Tag Archives: writing

Nope, I take it back. I was not being too dramatic yesterday. This whole thing went tragically bad. I basically lit $390 on fire. Actually, lighting it on fire might have been more fun. Good things: got to hang out with lots of cool friends and have fun joking around and they were all supportive and encouraging even in the face of every single person I talked to hating it. By the last guy I was almost laughing and when he pointed out what was wrong with that I said, “Yeah, you aren’t the first person to notice that this weekend but I didn’t think I should tip my cards before I sat down.”

So, what next? I. Don’t. Know.

My decision is to not make any decisions until after Labor Day. Until then I’m going to enjoy summer and do fun writing (meaning just fool around and not try to work on a project). After Labor Day I’ll sit down and decide whether to work more on this thing or start something new or take a class or talk to Lewis & Clark about law school.

Meanwhile, I’m off to a movie.

Oh, and last night Bob and I watched a SPECTACULAR movie: Barbarian Invasions. It’s a foreign film and I won’t summarize it because it will sound too depressing and you won’t want to see but really, fantastic characters and a very well-wrought emotional story. We loved it.

Okay, that’s a little dramatic. But today’s trip to the writers conference was not optimal and it’s kind of ironic since I wasn’t even planning on going and sort of talked myself into it at the last minute (before the prices went up.) I should have known I was in trouble when I put on my nice slacks this morning and they had some bizarre crap on them … I think it came from the iron. That’ll teach me to iron (something I only do once or twice a year). I also ironed my hair which was a hopeless gesture since it rained like nobody’s business for half the day and I went from my straight look to my curly look in mere moments. But back to the slacks — I’m not a clothes horse to begin with. I only have about 3 decent outfits and here it was the last minute and I had to make a switch.

From there I drove to the conference and the organizers moved to a new location this year and I don’t think I’m alone when I tell you this is a miserable mistake. At 8am there was no parking. Nothing. This doesn’t have to be a problem but you’d think they’d have someone in the parking lot to direct you to an overflow lot or something but no. I went through various scenarios like parking in the airport longterm but then I’d have to hike a couple miles back in the pouring rain with no raincoat or umbrella (these are two things that are *always* in my car … why not today?). Then I thought to pay regular airport parking prices and take the Max to the hotel but no Max stop anywhere near the hotel. I finally parked awkwardly and illegally like others were doing.

Then no one could find my name tag. Another line. I did see my friends like Marc, Mark, Myra, Susan and Bill — so I had people to chat with. I’m pitching a horror movie and my first guy didn’t like it and asked what else I had and I pitched Little Friday and he asked to see that. (Ironic note: last year most of the people I pitched to didn’t like Little Friday and when I told them about the new one — which was only a scrap of an idea at the time — wanted to see that.) My 2nd pitch was a spectacular tank and the third one went well. I came straight home and began to guzzle refreshing adult beverages.

I logged on to see what’s been happening with Big Brother and now I’m going to eat and watch a Freaks & Geeks. I get to go back tomorrow.