choices in my life.
- Still doing the Disney thing at IDOL, INDY and WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS.
-Received my first residual checks from a SAG commercial I did for Verizon. Wow has that been a lovely thing to happen to me. May I get residual checks from now to the end of time!
- Looking forward to taking a seminar with Lori Wyman on Saturday. Lori is one of the most respected Casting Directors in the southeast. She's casted everything from MIAMI VICE to RECOUNT to THE GLADES as well as over 1,000 commercials. I've been sending my headshot/resume to her for months and am thrilled to not only meet her but learn how to be a better actor on camera.
I don't know if anyone reads these blog postings of mine but I do feel it's important to chart your progression. Let's continue to take charge of our lives and be thankful for the blessings we've received. I'd like to leave this post with a poem of mine. Enjoy.
THIS IS HOW I SEE THE WORLD
This is how I see the world,
I see a lot of pain
Filled with bitter compromise
We can barely maintain.
This is how I see the world,
I see a helping hand
To prop you up when you are down
Across this grateful land.
This is how I see the world,
I see innocence lost
Thanks to greedy egocentrics
Who don’t care of the cost.
This is how I see the world,
I see a steady rise
Of people giving of themselves,
Our world is very wise.
(C) Charles Waters 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
Consistancy
Well in the almost 2 and a half months since I blogged things have been busy so let’s play catch up.
ON THE POETRY FRONT
-Got a great response from teachers and poetry lovers for my poem I LOVE BEING ME which was featured on Greg Pincus’ 30 Poets/30 Days blog.
-While on the Greg Pincus thread I had the pleasure of picking him up at the airport when he came here to Orlando for the SCBWI Conference. I took his marketing seminar and learned lots of neat stuff including the fact that I need to start learning by heart more of my poems, perform them on video and post them to my website. I plan on tackling that by the end of the summer as I have other matter to attend to like:
- Putting together a poetry manuscript for the LEE AND LOW book contest. LEE AND LOW is a publishing house that specializes in works about or written by people of color. They’re having a contest at the end of the summer where minority writers submit their work and if selected get a book contract!
-Got an invitation from Georgia Heard one of most respected children’s poets in the country to be part of her upcoming anthology on found poems. Found poems (according to Wikipedia) are a type of poetry created by taking words, phrases, and sometimes whole passages from other sources and reframing them as poetry by making changes in spacing and/or lines (and consequently meaning), or by altering the text by additions and/or deletions.
The book will be published by the New York publishing house Roaring Book. What an amazing opportunity this is for me! Once again my poetry mentor Rebecca Kai Dotlich put in a good word for me. Georgia told me to send her as many found poems as I want so I’ve sent her at least 25 poems so far (and still counting). She won’t use them all but the more I send the better I feel my chances are of getting in her book.
ON THE ACTING FRONT
-Booked another commercial, this one for Verizon, where I play a Bright House cable service consumer who is complaining about my cable service provider. This was my 2nd SAG (Screen Actors Guild) commercial is 3 months so things are starting to pay of that field. Soon as I get a DVD copy of it I will finally put together my reel (various clips of me acting) that is a MUST in the acting field especially if you (like me) wants to branch out into film, TV, industrials and commercials.
-Continue working at IDOL, INDY, ESPN and SLEUTHS. Those jobs have been good to me and I continue to be thankful for the money I make, most of which I save because in this economy saving your money should be everyone’s middle name.
There is some potential good news on both acting and poetry fronts that I can’t reveal now but will once I hear word. In the meantime be well, work hard and make every day and good one. Peace.
ON THE POETRY FRONT
-Got a great response from teachers and poetry lovers for my poem I LOVE BEING ME which was featured on Greg Pincus’ 30 Poets/30 Days blog.
-While on the Greg Pincus thread I had the pleasure of picking him up at the airport when he came here to Orlando for the SCBWI Conference. I took his marketing seminar and learned lots of neat stuff including the fact that I need to start learning by heart more of my poems, perform them on video and post them to my website. I plan on tackling that by the end of the summer as I have other matter to attend to like:
- Putting together a poetry manuscript for the LEE AND LOW book contest. LEE AND LOW is a publishing house that specializes in works about or written by people of color. They’re having a contest at the end of the summer where minority writers submit their work and if selected get a book contract!
-Got an invitation from Georgia Heard one of most respected children’s poets in the country to be part of her upcoming anthology on found poems. Found poems (according to Wikipedia) are a type of poetry created by taking words, phrases, and sometimes whole passages from other sources and reframing them as poetry by making changes in spacing and/or lines (and consequently meaning), or by altering the text by additions and/or deletions.
The book will be published by the New York publishing house Roaring Book. What an amazing opportunity this is for me! Once again my poetry mentor Rebecca Kai Dotlich put in a good word for me. Georgia told me to send her as many found poems as I want so I’ve sent her at least 25 poems so far (and still counting). She won’t use them all but the more I send the better I feel my chances are of getting in her book.
ON THE ACTING FRONT
-Booked another commercial, this one for Verizon, where I play a Bright House cable service consumer who is complaining about my cable service provider. This was my 2nd SAG (Screen Actors Guild) commercial is 3 months so things are starting to pay of that field. Soon as I get a DVD copy of it I will finally put together my reel (various clips of me acting) that is a MUST in the acting field especially if you (like me) wants to branch out into film, TV, industrials and commercials.
-Continue working at IDOL, INDY, ESPN and SLEUTHS. Those jobs have been good to me and I continue to be thankful for the money I make, most of which I save because in this economy saving your money should be everyone’s middle name.
There is some potential good news on both acting and poetry fronts that I can’t reveal now but will once I hear word. In the meantime be well, work hard and make every day and good one. Peace.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Elevation
There’s that old adage, “No news is good news,” and well shucks that’s proved true for me since the last posting ... until recently, so let’s play a little catch up.
-Booked my first commercial (actually my first with an actual speaking role). It was for Friendly’s Restaurant where I am partaking in their excellent cuisine with my “wife”.
-Continuing to work at IDOL, INDIANA JONES and ESPN WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS where I hosted part of the rebranding ceremony of WWS and met the Governor of Florida Charlie Crist in the process.
-Having the great fortune of award-winning poet extraordinaire Rebecca Kai Dotlich (who has become in many ways my poetry mentor) recommend me to poet Greg Pincus who in turn invited me to submit a poem for The 2010 Edition of 30 Poets/30 Days! During National Poetry Month in April, some 80,000 people visit his blog to read a poem submitted specifically for the event by poets from all over the world. http://gottabook.blogspot.com/2010/03/announcing-2010-edition-of-30-poets30.html. The poem I submitted is called I LOVE BEING ME and it pretty much encapsulates how I feel about the importance of self-esteem.
I cannot possibly overstate what a big deal this is to me. Since 2004 I’ve spent so many mornings, afternoons and evenings (including weekends) reading and writing children’s poetry, making contacts, submitting my work, attending conferences and going to writers group meetings that I’m thankfully gob smacked it’s starting to pay off. The late two-time Academy Award winning actor Jack Lemmon once told another two-time winner Kevin Spacey (who was his protégé) that when you reach the top of the elevator you always send it back down to help more people make their way up. It sure feels like Rebecca saw me in the lower lobby and decided to give me a lift.
-Booked my first commercial (actually my first with an actual speaking role). It was for Friendly’s Restaurant where I am partaking in their excellent cuisine with my “wife”.
-Continuing to work at IDOL, INDIANA JONES and ESPN WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS where I hosted part of the rebranding ceremony of WWS and met the Governor of Florida Charlie Crist in the process.
-Having the great fortune of award-winning poet extraordinaire Rebecca Kai Dotlich (who has become in many ways my poetry mentor) recommend me to poet Greg Pincus who in turn invited me to submit a poem for The 2010 Edition of 30 Poets/30 Days! During National Poetry Month in April, some 80,000 people visit his blog to read a poem submitted specifically for the event by poets from all over the world. http://gottabook.blogspot.com/2010/03/announcing-2010-edition-of-30-poets30.html. The poem I submitted is called I LOVE BEING ME and it pretty much encapsulates how I feel about the importance of self-esteem.
I cannot possibly overstate what a big deal this is to me. Since 2004 I’ve spent so many mornings, afternoons and evenings (including weekends) reading and writing children’s poetry, making contacts, submitting my work, attending conferences and going to writers group meetings that I’m thankfully gob smacked it’s starting to pay off. The late two-time Academy Award winning actor Jack Lemmon once told another two-time winner Kevin Spacey (who was his protégé) that when you reach the top of the elevator you always send it back down to help more people make their way up. It sure feels like Rebecca saw me in the lower lobby and decided to give me a lift.
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