tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post2457850995351161090..comments2024-03-18T09:09:59.625-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: Vacation Day #8 What?Janet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-42237564653255527662015-09-01T00:57:54.179-04:002015-09-01T00:57:54.179-04:00Joseph Snoe -
What's wonderful about being a ...Joseph Snoe -<br /><br />What's wonderful about being a writer is it's about the way you look at the world, not whether you are at the moment writing about it. If you look at the world with the viewpoints - the first being in the here and now of you existing, and the second being the extra set of eyes noting, "Gee! This is interesting. Maybe it's something I can use later in a story" -- then you are a writer indeed. Your current work may provide fodder for later.<br /><br />Of course, you can always ask yourself the question, "Where can I do the most good?" Just asking the question opens the door. It may be to write. It may be something else. Be open.Pam Powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10535615408563055466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-62109484288859333622015-08-30T00:32:30.748-04:002015-08-30T00:32:30.748-04:00Poof!
I'm struggling with that choice now. I h...Poof!<br />I'm struggling with that choice now. I have a great job but it takes up so much time and energy (I'm at work on a Saturday night!); and I feel I may not be as good as I once was since I'm thinking about writing. It's so important to me to do a quality job on anything I do, even if that means doing fewer things.Joseph S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07437663031050410028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-68805903026510235282015-08-29T14:44:34.577-04:002015-08-29T14:44:34.577-04:00I've already had a dream job - producing and c...I've already had a dream job - producing and co-hosting 2 weekly radio shows on an NPR affiliate. One was a business/financial show, the other an omnibus show. We interviewed best-selling authors such as Sebastian Junger and Charles Mann (and we interviewed one of Janet's authors!). We interviewed NY Times columnists, senators, actors, singers, senators. I loved my work! Why did I quit? My writing kept calling to me!Pam Powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10535615408563055466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-42504439463652725772015-08-28T16:10:10.977-04:002015-08-28T16:10:10.977-04:00Thanks for the suggestion, Marc. :) But the clarin...Thanks for the suggestion, Marc. :) But the clarinet is not a priority for me anymore. I do have a piano in the house, if I really want to play, but for the most part, I'm concentrating on the writing. Although I will be singing whenever I can. Both choirs I sing with start up again in September, and I'm so looking forward to it!<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-5344304906481743442015-08-28T10:21:19.535-04:002015-08-28T10:21:19.535-04:00Rock star, of the humorless, pretentious Rush/Joe ...Rock star, of the humorless, pretentious Rush/Joe Satriani/Yngwie Malmsteen variety, also known as "the Steve Vai-riety."D. B. Bateshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14726277195370623653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-55780196098283325752015-08-28T05:47:01.327-04:002015-08-28T05:47:01.327-04:00@bj Just been looking at the costs of clarinets an...@bj Just been looking at the costs of clarinets and it looks like for a pro one you are talking about at around the thousand of our english pounds or so.. so quite a bit more than I thought they would cost! I feel guilty really as I have a number of instruments in the house I can't really play but unfortunately not a clarinet. Why don' you start a little eBay project and sell some things off to put toward a clarinet fund. I did that last year to buy an electric bike and it took me a couple of months or so. It was a bit more than that and to be honest I speculated somewhat on the Derby and the Grand National over here to help it along. Let us know if you put anything up :)<br /><br />Meanwhile here is a link to another song - sorry. One I wrote for an episode of a TV medical show about a stand up comic who loses his sense of humour and his love life suffers too. It was called Stand Up and I shall say no more about that. The receptionist enters a local talent contest and I had her in full cowgirl outfit singing this song. The lyrics were toned down a little lol - the director and I were going to do a full musical episode but we weren't allowed and she went off to the USA to become little known working on shows like Orange is the New Black. Whatever that might be! I only put it here as it is a 'country song' sort of..! <br /><br />http://www.MyWebSite.com”>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CEHdemnGD0<br /><br />I suspect that may not work so in case:<br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CEHdemnGD0Marc Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14655107171881634183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-82558907078893833282015-08-28T04:23:54.082-04:002015-08-28T04:23:54.082-04:00Third year of college I earned my way into the Bro...Third year of college I earned my way into the Broadcast Journalism school. Lifelong dream to become a broadcaster. Paid for the semester, bought my books, had about a buck eighty left for Ramen noodles.<br /><br />First day of class, instructor tells us we need a mini recorder. I price them. No way to swing it. Day Two, I change my major. Just like that, dream gone. Today, I can look back and know there were other ways to play it, but back then I didn't. Still remember talking to my advisor, Mackie Morris. He was like a literary agent, looking for a reason to say No. I told him my predicament, he wished me luck.<br /><br />Think about it a lot. But if you change something from your past, a lot of other things that came after change too. (Butterfly flaps its wings in North Dakota and a tsunami hits South Africa.) So I try not to regret it. I love my life now. I've been very fortunate. But every town I drive in, when I tune the radio to a ball game, I wonder...John Frainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01702305890462479118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-37491014055170030082015-08-28T04:01:47.889-04:002015-08-28T04:01:47.889-04:00Colin, fuuny idea for a band...."sheet music?...<br />Colin, fuuny idea for a band...."sheet music?"<br /><br />I played bass back in Boston in the mid-80's. I had a Ibanez "lawsuit era" knockoff of the Les Paul Custom. It was at best a punk bank. I won't even tell you the name of the band...so innapropriate, even now. One evening after a few beers I got out my router and installed an "F" hole to give it a Country squire aesthetic...I turned a $1,200 dollar solid body into a semi-ruined $200 dollar piece of...artwork. Always regretted it, but it sounded better.<br /><br />live and learn.french sojournhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14262858704848580714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-88095877828357144382015-08-27T23:40:28.170-04:002015-08-27T23:40:28.170-04:00Two things I could've been, I think, had certa...Two things I could've been, I think, had certain things converged properly: a musician, and/or a doctor.<br /><br />To explain the musician thing: my grandparents had a piano in the living room as I grew up, and I taught myself to pick out melodies by ear (to date, I can't read music; tablature for guitar, and I can sight read if given a starting note to sing, but not genuine music reading). For years, I asked for piano lessons, or violin (yes, I was the nerd who ASKED for violin lessons), but got neither. I picked up guitar in high school, mostly because I had a job to pay for my own lessons, and had a stray guitar an aunt never used. While I've never been a composer, the songs I knew how to play I played fairly well. I was also never much interested in learning the scales; I wanted to learn Led Zeppelin's "Over the Hills and Far Away" right off. Now, given the space/cash/opportunity, I'd love to take cello lessons, even if the only things I ever actually learn how to play are the Bach cello suites. One could spend a lifetime on those. (and Mark Summers' "Julie-o" for fun. That song is amazing).<br /><br />The doctor thing: also as I was growing up, my grandmother was a secretary in the Pathology department of our local hospital. I occasionally got to visit her at work and was fascinated by the charts and x-rays and things. I was also interested in the medical talk which would occur around the house, pore over the household Physician's Desk Reference, etc. As an adult, I've developed an interest in forensic pathology (the first book I read was mostly due to character research, but damn, is it an interesting field with a lot of material out there to peruse).<br /><br /><br />So, had I been encouraged on either of those paths, I'd...perhaps have a medical doctorate now? Or maybe would've been one of those child instrumental prodigies? I got kicked out of ballet at the age of 5, so dance wasn't going to happen, anyway. And while I love horses and am good with animals, I never was a very accomplished rider (though specifically the "problem" horses were angels for me)<br /><br />Maybe that's why I like tabletop roleplaying games so much, you make effort to entirely inhabit the headspace of a person who is not yourself, in a real-time context. It's definitely why I like writing so much.Jennifer R. Donohuehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00363886899308588391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-9929624561846763582015-08-27T21:53:18.174-04:002015-08-27T21:53:18.174-04:00Guess I ought to put a link to some of the pieces ...Guess I ought to put a link to some of the pieces I have composed:<br /><br /><a href="http://members.iinet.net.au/~damian/heidikneale/music/fluffvar0.mp3" rel="nofollow">Fluff Theme (Variation 0)</a> It's only 0:30 long.<br /><br />I've easter-egged all twelve variations on my webpage.<br /><br />And here's the theme music I wrote for the <a href="http://members.iinet.net.au/~damian/heidikneale/music/whcmainversion3_1.mp3" rel="nofollow">World Horror Convention 2008</a>. Her Grace, Heidi, the Duchess of Knealehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17818060864422019573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-67262382311326315672015-08-27T21:52:49.656-04:002015-08-27T21:52:49.656-04:00I love music; and collect CDs of live shows. I hav...I love music; and collect CDs of live shows. I have seen all of the Master’s Choir singers (except Amy Helm but including Rosanne Cash) in concert at one time or other. Of all of them (not counting John Prine who is too special to be in this contest), Rodney Crowell put on the best show.<br /><br />In this genre, my favorite concert of all time was called Old Friends, a fundraiser in the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. Five singer-songwriters, no backup band, just the five singing together or backing up one or more of the others. The five: Guy Clark, Nanci Griffith, Rodney Crowell, Vince Gill and Emmylou Harris. It was professionally filmed. I keep trying to find a video of the show without luck.Joseph S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07437663031050410028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-25368151603423327272015-08-27T21:33:37.275-04:002015-08-27T21:33:37.275-04:00If I wasn't a writer, I definitely would have ...If I wasn't a writer, I definitely would have been a composer. (Okay, I am a composer, but only as a hobby. I'm an author by career.)<br /><br />Twenty years ago, that would have been a dead-end, career wise. However, there has been a recent upsurge in job opportunities for composers, thanks to the film and computer game industries. A few of my fellow composers from music school have gone on to careers writing sound tracks for computer games.<br /><br />While the 19th Century was known for Classical and Romance, and the 20th Century for Jazz and Rock'n'Roll, I believe the 21st Century will be marked by the Soundtrack.Her Grace, Heidi, the Duchess of Knealehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17818060864422019573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-90264917087626917642015-08-27T21:22:42.686-04:002015-08-27T21:22:42.686-04:00Off topic (sort of): Speaking of careers and what ...Off topic (sort of): Speaking of careers and what might have been, has anyone heard from Julie H lately? I meant to friend/follow/stalk her on FB, but I suck at FB and didn't get around to it. She's been in my thoughts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-81260599336937826712015-08-27T20:43:15.708-04:002015-08-27T20:43:15.708-04:00Definitely a musician, and I'd play just like ...Definitely a musician, and I'd play just like The Black Keys. Or a guitarist, like, say Gary Clark Jr. <br /><br />Wow that guy can play.Curtis Moserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05021906060658789963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-13866982300459453432015-08-27T20:23:25.894-04:002015-08-27T20:23:25.894-04:00Ironically, being a literary agent! I wish I would...Ironically, being a literary agent! I wish I would have known at 18 what I know now at 33. The world of publishing to this little naive Midwesterner was so foreign, and NYC felt so impossible. All these years later, having traveled the world over, as content as I am, I always wish I could have had that kind of career experience, book lover that I am. I also would have LOVED to be an actor (I acted in stage shows in high school). My dream while IN college was to be a long-form feature writer for a major newspaper or magazine. Gailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03526666990087999553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-70250762059445778372015-08-27T19:42:15.602-04:002015-08-27T19:42:15.602-04:00Wow. What awesome talent in those links. Thank you...Wow. What awesome talent in those links. Thank you so much to all who shared them. Very impressive.<br /><br />I love to sing (more along the lines of Bonnie Raitt, though) but never wanted to do that for a living. I just enjoy it. Some great times singing in the car with my daughter, harmonizing, on our way to and from her college campus.<br /><br />When I was in elementary school I wanted to be a pilot. I thought that would be the best thing, ever. Then someone told me you had to have perfect 20/20 vision for that, and I didn't. Looking back, I'm not sure whether it was even true. Not like I could google it. But I was crushed. <br /><br />I can't remember ever wanting to be a writer. I've just always been one. No matter what else I've done, or might do, I'm a writer.<br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-83990531665541263362015-08-27T19:39:34.343-04:002015-08-27T19:39:34.343-04:00Amanda, my dad's Gibson is worth a small fortu...Amanda, my dad's Gibson is worth a small fortune and in mint condition, but he's been gone for many years now, so sentimental-wise it's priceless. I have an all black 1970s Ovation guitar much like the one Paul Simon had, but nowhere near the value his is. (Alas, the group wasn't Simon, Rodriguez & Garfunkel.) Okay, I better stop, you'll think I'm starting to sound like your hubby. Lol.LynnRodzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10796099106913990163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-23462236275971286422015-08-27T19:17:31.419-04:002015-08-27T19:17:31.419-04:00Wow, what a talented group we have. I loved all th...Wow, what a talented group we have. I loved all the links. The Dearest Julia surely tugged at my heart, but I have a soft spot for Grant.<br /><br />Marc, Amanda, Captain BS, S.D., all the rest of you very talented people, well done.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-81119030199745363702015-08-27T19:03:26.303-04:002015-08-27T19:03:26.303-04:00AJ: I really enjoyed band. I just can't afford...AJ: I really enjoyed band. I just can't afford another clarinet at this time, and I've been told that it would cost more to repair my old one than it would to buy a new one. But I sing in choirs, which helps. I've never lost the ability to read music.<br /><br />I used to spend hours practicing when I was in high school. It was great - when I was playing, I would rarely be interrupted for anything but meals. It meant I didn't have to deal with my family for awhile. And because practice was schoolwork, my parents didn't think I was wasting my time (as I was when I was reading or writing). I played in the concert band. I joined the pep band and the jazz band (for which I had to borrow and learn to play a saxophone - not difficult). I think band was the biggest (only?) think I missed from high school as I got older. And it definitely kept me sane through high school.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-21509664065658457772015-08-27T18:32:16.228-04:002015-08-27T18:32:16.228-04:00bjmuntain - I play clarinet and a couple of years ...bjmuntain - I play clarinet and a couple of years ago started playing in a community band again after many years of no playing. Band is my 'thinking-free time' which my brain badly needs. You can't think about anything else when you are playing and reading music. It's taken me a while to train myself to focus on the music and not let my thoughts affect my playing (my conductor is much happier that I can now count the right number of bars rest and come in on time, lol).<br /><br />Like many of us I've always wanted to write. But in high school I didn't know it could actually be a career so became an environmental scientist. I went on and studied science journalism as well, but it didn't satisfy my need to write. <br /><br />I dream of my unpaid writing career one day being a paid career. But even if that dream never eventuates I'll always write. As my family tell me: I'm a much nicer person when I'm writing =)AJ Blythehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04529233142099749005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-80724991407217330702015-08-27T17:09:16.811-04:002015-08-27T17:09:16.811-04:00Amanda: Yup--we could have quite a band if we had ...Amanda: Yup--we could have quite a band if we had a venue. Any drummers in the audience? :)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-24449854733160220712015-08-27T16:43:20.403-04:002015-08-27T16:43:20.403-04:00Captain BS and S.D., I totally agree with Donnaeve...Captain BS and S.D., I totally agree with Donnaeve. Such talent. If we all ever get our shit together and end up at a writing conference we will rock the place, lol.<br /><br />We might even get some writing done. <br /><br />Lynn, SHUSH! You can't let Frank know about your Dad's guitar. He'll want it (it's worth a small fortune),and we have enough of the damn things. Frank's is a tobacco sunburst Gibson (I think. I tune out when he goes on and on about them), that he rarely plays out of doors but he busted a string on the Tak so had to use the Gibson. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11543685541225544175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-4677239005737498832015-08-27T15:46:39.726-04:002015-08-27T15:46:39.726-04:00S.D., wow, I loved both, but that second one! It ...S.D., wow, I loved both, but that second one! It gave me goosebumps...!Donnaevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026536210749494257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-30907259591176626112015-08-27T15:37:27.254-04:002015-08-27T15:37:27.254-04:00Colin - so odd, that's part of what I did too ...Colin - so odd, that's part of what I did too - i.e. writing "Get Started" manuals for New Product Introduction. I'd create the processes, and enable new "users" to access and get onto new products (internally) which allowed for Alpha, Beta, In production testing, etc before we shipped to customers.<br /><br />Anyway -CAPTAIN BS!!!!! AMAZING VIDEO!!!! I am now a lifelong fan. If any of you didn't watch Brian's video yet you need to drop what you're doing and go watch it!<br /><br />I'm super super <b>impressed</b>. You guys are really really good. Can't believe we aren't seeing you at some awards show! Just goes to show how tough it is to catch a break. Btw, I was EXHAUSTED by the end of that song. LOL!Donnaevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026536210749494257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-1627414625720789752015-08-27T15:28:08.299-04:002015-08-27T15:28:08.299-04:00bj: Interesting. I got into IT via Technical Writi...bj: Interesting. I got into IT via Technical Writing. Being able to string words together into coherent sentences is a valuable skill. From many of the emails I see floating between various IT departments, not many in technology have it. :)<br /><br />In fact, my only published work to date is a "Getting Started" manual I helped write. I'm not given name credit, and the software is not (as far as I know) broadly available, so I don't mention it in queries. :)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.com