Month: November 2004

41 cents, 41 cents?

Writer guy

Yesterday was all smiles with the a splendid and overdue resignation of Dan Rather, now it’s all cries over the latest assault on decency. For what seems like the fourth time in a six years the Post Office announced a rate increase on first class stamps, effective in 2005. This sets the toll to 41 cents. How precious.

Every few years costs increase across the board, Amtrak goes bankrupt, and the Postal Service raises rates. Thank goodness for consistency.

Well instead of grumbling from my armchair at this affront, I have a plan.

Tomorrow as I send two turkeys into the long goodnight, lowering them slowly into a stainless steel container filled with boiling peanut oil, I shall give thanks for the eight notches on my frying belt. They can take my money, but they can’t take my turkeys!

Dan Rather quits. A nation rejoices.

Writer guy

At last some good tidings – after twenty four excruciating years – Dan Rather has quit CBS Evening News. Thank you, Mr Rather. It’s going to be a much lovelier Christmas.

Dan Rather commented today, �It has been, and remains, an honor to be welcomed into your homes in the evening and I thank you for the trust you have given me.�

Not every home Mr. Rather, so hold the thanks please. You weren’t welcome in mine. And I didn’t trust you either. Just �talking tough� with Richard Nixon doesn’t make one a hard nosed journalist. Any mammal with a pulse could find issue with Dick and take him to task.

Years ago a street thug beat Mr. Rather senseless, screaming �Whats the frequency Kenneth.� over and over. For that event you have my sympathy. For nearly a quarter century of professional media service, you have my respect. But for your blatant, unrepentant and relentless bias in the news room, you have my scorn, sir.

Mr. Rather, I wish you the best of luck in all future endeavors. May your career not be judged by the single event that precipitated your resignation, and may the same compassion extended to those with differing political beliefs be extended to you.

Reverse Blockage

Writer guy

Though this string of blogs about writing may seem like a broken record, it’s where my head is at lately – the revision process in particular.

After every fifteen to twenty pages, I review the pages against the outline and synopsis. It’s not a critical or exhaustive analysis, but it does help preserve or restore focus and identify big disconnects early.

Three possible outcomes result from review:
1) Pages fit with the plan. Keep them for later revisions
2) Pages = donkey chum. Ditch, burn or tag for extreme revisions
3) Pages work yet have nothing to with the book whatsoever. Spin off and archive

So today was review time for Velocity. Only there wasn’t much to work with; the output the past six working days on the light side, begging the question, what the hell happened? A new challenge to tackle is what happened.

Let’s just say two stories of consequence wanted out at the same time. And lets say the first was plotted to a T, while the second was unorganized, untitled and otherwise unwritten. Enter the dilemma: a mind yearning for an outlet for the second story and no space to roam. So what happens? The hyper-focused mind constricts the output on the first story. It’s like writer’s block in reverse � too much attempts to escape at once and everything suffers. That’s my theory anyway. The real test is tomorrow when I do a little free writing on the second project and see what happens.

Holidays? Celebrate?

Writer guy

Once the book landed at the prospective agent’s office, the wife buzzed the let’s celebrate motif. I resisted at first, but as in most matters involving her, have relented. The real celebration will be when an offer for representation comes. Tonight we’re off to dine at an establishment that doesn’t rhyme with Friendly’s. Huzzah!

Meanwhile, work on Velocity continues, albeit slowly. Rough weather and a savage cold have waged war on my motivation the past few days. No matter. Every step is a step forward, even when it measures half the width of a penny.

The downtime provided a chance to review Seven Steps on the Writers Path. It was brilliant the first pass, downright genius the second. Anyone who wrestles with the business that is writing should read this book. The path and journey they describe is very AA like, but quite accurate. Definitely worth further study.