​My dearest kitty cats and kitten caboodles, it’s time to talk about something that can be very real and frustrating as a writer that can dampen even your brightest of days: WRITER’S BLOCK. Well fear not my friends, this dementor-esque creature living in your mind and sucking away your imagination does not have to exist; especially not in your imagination – I feel like that would be self destructive, but anyway, that’s not the point. As a writer myself, I have been blessed with many ideas that continue on an endless list that is added to every day. Below I have listed a ton of different practices I use to constantly and consistently create new worlds, characters, and stories that I feel are worth telling! Check it out!:

​I hope some of these practices will help you along the way to creating your next masterpiece! If anyone has questions regarding story, want to send your stuff over to me for an opinion, or want to know more about the business of screenwriting, please reach out via comment below or through e-mail! I want to help you succeed and get your stories out there to share with the world!!!
 
I hope you all are having the most fabulous day and creating constantly!!
 
XOXO
 
 
Mary Gabrielle Strause

The time has come!  You're moving to the City of Angels and you couldn't be more excited to make your dreams come true! Though the ride of making it in Hollywood is wild enough, so are the logistics of living in Los Angeles and the more prepared and aware you are, the better off you will be! Though there are a lot of incredible things about this city, there are also so many things you need to know in order to be safe and far from drowning in hot water emotionally and financially. Below are a few of my tips for those of you making the leap over to the West Coast! I have so many more and if you have any questions, please comment below and I'll be sure to answer them! For now though - here are my top 23 tips for artists moving to Los Angeles! 

• This may sound cynical, and though you should always have an open mind and heart, you should also be watching your back at all times. Be aware of people's tone and body language and be sure to take into account the way your gut feels about them. LA is full of shady people and the only one who will always have your best interest is yourself. Take care of you, and make that your priority. 

  

 I woke up early this morning with an unusual peace surrounding me. I stood in the mirror and decided to put just a little bit of powder and mascara on compared to the typical fifteen minute makeup routine I lived by. To my surprise, it wasn't long until I was looking back at the eleven year old version of myself putting on brown mascara for the first time. Here, for the first time in a long time, time stood still. It felt like I was standing with my dearest friend from a distant memory. There was no one else but her and I, the world beneath us, and that moment to be lived - all things that I can't remember the last time I experienced them. So, when I saw this wide-eyed, smiling, and hopeful girl, I found myself saying these things to her:

This is only the beginning. And let me tell you, the more you look back on who were, the better the chances are of finding yourself again. Even if it's just in moments and memories, but in this moment, this memory, you are everything I want to be and what I can find myself becoming in this new chapter of my life. You are so incredibly bright and the amount of love you have in your heart will far surpass many of those you may ever meet - even if you ever feel this way, you keep on loving. You keep on smiling. You keep on exploring every avenue of your interests and don't you ever stop doing everything you do for you - You know what I mean. You're living each second as it passes and making the most it. You need to teach me how to do this. I can't remember the last time I laid down and looked at the stars without feeling there was some place I needed to be or something I needed to do. 

Right now you're going through life enjoying who you are and just being so incredibly happy to be alive - all the while you have some people making fun of how chubby you might be, the pink and green braces you wear, your ridiculous vocabulary and strange sense of humor, and they pay attention to the fact that you have  no idea what's cool and you don't exactly care. It's because you are this way that you don't realize until you're twenty years old that you were bullied a little bit. Guess what though. You're so sensationally beautiful, and I would ever change these days for the world. You know why? Because you never sacrifice who you are and the light God put inside of you to appease the darkness and cruelty of others. You love and respect everyone you meet, and you soak up their perspective the best you always can - don't you ever change this aspect of yourself. 

A few years down the line you find yourself in a dark place. You are your own worst enemy and keep reliving the thought and nightmare that you are not enough. This couldn't ever be further from the truth. You're growing up in a small town with a big heart, mind and even bigger aspirations. You are exceeding so many expectations already, but you use this feeling and opportunity as motivation to find yourself. From this moment you try anything and everything, and you never let the idea of fear get in your way, because you're more afraid of being unhappy than of failure. Both things come into play throughout this life, and they make you into who you are - as you've discovered. You know though, as I said earlier, you did all of these things in pursuit of finding yourself with no intention of gaining anyone else's perspective on the matter. You did them because you enjoyed them, and quite frankly, you were pretty great at most everything, and it shaped you into who you are today - even if you may have hit a few unexpected road bumps along the way.  As much as it's broken your heart, you realize that the friends that you've had won't stick forever and that they may have never had the best of intentions. You see that the love you're looking for may only come from your family, but you realize this all you really ever need, and if someone were to come along to give you that love, they'll become your family all in the same. 

Your first year in college, you pursued something that would be realistic and also satisfied what you thought of as your dreams, only to find yourself searching for yourself even further. You did find the next step in your journey by meeting your first true love, having him teach you who you were to become, and then breaking your heart into a million different pieces shortly after. This is how you know people come into your life for a reason, even if it's not to stay. He taught you what the future could be by looking back into your past. Back to when you wrote and illustrated your own books, took so many pictures, stole your mom's camera only to record over your brother's basketball game with you singing Phantom of the Opera to yourself in your bedroom, and then also editing together little music videos that consisted of Harry Potter fan drawings that you posted on YouTube. You discovered who you were to become by uncovering the obvious from the past - back to when you did what you did because you loved it and it's how you wanted to spend your time. 

Now, you've been living in Los Angeles for four years. You finished film school this last May and discovered that you wanted to spend your life writing as a screenwriter and author, just like you had when you were four years old. You quit the full-time job you thought you were supposed to have in order to achieve this dream, and Mary, you sure will. Truth is, every time you're feeling unsure of what move to make next at any point in your life, revisit that young girl you used to be.

Looking back to your past mostly holds a negative connotation, but to me, it's an affirmation. You're looking back to who you were when no one's opinion mattered and you were living life on your own terms. You did what made you happy without thinking twice about what others thought, and to me, that's what life is about. Why lead a life that creates an inner misery and indecisiveness, when the answers to who you truly are, are in your childhood. 

So to my future self, the person who will continually be my motivation and hero, every time you're looking for a sign or guidance, look back to that picture of you in bed when you were four years old with a book over your head and passed out sleeping. Think of all of the stories you wrote and how they resonate with who you've become. Look back to that little girl who was smiling to the camera because with what small amount of time she had been living, she had life figured out. 

Are you ready to take on the world solo and for the first time? I know, it can be a daunting thought, but let me tell you, nothing you ever experience will be more rewarding than walking through this world with you as your own best friend. You are able to see the world through your own eyes without anyone else's opinions pressing down on you. It's a fresh start to discover who you are, how you view the world, what freedom truly is, and how those things that stick with you along the way, those things and people that set your soul on fire, are connected to your purpose. I continue to feel this way each time I travel alone, and the first time was when I was fifteen years old. 
​
There's no reason to hold back - go out and venture the land you've always dreamt of, no matter the price or risk. It'll always be worth it. But first, take a peak at my top 23 tips for traveling alone and on a budget  - chances are it'll make your first journey out into the world a little bit easier and step in the right direction towards changing your life forever. 

CHECK OUT MY TIPS BELOW!

Know exactly what part of the city you're staying in - make sure it's relatively central.  It's important to know what the city life is like and if there is any crime in the area, and if there is, don't stay in that area. Also, check the weather, be aware of the current events and politics surrounding where you're going - it could effect your stay and potential safety. For the fun part though, take note of everything that you might want to see (touristy or non-touristy) and how it can fit into your trip cost-wise, time-wise, or potentially even at all! It could be under construction (who knows? You will if you look it up).

​Frommer's Travel Guide books are always extremely helpful in finding things you may never knew existed and could be interested in. AND SET A BUDGET, you set that budget and you stick to that budget. This includes airfare, meals, lodging, entertainment, transportation, souvenirs, and contingency! Researching prices and CONVERSION RATES (these suckers get ya) is necessary. You best make an excel document now, print it out, and let it sink in so you don't let it impact you while you're on your actual journey. You'll know it like the back of your hand so you have more time to think about the fun things. 

Depending on where you're going, it's always helpful to have an interactive and tangible checklist to take with you no matter where you go and how many places you plan on traveling within the same span of time. Write what you need down, and actively check it off once it's in your suitcase.

​These items should be but are not limited to your passport and drivers license, an outlet adapter that provides you the proper input regardless of what country or region you're in, a phone charger, extra cash in a safe container, medication, specific toiletries, extra undies etc. If you forget something, you're going to have a bad time - and it could take money out of your travel budget - don't let that happen!

After you've researched the weather, which I know you've done, be sure to ONLY pack what you need to. If it's going to rain, bring a proper jacket and shoes. If it's snowing -do the same. If you're hiking - rent boots. Otherwise, stick to light materials and articles of clothing that you can wear multiple times without being gross while still being stylish. One pair of sexy and comfy jeans, jammies, a cute skirt, a few cute tops, a sweater or light jacket, a nice evening dress, one pair of walking shoes and cute shoes, a bra and undies - and that's all you need!

​You're good to go! If you bring more than necessary, lugging a fudge ton of unneeded junk around gets old fast, not to mention, it's easier to get lazy with your belongings and eventually lose things. Which reminds me, never bring anything of sentimental value on a trip with you. If you miss someone from back home along the way - talk to them or send them a letter. It's not worth losing. 

Don’t be shy! If you’re interested in learning about the culture and building relationships, who better to talk to than someone who lives there! Who knows - they could potentially change your life, and you could change theirs. And besides, I’m sure your smiling personality and genuine interest would be more than enough to make their day. Give it a try. You won’t regret it. ​

Just so they know you’re safe and where you are. If anything were to ever happen, it gives them a good idea of what’s going on and where to go back to. You know, your parents are always worried - give them peace of mind and send a picture or two. Plus, it’s a fun way to talk about your daily adventures. ​

Life is too short to do the same thing twice, especially if you’re only in a place for a week or two. If you grab a cup of coffee every morning, and you go to the same place twice, you’re denying one of the hundreds of coffee shops around you the opportunity to give you a new experience - and why would you do that to yourself?

​Smile at a new face, try something new. Take a different path to the main road that’ll take you to where you’re planning on going. Give yourself the opportunity to live a new life every day - a new blank canvas waiting for the masterpiece of the day to be painted on it. ​

Just do the dang thing. Nothing can hold you back. Live your life without reservations - you never know when you’ll get an opportunity like this again. Life can change in a minute. Take advantage of getting to know yourself the best you can possibly can, and enjoy every single moment of it. The discoveries that come from traveling alone are beyond what you could ever imagine. In fact, just a moment could change your life forever - don’t let it pass you by. ​

So guys, anyone who knows me knows that I love a good beer and a killer atmosphere. Lucky enough, living in LA gives me an infinite amount of options that surely never disappoint. However, there are a few that rise above the rest, and because it's so difficult to choose, I'm sticking to my top suggestions in Downtown Los Angeles for now! Next time you're looking to go out in the concrete jungle, make sure to check these places out! You won't be disappointed! ;)

648 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90014

With it being within the shining lights of historic Broadway in Downtown Los Angeles, there's no question that Clifton's is always my go-to. With a cafeteria on the main floor during the day to meet your friend's for breakfast at, a mid-day jazz band to swing dance into the night to, to four different themed bars amongst the three floors of this cabinet of curiosities - it's hard to not have a good time - no matter what your nightlife preferences are. Whether you're taking part in the California themed bar, The Monarch, the parlor that takes you back to Old Hollywood glamour and speak-easy style dancing, The Brookdale, getting down with the DJ in the purple and black, cathedral themed Gothic Bar, or do the art deco, map-themed tiki room in the Pacific Seas - you're in for a night to remember. Plus, it's in the heart of Downtown, so it's the best place to start and end. Don't miss out!

118 E 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90014

Talk about historic Downtown LA. Cole's is the oldest restaurant and bar in the City of Los Angeles that has remained open and continuously operating from it's original building since being established in 1908! How insane! Not only was the French Dip sandwich invented here, but several members of the mafia dined here on a regular basis AND their original speakeasy is still alive and kickin'- with a jazz band and dancing most nights after 7PM! If you are wanting a taste of history and a good time - Cole's is where you should be. 

840 S Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90014

This corner stone masterpiece filled to the brim with southern hospitality and all of the delicacies of New Orleans, also has some of the best blended drinks mixed within it's Cajun Elegance. Preux and Proper used to be right down the street from where I lived, and it's the best little hidden gem in downtown and is housed in what used to be the point of time-square of DTLA back in the 1920s. Their food is amazing. The atmosphere is perfect for small and quiet get togethers and is within historic DTLA, so you know it's going to be absolutely beautiful. For it being the last stop on South Spring Street, it should be one of the first places you check off your places to go when wanting to go out for a nice and relaxing night out with friends. 

Now that you have my top ten bars to go to in DTLA, keep an eye out for some of my other suggestions coming your way within the next few blog posts! Let me know if you stop by any of these crazy fun joints and send me a picture! Subscribe and send me all of your stories below! I want to hear about all of your DTLA bar hopping adventures!