Coming Soon!

The Vander Ende-Onderdonk House, Queens


The Old Stone House, Brooklyn


Lefferts Historic House, Brooklyn

Visits to:

Get a Load of This!

Look at this now! Why was I always being put in dangerous situations? No wonder I am not a risk taker and developed such severe OCD!

I was always full of sass!

Deal with it!

I was always a nut!

Deal with it!

H8R

There is a proposed new show on CW called, "H8R." The person or celeb hated has an opportunity to come face to face with a H8R (hater). Any takers? LOL

THE CW H8R

I am not... Don Quixote!

and more:

Guess what? I don’t care what annoyed you. I don’t write for the approbation of others, and I do not hide and write wearing a mask. I state my opinions, take it or leave it.
I give advice to nobody. I write my opinions and there is a huge difference. I don’t force anybody to drink my special blend of Kool-Aid and I am not a cult leader. What kind of weak minded person would take the advice of somebody on the internet that they never even met anyway? How could I speak for everybody else? It was an opinion piece. It was a piece filled with tongue-in-cheek humor.
I can totally own prose that does not mean what I say or mean what I said. With regard to the multiple choice question, I happily select all of the above. LMAO
How can I “rile people up?” I wouldn’t even begin to flatter myself in that way. I may be a sloppy writer, I can own that as well. There are donut crumbs all over the keyboard. And, I don’t need “attention.” I get that on the stage of The Comic Strip.
Lighten up. Do your own thing. But, judging from the other comments here, that thing might exist in the null set. Are we sharing a bingo moment yet? Are we on even 1/100000th of the same page? No? Okie dokie.
You go your way and I will go mine… but before I exit stage left, I want to know if you are “The Unknown Comic?” He wore a paper bag over his head to to mask his identity… so enquiring minds want to know. LMAO

an explanation

This is an explanation to this.

I am Marjorie (Levine), and thanks for the shout-out. “marjorie-palimpsests” is one of my many blogs. This comment will link to “marjorie-digest,” another of my blogs and my profile lists all of my blogs.
I was a teacher for 35 years and now I am retired. I am 64 years old and I have been doing stand-up for 20 years. I really think my opinion is generated from where I am in terms of my career. And, I think my age gives me the confidence to post my opinions without fear. If I were 25, while my opinion would be the same, I might not be so outspoken. I might be more careful because the road ahead would be longer. I would have more to protect in terms of myself.
From where I sit, I do not think it is “dumb” to be so brazen and advertise rejections. I think in my case, it is funny. It fits right into the whole shtik. I cartoon it. I joke about it. It fits my persona. It becomes part of my package deal.
Simply put, if a 25 year old advertises her rejections it may look like she is a poor writer. If a 64 year old advertises her many rejections, can’t you see how that can be funny?
All of my pieces are tongue-in-cheek because that is what I do. I always come from places of humor, and in the subtext is of course my true opinion. I make it work.
I think younger writers should be careful. But, they should always not be afraid to state their opinions without fear of repercussions.

You will one day understand. One day. One day you will realize from where I am coming and it will all make sense. When you are older, the choices one makes regarding how an opinion is expressed is totally different. There is less fear. There is less to lose. I am in a safe place and there is nothing they can do to me in terms of my career. Younger people just starting out have to worry about stuff I no longer give a hoot about. It's all about my fun.

Why, hello there!

Two questions:

1. Electric Boogaloo, are you all still talking about me over there? LOL I am flattered.

2. Anonymous commenter, are you still checking to see if you can get comments through?

Hair flip... and so it goes. And so it goes.

Wheeeeeeeeeee, good times!

Twittergate 2

Welcome to Twittergate Number TWO.

This is just a variation of what her former colleague did last spring when she created a hashtag and had that haiku contest that ridiculed a guy on twitter.

Why have a contest where it might be possible that the sender could see it and react further? Or do they think s/he deserves it, like all those who participated in twittergate last spring believed? Are they teaching him "a lesson?" I don't get "the fun." Actually, they are giving that disgruntled rejected writer his 15 minutes. They are providing encores and curtain calls.

The agent says it doesn't bother her, but it seems like it does because it's like she is going into fighting back mode when she posted the inappropriate reply. She is not really showing others what not to do. Most writers know it's not correct. But, she knows the groupies will do a pile on. Why blow it up, make it larger than life, and give it legs? Why not just let it go? Does she need the approbation and the support of the peanut gallery? It seems so unprofessional.

I asked the agent to rethink it. I believe she is better than this dopey contest. And really nicer. But, sometimes personal needs to "win" in a show of power can get in the way and surface in the most unprofessional of ways.

He was wrong and this contest encourages others to reply in similar ways. It may be negative attention, but heck... she noticed!

Point, Counterpoint

This entry is a reply to an actor's comment at a literary agent's blog piece.

The actor writes: "When I head out to auditions, I bring along my resume. Directors are not the least bit interested in how much work I've done. That resume is all about who they can call to see if I am a pain in the ass to work with and if it is worth casting me."

First, let me state I am not the writer who sent that inappropriate reply to Janet's rejection. I don't write crime fiction. I am a poet, cartoonist, stand-up comic, actor, and retired teacher.

Having said that, let me say I totally disagree with you. I do not know for whom you audition, but casting agents here in NYC are interested in talent and experience, not personalities. They are interested in the quality of the work that the actor can bring. They do not review resumes for the purpose of doing a personality check.

There are many actors who are huge pains in the ass and they work. Their antics do provide some tabloid fodder, but they work. I don't know of any actor who was cast because he was "nice." If that were so, many more actors would have jobs.

Quite honestly, most literary agents are interested only in the quality of the work as well. Trust me, if they discover a literary masterpiece, they would not care if the author was typing naked from Bellevue and had a personality as difficult as Charlie Sheen or Christian Bale.

Dig This, Stepford Writers!

POINT, COUNTERPOINT:

A literary agent has a blog post laying down some laws. It's here.

How absurd is that? What nerve! I don't get it. I blogged my rejections. Why would a writer be "shooting herself in the foot" if on her own blog she writes about her query process or discusses rejections? Big deal. So what if she tweets about her blog entries? So what if she tries to interact with agents on twitter? Are agents on some pedestal? And, there is a block feature on twitter. If her tweets are annoying, they can be ignored. If her query is terrific and her book sounds fantastic, shouldn't that be the barometer by which she should be evaluated for representation by an agent? Since when are writers signed based on their personalities? It sounds like a personal problem to me to reject writers who may be perceived as difficult. What writer wants an agent who is so easily threatened? And as usual the tuchas lekkers lined up to fawn all over the post. Not moi. I come from a set of parents whose response to most orders was: "Kiss my fat ass in Macy's window." No class? I can own it.

I don't get it. If a writer has the unmitigated gall, the dumb sense to break protocol and gasp, COMPLAIN, the literary work will be rejected? For that faux pas she will receive consequences regardless of how excellent her book might be? What agents are so weak minded that they cannot handle a little blog post "complaining" about the query process and why is it viewed as wrong and as a threat? That sounds absurd to me. Why should a writer's internet behavior impact or influence her success as a writer? This control keeps a writer on a very short leash. What's next? Telling writers how to dress in public or what books should not be reviewed on a personal blog or how to vote? I believe a writer should have her request for representation evaluated by the merit of the work and the feelings she expresses in her blog are freedom of speech and should not be relevant to a decision. What that writer puts in her blog is none of any agent's business. Period. It has nothing to do with the writer's book. What's the connection? Zero. Only the quality of the book should be scrutinized and nothing else. If agents draw a personality profile based on blog activity when they have not even met the author, they need to do some self-examination and analyze and determine why they are so involved in what is not important or even related to the publication of a book. What's next? Writers taking Rorschach tests before they are represented?

Preposterous. Manipulative. Controlling. It's all about Power. For real. Next thing you know, writers will be told they are "shooting themselves in the foot" if they send in their queries before noon, after all agents need time to enjoy their morning coffee and donut.

Just evaluate the project and forget all this other crap. It really sounds like a bunch of nonsense and horse sh*t. And if conclusions about personalities are part of the equation in terms of whether a writer will receive representation, how many huge nuts would never have been published? Think of all the great writers who may have been huge complainers or who did not follow the rules. Do you think they danced like marionettes to please agents so they would be signed? All they were interested in was their work, and they wanted agents to be interested in them based on the quality of their work. I am sure they didn't participate in silly head games. They complained, did what they pleased, and they had no fear of getting blacklisted. They were not milquetoasts. I admire "complainers." They help create change.

All these twitter and blog rules during the query process are micro management. I will tweet what I want and when I want. Nobody controls me. I will post blog entries that are all batsh*t. And if the result is that no agent signs me, who cares. I have excellent self-esteem and I don't wait for anybody else to green light my projects. Did Baby get put in a corner? Well, nobody puts Marjorie in a straight jacket! LOL My hands are not tied! Long live mitten free hands! And I will @ and # till I am blue in the face. Many people would do well to take a page from my book. I have gumption.

Everybody should have the right to "complain" without repercussions. There should be no whistle blower fear. What people say or write or feel or express or worry about should not impact their progress or success in their creative endeavor. They should be celebrated for the mavericks and ground breakers that they are. The lemmings of the world never impact history.

Writers should be given a chance for fair representation regardless of how they express their opinions on their personal blogs. It is sad to me that these writers wouldn't receive a fair chance for representation because they shot themselves in the foot regarding matters not even relevant to the worth of their literary work.

Don't let anybody control you. Before you know it, you will be following rules like you joined some cult and the list of rules will get longer and guess what? You still may not get an agent. So, tweet what you want to tweet, blog about "the process," and if anybody tries to tell you what you can or cannot blog about tell them kush min tuchas ofen aran.

Do you really want an agent who insists you drink her special blend of Kool-Aid? Wouldn't you rather be drinking a V8? OOPs! I am bandaging my foot! Ouch!

Reference how Charlie Sheen's producer reacted to his antics: "I don't drink. I don't smoke. I don't do drugs. I don't have crazy, reckless sex with strangers. If Charlie Sheen outlives me, I'm gonna be really p**sed." Bravo, Chuck Lorre.

The "marjorie-cartoons" will soon be presented at a Chelsea art gallery. There will be a fine dinner and an elegant reception. I will be the hostess with the mostess on that night: in Givenchy!

Dedicated to: Jackson Pollack, J.D. Salinger, and Jack Kerouac.



Added on 2/21/11 in response to a comment at a blog:

re: "because currently it is what they are seeing on many, many blogs when they research writers sending them queries."

Excuse me? They research writers who send them queries? I thought the barometer for representation was the query or the content of the book.

Now, they are digging for other details to make the decision? This is absurd. I wouldn't be surprised if they go to the FBI's Electronic Reading Room to get all the scoop they can on writers who query.

They should just do their job and look for great writers to rep and stop all the other nonsense.

Where did you go tonight?

I went the the Mid-Manhattan Library of the NYC Public Library.




It was actually Persia Walker who was the moderator of the conversation. And what an enjoyable evening it was! Janet Reid was very informative and showed a great sense of humor and marvelous spirit when she participated in the Q & A. She seems to have great joie de vivre. And she loves red scarves. Suzie Townsend, of FinePrint Literary Management, also joined the panel to handle responding to one particular question.

After the conversation, I walked over to Suzie Townsend who was sitting on the left side of the audience. She preferred not to have her photo taken, and I complied with her wishes and put my camera away. I managed to tell Suzie that I am Marjorie Levine and she had been "tooned." She gave me a blank look. Meredith, also of FinePrint Literary Management, said that they always appreciate interest and support at their blog. Maybe she never read my comments.

Then, I went over to the front of the conference room and thanked Persia Walker for doing an excellent job as moderator. She was totally prepared and asked all the right questions so that information could be properly provided from the agents to new writers. Janet Reid was still sitting at the conference table. She too preferred to have no pictures taken. My camera stayed in my Balenciaga bag. Janet said, "You look familiar." I said, "Who do you think I am? I am not sure I should tell you because you may throw me out." She said, "Marjorie?" I smiled broadly and said, "Yes." And without missing a beat she tipped her head in the direction of the door and said, "Go." I laughed and left.

I always aim to please. What a great evening! I love New York!

Where did you go today?

The Museum of the City of New York
AIN’T NOTHING LIKE THE REAL THING:
How the Apollo Theater Shaped American Entertainment

I reached West 110th Street, and while I waited for the crosstown bus I had a great photo op. Riverside Park is visible in the distance under a gorgeous blue sky.


These are views of Central Park from the bus.



This is a view of the front of the museum.


This is the entrance to the exhibit.


These are photos from inside the magnificent exhibit.

THE SIXTH ANNUAL HOWL

Tonight, I attended THE SIXTH ANNUAL HOWL event at Columbia University.

Howl







The lights in the little trees on the campus led the way to Philosophy Hall.



This is David Amram right before "Take The A Train" and "Pull My Daisy."



This is Joyce Johnson reading from "Visions of Cody."



This is Ann Douglas describing how when she passes different places at Columbia University, she is reminded that those were the buildings that Jack saw. And, when she awakens in the morning and looks out at the Hudson River she imagines that those were the same boats that Jack may have also seen.



This is Ann Douglas reading a part of "Howl."



David Amram ended the evening with "This Song's For You, Jack."

It was an exciting and thrilling evening.

Today: The Whitney Museum

The Whitney Museum
MODERN LIFE: EDWARD HOPPER AND HIS TIME

Edward Hopper, Seven A.M., 1948


Paul Cadmus, Sailors and Floosies, 1938


Robert Henri, Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, 1916

Good News!

The "marjorie-cartoons" will soon be shown at a Chelsea art gallery in NYC! Join me for cocktails at the opening night reception. Details to follow; stay tuned for news about the toons!

© 2010 Marjorie Levine

Marjorie Times Four

Lunch With Howard

I had lunch today with my good friend Howard Feller. He is so funny and I love being with him.

Howard at NYC's Broadway Comedy Club

Howard on IMDb

My interview with Howard from May 2009

Howard was the announcer/sidekick on Jon Stewart's MTV show

Conclusion: I so need a new digital camera.