da Vinci's Waking Dream: Recent Episodes
Will Norman
Da Vinci's Waking Dream offers tips and advice for gay entertainment professionals, and interviews with gay writers, musicians, artists, and new/traditional media professionals to help you achieve your dreams.
Learn How to Start your own Writing Community
With high profile writing communities like Storiad, The Center for Fiction, and Book Country springing up, is there really a place for niche writing communities?
4 Gay Websites to Help You Kick Some New Media Ass
Even new media ninjas-in-training need a little help to reach their Web 2.0 dreams. Whether you're looking for new avenues for your film, writing career, or blog, there are plenty of resources out there to assist you, and in this episode-- I give you my top four for the month.
Bend Over and Take it Like a Man
“Bend over!”—two words that can provoke a lot of anxieties. Will it hurt? Will I be able to relax? Will I enjoy it? Do I have judgments about myself for being a bottom? What’s the risk of infection?
And tops are hardly anxiety-free either… Is my cock staying hard? Am I big enough? do I fuck well? Is this a good position?
Turn Your Website into a Forum
Trying to engage visitors and customers is a challenge for many of us. Freshman writer and New York City surgeon Dr. Isaac Namdar created an active community in less than a month.
All it took was a little scandal.
How to Turn on an Editor (or at least not piss her off)
Ever wonder why an editor unceremoniously rejected your story? Writer/editor Jean Marie Stine is the publisher of Sizzler Editions, and like many good publishers, she's looking for a few good writers.
How to Create Likable Bad Boy Characters
French illustrator and comic book artist Benoit Prevot shares his tips for bringing characters to life. We also discuss whether or not gay artists can make money doing comic books.
More Time, More Energy (to fulfill your dreams)
Time. Never seems to be enough of it. Combine that with a lack of energy, and your Web 2.0 dreams might seem further and further away.
In this episode, Will has some time and energy saver tips that will help get you one step closer to where you want to be.
Find that Illustrator & Publish your Children's Book
There's nothing unusual in hearing that a journalist is going to write a book. However, it takes a man like SF Examiner.com Eric Ross to write a gay children's book.
Eric shares why he went the self-publishing route and how to get more Twitter followers.
Get Noticed, Get a Publicist, Get that Gig
In the music business, like in so many other careers, being talented isn't always enough. You must be seen, and you must be heard. Sure, sometimes luck seems to play a part, but if you're like musician and producer TimPermanent, you make it your business to be visible.
In this episode, TimPermanent explains how he got to open for Fantasia, Deborah Cox, and Adam Lambert. He also lays out why it's important to have a publicist.
Design Your Career: Start with an Internship
Is it worth it to do an internship, or are you merely providing slave labor to some big, uncaring company? Art director and performance artist Mr. Jacob advocates doing at least several internships.
Mr. Jacob also dishes up some ideas for creating a cool website with no coding, as well as sharing how his stylish music video "Whateva" came about.
How to Finance Your Film
Film financing. It's a tough one-- especially in a tough economy. It may be tempting to attack your savings or pull out the plastic, but don't do it. There are plenty of ways to get your movie financed, and I show you how in this episode.
Multimedia entrepreneur, Daniel Foster proves that you can succeed by following your passion. But you need to follow his three rules.
How to Reinvent Your (cinematic) Self
After 30, it gets harder and harder to reinvent yourself. But that's exactly what award-winning filmmaker and graphic designer David Moore did. With a mortgage and a family, David applied to and was accepted at one of Australia's most prestigious film schools, where he filmed the lauded gay film short "Crash."
In this interview, he shares some directing tips.
How to Get your Spec Script Sold in Hollywood
Award-winning TV writer and stage director Stan Zimmerman dishes about his time with The Golden Girls, his new play Blink & You Might Miss Me, and selling your spec script in Hollywood.
Become a Social Media Marketing Guru
Meet Marian Schembari... social media consultant and a "thug" for authors. Marian shows writers, freelancers, job seekers-- anyone how to use effective social media strategies to achieve their goals, and this is one consultation that we all get for free.
Gay Festival Musts and How to Distribute your Film
Filmmaker Branden Blinn has been in the business for a long time and knows how to realize cinematic dreams. This is one interview that the serious indie filmmaker wanting to do well on the festival circuit shouldn't miss.
Learn how to Shoot on a Micro Budget
Like many filmmakers, Luis Midence writes, produces, and edits. Luis, however, has a special talent that evades many a filmmaker: he's the king of micro budget filmmaking, and he can complete a film in two days.
5 Tips to Create the Best Website
If you're an author, musician, photographer-- anyone in the creative arts, then you absolutely need to have a website. A website not only acts as a type of calling card-- it can also serve as a retail and merchandising storefront.
With free website builders like WordPress and Blogger, there is simply no excuse not to have one.
In this episode, I discuss five ways to make your website kick-ass.
Get that Agent: Start Blogging
Michael T. Antonucci is one author working hard to get noticed by agents. He's done the research and has listened to good advice. Michael has also made the bold move of starting his own web serial, a sexy detective noir story called The Sebastian Black Chronicles.
First-time Author: Challenges and Opportunities
It's true that The International Homosexual Conspiracy is Larry-bob Roberts' first book, but Larry-bob has a long history of publishing. In this week's episode, Larry-bob tells us about some of his blogs and offers advice to aspiring authors.
Learn how to create an animation series with animator Rocky Rivera.
Sure, you can stand in line and try to work for Pixar or Disney, but good luck with getting a gay movie, let alone a queer series out of them. Instead, why not take matters into your own super gay hands and make an animation series yourself? Indie animator Rocky Rivera tells us how.
How to market and sell your book with marketing goddess Janice Beley:
The days of simply handing in your manuscript and sitting back while your publisher's marketing department does all of the work are pretty much gone. Marketing Director Janice Beley helps us navigate these often unknown waters.
How to write gay comics and work with artists
If you're not already a fan of gay erotic comics, writer Dale Lazarov just might convince you. Dales tells us how he captured the attention of international publisher Bruno Gmunder Verlog publishers.
How to write a romance novel and how to write erotica
If you ever wanted to try your hand at writing a romance book, author and anthology editor Sascha Illyvich shares the "secret" formula in this episode. Sascha also explains the structure of an erotic novel, along with discussing the hybrid genre erotic romance.
How to write a movie script and how to take your music career to the next level:
This week, Will goes solo and gives some advice on getting your movie script made and promoting your music career. It's a shorter episode, but it's packed with good advice and resources.
How to become a photographer-- or at least take better pictures
Hans Withoos is a successful commercial and art photographer and is the co-owner of Fotografie Cats & Withoos. Hans has plenty of tips for photographers: amateur and professional.
Gay film festivals and how not to get your film noticed at mainstream film festivals
Savvy business advice often starts with "Find a niche market." Film diretor/writer/producer Chris Diani took that maxim to heart. Now he tells us why he'll won't go too niche with his next film, Let's Pretend We're Bunny Rabbits. Chris also suggests what gay festivals to submit your horror film to.
How to direct a gay porn video and break into the industry
Be advised: Adult Content
If you have ever fantasized about the plumber magically dropping his pants or, perhaps, drying off the pool boy, this episode might show you that porn movies aren't as magical as they seem. But if you're interested in directing or acting for the industry-- or just like hearing about gay porn, this is the episode for you.
How to get into the fashion design industry and how to land a music gig.
After you go to fashion design school-- then what? And if you're a musician or band, how do you get a music gig in New York City, Los Angeles, or anywhere else?
Musician and fashion designer AB Soto has done both, and he's ready to share how he went about it.
Plus, this week's Dream Tip: Target your webpage message and take action.
How to sell your book and get noticed on Amazon Part 2
Tired of agent and publisher rejection letters? Award-winning author Nick Nolan tried the traditional publishing route but found success publishing on his own. In Part 2 of his interview, Nick talks about how much you need to publish your book, hardcovers vs. Kindle, and much more.
How to sell your book and get noticed on Amazon
Tired of agent and publisher rejection letters? Award-winning author Nick Nolan tried the traditional publishing route but found success publishing on his own, and he's more than willing to share his secrets in this interview.
How to get your play read and considered for production
If you have ever tried to get your play in front of a theatre company, this is the episode for you. Celebration Theatre's Artistic Director Michael A. Shepperd offers advice and insight into the Los Angeles theatre scene-- and tips for hopeful writers and actors.
Brad Rader: How to become a comic book artist
The second and final part of our 2-part interview with award-winning artist Brad Rader airs this Thursday. It's an insider must for creatives wanting to break into the comic book industry, and for people who like to know what's going on behind the scenes.
How to become a comic book artist Part 1 of 2/Brader Rader interview -- Da Vinci's Waking Dream offers tips and advice for gay entertainment professionals, and interviews with gay writers, musicians, artists, and new/traditional media professionals to help you achieve your dreams.