April, Fools

Hopefully the lack of comments on yesterday's post was stunned silence and not apathy. Just to make sure folks are totally clear, it was a little April Fool's joke. I'm not quitting writing, I'm not moving (at least not for the next 30 days), and I'm certainly not trying to figure out what I'm doing with my life. I'm good on that front.

The non-reaction on the blog itself did bring into question how well a job I'm doing of marketing myself. Apparently, not well. Not only did I not promote the only new work that's come out since I left TC (WITCHBLADE #125 ON SALE NOW! Backup by Rob Levin with art by Marco Castiello!) when it hit stores, but also I got zilch Internet reaction to the I quit style post. Hell, I nearly cried when Cameron Stewart pulled the same thing via facebook a year or two ago.

I actually hauled ass yesterday in terms of getting in touch with folks and various other freelance productivity and research. Slow and steady is the game, and it's not a race. Plus, I'm IN IT TO WIN IT! Anyone who gets that reference, I love you.

See you guys in the grind. And if anyone in Baltimore wants to hang out, I'll be in town for a week starting Saturday.

Heading Down That Dusty Trail...

I've spent the last 2.5 months working my ass off. I've contacted, written for, pitched, and offered up my services across the land. I've tried to make a real go at this writing thing. Be it because of the economy and employers getting skittish, or just my own lack of skills, I've decided to hang up my writing boots. I'm packing my bags and moving home to the ATL.

It's not an easy decision to make. I never wanted to live in Atlanta again, and I never wanted to give up on the dream of doing this writing thing full-time. But ultimately, I need to be responsible financially. And rather than let the lights go dim and get kicked out of my place, I'm taking what little scratch I have left and preserving it so I can eat.

I lined up a job at a new restaurant that opens this month not far from my folks' house. I'll do that until I figure out what I want to do with my life now that I've realized writing isn't a viable option. I'd like to think that I went out fighting, there just wasn't any more funding for the troops so surrender became the only option. Surrender and survive another day, or continue to battle and die. I didn't want to die.

I'll miss all of you so very much. Especially Old Balls and Cobra Command. I'll be in town long enough to help the former win their Third Burger, but then it's splitsville for me. I'll be sticking around the Internets in the usual spots, but expect this to be my last post here. Not much use in branding a waiter with a nom de plume.

Thanks for the memories.

TGIM - The Magic Castle

Plenty of people have heard of it, but not many have gone. Or at least that's the vibe I get from a lot of my friends in LA. I'm lucky. I have a friend who is a mentalist and performing artist, and he started coming to town a couple years ago and inviting me to come with him to The Magic Castle in Hollywood. I'll be honest, I didn't know what to expect. And I'm not used to going out in a suit and tie unless it's a wedding or religious event.

The Magic Castle is consistently one of the best nights you can have in Los Angeles. First off, it's classy. There's a dress code. That means you're not going to have any classless douchebags ruining your night on the town. Secondly, it's members only in the club... Easy to keep the riffraff out. There are two kinds of members - Magicians and Associate Members. One day I'll be the latter, if I'm good enough to join. Lastly, it's a fun vibe. I won't spoil much, but there are lots of little touches that go way beyond just being a venue for some people to perform magic. That can happen anywhere, but the Castle is a special place with a lot of history.

Of course, the main reason to go is for the performances. I've seen some damn good acts, especially in the Close Up Parlor. Jon Armstrong, Jonathan Pendragon, Simon Coronel, and just last night, Johnny "Ace" Palmer (as well as a few others). I've always enjoyed magic, dabbling a wee bit back in my elementary days with some Magic by Gosh tricks, but seeing some of the best guys out there performing for fellow magicians and fans, and really loving what they do... It's a hell of a lot of fun.

If you have the opportunity, be sure to check it out. I'll be back in September when Jordan Wright performs in the Parlor of Prestidigitation for sure, so let me know if you want to go (ladies).

Enjoy the rest of your Monday. I'm persevering so far.

Safe and Secure

There's something very reassuring about knowing that as I embark in what are still the early stages of a full-time writing career, I can get things done on a deadline. I sometimes miss personally mandated deadlines, but so far I have yet to blow any deadlines for employers or potential employers.

Professionalism counts for a lot. My goal is to be so professional that even if no one ever sees me wearing a suit, when people think of me, they'll think of that guy who wears a suit. You know, the Authentic Impostor. Like on his limited-edition business cards. Yeah, that guy!

I got a call at 5pm (now yesterday) that the animated project I'm attached to as the writer was having a major, potentially game changing meeting. When? Tomorrow at 10am? Um, yeah, I can get something done tonight. And at 3:11 am, I proved to myself and the world, especially YOU, that I'm not a liar.

Come on, admit it. You're picturing me wearing a suit. If this and the last thing I pitched, which I'm told was received quite well, come together, I could be pretty damn busy in a hurry. Fingers crossed.

Now if only I could get a certain man with a womanly last name to get his act together, I'd also have an OGN in the works. Let's go people...

Sidebar: Mogwai and Sigur Ros work as both excellent film scores and music to work to.

500 Days of Summer & Hunger

Just dumping a little trailer action on you today.

First up, 500 Days of Summer with the incomparable Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel. They're billing it as a tale of boy meets girl, but not a love story. I like. Considering I'll see anything with Mr. JGL, and All The Real Girls with the female lead is one of my favorite movies, I'm in.

Here's the trailer.

And secondly, Hunger. I didn't know anything before clicking on this one, but it looked like I could make out the words Steve McQueen on the poster, and so I clicked. Well, apparently there's another McQueen named Steve and he's quite the first-time feature director. The movie looks amazing and the buzz is very solid.

Here's the sweet-looking trailer.

Staying Positive w/The Positivity Blog

A friend of mine turned me on to this and I'm just doing the favor of paying it forward. I don't need to explain it, it's a blog about Positivity. I'm also adding it to the Places I Like sidebar. Here's an article everyone could do to read:

16 Things I Wish They Had Taught Me in School

A lot of this I've learned, experienced, and put into practice. But it also came from a lot of different sources, so be sure to give it a perusing. And if this isn't your cup of tea per se... Well there's always stop-motion:

Starz Enters Original Programming Arena

Starz, the movie channel owned by John Malone's Liberty Entertainment, is following the lead of HBO and Showtime and including original content among its feature films, including half-hour sitcoms and hourlong dramas, the New York Times reported today (Thursday). The newspaper quoted Starz president Bill Myers as saying that the network is seeking a new identity. "We're the new guys on the block, even though we're 15 years old," he said. He noted that many cable channels have come to realize that they need to present "something that is exclusive." Original programming, he added, "gives you recognition and brings customers back to you." Starz is due to present its newest program, a sitcom called Party Down, beginning Friday.

Original article

Heads up, people. There is still money to be made.