From Dream to Discipline: Biscayne Writers Takes Wannabes from Start to Finish in 12 months

Interview with Kemila Velan Founder of Biscayne Writers.

1. What types of writers do you work with?

I started Biscayne Writers, Inc. in 2005 to empower writers in South Florida. I had been living in Miami (not on the beach, but on Biscayne Bay) for about two years and I couldn’t believe how poorly editors and publishers regarded professional writers and journalists. Ads, to them, were king, and writers should be happy to see their bylines and paychecks that barely paid the rent.

Having lived in New York, Chapel Hill, Michigan, Denver and San Francisco — where writers get more respect — I decided I would become a cheerleader for journalists, creative writers, poets and screenwriters. So, in June 2006, when I got the opportunity to start my own publication, The Angel Journal, I didn’t hesitate to pay almost every writer I hired $1/word. As a result, I got professionally written, fact-checked, on-time articles that impressed and hooked the US and Canada-based investors who read the monthly newspaper.



Moreover, the process of creating a 2007 editorial calendar for The Angel Journal flicked a switch in my mind about writing projects: Each month is a different chapter; each day is a page that adds up to 365 — enough content to make a novel.

The 2008 Biscayne Writers calendar of online workshops aims to transform aimless writers/screenwriters with a dream into disciplined, monthly magazine-style publishers. Each month, there is a different focus. February will help the writer map out his/her character matrix; March will help the writer create his/her first dramatic scene. From April through August, the writer will get into the nitty gritty of writing and re-writing scenes so that by Fall, when it’s time for harvest, the book will be ready for publishing, marketing and distribution.

It’s an ambitious schedule, but I believe that it is possible because when people are doing what they love best — in this case, writing — they are committed and they want to reach a successful exit…to borrow from the entrepreneurial world. ;-D



2. How do you work with screenwriters?

I think screenwriters are the most important kind of writers in the 21st century because people don’t read anymore. They watch. Every writer at some point will have to consider the survival of their art. If you’re a journalist, you’re probably thinking about making a documentary. If you’re a poet, you’re probably writing marketing slogans or advertising copy.

Not that I’m advocating a “Farenheit 451″ book-burning fest — as writers, reading has become our number-one job, since so many others aren’t doing it. It is important for writers to understand metaphor, symbolism, historical context, archetypes, themes and the myriad other elements of literature, so that we can pass them along intelligently to viewers.

For example, Sofia Coppola is a 21st century auteur. On the surface, “Marie Antoinette” looks like a fluffy music video about a hated historical figure, but underneath, Coppola is commenting on modern American suburban culture — we’re all pampered, educated little brats with mini dogs as accessories (think Paris Hilton and MTV’s “My Sweet 16″).

This idea of literary elements in film was an important lesson in my Film Criticism course at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where I was majoring in journalism and mass communication. Next to my philosophy of feminism and censorship courses, this was the course that made a HUGE impact on me. I learned how to “read” films like “Citizen Kane,” “Blazing Saddles,” (yes, Mel Brooks IS an auteur), “Unforgiven,” and of course all the Alfred Hitchock films. I’ll never forget watching “The Birds,” and the fact that the entire class burst out in laughter at the attack scenes. Within a generation, this film transformed from horror to camp. 



3. What are the goals of Biscayne Writers?

To help myself and others become a distinct collective of online storytellers…like The Beat generation, digital style. I have three stories that deal with transformation in the 21st century: Porto Rican Princess (http://www.biscaynewriters.com/princess), Boomtown Fever (http://www.biscaynewriters.com/boomtown) and The Femmebots (http://www.thefemmebots.com). I published my very first online story, called a “Hypertext,” in 2001 about an agoraphobic woman who runs a porn web cam site from her home called “Angela’s Lair”: http://www.thefemmebots.com/angela/angela_home.htm 



Other stories being written by the collective:
The Latina’s Guide to Corporate Spirituality by Pluton (http://www.biscaynewriters.com/pluton)
Health News/Para tu salud by Ruben Soto (http://www.biscaynewriters.com/rubensoto)
21st Century Media Literacy by Tennille Martinez (http://www.biscaynewriters.com/tennillemartinez)

And there are others that I do, personally, for clients:
The Power of Yin by Hazel Henderson: http://ipbcorp.com/ethicalmarkets.com/?cat=16
The Yummiest by Clutch Deluxe: http://www.theyummiest.com
Balance Boost by Tiffany Houser: http://campaign-archive.com/archive.phtml?cid=9fsp66BBhY



4. What is my perspective on Latino and Latina writers?

We — Gen X & Gen Y Latinos — have stories that have never been told in the mainstream. We are totally American but our experience is distinct in that we are bi-cultural. Some of us don’t even speak Spanish and we can’t stand watching novelas on Univision/Telemundo. Although Biscayne Writers is a resource for all writers, I guess it has Latin flavor by default because I am 100% Puerto Rican. But being 32, college-educated, female and single, I am the first to step out of my traditional family network and I feel like I am more than Latino/a. That’s when the magic happens for anybody — universal truth is what every storyteller aspires to so that every human being can relate.



5. Am I excited about what’s going on? How do I see things progressing?

Hell yeah! I’ve been covering the “Latin Boom” since 1999 when I worked for Latino.com and wrote an article about the significance of Ricky Martin prancing around with my feminist hero, Madonna, at the Grammys. 

Since then, Latinos have gotten some flexibility in their roles…It’s empowering to know that Salma Hayek is the producer behind “Betty La Fea.” It’s empowering to see Jennifer Lopez NOT playing a maid (I’m particularly obsessed with her role in “The Cell” as a badass professional woman by day and a hot chic who walks around in her underwear at night). 

And, quite frankly, it’s empowering to watch LatinLounge.tv — this is my generation’s expression of our distinct experiences. 



We are experiencing a massive transformation of creative expression at this time and I am thrilled to be a part of it!

Thank you Kemila…Check out BiscayneWriters.com for online workshops for creative writers.

Monday, February 25, 2008  |  Share This