Anything Goes

Last Sunday I paid to join The Writers Room, but whenever I try to sign in, it takes me to the AD for The Writers Room, https://www.stage32.com/writers-room which then takes me to the sign up sheet. https://www.stage32.com/writers-room/plans

I figured "It's the weekend, maybe it takes a while to update or something." But I still couldn't get in on Monday, so I emailed. support@stage32.com. No reply. Not even an automatic bot. Tuesday still not in, I email TWICE, and even include a cut and paste from my bank statement showing I paid.

Now it is Wednesday. I PAID TO GET IN,,, and not only can I not get in, I can't even get anyone to notice that I can't get in!

Is there some sort of way I can get someone to actually NOTICE and REPLY to my emails at least? I mean actually SOLVING THE PROBLEM would be awesome, but as of right now I just need someone to know there is one.

Very cool to see the legendary Janis Ian include Lance Cowan Music's song "Where'd They Go" (about the Trump administrations' horrible ICE policies) in her "100 Days of Protest Songs" on her Facebook Page. She also co-wrote "When He Was Here" which also appears on his new album, The Air That You Breathe. They are but two (2) of the eleven (11) reasons his new album belongs in the soundtrack of your life - just sayin' ;)

Her quote:

“One of the more under-rated songwriters in the United States is Lance Cowan. I love the way he makes things personal.”

– Janis Ian, Multi-Grammy winning Pop / Folk Music Icon

There are those of us who occasionally find a valid paid post on the jobs board for screenwriter (or other crew). However, the board is cluttered by those seeking investors, selling their services or offering no pay, deferred pay, total back-end, or requesting a bake-off or some other violation of ethical business practices.

I know there are monitors on the sight. Someone of those please let's clean up the jobs board once and for all. I mean, when we have the premiere branding of Stage32, why must job seekers be treated to posts that are too shameful for other online platforms?

It would be great not to use the "Apply" feature, too. The space is limited and does not easily permit sending a work sample. Clear rules and contact information for the posting parties would be more than helpful!

Thanks...

I wanted to pass along a heads-up for anyone here who previously published through Smashwords and, like me, may not have been paying particularly close attention to what happened to their account after Draft2Digital acquired the company.

This morning I received an email from Draft2Digital informing me that my account had a negative $12 balance due to a new annual maintenance fee. That was a surprise, since I never independently opened a Draft2Digital account. My old Smashwords account and title had been migrated to D2D following the acquisition.

Draft2Digital now charges a $12 annual maintenance fee for publishing accounts that earn less than $100 in net proceeds during the preceding 12 months. In my case, I had an old title still listed for free through the former Smashwords system, so there were no royalties available to cover the fee and my account went $12 negative.

Their Account Status page allowed me to delist the title, convert the account to "non-publishing," and immediately reverse the $12 charge. I've subsequently asked them to close my account entirely.

What caught me by surprise was realizing that my old Smashwords account had become an active Draft2Digital publishing account subject to an annual fee. I had not been following the migration closely and didn't realize the old account and title were still active.

So if you ever published through Smashwords—even years ago—and haven't been following the migration closely, it may be worth logging into Draft2Digital and checking your Account Status. You may have titles still in distribution and an annual maintenance fee that you weren't expecting.

Hopefully this saves another writer the surprise I had this morning.

Lance Cowan has a great first month charting at Folk Radio (chart info below) + great press keeps rolling in - see Jeff Burger's album review that ran in The Aquarian last Friday (link below).

FAI Folk Chart for July 2026 (August 5th):

The Air That You Breathe #4 on Top Albums

“The Air That You Breathe” #9 on Top Songs

Where’d They Go” #23 on Top Songs

Lance Cowan #6 on Top Artists

NOTE: this is the first time Lance has ever had an album worked at this (or any) radio format. It’s an extraordinary beginning, first step for him in this next chapter. Compiled from FOLKDJ-List playlists Based on 10621 plays from 363 playlists from 94 Folk DJs

From The Aquarian review:

“(Lance) has now issued three excellent albums in as many years, and the latest of these is arguably his best. Called The Air That You Breathe, it cements his reputation as an affecting singer and a writer of memorable, understated songs that exude warmth and humanity. The lyrics are expertly crafted and evocative. However, you’ll likely enjoy this album even if you don’t pay attention to them because Cowan’s melodies are consistently strong and his vocals are a treat.”

- Jeff Burger/The Aquarian (8.7) - https://bit.ly/3RRlYJG </div>

(experimental photo album shoot by’ koby) I feel utterly lost. Around me, the city has gradually lost all its color. The air has become heavy, sticky, almost impossible to breathe. It's a space saturated with bad things that seep in and cloud my mind: the din of stress, the dizzying anxiety about the future, and even the complex torments of love. Everything has blended into a fog that suffocates and alienates me. I felt this visceral need to flee, to return to something purer, more organic. Nature. I wanted to rediscover that state of grace I knew as a child, that primal simplicity before the modern world robbed me of my instincts. That's why I say I've "lost my woods" in this city. Civilization has robbed me of my crown, my wild side. So, I started walking. I wandered like a vagabond to escape the noise, plunging into the mineral world, the rock, and the mist. I needed to shed this urban shell. I abandoned my old rags—that t-shirt left on a dead branch, caught in the barriers of an artificial world I reject. I needed to find an absolutely calm place, a sanctuary far from prying eyes, where the silence would allow my thoughts to settle and become good again. I needed to get closer to the beast within to save the man inside me. And at the end of this long, silent healing, I found it. This mirror placed directly on the ground. It's not just a reflection frozen in stone; it's a true water portal. A door between two dimensions. I know that by crossing it, the grayness and the stress will remain on this shore. On the other side of this dark water, I will finally be able to breathe. There, the air will be pure, my thoughts will be clear, and I will finally be able to be happy.

I want to make everyone on Stage 32 aware of a scam being perpetated by anr imposter posing as a real, well known Film Producer. By stealing this Producer's identity, he was phishing Stage 33 Writers to submit treatments, plot synopsis, scripts and screen plays to produce. Once I realized the Lloyd Segan i Iwas communicating with, I contacted the "real" Lloyd Segan.

It is/was a very convincing long con wherein, AI was used.

Please be sure you know who is on the other end of the conversations.

This involved Federal crimes, which has been reported FBI.

Coverfly used to have a great tool for competitions called "insights," where you could see how different genres historically placed in certain screenplay competitions/festivals and gauge your chances of success as well as preview any public scripts which placed in those competitions previously.

Does anyone know if Stage32 or another resource has something similar?

Hey everyone,

I’m a young writer currently developing a project called Savage Smile, a supernatural mystery/thriller about two brothers, a strange curse, a broken family, and a mystery that unfolds across several chapters.

I’ve been developing the story, characters, twists, and screenplay mostly on my own, and I’m at the point where I’d really like to connect with other creative people who enjoy building stories together.

I’m especially interested in meeting write

I’m not expecting anyone to magically turn the project into a movie overnight. (◠‿◕) I’m mainly looking for people who want to read, exchange ideas, give honest feedback, and potentially build something together over time.

If Savage Smile sounds like something you'd be interested in, feel free to reach out. I’d love to meet other people who are just as excited about storytelling as I am.

Thanks for reading.  (〒﹏〒)

— Bliss

I just watched OBSESSION to see what all the fuss is about. I don't usually watch these types of movies, also, how many movies about "obsessive love" can people write? I have to say... I enjoyed it. CREEPY, yes. Great acting, great script, great experience.