Thursday, May 26, 2011

Emailing My Rebbe while dribble around the court looking for an open shot.


Hi
Rabbi Rami I am sincerely in the process of writing a book.I am not an experienced writer but I am learning. I want to write a book based on an experience I had about 13 years ago. Its about when I won a contest to shoot for a million dollars at Madison square garden during the NBA all star game and some of the life lessons I learned . I was the media darling of NY for that weekend and got more than 15 minutes of fame for that weekend
Re reading the NY Times article, which appeared on the front page somewhere near Monica Lewinsky's story, there are so many sub plots and issues which I can expand upon. You will see alot of references to my weight  problem (yes I have your book where you address this and more) Media seems to go for obvious flaws immediately. Basically the emphasis was on my ordinariness , average looks with major figure flaws and the dream of everyman to change his life instantly with a basketball shot. Monica Lewinsky changed her life instantly while playing with the balls of a powerful player. I portrayed my ball playing in a more family oriented way. I am not opposed  to squeezing the balls of some unnamed politicians because I am far from prudish. And she was using her skills for million dollar money shot too.
So what do I want from you? You tell me. I need direction for one.  I will not compliment you here because that is fruitless because every time I have written you with a praise, you poo-poo me. So lets skip that.  My last blog entry I wrote about him from a Facebook exhange reaching out to Dan Gutman. Who to greater of knowledge has one of the only books about a contest and a million dollar shot in a childrens book. Read the exchange in my last post ttp://poeticjottings.blogspot.com/.  of me attempting to enlist his assistance. My BS meter soared from this short exchange. You can see some sample of my writing there too in my impulsive ramblings. I  just started the blog to get something down to work from.
I have two main motivations: I enjoy words immensely. I think I have some awesome messages. I am creative but defy form.

Why now? If I can get some monetizing value out of this I would give it my twin daughters who have put up with my quirkiness and ups and downs. Some of those were pretty instense for children to witness. They have incured some big debt as they are finishing nursing school and given me alot of NACHAS and told me to shut up  constantly while they studied. I am not too happy they have to start life with such massive debt to help us out when we are sick. They are very solid people and have inherited some of my sarcasm too.
Also they have chosen not to date until they finish there BS/RN. so they can focus. I often lack focus and I would have gone for the dates without blinking an eyelash. My dating life was a big priority those days even if the results were mixed.
I can imagine the process of writing, publishing and staying true to oneself, making a few bucks can be elusive but hey its just another million dollar shot attempt.. Here is the NY times article which appeared in the NY Times Cover Page that day with my picture. They removed my picture on this site due to my lack of beauty with the generous plumpness of a flawed middle aged physique that has spent too much time overindulging  in a seated position and not enough shooting around at the gym.http://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/07/nyregion/for-1-million-walter-mitty-is-lacing-up-his-high-tops.html
So let me know...
saul  holcman the milliondollarshotguy
still aiming, still dreaming


 




Rami Shapiro <rabbirami@gmail.com>Thu, May 26, 2011 at 7:23 AM
To: Saul Holcman <sholcman@gmail.com>
Hi Saul,

This isn't rocket science. First, outline the book. Second, set
deadlines for each chapter. Third, write it. Fourth, rewrite it.
Fifth, rewrite it again and maybe again. When you have taken it as far
as you can go, we can talk again. Seriously: talking about writing is
book gets you nowhere. Just start writing it.

Rami
[Quoted text hidden]

Saul Holcman <sholcman@gmail.com>

1 comment:

  1. Thanks Rabbi
    Sometimes you need to get kicked in the side of the head by someone you respect with simple practical advice.
    SH

    ReplyDelete