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C. Lee McKenzie

Young Adult and Middle Grade Author

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A to Z Blog Challenge: The Letter W

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The Write Game’s Theme 
AtoZ Blog Challenge
2014

Stuff I Learned or Laughed at from Bloggers in the 2013 A to Z Challenge .

All you gots to do is identify the Mystery Blogger each day. I’ll give you hints when I can. I’ll post the answers and the winner each Monday.

Two visitors (one each week) can win: 
Week 3) an ebook of The Princess of Las Pulgas 
Week 4) a $10 gift certificate from Amazon
 (If you already have one of the prizes, I’ll figure something else out!)

BY

1) identifying the most bloggers correctly=2 points.  
2) leaving witty comments=1 point or more depending on glibness
3) adding to the information and making it more valuable=2 points 

TIES WILL BE BROKEN BY MY CAT. SHE’S FAIR AND IMPARTIAL.UNLESS CATNIP IS INVOLVED, THEN SHE GOES WITH THE BEST SUPPLIER.

Cover of The Shining [Blu-ray]

Mystery Blogger W’s 2013 theme: “The films that I’ll be listing in my April postings will not necessarily be films that I’d call my favorite films, but they will be favorites in the genres I’ll be naming.   The A to Z genres are very specific micro genres as opposed to the broader genres like action, romance, or comedy.”


W is for Writers In Movies: Here are some of this bloggers favorite movies about writers. It made a great list of TO SEE MOVIES

8 1/2 (1963)–Okay, I know I already used this film in my post Movies about Making Movies, but that’s how much I like this film.  This is one of my top ten films.  If you are a serious writer you should see this film and take it to heart.  A masterpiece of the genre of thinkers’ films.  Forget this one if you’re an action fan unless you’re in the mood to just sit, listen, and learn.  I’ll warn you that it’s in Italian and you’ll have to read the subtitles if you don’t know the language.  I just can’t rave enough about this film.  Oh, and did I say it’s good?


The Shining (1980)— Jack Nicholson stars as a writer who gets more than he bargains for when he secludes himself and his family so he can get some writing done.  Chalk up another hit for Stephen King.  One writer’s nightmare is another writer’s dream. A shot of Red Rum anybody?


Misery (1990)–Famous novelist crashes car and is rescued by his “number one fan”.   Fans like this we don’t need.   Stephen King strikes again.

Shadowlands (1993)— Based on the true relationship between author C.S. Lewis and poet Joy Davidson, this one’s a weeper.  Grab the popcorn and the Kleenex.

Shakespeare in Love (1998)— A liberal dose of poetic license results in a lot of fun with one of the most famous writers of all time.  This film won a few awards as well.

Adaptation (2002)–Great cast of actors in a curious tale.  This is one of those films that I rewatched as soon as I had watched it the first time.  Great film.

Secret Window (2004)–Johnny Depp as a writer suffering from writer’s block.  But it doesn’t end there. Now he’s being accused of plagiarism and it only gets worse.  Oh yeah, and Stephen King is in on this one too.

Sideways (2004)–If the writing career is not working, you can always go get drunk.  The focus of this film is wine, but it’s really about a writer and writing.



Freedom Writers (2007)–Brand new idealistic English teacher gets assigned to tough class of inner city students.  She gets them involved in journaling and they in turn fall into the writing life.  Inspirational film about teaching and the power of words.




Midnight in Paris (2011) — In one of the best films directed by Woody Allen, a writer vacationing in Paris time travels back to the 1920’s and meets famous authors and others.   Doesn’t matter if it’s a dream, a fantasy, or what–it’s fun.




Hint: This blogger juggles a lot of online activities.

Who is it?

SIGN UP or VISIT the others who are on this AtoZ Challenge and check out the HOSTS:

Arlee Bird @ Tossing it Out
Tina @ Life is Good

Damyanti @ Amlokiblogs

Jeremy @ Being Retro

Nicole Ayers – The Madlab Post

Comments

  1. Haven't seen all the movies on the list. Must correct that. Dude, you're almost done with the A-Z. You'll need a rest.

  4. I felt I should know this one… then I took a sneak peek at the comments and went oooooooohhhh! of course!!! It's Lee!!! (I'm so naughty for cheating)

  7. I thought it was Alex. But it's probably Arlee. So I guess I wouldn't have guessed it on my first guess. I'd like to see Shakespeare in Love. It's one of those movies that's been on my list for a long time.

  10. Johnny Depp? As a writer? How did I miss that? Oh yes, I don't really watch movies, that's how…

    And did you know that I wrote an A to Z-styled sentence for Arlee's Cheersfest – How to Roast A Bird (it was in December 2013)
    Here's the question they gave us:
    Why did Lee come up with the A to Z Challenge?
    My answer –
    A Bored Child Dreamed Every Fortnight. Great Hallucinatory Intense Jam-packed visions in which Krazy Letters Marched Non-stop… Onwards… in a Playful Quest ————————– then he woke up!

  11. Heeerrreees's Gary!

    Now I'm officially in alphabet L. Yep, the man who juggles his balls, amongst other things, Mr. Alphabet Dude himself. If only he knew that "Tossing" is a British euphemism for shall we say, self-pleasure. "Tossing it Out" yes indeed!

    Okay, this is beyond silly. Three in the morning and I have chocolate and peanut butter cookies to finish off. They were very nice. My compliments to you and that fowl hen.

    Your always startstuckest fan,

    Gary

    • And I'm more impossibly silly. Ten minutes past four in the morning. And tell the Alphabet Dude to get more sleep. Hate to see him so tired over his own challenge. Oh, how I laugh. Goodnight from lil' ol' England!

  12. Ack! I'm too late and everyone has stolen (yes, stolen!) my correct answer, which I may have come up with, given enough time and enough clues. I just think slower than most people.

    • There. There. Lynda. Let's not over-react. You're doing just fine and you're not slower than most people–just slower than those who rise when roosters crow. How do they do it?

  16. 81/2 I would like to see it again as I've forgotten about it. Did you say you liked it? (haha teasing) I liked Midnight in Paris too.

  22. I threw the book The Shining across the room in an involuntary terror twitch. I remember Joey in Friends kept it in the freezer as protection. Great movie. Shakespeare in Love – ahhhhhhhhhh.

  24. It has to be the NINJA CAPTAIN, ALEX….

    Some great pics here, Lee! LOVE Midnight in Paris! How can any writer not LOVE this film. Who wouldn't want to go back in time and meet Hemingway, Stein, Picasso, etc…

    Now where's that car! I want IN, NOW!!!

  28. Hi Lee – all I can say is .. I'm glad someone got out of bed this a.m. – I had no idea this was Lee himself .. and I haven't seen most of these films – so I've some catching up to do .. great summaries to help me choose

    Cheers Hilary

  29. This entry sure was sounding familiar and then I saw Alex's answer. I would have had a difficult time figuring out this one.

    I really slept in this morning and Alex is the only one commenting? People must be really getting tired. I feel like going back to bed. I'll take a nap this afternoon.