Wow!  It's been so long since I've posted here.  I'm not even sure if I still have my readers around. lol  But in case y'all are still here, check out the link below for my e-book titled LOVELESS.  I hope you enjoy it!

Click Here for my Romance Novel

An excerpt from the book I am currently writing:

He yanked her ponytail, and pulled her to the floor with his hand still gripping her hair.  He dragged her on the carpet, causing the phone receiver to slip from her grasp.  Little did Eddie know, Rebekah was quick on her feet.  Just before Eddie snatched her away from the phone, she dialed 9-1-1 expeditiously in hopes of the operator hearing the commotion in the background.  

EDDIE

Go in your damn room!

REBEKAH

I wanna call my mom.

EDDIE

What the hell did I tell you?

Rebekah manages to escape from his grip and stands up on her feet.  Eddie immediately takes both his hands and wraps them around her neck.  He begins choking her, forcing her to fall on the couch.  Eddie uses all his strength to suffocate her as Rebekah's head is jammed up against the sofa.

Moments later, loud knocks are being heard at the front door.  Eddie looks at the door with sweat beading on his forehead and veins popping from his neck.  The loud knocking is now replaced with banging, causing Eddie to release his hold from Rebekah.  Rebekah runs to the corner of a wall and slides her back on it until she is sitting on the floor.

VOICE OUTSIDE THE DOOR

Police! Open the door!

Eddie furrows his eyebrows as he glares at Rebekah.  He walks to the front door and reluctantly opens it.  Two police officers  barge in and one notices Rebekah crouched over against the wall.

POLICE OFFICER #1

There was an emergency call made.  Ma'am is everything okay?

Rebekah looks over at Eddie who is standing by the other officer.

POLICE OFFICER

Ma'am, you don't have to be afraid to speak.  We're here to protect you.

Eddie scowls at Rebekah as she slowly opens her mouth to speak.

REBEKAH

I, uh-

(TO BE CONTINUED...)

Just wanted to give you a little taste on one of the things I am working on.  I do plan on publishing this book once it's finished, so be on the lookout.  In addition to that, I am working on an outdoor stage play that will take place in October at an amphitheater in Los Angeles.  I am the Head Writer and I'm super excited to be a part of the project!  More details coming soon.  

I am still making time to help other writers.  So keep your requests coming!  I truly do feel blessed to be able to do what I love while assisting others with their stories and ideas!  Everyday I receive inspirational phone notifications and daily devotionals... and just the other day one read, "Your imagination brings great joy to those around you."  I took that as a confirmation that I am definitely doing what I was called to do! 💓

HELPING WRITERS WRITE RIGHT 

Screenwriting 101 Workshop in LA!

I’m really excited about this.  Teaching Screenwriting is a blessing, but teaching it in LA is blessings on top of blessings!  My first workshop (a couple years ago) was in Atlanta and I was able to help out a lot of writers out there.  The industry is still growing in Georgia and I saw a need to use my skill to help inspiring or discouraged writers.  Since then, I have moved back to my hometown, Cali, and have continued my focus on helping other writers.  My plan wasn’t to do workshops out here, because I felt it was a challenge since most writers in LA have honed their skills.  But I continued editing and proofreading scripts.

Suddenly out of nowhere, referrals from LA started contacting me again to help flesh out scripts and write their synopsis.  That’s when I knew that I had been holding myself back since my return to Cali.

... Of course I should have continued instructing workshops... Not only has my knowledge and passion for Screenwriting benefited many writers that have used my services, but I have a strong background to back that up as well.  I have been fortunate to receive reviews from clients that remind me why I started my writing services in the first place.  I am also blessed to have had USC and UCLA professors and alumni educate me during graduate school at California State University, Northridge.  Without a doubt, this is exactly what I am supposed to be doing.  I thank God he has opened up this door for me to hold my workshops in LA, and I'm excited to meet new writers!

If you are interested or know anyone who may benefit from my services, click on the following link:

Screenwriting Workshop Registration

P.S.  Be on the lookout for info about a stage-play I am writing that will be held at an amphitheater in Los Angeles.  Great things happening! 

"Blessed are the vulnerable, they make good writers." - Karen Stiller

A couple of days before I left to work at Sundance Film Festival '18, I went to an amazing meditation event for entrepreneurs.  It challenged me to open up my heart and tear down walls... so I decided to start here on my blog, where I am the most vulnerable.

Some people have quoted that I am one of those strong independent women, that beneath me "lies a broken little girl who had to learn how to get back up and to never depend on anyone."  People who don't know me would never know that, because of either my infectious laugh or my ability to move on so fast.  But that is what makes me such a good writer.  Writing is my escape.  It is how I have opened up my heart without feeling vulnerable.  It is how I heal my scars and my wounds.

"The Story Lives In You"- Sundance 2018

A lot of the people who have hired me to write for them have asked me: how long did it take for me to be such a good writer/storyteller.  I usually say, "I don't know,  I just write from the heart."  But what I really want to say to them is... the many battles I've fought (that my loved ones don't even know about), have made me the writer that I am today.  But my wall has always prevented me from expressing any of that.

So for those people who have asked me, here you go...

"I write about pain because my self-protection stops me from telling mine.  I write about trust because the emotional wall I've built stops me from displaying it.  I write about revenge because Lord knows I'd wreak havoc if I did it myself.  I write about faith because it's what's kept me strong through all the turmoil and pain.  I write about love so I can live vicariously through the characters I create.  And I still write after 23 years, because writing is what saved my life from being in a negative state." - D. Patrice

Now that I've gotten that out, I am ready to start LIVING LESS OUT OF HABIT AND MORE OUT OF INTENT.  As any GREAT WRITER/ENTREPRENEUR should.  It's time to start allowing more doors to open up for me as I tear down those irritating walls.  But make no mistakes; I still won't tolerate any mess! 😉

Nature Has An Amazing Way Of Inspiring The Creative Mind

As I write this, I am in a cabin in Big Bear Lake and I feel very blessed to be surrounded by beauty during my writing retreat.

I had to first feed my muse.  So I went on a hike yesterday (while listening to music through my pink headphones), read some books, and drank plenty of water (because this elevation of 7,500 feet is no joke).  I am in a very peaceful state and all of these activities have given me the fire to produce more inspirational stories.

Before I started this blog, I spent my day writing the last three episodes (including revisions) for the first season of my drama series I've created.  I wish I can be here all week and work on my new novel!

I advise every type of writer to go on a writing retreat, even if it’s your own.  I suggest this especially to the writers who have distractions at home, have writer’s block, or who just can’t find the needed inspiration to get those words rolling.  Prepare yourself with a list of writing tasks before going on your retreat and allow yourself to fully enjoy the environment you’re in.  I promise this will give you more energy to help you write easier, and ideas will just start flowing.

T.N. Suarez said it best, “Creativity bleeds from the pen of inspiration.” 

#PowerOfStory #ArtFilmWeekend

For the past three weeks, I have had the honor and privilege to work with some amazing people at the Sundance Film Festival, and it was a wonderful experience! Within these three weeks, I attended a panel titled, 'Power of Story: Art of Episodic Writing'.  The panelists included Issa Rae (creator of Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl and Insecure), Gina Prince-Bythewood (writer for The hit TV show A Different World as well as writer/director of Love & Basketball, The Secret Life of Bees, and Beyond The Lights), Larry Karaszewski (creator of The People vs. O.J. Simpson), Marti Noxon (writer for shows such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Grey's Anatomy), and Jill Soloway (creator of Transparent).


This was a panel that was definitely beneficial to any and every writer.  There was also a live stream viewing at the Festival Base Camp for those who couldn't make it into the Egyptian Theatre.  Therefore, anyone interested had the opportunity to hear the discussion on writing unforgettable characters and reaching large audiences in these changing times.


During the discussion, Gina Prince-Bythewood made a comment that I really admired.  She basically said that even though they say to choose your battle... when it comes to your voice... you have to fight every single battle.  I appreciated that advice because your voice is what makes you stand out and what makes your story authentic.  If you let someone change that about you, then (in my opinion) that story is no longer yours.  Let's use Issa Rae for example.  Her voice is bold and honest and represents the side of Black women that we haven't seen since the 90's.  That same voice is what helped her start from her hit webseries on YouTube to eventually creating a hit comedy series on HBO.  She kept her style of writing and her content has made such a huge impact on a large audience.


So with that being said, remember to always keep your voice and if you don't know what that is yet, do what one of the panelists recommended: "Write what you want to see."

As I always say, never give up on this interesting path you have chosen to take... no matter how long it's been.  If it's in your heart and you don't see yourself doing anything else... KEEP WRITING!    

    

Encouraging writers with Kenya Barris, Creator/Writer/Executive Producer of the ABC family sitcom 'Black•ish'...

In my mission to Help Writers Write Right, I have asked Kenya Barris (Creator/Writer/Executive Producer of ‘Black∙ish’ and Co-Writer/Co-Producer of ‘Barbershop 3’) to help me out by answering a few questions that many writers have asked me:

D. Patrice: Thank you so much Kenya for taking the time out of your busy schedule to help me encourage other writers during their journey. 

So, I’ve been meeting a lot of writers who have joined the Web Series community in hopes to get some type of development deal.  Especially after “Money & Violence” on YouTube was picked up by Jay Z’s Tidal.

Kenya:  I think a Web Series is a great opportunity for a Writer or Director to present their voice and find an audience.

D. Patrice: Definitely.  Are there any Web Series that you find yourself watching in your spare time?

Kenya:  I haven't found myself watching many Web Series of late, but I really enjoyed Broad City and I feel that Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer, the two stars and creators of the show, did a really good job creating fun and honest characters with a specific voice.  And it's a funny show. 

D. Patrice: Yes, it is funny.  And the fact that it started as a Web Series on YouTube and then was later developed  into a TV show on Comedy Central, with the same main actresses who’ve written a lot of the episodes now for three seasons… that’s pretty damn awesome and inspiring.  It inspires writers and directors to want to keep creating great content.  What do you feel we need more when creating a Web Series?

Kenya:  I think we need more creative people to find their voice. 

D. Patrice: Definitely.  As a writer, your original writing style is what makes you stand out from the many writers who are trying to get produced or published.

I always say that as a writer, when you decide that’s the career path you’re going to take, you really have to put your heart into it and really want it.  We all know it's not easy to get that one door to open up for us.

So, how did that door open up for you? Was it extremely challenging before landing your first writing gig?

Kenya:  I'm not sure my struggle is different than anyone else's.   It's basically about working hard. I started off as a P.A. and managed to work my way up through being an assistant to finally getting staffed. I also think finding a really good mentor to help you navigate through the industry can really be helpful in nurturing your career. 

D. Patrice: Having a mentor really helps.  Or even just words of encouragement or some advice does the trick.  Years back when I first met you, when I was an intern, there was a piece of advice you had given me that I still remember to this day... it helped me as a writer.  There are some writers I work with now who get really disappointed at times and feel like they’re not on the right path.  What advice would you give to a discouraged writer?

Kenya: Read any and everything. Watch movies and TV shows and most importantly write.  I think it's very important to find your voice.

D. Patrice:  Yes!  That’s the best way to master your craft.  So what makes a script good to you?  And what should people avoid when writing one?

Kenya:  I think what makes a script good is when it jumps off the page and you find yourself lost in the world.  I think writers should write what they know, and tell their story from an honest place.

D. Patrice: Okay and last question… what do you look for in a script when reading someone else's work?

Kenya:  Originality.  A voice.  Dialogue that's interesting and unique. 

D. Patrice:  Awesome.  Well thank you so much Kenya and congratulations on all your writing success!