The executive producer of my favorite TV show spoke on campus last night, as part of the curriculum. Besides screening dailies, he left the actual shooting script for a yet to air episode – and two earlier drafts. I’m studying the shooting script closely.

What he said about the movie and television was interesting. In movies, writers are a notch above the janitor; directors wield the control. No surprise there, based on the movies Hollywood belches out each season. Television writers on the other hand, have a huge influence on the show, and not just the story. They can be executive producers and guide the entire operation. In his case, he is also the show’s creative consultant ( plus creator ). During the season, he works until 2AM fine-tuning scripts a team of writers draft. From raw idea, to shooting script can take the team of 5 writers upwards of a month.

He was very gracious and answered tons of questions. And because the Wife and I arrived early, we both had a chance to thank him for the show and shake his hand.

I’m sending him an email later today thanking him for his time.

These are the days I love my job.

UPDATED on Saturday: Then again, there’s always the chance of a gremlin.

After a few sleepless nights, I grabbed the Gremlin rifling through the school network by the neck. A relatively tiny issue converged on a very important piece of the infrastructure in the worst way and made the last week, well, awful. I beat the Gremlin ( along with a consultant — thank you, Jaysen ) into submission. Network Admin 1, Gremlin 0. I had you at hello, Gremlin. At hello.

Since the culling, I’ve had energy for writing and in the past day began reworking one of the characters. Because the character appears in nine of sixty-three chapters, this task is the largest and most involved of edits. I’ve shirked the job long enough. Once clearing the hump, it’s mostly matters of grammar and fine-tuning. If today is any indication, a finish date of mid-March is quite feasible. Then I’ll read it start to end twice, adjust what seems off-kilter and hand the manuscript over to Team Eagle Eye. Whatever they miss — I doubt it will be much — I live with.

Tonight I revise the synopsis, a tight 2.5 pages that captures the key points of the novel.

Surprise parties are a great way to kickoff a thirtieth birthday; this Saturday the Wife took her turn at the birthday wheel. Keeping secrets from the Wife is almost impossible, but I succeeded, along with nearly two dozen conspirators. Muhaha. I’ll post pics when the attendants send some along.

On Saturday I hiked part of the Delaware Water Gap. This meant a long, steep ascent, over boulders the size of basketballs, many of them loose and covered with jagged tips. The descent — over similar terrain — started off miserable, until I quit fighting the rocks and let my body go with gravity. Had a couple of close calls, but my boots doubled as eyes and led me to the bottom in one piece. Guess Keroauc was right, one can’t fall off a mountain.

Work on the novel edits continues. Nearing the 2/3 mark.

A quick break in between software loads. The tri-mester break starts in a few hours; it’s been crazy. Insane like no energy left for writing, so I must budget my time better.

Just a thought…