Can you imagine being a prisoner at the State Fair? Who would believe you? How would you escape?

Or what about the evil side of society that preys on the young, infirm or just oblivious? The fair is a perfect place to lose a wallet, a cell phone, your car keys or even your child.

Certainly the fair is a great place to begin a story, but what about the journey to another city? The roads in our country are manned (and womaned) by people who wouldn’t qualify to drive in other countries because their skills are so poor and their attention is so distracted.

Wouldn’t a great play be one where it’s just the dialogue between two passengers? How about the exchange between two road-weary drivers as they fight for a parking space at a rest area? Or better still, the chatter from the GPS as a tool to tell the audience what’s happening as they look backward into the car and watch the family?

Just winging out some brainstorm fodder and ramping up for a productive week. I’ve already posted a number of times at Bowl of Cheese and will be adding a few more posts here in short order. Stay tuned and if you have great jumping off points for stories or articles or even opinion pieces (I have a great one for my next blog entry by the way), share them here in the comments section.

Keep reading!

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Post tags: brainstorm, carnival, column ideas, fair, thinking new york

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Truthfully, I’ve been writing as a journalist for about 20 years but this is my first ‘no-net’ performance on the journalism stage.

It’s difficult at times, but exhilarating. And I’ve been learning so much about my motivation and skill level.

The plan is for me to keep flinging spaghetti strands of work against the wall until something sticks. And the ultimate goal – as stated before – is to find work and a career as a columnist.

If you’re in the industry, the role of columnist isn’t that much different from that of a feature writer…you just make a little more money and have some more leeway in your topic choices.

Today I’m doing the brainstorm thing and picking new topics on which to write. I’ll post new columns almost daily – if I can – to showcase my skills.

This should work pretty well later in the week when Randy Cohen has me as a guest reader on The Ethicist radio program.

Keep watching here for new stuff. I’m done writing this recap and headed over to my desk to pound out some stuff that makes both of us think.

Keep reading!

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Post tags: boston globe, brainstorm, daily, dirtrag magazine, scoot magazine, tdf08.com, Yankee Magazine

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If you have a unique brainstorm process, leave it here in the comments.

Mine is usually combined with dining. I bring my notebook with me to breakfast and other meals. Then I just let my mind wander as I look around the restaurant. I create stories about the people around me, the traffic outside, the weather, the topics that are broadcast on the televisions (on a side note, have you noticed how many restaurants now feature TVs on the walls? When did we stop talking to each other? Whoops, there’s another idea!) and anything else that occurs to me.

Right now, I’m in Atlanta and I’m preparing for breakfast and another productive ‘storming session. Good luck with yours.

Keep reading!

© Jeff Cutler for Jeff Cutler - columns, essays and opinions, 2008. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: brainstorm, breakfast, ideas, stories, televisions

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Here’s what I’ve done so far…

Wrote and submitted a column for SavvyAuntie.com.

Wrote a note to Dave Barry and already received a response. I’m planning to ask a few questions about column writing and the path to prominence. So far everything I’ve heard back from the Barry camp has been positive.

In the same vein, I wrote a note to Dan Shaughnessy and Brian McGrory at the Boston Globe. My hope is that they will speak with me briefly about breaking into the ranks of respected and published Globe columnists.

Brainstormed a new story idea for submission to a daily paper.

Got a note from an editor regarding some of my queries.

Ate a jello parfait.

Apart from the demolition of the parfait, my day has been quite productive so far. I hope it continues.

Keep reading!

© Jeff Cutler for Jeff Cutler - columns, essays and opinions, 2008. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: boston globe, brainstorm, Brian McGrory, columnist, commentary, dave barry, jello, newspaper, queries, Savvy Auntie, Shaughnessy

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