I met Ray Bradbury!

LilaDubois · May 2, 2008

I'm just so excited I had to share.

My Master's class (a fiction writing workshop class) had dinner with Ray Bradbury. It was amazing. He was very inspiring, saying you must be what you love, be what you write. He's very elderly, but still very talkative and entertaining.

AND HE KISSED ME ON THE CHEEK! I'm never washing my face again! (Ahem, sorry.)

He was very encouraging, and reminded us that writers drive publishing, movies, and TV. Publishing says they are looking for certain things, but you create the next thing, not them, so don't be afraid to write things that are different and new.

Most of all he said you need love. You must write what you love, and love what you write and become what it is you love.

Just thought I'd share that.

Shweta · May 2, 2008

That's awesome, Lila! Thank you for sharing

HeronW · May 2, 2008

That RB must be 90 something. Not too many of the giants left...

Smiling Ted · May 2, 2008

HeronW said:
That RB must be 90 something. Not too many of the giants left...

That's true. Most important writers today tend to be 5'6" and under. Whereas Heinlein was 6'2"; and Asimov, of course, was at least seven feet, especially when wearing his orthotics.

Vincent · May 2, 2008

That is all kinds of fantastic, Lila. Very, very cool.

sheadakota · May 2, 2008

OMG- I want to touch your cheek-

WriteKnight · May 2, 2008

I attended a lecture he did in Houston, must have been ten years ago. Afterwards, he did a signing. I stood in line... trying to think of something witty to say, or something 'original' ... something he hadn't heard.

I finally got to the front and handed him my faded copy of "Dandelion Wine." Everyone else had handed him new copies of his latest book, or Farenheit 451.

He looked at the dog-eared copy, then at me - and gave me the biggest smile - I was speechless. He signed the flysheet and I was gone.

Still one of my prized possesions.

I can only imagine what dinner must have been like. You are truly blessed to have spent the time with him. Treasure the memories.

Phaeal · May 2, 2008

Fahrenheit 451 opened my eyes, many years ago.

Thanks, Ray!

You've been touched by greatness.

mscelina · May 2, 2008

How fantastic! And what a great memory to use when you're feeling discouraged.

Ken · May 2, 2008

What Shweta, HeronW, Smiling Ted, beezle, sheadakota, WriteKnight, Phaeal, and mscelina said.

inkkognito · May 2, 2008

OMG, OMG, OMG!!! He is my absolute favorite author of all time! Many, many years ago I wrote him a letter, and he responded with a letter and movie poster for "Something Wicked This Way Comes" in a big purple envelope on which he had drawn doodles in silver. I still have it carefully put away, and every now and then I take it out for inspiration. He is such a wonderful, talented, intelligent, gracious man. I can't even imagine the awe of meeting him in person!

Lyra Jean · May 2, 2008

I'm so jealous. Wow that must have been a wonderful experience for you. Congratulations.

LilaDubois · May 2, 2008

He also spoke at the Los Angeles Time Festival of Books last weekend (my professor is the person who introduced him) and Mr. Bradbury says he plans to keynote the Santa Barbara Writers conference and speak at the festival next year, if anyone wants to hear him speak.

I woke up with a big smile on my face, super excited to write, and I've realized that I feel like I regained my power and control over writing. I'm in agent submission hell, and I feel like I’ve completely lost control of everything, but I haven’t. As long as I love writing, I haven’t.

Enough epiphanies for the morning, time to write.

BlueLucario · May 2, 2008

Nice! I met Stephen Kiing

alleycat · May 2, 2008

I'd say that's one experience you will never forget in your life.

JoNightshade · May 2, 2008

Ray Bradbury is totally my writing hero. I met him last year when he came up to give a little talk at a local... er, art studio or something. Anyway he was met with a huge crowd yelling and screaming. (There's a thread around here somewhere where I do my total fangirl crush thing.)

ANYWAY that is so cool, I wouldn't wash my cheek, either.

I met Ray Bradbury!

LilaDubois

Shweta

gone

HeronW

Down Under Fan

Smiling Ted

Ah-HA!

Vincent

Cheers

sheadakota

part of the human equation

WriteKnight

Arranger Of Disorder

Phaeal

Whatever I did, I didn't do it.

mscelina

Teh doommobile, drivin' rite by you

Ken

inkkognito

Onlyifyouwanttowillyoufin daway-Enya

Lyra Jean

Two years old now.

LilaDubois

BlueLucario

Blood Elves FTW

alleycat

Still around

JoNightshade

has finally arrived