A Recent Breakthrough on the Book Writing, and . . .

Your horoscope for January 10, 2009

"A project that you have worked on for a long time could be bringing some money your way. However, don't be too disappointed if you don't have it in your hand to spend today. There might be a short delay of some kind, perhaps due to a muck up in the mail service. You might be turning your thoughts now to new projects, and while you have a lot of ideas, Joyce, you aren't likely to make firm decisions or definite plans today. "

Sometimes, these silly horoscopes just hit it right on the 'money', ya know. When I read it, I knew it was about my book, and the dozens of others waiting to get out of my head and into a manuscript.

Nobody Freak Out, But . . .

I actually worked on my book today.

Scary. I know.

Sorry to shock you so.

But one day, in the next two years, when an agent signs me and my manuscript is sold, you can say that you knew me when . . .

Back to writing now. Characters are talking. Gotta listen.

Writing Dilemma

 

So the editor of the newspaper I write for was laid off. Since her lay-off, the quality of the paper is really suffering. So I, as a weekly columnist *UNPAID* keep writing for the paper regardless of its reputation, or do I start to look for other ways to have my columns published?

I've had an almost 2.5 year run - weekly - so that's quite a portfolio of writing.

How do you know when its time to cut your ties?

Thoughts?

Sweet, Fancy Moses, I Can't Believe It!

So Peter doesn't like country music much. Even though he tolerated it while we dated, once he had me hooked the country -ick- came out.

He writes for our local paper, as I do. He gets paid, I don't. Ironically, my column is more popular than all of his stories, but it's because he has to write news and I get to write whatever I like, as long as I can possibly make people laugh and forget about the icky news stuff that is generally depressing.

Besides, pointless stories are my thing.

So Peter has to write a story about the upcoming Riverside Jam, our annual country music festival. He's writing the news part of it, details, facts, etc.

Then the editor of our paper asks if he wants to be the key media person for the whole festival. One of the organizers will send all-access passes if he will do it.

Me: "All access! SWEET!"

Him: "Yeah, but I don't know if I want to cover the whole festival. All that country music might kill me."

Me: "I'll cover it then." I wasn't really serious. I don't have journalism experience.

Him: "You would?"

Me: (A little more excited now, if that's possible) "Do you think Dianne would let me?"

Him: "Call her and ask her."

Me: OMG, OMG, OMG - nervously dialling - calling our editor.

Dianne: "Really? You want to do it? I'm having trouble finding coverage for the event. You'd really cover the whole thing, write all the stories and take pictures?"

Me:

(You can't hear me because my excitement has taken my voice to a level only dogs can hear. I said yes.)

Dianne: "You just made my day, Joyce."

Me: "Can I call the promoters and tell them I'm their girl?"

Dianne and Peter: "Sure, go ahead."

I call the promoters and tell them who I am. They know me from my column and are happy to send ALL ACCESS passes, as well as a nice 8x10 photo of one of the performers.

I asked where I would be allowed and if I could talk to any of the performers.

Get this. . . I get to INTERVIEW all of them! I get to interview Lorrie Morgan and Mark Chesutt! Can you believe it?!!!!

17 days and counting. My first feature story. But even better, I get to write it my style, and I get to have ALL ACCESS.

Did I mention who I get to interview?!

Click here for info about the Jam. Here for Lorrie Morgan. Here for Mark Chesnutt.

The Writers' Strike is Killing Us, One Reality Show at a Time!

With no end in sight to the Writer’s Guild of America strike, it’s time to come up with something else to do than watch television.

Unfortunately for me, it’s the middle of winter and outside scares me.

So what is a person to do who is addicted to television and is afraid of icy winter conditions? And please don’t try and get all superior on me and tell me I’m the only one with this particular personality combination. I have statistics to back up my claims.

Here is one good thing about the writers’ strike. Commercial breaks are shorter because nobody wants to advertise on a reality show or a third-time-run program. Yay for that.

The strike also expands the mind. Hear me out. Hopefully all of us are aware of this strike, are thinking about it and maybe taking a side. Our minds expand with the knowledge that it’s so much more than the ‘stars’ of whatever shows are on the idiot box. The Daily Show (now A Daily Show to show solidarity with the strikers) is amusing, but not nearly as razor-sharp funny without John Stewart’s brilliant crew of writers.

The strike also expands the mind by forcing you to watch new shows if you can’t find the OFF button on your remote. I’ve been enjoying a couple of new choices because I have no idea where my OFF button is, and my Tivo likes to work overtime.

Did you know that Scott Baio is 45 and Still Single (at press time, Scott Baio is now 46 and married with child, after he 'manned-up' and droppedhis Lothario ways.)?

When I was 12, my dream was to marry him (after I’d given up on my dream of Donny Osmond), so my curiosity was more than piqued by this reality show. After two episodes, its’ clear to me why he stayed single for so long.

Did you know that 80% of The Real Housewives of Orange County have had some sort of plastic surgery, and they all live in some form of gated community? Is it any wonder I’m happier in Canada? Way too many expectations back on the home-turf.

The Donald (Trump) has an even tighter grip on the reality wagon handles with his latest reality offering in Pageant Place, a ‘show’ about the current title holders of Miss USA, America, Universe and Teen USA, a conglomerate he owns. He takes all his current title holders and makes them live in a house for a year while the cameras are rolling. Let’s just say that this is not a glamorous picture of the franchise, and it wouldn’t surprise me if participation in these pageants dropped dramatically. I thought this was supposed to be about poise and beauty and education? Something about a scholarship? HA!

And what’s worse? I watched it. With fascinated horror, and maybe a little bit of glee.

Come spring when it’s no longer a danger to my aging parts to have a nice long walk outside, this won’t be an issue for me anymore. I will be able to find the OFF button because what’s outside in Lanark County is infinitely more interesting than what’s on the tube.

But until then, let’s support our writers. Watching the further deterioration of television alone should prove how important and talented these people are. Click the link to get an understanding of what the WGA strike is all about.

And if we don’t get the writers back soon, I can’t be held responsible for my further deterioration into the voyeuristic realm of peeking in the windows of someone else’s life through ‘reality’ television.