Getting Busier!

Things are slowly coming together.  I have to say, I like it.

On the comics front, I'm starting up a webcomic with a few friends.  Right now, I'm searching for an artist that has a loose, scratchy style.  Definitely not superheroes.  Once I find one and we get some pages together, I'll talk about it some more.  Right now, though, the going is a little slow.  I have one guy that's interested, but not only is he busy right now, he also wants to know what the other writers are doing, the artists they've secured, and see their artwork.  On the one hand, I get it- no one wants to be associated with bad work.  On the other hand, damn, y'know?  So, there's that.

The column is going well.  I did a rough count, and I have just under 1000 views for eight weeks worth of work.  Not too shabby for a site that boasts less than 200 members.  That means that I'm getting multiple views from the DW crew.  Thanks, guys!  I appreciate it.  I've yet to get any negative feedback, which doesn't mean that I'm right, it just means that I haven't gotten any negative feedback yet.  So far, everyone is very happy with what I have to say, and that's a good feeling.  When my column is mentioned, it's usually something along the lines of "I learned this or that, so thank you!"  It feels nice to know that the service is appreciated.  

I'm also getting contacted more and more for people to look over scripts.  I give my prices, and some shy away, and others say they'll be back when they have it.  We'll see what happens with those.  However, the good thing about being visible and searching for work is that there are writers who see the need for the service I provide.  

Everyone needs an editor.  That's my fervent belief.  Someone who's job is to make the story better.  Anything else isn't servicing the needs of the story or the audience.  Anyone can write drivel.  If you don't want to be a part of that and actually want to be ahead of the pack, then you need to hire an editor.  It doesn't get much simpler than that.

I've since heard back from the editor I'm working with.  He wants me to move forward a little and write a three page intro script for the book I want to write.  This is where I'll get to shine, I hope, because I'm on more comfortable ground.  I'm getting more comfortable with the pitches, but it's still a lot of work getting it just right.  So, I know what's in my future today and tomorrow.  It's going to be a good time, methinks.

Life is also okay.  Still working through the situation I'm in, and hopefully that will be taken care of next month.  I wanted it taken care of last month, but that didn't get done, unfortunately.  I'm trying to be patient, though.  Like I said, it's coming together.

And I've also recently had a couple of blasts from the past.  One is an ex-girlfriend (it was junior high, and it was only for a few weeks in the summer, so if you could consider that "dating..."), and the other is a friend from Virginia Beach.  Did we date?  I dunno.  She was married and still very much in love with her husband and trying to put the marriage back together, but we also enjoyed each other's company.  She came close to moving in with me, but then I met my wife.  My memory tells me that she didn't want to claim to be dating me, even though we spent a decent amount of time together.  I don't really do regrets, however, I have three major ones.  Hurting her was one of them.  

Anyway, Lenora's trying to get Jennifer (our friend from Virginia Beach) to visit in March.  I'd love to see her again.  I miss my friend.

My ex?  We had a nice conversation.  She's a teacher!  Good on her, I say.  We need more teachers.  Personally, I couldn't do it myself.  I have a problem with today's youth.  The vocal minority has made it almost illegal to raise your children, and so today's youth run around crazy.  I have no problem with video games or television- I have a problem with the parents who don't monitor what their children read, watch, or play.  

When I was a kid, my parents had something of a hard time in punishing me when I was bad.  Now, don't get me wrong.  I wasn't a bad child.  Not even overly sneaky.  However, I was still a child, and children do things that earn them spankings.  So, when I did something that was worthy of a spanking or being grounded, I got my butt kicked.  However, the grounding thing was much harder.  You see, I'm a reader.  I'd rather read a book than go outside and play.  I had a better time reading than going out in the cold or the excessive heat.  Video games?  I could take them or leave them.  Very quiet child, I was.  Now, what parent really wants to take a book away from a child?  Mine didn't, so I was hard to punish.  

Now, I read age-appropriate things, even things that outstripped my age.  Nothing truly mature, but definitely things that were for older readers.  My reading comprehension generally outstripped my classmates, and I always blew the curve.  But as a child, my parents taught me a lot of lessons- some of which I didn't understand until I was older.  I was always polite, saying please and thank you, I wasn't loud, touchy-feely on everything I could get my hands on, I didn't talk back, and was respectful.

Nowadays, children who do that are considered an anomaly.  A perfect example of kids running over their parents is one of my co-workers.  She has two kids, a boy and a girl.  They get into all kinds of stuff, being six and four, and are learning the wrong lessons.  Sneaky, tantrums, doing things they know they shouldn't.  What does their mother do?  Nothing, really.  These children are going to grow up being hell on wheels, and I can't really bring myself to feel sorry for her, because you reap what you sow.

So, yeah, I give great kudos to my ex.  Being a teacher is tough.  To be overworked and underpaid while trying to teach and partially raise someone else's kids is not something I'd do, personally.  Bring back the 40's and 50's when it comes to raising kids.  I think that American society would be in a better position if that were to happen.  Sure, it would take three generations, but it'd be better.

Okay, I'm done.  I have three pages of script to write, as well as an artist to look for.

Go listen to some Luther Vandross.  You'll be happy you did.