Uh Oh...

Something is in the air! Actually, many things are in the air, but in particular there is something going on in the area of writing. Word is getting out about Prolificence, my writers group. Okay, to be honest, it has become something I am proud of, and Iam sharing about it more and more, and that manifests as people being interested in the group and wanting to join. I have three new prospective members, and they are seeking ME out. It's really great and inspiring to see that there are people out there who are interested in writing. The problem that comes with this is that of accommodation. The group has spent a considerable amount of time trying to get in sync with each everybody's schedule. We have finally gotten to a set pattern for our meetings (every other Thursday, 6:00p, Clair's) and these new people work during that time frame. We are just getting to the point where I can expect to have a good turnout for each meeting, and the temptation to change things around comes up. I feel like we need to grow and welcome more people to the group, but I am not sure how to make that happen. I do not want to abandon my core people. I do not want to turn people away.

I used to think that being successful meant you didn't have to work as hard anymore. I'm getting it now that success calls you forward into a new level of work which if taken on, brings a new level of success, which then requires a new level of work and so on. Not necessarily working harder, but getting more done.

Weird, no?

Wow, 12 days....

I am sorry I have neglected you, my three loyal bog readers, but I have had a lot of things going on, and no time to write about it. BALD-FACED LIE!!! Yes there are things going on, yes, I have been writing, but I have also been avoiding y'all by hiding behind my remote control. I am atoning for this by resuming the dreaded lemonade cleanse and writing to you now.

Had a meeting recently with my writing group, and it went very well. I came up with an exercise that consisted of sitting down and writing for 2 hours off the top of your head, with the only rigor being the time length. You had to sit there for the full time no matter what. I was all cavalier about it until I had to do it myself. I was confronted like crazy. I wanted to write something really powerful, but could not decide what that would be. So I psyched myself up by watching Def Poetry. There was a performer named Amanda Deaver, and her poem spoke directly to what I was feeling. Okay, SHE spoke directly to what I was feeling! Talk about F-I-N-E....Like Robin Harris used to say, "Don't let me see her naked on payday!" Anyway, after watching her, I was inspired, and able to do the exercise. I hijacked the theme of her piece to start with, which was "I wanted to write some hot shit" It got me going and gave me access to places to look for what I wanted to say. 2 hours flew by, and I am even thinking I want to do this again. If you want to see it, drop me an email. I already ran it by my NYC (new york connection) and she pronounces it better than decent.

Speaking of NYC, I am going there on Sunday, to make a connection with my connection. You will have to wait for details about that. I can promise that I will see some shows and eat some grub. I am also going to walk accross the Brooklyn Bridge, which for me is exciting. Oh yeah the good folks in Indy want their computer back. I am glad to get rid of it. In case you haven't heard, the Fed has made traveling with a laptop computer probable cause.

Canned pt.2

Sorry, I had a deadline to miss. I guess it is time to end the suspense. We both hung up from the call, and I felt pretty good. I did what I set out to do by appologizing for the wrongs and accepting responsibility, while also asserting the freedom inherent in this business relationship. Maybe what I had to say fell on deaf ears, or maybe it will take time to sink in, but I said it, which is something that would not have happened before. I was actually okay with not working with them.

Imagine my surprise when the president of the company that was my client called. He basically did not want to end the relationship on a bad note. We talked, and eventually he decided to reverse the previous decision. So I am not canned... I think... I have not spoken to them, and from what I've heard, the company is hurting for work. So, while I'm sure there are residual bad feelings in Indy, there is actually no work to be had. Which gives me time to write. Which is good, no?

Canned

So... on the 3rd I got a message on my voicemail that my biggest client was severing ties with me. The tone of voice was accusatory, but other than that I had almost no idea of why this was occurring. As the call came at the end of the workday, the day before independence day, I was unable to go directly to the source to find out exactly why they were pissed. So I broke out the rolodex, and started calling around, and got some answers.

Basically, the good folks in Indiana pay us techs like independant contractors, yet treat us like employees when it is convenient for them. I was on a job for them, and the producer of the show asked me to take on extra work of a different nature during the same show to get him out of a pickle, and I did it, accepting a token sum for my trouble. As far as I was concerned, it was none of Indy's business what I did, as long as I fulfulled my obligation to them. They had another take on things, as you can probably guess. I was called "unethical".

I fell into a depression, not about losing the account, but losing the respect of people I'd worked for for ten years. When Monday finally came, I called in, but my accuser not only wouldn't take my call, but for the first time ever did not return it either. She finally called me back late Tuesday, and suggested we speak the next morning. I called at the appointed time, and we went round and round for half an hour, ending with her still not seeing my point of view, while I was completely seeing hers. I appologized for the lapse in my integrity, and for putting her in any awkward situations. I maintained that I had the right to accept the job even though I saw that my doing so left the door open for the unscrupulous client to pull a fast one, which is what they did. (to be continued)

Hang on

So many things, so little time to share... This is the reader's digest version. Back from PrinceCamp, Been to the Whine country, procrastinated like hell on my short story and eventually changed it to something else(I did not feel right writing here until I got a major chunk of it done!), been catching up with friends and finding out stuff about myself. We'll talk later, right now I gotta jam! Happy Independence Day!