a) Because they allow me to use my creative side to make up funny situations and hypothetical responses.
b) Because they are quick and easy to write, which equals quick and easy $.
c) Because they let me reflect on my own quirks and habits.
d) All of the above.
Answer: d.
Here's my latest quiz on WORKS by Nicole Williams.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
There's a Fine, Fine Line*
There's a certain editor that I've been working with on an essay. I sent him a first draft and after sitting on it for a few months, he told me it was too strongly worded. I think some of my best work is very strongly worded (in fact, I won an award for a scathing editorial I wrote in high school, I would link to it, but it doesn't exist anymore), and I think my perspective was/is totally valid.
Still, he's the editor and he wouldn't publish it in its original form, so I sat down to rewrite the essay. I think version 2.0 might be even better because it's less raw emotion and more justified indignation. Yesterday, I called the editor to see if he agreed with me. Turns out he misses some of the "vinegar" as he calls it. I hope that the third time is a charm, because I don't know how many more rewrites he'll give me before he just gives up!!
In other news, Wednesday is traditionally when I would post an interview with a fellow writer. Life has gotten a little hectic for me to find and interview someone every single week, so I'm cutting back to every other week. If you're a book publicist now would be a good time to pitch me, since I've gotten through my backlog and I'd love suggestions for other writers to interview!
*post title borrowed from the title of my favorite song from Avenue Q.
Still, he's the editor and he wouldn't publish it in its original form, so I sat down to rewrite the essay. I think version 2.0 might be even better because it's less raw emotion and more justified indignation. Yesterday, I called the editor to see if he agreed with me. Turns out he misses some of the "vinegar" as he calls it. I hope that the third time is a charm, because I don't know how many more rewrites he'll give me before he just gives up!!
In other news, Wednesday is traditionally when I would post an interview with a fellow writer. Life has gotten a little hectic for me to find and interview someone every single week, so I'm cutting back to every other week. If you're a book publicist now would be a good time to pitch me, since I've gotten through my backlog and I'd love suggestions for other writers to interview!
*post title borrowed from the title of my favorite song from Avenue Q.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Musings on Editing
Pardon the infrequent posts. My day job is heating up as we prepare to launch a series of travel blogs (I’d post the links, but they’re not ready for prime time just yet). I hired two interns to help me generate content, and while I was initially worried that assigning them articles and supervising their work would keep me from my other work, it’s been great so far. It helps that I found two very bright people who can take an idea and run with it without asking constant questions (not that I would discourage question asking, but it can eat up my work time).
Editing their writing and those of my colleagues got me thinking about the editors I’ve worked with (both good and bad). One in particular really engages me in the revision process, showing me where the language could be beefed up and where it needs to be trimmed (love her for that!). You would think that good writers would make good editors, but that’s not necessarily the case. Usually when I’m writing the words flow out of me pretty easily, but editing younger writers’ work makes me think more deliberately about the writing process. I want to help them develop their voices without discouraging them or forcing them to imitate my writing style. As a side note, I once had a singing teach who never explained that I was to imitate her technique and not her voice. I ended up sounding like a 33 year old mezzo soprano from Alabama until a new teacher helped me develop my own voice.
When I edited my high school newspaper and later helped classmates edit essays in college, the temptation was to either let them get away with mediocrity or completely rewrite it (because both were easier than explaining the nuances of the English language). Then I had an editor do the latter to me, and I was furious. For a long time if you googled my name and my alma mater, you would find an article that had my byline but expressed an opinion that ran completely contrary to my own views (plus, it didn’t make much sense because she used some of my words and some of hers). So now I try to really think about how I give instructions. Why does this paragraph need a transition? Why doesn’t this word feel right in this context? What is this piece missing? Sounds like the next few months will be a learning experience on both sides.
Editing their writing and those of my colleagues got me thinking about the editors I’ve worked with (both good and bad). One in particular really engages me in the revision process, showing me where the language could be beefed up and where it needs to be trimmed (love her for that!). You would think that good writers would make good editors, but that’s not necessarily the case. Usually when I’m writing the words flow out of me pretty easily, but editing younger writers’ work makes me think more deliberately about the writing process. I want to help them develop their voices without discouraging them or forcing them to imitate my writing style. As a side note, I once had a singing teach who never explained that I was to imitate her technique and not her voice. I ended up sounding like a 33 year old mezzo soprano from Alabama until a new teacher helped me develop my own voice.
When I edited my high school newspaper and later helped classmates edit essays in college, the temptation was to either let them get away with mediocrity or completely rewrite it (because both were easier than explaining the nuances of the English language). Then I had an editor do the latter to me, and I was furious. For a long time if you googled my name and my alma mater, you would find an article that had my byline but expressed an opinion that ran completely contrary to my own views (plus, it didn’t make much sense because she used some of my words and some of hers). So now I try to really think about how I give instructions. Why does this paragraph need a transition? Why doesn’t this word feel right in this context? What is this piece missing? Sounds like the next few months will be a learning experience on both sides.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
5 Q's with Melissa Walker
Former ELLEGirl editor Melissa Walker recently released her first (of three!) novel, which is called Violet on the Runway. She’s now freelancing full time, but in her past life at ELLEGirl, she once spent 24 hours with male models and attended a finishing school for girls “all in the name of journalism,” as she writes on her website. How'd she do all that? Read on to find out!
Urban Muse: Tell us about your first major magazine clip.
Melissa: I was an intern at McCall’s magazine, and the entertainment editor asked me to do some research on celebrities and charity work. It ended up being a two-page spread, and I got a byline! I made my mother buy every copy in Chapel Hill so I could save them. Jamie Lee Curtis was on the cover with a golden retriever. I treasured that byline!
UM: What can freelance writers do to really wow an editor?
M: Honestly, the best things to do are the “duh” things: 1. Read the magazine, 2. Target your story to a particular section and make sure it really fits that section. It sounds silly, but a lot of writers aren’t really familiar with the magazines they’re pitching. If you read a few back issues, know the regular sections and know what’s been covered in the past 6 months or so, you are way ahead of the game. Then, when you pitch your idea, you’ll know that—for example—the “Friends” section always includes a stat and two sidebars, so you’ll have those built into your pitch.
UM: How do you stay motivated when you’re working on a bigger project like a novel?
M: It’s definitely hard. I try to write in the morning and not allow myself lunch until I have 1000 words. I do that five days a week (ideally). Then, the afternoon is free for magazine work or other shorter-term writing I have on my plate. After lunch, of course.
UM: What was the editing process like for Violet on the Runway? Did the idea change much from your original conception?
M: Not at all. The idea of a small-town, gawky girl getting discovered was the start of everything, as it was one my editor loved (she’d just seen two chapters and a one-page outline), so there weren’t any huge shifts. I did bulk up one scene and change the tone of a couple of moments (my editor, Kate Seaver, is very wise with tone).
UM: And I’m sure we’re all dying to know… where does one sign up to spend 24 hours with male models? Seriously, though, what did you take away from that experience?
M: That 24 hours actually helped in the book process a lot. Before that experience, I’d interviewed models and spent an hour or so with them at a time, but actually hanging out in their living space for 24 hours showed me a lot more about the full life. How they ate on bread plates, slept in bunk beds, went to the gym for two hours during the day, waited around for calls from their agents. And, of course, looked utterly hot while just watching TV. I’m not gonna say I didn’t enjoy that assignment.
I'll bet! If you'd like to read more about Melissa, check out this interview on About.com.
Urban Muse: Tell us about your first major magazine clip.
Melissa: I was an intern at McCall’s magazine, and the entertainment editor asked me to do some research on celebrities and charity work. It ended up being a two-page spread, and I got a byline! I made my mother buy every copy in Chapel Hill so I could save them. Jamie Lee Curtis was on the cover with a golden retriever. I treasured that byline!
UM: What can freelance writers do to really wow an editor?
M: Honestly, the best things to do are the “duh” things: 1. Read the magazine, 2. Target your story to a particular section and make sure it really fits that section. It sounds silly, but a lot of writers aren’t really familiar with the magazines they’re pitching. If you read a few back issues, know the regular sections and know what’s been covered in the past 6 months or so, you are way ahead of the game. Then, when you pitch your idea, you’ll know that—for example—the “Friends” section always includes a stat and two sidebars, so you’ll have those built into your pitch.
UM: How do you stay motivated when you’re working on a bigger project like a novel?
M: It’s definitely hard. I try to write in the morning and not allow myself lunch until I have 1000 words. I do that five days a week (ideally). Then, the afternoon is free for magazine work or other shorter-term writing I have on my plate. After lunch, of course.
UM: What was the editing process like for Violet on the Runway? Did the idea change much from your original conception?
M: Not at all. The idea of a small-town, gawky girl getting discovered was the start of everything, as it was one my editor loved (she’d just seen two chapters and a one-page outline), so there weren’t any huge shifts. I did bulk up one scene and change the tone of a couple of moments (my editor, Kate Seaver, is very wise with tone).
UM: And I’m sure we’re all dying to know… where does one sign up to spend 24 hours with male models? Seriously, though, what did you take away from that experience?
M: That 24 hours actually helped in the book process a lot. Before that experience, I’d interviewed models and spent an hour or so with them at a time, but actually hanging out in their living space for 24 hours showed me a lot more about the full life. How they ate on bread plates, slept in bunk beds, went to the gym for two hours during the day, waited around for calls from their agents. And, of course, looked utterly hot while just watching TV. I’m not gonna say I didn’t enjoy that assignment.
I'll bet! If you'd like to read more about Melissa, check out this interview on About.com.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Lean, Mean Writing Machine!
Two more articles have published this week, and new assignments keep flooding in (one benefit of fall: the temperatures are dropping but my bottom line is increasing because editors are actually returning my emails... novel, I know!).
First, there's a service piece about moving offices (which is a topic I am all too familiar with). Then there's a profile of my photographer friend Rachel McPherson, who also shot the headshots on my website, among other masterpieces. Speaking of "living the dream," writing pal and blogger extraordinaire Beth recently announced her decision to go full time freelance!! One of these days, I may have to interview her.
First, there's a service piece about moving offices (which is a topic I am all too familiar with). Then there's a profile of my photographer friend Rachel McPherson, who also shot the headshots on my website, among other masterpieces. Speaking of "living the dream," writing pal and blogger extraordinaire Beth recently announced her decision to go full time freelance!! One of these days, I may have to interview her.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Hot Off the Presses
Just returned from a little work trip. I literally missed the boat to Cape Cod because I was so disoriented trying to find the right pier. Something tells me I will be writing a humor piece in the near future about entering a meeting in-progress and announcing sheepishly, "Sorry, I'm late. I'm the new project manager and copywriter, so I enforce deadlines and edit guidebooks." (I'm better with deadlines than directions, I swear!)
For what it's worth, here are two career-related articles that just went live:
For what it's worth, here are two career-related articles that just went live:
- Juggling Your Job Search: my heart goes out to my friends who are job-hunting in this crazy economy - oy!
- Spotlight on Girl-Powered Real Estate: for myself and every woman who worries that she'll be renting for the rest of her life!
Thursday, September 13, 2007
All in the Timing
I took a few weeks off from querying while I finished a major assignment and prepared to move, so things were a little slow until this week. When I started getting new assignments again, my first inclination was write up my articles right away to make time for future assignments and queries. But then I realized that if I stopped querying to work on articles I’d end up right back where I started (without assignments) in a few weeks. Better to keep querying and work on assignments closer to their deadline so I’ll have more assignments coming in gradually.
I'm working with a couple of new-to-me editors, so I found it helpful to write up a checklist of questions to ask before accepting assignments (I feel kind of lame asking after the fact and they don't always offer up all the details up-front). Here it is...
I'm working with a couple of new-to-me editors, so I found it helpful to write up a checklist of questions to ask before accepting assignments (I feel kind of lame asking after the fact and they don't always offer up all the details up-front). Here it is...
- What would this article pay? Is there a kill fee?
- What rights do you purchase?
- What's the required word count?
- How many expert sources (if any) should the piece include?
- What's my deadline?
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Crossing the Line
That was the title of a writing seminar I took Monday night with the brilliant and talented Pauline Chen. Most of us are happy just to be published writers, but she is not only the author of a beautifully nuanced nonfiction book but also a well-respected liver transplant surgeon and the mother of twins. Fittingly, the topic (and subtitle) of Dr. Chen's seminar was "writing when you're not necessarily supposed to." Basically, how do you fit writing into your already hectic schedule if it's not your primary job?
We discussed three main barriers: finding the time and creative space to write, dealing with detractors (like an unsupportive partner or relative), and believing you have a worthwhile story to tell. She began by asking us to write about anything for ten minutes. Later, when students insisted they couldn't write anything of substance in ten minutes, she had them read their work and it dawned on us that setting time limits has a way of igniting creativity. It frees you to write, rather than fixate on finding the exact right word or phrase.
That got me thinking... I'm able to write short pieces and feature articles in short spurts (it's a luxury to have a whole afternoon or evening devoted to writing and I'm guessing many writers are the same way). So, why not write something bigger in those spurts? I frequently tell people I'd like to write a book someday "when I have the time." But honestly, there will always be other things competing for my time. Part of me is tempted to start that book and post my progress each week on this blog, and the other part wants to go back to surfing for freelance markets, because that's more comfortable territory.... Will Susan ever start her novel? Or will she cling to the familiarity of nonfiction? Tune in next week to find out!
We discussed three main barriers: finding the time and creative space to write, dealing with detractors (like an unsupportive partner or relative), and believing you have a worthwhile story to tell. She began by asking us to write about anything for ten minutes. Later, when students insisted they couldn't write anything of substance in ten minutes, she had them read their work and it dawned on us that setting time limits has a way of igniting creativity. It frees you to write, rather than fixate on finding the exact right word or phrase.
That got me thinking... I'm able to write short pieces and feature articles in short spurts (it's a luxury to have a whole afternoon or evening devoted to writing and I'm guessing many writers are the same way). So, why not write something bigger in those spurts? I frequently tell people I'd like to write a book someday "when I have the time." But honestly, there will always be other things competing for my time. Part of me is tempted to start that book and post my progress each week on this blog, and the other part wants to go back to surfing for freelance markets, because that's more comfortable territory.... Will Susan ever start her novel? Or will she cling to the familiarity of nonfiction? Tune in next week to find out!
No 5 Q's This Week
Still getting settled; thus, there will be no 5 Q's this week. But feel free to check out the archives or leave a comment if you have suggestions on which writer I should feature next!
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Note to Self...
Check editor's email addresses carefully! Several months ago I sent an essay to an editor at a major daily paper (not naming names). Eventually I heard that he was interested but wanted some rewrites, which I dutifully completed and sent off a month ago. I never heard from him, but I figured he edits a major daily paper, so he's probably busy. I patiently followed up every week or so, until yesterday the suspense got the better of me and I called him (I know calling an editor is often frowned upon but this guy, it's sometimes the only way to get an answer and he never acts like it's a crime).
He swore he never got it, and I swore I'd sent it multiple times. Then I got back to my desk and realized that I'd added an extra letter (his first initial, which many editors use but he doesn't) and the paper probably has so many email addresses that they don't send out error messages. Hopefully we can chalk it up to those "darn spam filters" and laugh about it later. Next time I will double-check the email addy before spending a month in agony waiting for a response!
UPDATE: I resent the rewrite to the correct email address, followed up by phone, and he still doesn't have my essay. I even tried sending from a different email account, but it seems there are little gremlins trying to prevent me from publishing!
He swore he never got it, and I swore I'd sent it multiple times. Then I got back to my desk and realized that I'd added an extra letter (his first initial, which many editors use but he doesn't) and the paper probably has so many email addresses that they don't send out error messages. Hopefully we can chalk it up to those "darn spam filters" and laugh about it later. Next time I will double-check the email addy before spending a month in agony waiting for a response!
UPDATE: I resent the rewrite to the correct email address, followed up by phone, and he still doesn't have my essay. I even tried sending from a different email account, but it seems there are little gremlins trying to prevent me from publishing!
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Trading My Pen for a Podium
Some of you may remember my fascination with a little show called Mortified. Well, friends, get ready, because in a few weeks I’m reading some of my masterpieces from middle and high school. When I met with the director last week to finalize my material, she told me that my journal entries are some of THE most mortifying in the show. Not sure if I should be flattered by that, but I sort of am.
Here’s a sneak peak circa 2000: “Wondering how it to get him to ask out me out this weekend without making a blunt, direct statement that would expose me as the obsessive, love-starved, angst-ridden loser that I am.” Ah, the eternal question… Anyway, here’s a questions for all of you: any tips on reading your work in public? I’ve done lots of theatre, but there’s something about reading your own work in public that is even more revealing than playing a role. Maybe it’ll make a good article!
Here’s a sneak peak circa 2000: “Wondering how it to get him to ask out me out this weekend without making a blunt, direct statement that would expose me as the obsessive, love-starved, angst-ridden loser that I am.” Ah, the eternal question… Anyway, here’s a questions for all of you: any tips on reading your work in public? I’ve done lots of theatre, but there’s something about reading your own work in public that is even more revealing than playing a role. Maybe it’ll make a good article!
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Mind the (Generation) Gap
My most recent article deals with Boomer bosses and their Millennial employees. Read Managing Generation Y.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
5 Q's with Lynn Harris
Lynn Harris was another discovery from the very funny anthology Single State of the Union. She’s a contributing editor for Glamour and has also written for The New York Times, Salon.com, Nerve.com, and many other places. Her book, Death by Chick Lit, was recently released, so it seemed appropriate to pick her brains about writing.
Urban Muse: What inspired Death by Chick Lit?
Lynn: I knew I wanted to write a sequel to my first Lola Somerville novel, Miss Media, a pop culture satire wrapped in a caper. Problem was -- as a journalist and non-fiction writer -- I’d joked when I wrote Miss Media that I’d had one idea for a novel, and that was it. So square-one of my brainstorming was: okay, let’s say Lola (also a writer) is casting about for her next big idea. I knew that I wanted Lola to be solving another mystery in which she had a stake, and I wanted it to flow naturally from Miss Media, yet still stand alone. And I knew I wanted to continue in the vein of media satire. Then I thought "Murder: that could be fun." And then I thought, "Which media -- rightly or wrongly -- provoke murderous rage?" It wasn't that far from there to (a) someone's killing successful chick lit authors, and (b) Lola halfway wishes she were next. So it’s it's a satire of hype and competition in commercial publishing without being a satire of chick lit per se. But really, you don’t have to be in publishing to relate to the themes of loyalty and ambition, or the jokes about pregnant Jennifer Aniston action figures.
UM: Tell us about Breakup Girl.
L: Breakup Girl is the only superhero whose domain is love, or lack thereof. She helps both men and women with romantic emergencies, from breakups to makeups and hookups and beyond. My creative partner, super-genius Chris Kalb, and I created BG in 1996 as the narrator of a book about surviving a breakup. We figured hey, we have superheros who can bend steel bars -- how about one who can mend broken hearts? We launched BG’s online headquarters, BreakupBirl.net, in 1997, as the locus of her ongoing advice and adventures, and the site has been around ever since, winning awards and a bit of a cult following along the way. (I don’t write the advice column anymore, long story short, but you can search the thousands of letters in our years and years of archives, or link from breakupgirl.net to my dating advice column at MSN.com.) We’ve also done TV, a live show, another book, and now new BG comics can be seen at lifetimetv.com and also (via subscription) on Lifetime Mobile. (This means “on cell phones,” which I learned when they called us and asked us to do it.)
UM: Any tips for beginning writers?
L: In terms of getting published,
a) Know your target. If you have an idea for a story/an article, choose a specific section of a magazine/newspaper/online publication, familiarize yourself with it, and then start writing. NOT the other way around. If you want to write for enjoyment, fine. But if you want to write for publication, don’t write a piece out of the blue and then try to find a home for it. Publications have pretty set rules about what they do and don’t run -- for example, don’t pitch a first-person article to a publication that clearly never runs any -- so don’t even try to bend them. Look for “writers’ guidelines” or “submission guidelines” on their websites and take it from there.
b) Keep at it. Rejection (assuming you get a response at all, which is one of the ill-mannered realities of submitting work) is an investment. Consider The Gretzky Rule: Wayne Gretzky used to say you’d score a goal in one out of every ten shots. So when you’re up to 7 rejections, you can think, “Yay, I’m getting there!”
UM: Where do you do most of your writing?
L: Right here at my desk in my home office. It’s all business, totally unromantic. Contrary to popular belief, as a freelance writer, I do not, like, go to the park and journal.
UM: What are you working on next?
L: Another Lola Somerville mystery. Let’s just say that this time, she’ll be sleuthing for two.
Thanks, Lynn!
Urban Muse: What inspired Death by Chick Lit?
Lynn: I knew I wanted to write a sequel to my first Lola Somerville novel, Miss Media, a pop culture satire wrapped in a caper. Problem was -- as a journalist and non-fiction writer -- I’d joked when I wrote Miss Media that I’d had one idea for a novel, and that was it. So square-one of my brainstorming was: okay, let’s say Lola (also a writer) is casting about for her next big idea. I knew that I wanted Lola to be solving another mystery in which she had a stake, and I wanted it to flow naturally from Miss Media, yet still stand alone. And I knew I wanted to continue in the vein of media satire. Then I thought "Murder: that could be fun." And then I thought, "Which media -- rightly or wrongly -- provoke murderous rage?" It wasn't that far from there to (a) someone's killing successful chick lit authors, and (b) Lola halfway wishes she were next. So it’s it's a satire of hype and competition in commercial publishing without being a satire of chick lit per se. But really, you don’t have to be in publishing to relate to the themes of loyalty and ambition, or the jokes about pregnant Jennifer Aniston action figures.
UM: Tell us about Breakup Girl.
L: Breakup Girl is the only superhero whose domain is love, or lack thereof. She helps both men and women with romantic emergencies, from breakups to makeups and hookups and beyond. My creative partner, super-genius Chris Kalb, and I created BG in 1996 as the narrator of a book about surviving a breakup. We figured hey, we have superheros who can bend steel bars -- how about one who can mend broken hearts? We launched BG’s online headquarters, BreakupBirl.net, in 1997, as the locus of her ongoing advice and adventures, and the site has been around ever since, winning awards and a bit of a cult following along the way. (I don’t write the advice column anymore, long story short, but you can search the thousands of letters in our years and years of archives, or link from breakupgirl.net to my dating advice column at MSN.com.) We’ve also done TV, a live show, another book, and now new BG comics can be seen at lifetimetv.com and also (via subscription) on Lifetime Mobile. (This means “on cell phones,” which I learned when they called us and asked us to do it.)
UM: Any tips for beginning writers?
L: In terms of getting published,
a) Know your target. If you have an idea for a story/an article, choose a specific section of a magazine/newspaper/online publication, familiarize yourself with it, and then start writing. NOT the other way around. If you want to write for enjoyment, fine. But if you want to write for publication, don’t write a piece out of the blue and then try to find a home for it. Publications have pretty set rules about what they do and don’t run -- for example, don’t pitch a first-person article to a publication that clearly never runs any -- so don’t even try to bend them. Look for “writers’ guidelines” or “submission guidelines” on their websites and take it from there.
b) Keep at it. Rejection (assuming you get a response at all, which is one of the ill-mannered realities of submitting work) is an investment. Consider The Gretzky Rule: Wayne Gretzky used to say you’d score a goal in one out of every ten shots. So when you’re up to 7 rejections, you can think, “Yay, I’m getting there!”
UM: Where do you do most of your writing?
L: Right here at my desk in my home office. It’s all business, totally unromantic. Contrary to popular belief, as a freelance writer, I do not, like, go to the park and journal.
UM: What are you working on next?
L: Another Lola Somerville mystery. Let’s just say that this time, she’ll be sleuthing for two.
Thanks, Lynn!
Monday, September 3, 2007
Getting Settled
Focusing on writing has been a challenge this week. We don’t have internet in my apartment yet, but that has actually been kind of a blessing. It’s forced me to explore my new neighborhood and try out all the coffeeshops and other hang outs that offer wifi (not so good for my waistline that I’m also forced to order pastries and Italian sodas at each location). It’s also eliminated most of the mindless web surfing that tends to happen between 9pm and midnight. I’ve gotten pretty savvy about maximizing my internet time: copying articles and emails into a Word doc so I can read or respond later and making lists of everything I have to Google.
I’ve also managed remarkably well without a desk. Last night I was jogging and ruminating about the recent desk drama when I saw the perfect desk in a store window. Today I went back and nabbed the very last one in stock. My little brother (being the coolest college junior on the planet and an All Around Awesome Guy) drove over to pick up me and the desk and lug the pieces up the stairs. We haven’t actually assembled it, but seeing all the pieces neatly stacked in the corner gives me a sense of peace. *Sighs contentedly* This blog should return to your regularly scheduled programming any day now…
I’ve also managed remarkably well without a desk. Last night I was jogging and ruminating about the recent desk drama when I saw the perfect desk in a store window. Today I went back and nabbed the very last one in stock. My little brother (being the coolest college junior on the planet and an All Around Awesome Guy) drove over to pick up me and the desk and lug the pieces up the stairs. We haven’t actually assembled it, but seeing all the pieces neatly stacked in the corner gives me a sense of peace. *Sighs contentedly* This blog should return to your regularly scheduled programming any day now…
Recent Writings
It's a new month and that means new clips! Check out the latest:
And... I'm quoted in this article about blogging. Happy Labor Day!
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Times like this...
I wish I were a full-time freelancer. Now that I'm moved into the new digs, Mom and I went furniture shopping today. I sold my desk before I left my old apartment and I've been looking forward to choosing something newer and more functional where I can do all my writing/surfing/online shopping/emailing.
Well, today we found The Desk. Its compact, has tons of storage, AND it's in my price range. The catch is that it's only available through delivery and they only deliver on weekdays between 9 and 5 (they can't give me a window, so I'll have to set aside the whole day, natch).
OK, I thought, it's worth taking a vacation day so that I can get my apartment set up the way I want it. But then I realized that over the next several weeks I don't have any open days that I could take off. I'd have to skip the company retreat or reschedule interviews or miss deadlines so I could sit around and wait for some delivery person who may or may not appear on the appointed day.
How are people with jobs supposed to get anything done? I'll just have to put off getting a desk until I have a free day, because frankly, Mom doesn't want to spend the day at my apartment any more than I would want her poking around my pantry unchaperoned.
Well, today we found The Desk. Its compact, has tons of storage, AND it's in my price range. The catch is that it's only available through delivery and they only deliver on weekdays between 9 and 5 (they can't give me a window, so I'll have to set aside the whole day, natch).
OK, I thought, it's worth taking a vacation day so that I can get my apartment set up the way I want it. But then I realized that over the next several weeks I don't have any open days that I could take off. I'd have to skip the company retreat or reschedule interviews or miss deadlines so I could sit around and wait for some delivery person who may or may not appear on the appointed day.
How are people with jobs supposed to get anything done? I'll just have to put off getting a desk until I have a free day, because frankly, Mom doesn't want to spend the day at my apartment any more than I would want her poking around my pantry unchaperoned.
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