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October 31, 2007
Ebb and Flow
The one thing I dislike most about being a freelancer at home is the ebb and flow of the work (and subsequently the money). In an office environment, there is always something that can be done, whether it’s the work of the day, something you’ve put off for a long time, or pitching in to help the guy next door. When you’re sitting at your home office, there’s no one to help but yourself.
Over the last week or so, the various long-term project management assignments I’ve taken on all hit lulls. Time passes slowly, I find ways to stretch out projects and find myself working slower and wasting time I shouldn’t be wasting. After all, when I was busy, I put aside the original novel outline and keep meaning to get back to it.
The work I have done has been done well and quickly, moving projects to varying states of completion. I also recognize two projects -- if not three -- are moments away from swinging into high gear which will fill my time quite nicely. But until then…
And of course, if things slow down, that also means my ability to bill for work has slowed down. Some are totally dependent on their freelance incomes and I sympathize for them since I see how tough things can be. In September, I worked on projects all month but brought in all of $145 in actual cash. October, though, was much better and will help out well into the holidays. It’s maddening how some companies pay on publication, some on acceptance, some 60 days after delivery, and so on. The inconsistencies mean you need to keep writing and producing so eventually the cash flow is more than a trickle. Those living this way, need to keep a cushion in the bank for those lean months (plus money set aside for the taxes).
Should those three things mentioned above get going soon, two of them pay weekly so a reasonable cash flow can be anticipated, which will keep me from going nuts.
And if it works, then working as a full-time freelancer may well be my next chapter.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 02:52 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
October 28, 2007
Kate's Visit
For no particular reason, Kate came home for the weekend and it turned out to be a great move for all concerned.
Those who know and follow Kate through her adventures are aware that in the last few weeks, job hunting has gone from theoretical to real. Given the field of her choice, she needs to start interviewing now since all government agencies take, like, forever to interview people. Plus, the nature of her desired work will also require Secret, if not higher, clearance and that, too, takes time.
She’s been speaking with at recruiting fairs, people by phone, and had one in person interview with more to come. So, she needs people who have been through the process to commiserate and reality check her experiences with. This is where parents, well established in their careers, trump peers, most of whom have yet to begin the hunt.
She also needed a suit for in person interviews. Fortunately, a brief foray into Manhattan resulted in a suit that fits, looks good and was on sale. It actually took us more stops and more time on Saturday to find your basic white, professional blouse to wear with the suit. Being such a plain item, I was the one to go out with Kate and it turned into an ordeal but thankfully, in the end we found her one that fit well. Mission accomplished.
There was also the R&R aspect of having her home. Deb had a long week and we were all generally tired so vegging on the couch the last two nights felt like bliss. And having her around forced us to make real meals rather than dinner-on-the-fly which happen a lot given our schedules. We’re even making a traditional Sunday dinner this afternoon before putting her on the train back to D.C.
She’s had one-on-one time with all three of us which made one and all very happy. She’s had some family time. She even got three full nights’ of sleep, apparently a recent first.
We’ve been thrilled to have her around and yet, buying her the suit and talking interviews and strategies also reminds us that this is it. In the coming months, Kate will slowly be shifting her focus and priorities from completing course work to making decisions that will dictate the shape of her adult life. We’re guiding and supporting her, but it also means this is the final transitional steps in her leaving the nest once and for all.
To me, it seems she’s got a good head on her shoulders. She knows when to ask for help, when to seek advice and when she can make choices for herself. We remain proud of her growth and with every step, we can see that she’s going to graduate and do just fine out in the world.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 10:05 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 25, 2007
Networking
I’m suddenly feeling very sociable.
While exploring fulltime, traditional office employment opportunities, I’ve also been filling my time with a variety of freelance work, stretching from writing to editing to project management. I can get into details later when some of these things become real or the people I’m doing the work for are okay with my talking about it.
I’ve been tasked with helping find talent for two different clients which has me going out into the worldwide web on the hunt. To accomplish some of this, I find myself suddenly joining various social and professional networking sites.
It all began with LinkedIn, a professional networking site. For the longest time I was accepting invitations to link and connecting with colleagues from across my life – college, Gist, DC Comics, Marvel Comics, the convention circuit, etc. As a networking tool, though, it hasn’t quite helped me on the job hunt. The few times I’ve reached out to people to find out more or gain an edge on some job prospects, I never heard back. On the other hand, I know I facilitated some connections that benefited others so the network remains valid.
Networking, he lectures, is essential from the moment you start college or begin a job, even summer employment. One never knows where a casual encounter or meeting may lead to something down the road. Other than Starlog Press, every single job I’ve had since has been a result of knowing people in my network. If I return to a fulltime job, it’s likely because of a networking opportunity.
Following this was my need to actually join MySpace in order to read Christina Aguilera’s blog while writing her bio for Rosen Books. I’ve had little need to visit there although browsing the pages of my acquaintances has been diverting. I’m not moved to actually decorate my page.
But then came bebo, a purely social site that I joined at the invitation of Rich Johnston, muckraker supreme. Turns out the invitation was sent to hundreds of comic book professionals in error, but I joined anyway and find I check it rarely.
But, now that I need to find talent, I have joined ComicSpace so I have yet another resource to tap. Similarly, in support of the International Association of Media Tie-In Writers, I finally succumbed and accepted their invitation to join facebook. Once they opened the gates to allow anyone in, I’ve resisted entering a realm both kids occupied. Since joining a few weeks back, I’ve reconnected with friends, gotten downright silly at times and hope to leave my kids alone.
Still, if we spend all this time on these sites, poking one another, linking from one group to the next, one wonders, will we ever need to leave the computer? These sites, to me, are tools, adjuncts to actually getting out and talking to people. The sociable sodas after RTM meetings do more for me than mass e-mails to my fellow representatives. Sure, LinkedIn and even Facebook allow me to stay in contact with people I can’t see because of distance, but there have to be limits.
Unless this is really the next evolutionary step in social discourse. If so, I’m more than mildly concerned.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 10:58 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
October 23, 2007
A Term Ends
We called it a term last night. The RTM met, did its business and adjourned. The next RTM will be after the November election and it’s going to be a very different group of members.
Last night was in some ways a graduation night for the “senior” class as numerous veterans from both sides of the aisle are calling it a career. Many are choosing to continue to (hopefully) serve the town as they run for different positions. Some are just tired and are going home to recharge. The RTM, though, will be the poorer without their race memory, experience and sage wisdom.
Our moderator, Joel Green, is among those stepping down and he gave a valedictory speech last night that typified his tenure. It was compassionate and inclusive as he acknowledged the contributions of everyone from those retiring to the Fairfield beat reporter for the Connecticut Post. We’re going to be much poorer without their participation but to a person, they all feel it’s time for some new blood and some fresh thinking.
I’ve been so focused on losing this senior class that I didn’t stop to consider, until last night, that this could also be my final meeting. After all, with eight people running for five seats in my district, nothing is guaranteed.
Our final agenda was fairly straight forward as we tackled some grant requests, some appointments and then the main event, the decision over the Spruce Street petition to become a Historic District. This has been an emotional issue for the residents and for the town, but it also exposed some serious flaws in how the Historic District Commission works. There is serious upgrading required in how they operate and what is stated in their documentation.
Last week, I abstained at the committee meeting because I needed more time to consider the passionate arguments on both sides of the issue. Driving the street with Deb, we saw why it clearly passed the vote of the residents and why Southport/Fairfield would benefit. At the caucus last night, Cliff Meyers nailed the argument for me. The homeowner objecting to being included, despite the vote, is suspected of looking to cash out, sell his home, build duplexes and maximize his property. If he’s willing to potentially leave the street then the question falls to the RTM as to what will be best for the community. Making it a Historic District was the clear answer. The vote was in favor.
Afterwards, we adjourned to a local restaurant where we feted the retirees. Some who left before the term ended, such as Mary Tinti and Mitch Fuchs, were invited back and it was great to have them there. It was certainly one of the best socialable sodas we’ve had in quite some time.
In two weeks we’ll see what my fate is and then what role, if any, I’ll play in the next term.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 12:05 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
October 22, 2007
The Totem Pole
Was a busy, but satisfying weekend all in all.
I actually stayed away from the computer pretty much from Saturday morning through this morning. I will admit that on Sunday morning, I was physically tired but emotionally wired, itching to tackle the things I left undone on my desk, all of which could wait.
Sunday, Deb and I drove up to Duchess County for the New York Sheep and Wool Festival. II do not share her passion for yarn and knitting. Still, a day out, time with Deb, indulging her passion, that’s all good, too.
We were accompanied by her brother Jim and his fiancée Jennifer, both knitters, so this was a good mix for the day. It was also sunny, warm and perfect for a day at the fairgrounds.
One of the highlights for us was attending an event with Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, a.k.a. Yarn Harlot. Not only does she knit, but she blogs about it with tremendous verve and wit. Deb and Katie have adored her blog for years and own all four of Stephanie’s best-selling humor books on the topic. Deb has also seen Stephanie speak before so knew we’d be in for a good time.
Stephanie was indeed entertaining. She’s also a geek. No doubt about it since she wore a t-shirt that read “All your yarn are belong to us” a variation on the video game bad translation that became a bit of catch-phrase a few years back.
Her speech was a cut-down version of the one she gave in Manhattan this spring but Deb was the only one to recognize that. She noted that Stephanie appeared more relaxed having done this touring bit for a while now. One section that was omitted involved knitting, geeks and Star Trek. Not that I escaped unscathed.
After the speech (which had me holding Deb’s cellphone so Kate could hear it down in Washington), Deb went to get one of Kate’s copies autographed. As they chatted, Star Trek came up and Deb admitted I wrote ST novels. Across the room, I saw Stephanie glance my way and then comment “lower on the totem pole”, indicating my place on the geekdom scale. Stephanie then talked about those knitting at SF cons events to which Deb admitted she has indulged.
For those who knit, and there are 50 million of you in North America, I highly recommend her site and her books. For those who don’t but are writers, her entries about the process are also fascinating and enlightening.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 12:23 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 18, 2007
Happy Anniversary Deb!
Given current circumstances, we decided some weeks back that today, our twenty-seventh wedding anniversary, would be a low key affair. After all, it’s not a significant number and we’re just two years removed from the big celebration.
Also, thanks to both of us working out of the house, we’ve benefited from a lot more time together which has been most pleasant. It’s certainly a hint of what our retirement years will be like and if it holds, I’ll be content.
Not that the day is going unnoticed. We tend to hide a card or two for each other, thinking ourselves oh so clever. The first fairly attacked me as I opened the medicine cabinet, reaching for the toothpaste. I found another propped on the coffeemaker, waiting for me to find it first thing in the morning. Deb had one fall out of this morning’s Times when she reached for the Metro section. There’s another she has yet to come across.
Both kids remembered to acknowledge the day without prompting, another sign they’re reaching adulthood.
We had an early lunch, indulging by running out to Rawley’s for the state’s best hot dogs. As we left, Robbie just pulled up since his last class of the day had been canceled. He happily joined us and we enjoyed this rare treat complete with real chocolate milkshakes (diets be damned today!).
Later tonight, we’ll go out for sushi, trying a new Japanese restaurant and then Deb’s off to choir practice so our evening entertainment, a movie, is scheduled for tomorrow night.
We’ve reached a nice point in our married life: very comfortable together, very happy to weather life’s changes and looking forward to a future side-by-side. This leaves me happy and content.
Meantime, we’re both working. A chunk of today was spent on revisions to Slings and Arrows book five since Keith the Editor insisted it nestle a little more neatly between books 4 and 6. I also have a conference call later this afternoon which may or may not lead to something.
Speaking of which, I have my second honest-to-goodness job interview tomorrow which brings me back to Manhattan for the first time since I left Weekly World News.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 03:47 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
October 16, 2007
The Essential Batman Encyclopedia
At last it can be told…the secrets behind the Finally Announced Secret Project.
In February 2006, at the New York Comic-Con, it was mentioned to me by Random House exec Scott Shannon that my name had just come up in relation to a project they were discussing with DC Comics. I eagerly awaited word, heard from DC’s Steve Korte that something was cooking and I should be patient.
On September 28, I was formally offered the chance to write the The Essential Batman Encyclopedia, an A-Z updating of Michael Fleisher’s original Batman Encyclopedia, released in 1976. Unlike Michael’s book, which covers Batman, Detective Comics and World’s Finest Comics from 1939 to more or less 1966, this book would cover every Batman comic book appearance in the DC Universe from 1939 through 2007. The entries would differentiate between the various parallel worlds in addition to changes resulting from Crisis on Infinite Earths and Infinite Crisis.
Of course I said yes.
I spent the next few weeks assembling a Master List and wrote a few samples for my editor, Emily Lerner, to get a feel for the best approach. She and Keith Clayton, her counterpart at Random House, asked for some tweaks to the list. I was finally given the go ahead to start the serious researching and writing in December. Initially, Emily asked that I finish the manuscript on June 15 which, silly me, thought was doable while handling a day job and family.
In February, Emily said that an internal shift at DC meant she was handing the book, and me, over to my pal Chris Cerasi. I kept writing and delivering and then in June was asked to come in for a meeting which was essentially sitting down with Chris, fellow editor John Morgan and Steve Korte for some course corrections. It was a substantive and productive meeting. At that point, the deadline was formalized as a more realistic August 31.
That same month, I warned Chris and Keith that keeping the manuscript to 200,000 words was going to prove nigh unto impossible. They pumped up the page count so it’s now 494 pages long with two 16-page color sections.
On August 31, I delivered the final entry, Batman himself, and the final word count weighed in at 316, 933.
Now, let me tell you, there’s no way this could have been done if I didn’t have the month of August without a day job. That bit of timing proved painful but providential. The entire book is with a copy editor and I look forward to seeing what happens next, especially as we begin the graphics selections.
I plundered my collection, I plundered illegally scanned comics I did not own, I scanned websites to check facts and interpretations. Most of all, I relied on the master of the facts, John Wells. With his meticulous character lists, I was able to check where people appeared in addition to their varying interpretations. On some of the most difficult to reconcile entries, I showed him drafts and he turned them around with lightning speed. The final week, he helped me make Bruce Wayne and Batman coherent and allowed me to deliver on deadline.
I cannot thank John enough so let me sing his praises here. La, la, la!
The book is set for a June 10, 2008 release, with The Dark Knight opening in July, it’s a nice bit of timing. Can’t wait to actually hold a printed copy in my hand.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 02:01 PM | Comments (13) | TrackBack
October 14, 2007
Is This a Day Off?
As discussed here previously, there are times I genuinely don’t know what to do with myself if free time exists. And yet, I crave blocks of time off.
Deb has been with Kate at Stitches East, a knitting convention in Baltimore. I thought I’d have the weekend to myself. Well, not quite, but today I had hours and hours to myself. So, what did I do?
Apparently, my body thinks sleeping late means 7:15 since that’s what happened both mornings. Today, I went downstairs, made coffee and let the dogs out. Then, I leisurely read the papers. I then had to watch something on disc for some web writing that had to be done. With a fresh cup, I journeyed to the desk where I did e-mail, surfed the usual websites, filed for unemployment, and paid bills. I then did the necessary web writing then put the finishing touches on my interview with Peter David for the next issue of Write Now!.
Finally, around noon, I made it upstairs where I finally sat for a while. I finished reading Resistance, J.M. Dillard’s latest Star Trek novel, which was rather entertaining. I had lunch, chatted with Mom, spent a little time with Robbie.
Is this really a day off? No, since I had work that needed doing. But, it is certainly paced like one and it feels…weird. I’d like to try this again, with less on my plate, so maybe I could actually, I dunno, play a game on the computer.
And now, it’s time to become a politician.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 03:18 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 13, 2007
Walking the Neighborhood
Two years ago, District 8 had no Republicans running for RTM so the field was clear and I didn’t have to work hard at all to get elected.
This time, though, they’re running three people so there’s a competition for the five spots and I’m doing more traditional campaigning. On the local level, nothing beats walking the district, knocking on doors, talking to neighbors and hearing what’s on people’s minds.
While I have done this on my own, I much prefer walking with one of my fellow candidates. It makes the time far more pleasant especially as we go from door to door and no one is home. There are plenty of bad times to go knocking, such as dinner time or three in the morning. Good times are harder to judge.
I also have met an interesting cross-section of the people living here. My section of town seems to have been built in two major stages, once in the 1940s and a different section in the 1960s. Fairfield also has a nice percentage of people who have lived here their entire lives. A Szost lives on Szost Street for example. I’ve spoken to people who live in the homes they built. Over the last five weeks of campaigning, I’ve certainly learned a lot about how this area developed and what was good and what is not good today.
If you read only the local papers – we have a regional daily and two town-specific weeklies – you’d think the town was in turmoil with both sides slinging accusations hard and fast. The Letters to the Editor column is a fascinating study in campaign rhetoric and passion. Our incumbent First Selectman is either a boob who has ruined the town by being co-opted by developers or he’s a fiscal visionary who has managed tax increases and overdue construction, earning the town national accolades.
If you go door to door, I introduce myself, explain why I’m here and ask if they have any thoughts or concerns. Most will say, “Nope, I’m pretty happy. Sure, I’d like taxes to go lower but that will never happen.” Honest and straight-forward. Some will have an issue and right now our town is going through an evolution that has larger homes replacing the tudors, colonials and capes that filled the streets for decades. Zoning issues are very hot now so we get comments about that, especially on streets where construction is ongoing or recently completed. Some have issues about flooding or street repair. Few were absolutely negative towards the current administration and only one called all politicians crooks.
Our town, 59,000 or so and growing, definitely has issues to manage. More people move in as older folk pass on and new families arrive. However, there’s finite acreage so the population wants more…fields for the kids, parks for the families, a town pool for year-round use, schools to keep class size down. Can’t do it all, there’s just not the space. Managing that growth, both on the residential and commercials sides is an interesting challenge. We’re certainly reaching a point where some hard decisions will need to be made.
But, in general, as I walk, I’m very happy to see how general content my neighbors are. With luck, that will mean most of the incumbents, myself included, will be returned to office so we can continue the work we’ve started.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 09:11 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
October 10, 2007
Back to Fiction
The last time I opened the file containing the latest outline to my original urban fantasy was September 9, 2005.
Yep, over two years since I last looked at it. Sure, I’ve thought about it ever since, on and off, yearning to find the time to get back to it as if searching for a lost love. Every so often I read something and think that would be good research for the backstory or hear how urban fantasy remains a hot genre and figure I better act now.
Being a part-time freelance writer has always meant the paying assignments took precedence. Except for a day here or there, I’ve pretty much always had one assignment or another and as witnessed this spring, too many piled one atop another that it took two months of unemployment to catch up.
Well, that’s been handled so while awaiting the next assignment, I have time, at last, to get back to the original idea. A truism is that once you finish writing something, it’s always best to set it aside before sending it off. That applies to not only novels, but articles, short stories and even e-mails written with a strong tone of voice (in both the personal and professional realms).
Two days ago, I opened the file and read it with very fresh eyes. You know what? Even though it has a beginning, a middle and an end, it’s not good. Not yet. Characters are introduced and dropped without explanation; the stakes are nowhere near high enough for all the characters. Even as I read it, I thought of things to add but realized it’s not in great shape.
I pulled out Donald Maass’ Writing the Breakout Novel, which one Michael Burstein recommended at least two years back. Turns out, the bookmark was set at the chapter about plot, right where I needed it. So, I’ve been reading through it, adjusting my thinking to original fiction, original characters, people I control without benefit of an editor or licensor looking over my shoulder. Yesterday, I read through the online outline and scribbled a bullet-pointed version on a pad, so I could see where people vanished, where new entanglements could be inserted and where things could be amped up.
The process is stop and go, stop and think, hesitatingly moving forward but it’s nice to have a few consecutive days to devote a few hours each session to it. Who knows, the finished outline might actually be good.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 04:22 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
October 08, 2007
Today's Surprise
I rarely indulge in ego-tripping across the web so am sometimes surprised by what I find.
This afternoon, I was reminded that my pal, Max Allan Collins, has a Ms. Tree novel coming from Hard Case Crime next month. I clicked over to Amazon and entered Max’s name, then sorted by publication date. Well, first I see The Legend of Zorro, the Moonstone collection we’re both in (and coming out in December). Idly looking over the listings, I decided to click on my name and see what happened.
Again sorting by pub date, the first listing was The Avenger Chronicles, which has a June 2008 pub date. Well, that was news and good news, too, since I had fun with the story. It appears I will share the covers with Tom DeFalco, Moonstone publisher Joe Gentile, Ron Goulart, Clay Griffith, Susan Griffith, C. J. Henderson, Howard Hopkins, Robert Jeschonek, Paul Kupperberg, Max McCoy, Chris Mills, Will Murray, Gary Phillips, Martin Powell, Andy Bennett, and Dave Aikins. I’m rather amused by the large percentage of authors and friends I already know and have worked with elsewhere.
What came next, though, was a surprise. Rosen released Frequently Asked Questions About Loneliness (Faq: Teen Life) on September 30. Yes, I wrote it, so that’s not the surprise.
In the spring of 2006, between DC and Weekly World News, Rosen’s editors asked me to help them revised and update some of their older health and social science books which were then being made available online to schools. Essentially it meant taking the original manuscript, updating facts, statistics, adding new information as was necessary and revising the “for further information” data. It required some research and in some cases rewriting. Overall, I thought this was a clever use of their material and a good way to remain vital and useful to teachers across the country since so often new information makes these books dated pretty quickly.
I tackled such topics as Sexual Orientation, Safe Sex, Interfaith Marriage, and yes, Loneliness. I was told the original manuscript for that last one was in such a sorry state that they’d pay extra if I did a top-to-bottom rewrite. Which I did, reviewed the edits, took my check and thought nothing further about it.
Now I see it is a book, which was not covered in the contract, nor was the compensation based on publication nor did anyone think to even send the author a copy. I popped off an e-mail to Rosen and await their response.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 05:02 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
October 06, 2007
Early Thoughts on the TV Season
Given that three of us try to match schedules in order to watch the television series we enjoy together, we have come to watch just about everything via the DVR. We are definitely a time-shifting family. As a result, we’re only just about now caught up with most of the shows. It doesn’t help that several of the summer series we’ve been following are still running as well as trying to find the time to fit in Ken Burns’ wonderful World War II miniseries.
So, with that said, here are my early season impressions:
Sunday
Desperate Housewives seems sharp with some interesting new personal challenges for the women plus a new mystery in the delightful form of Dana Delaney and Nathan Fillion. Although, now that the regular cast has grown even larger, one wonders how all these stories will be served. The lesson Marc Cherry can’t forget is that the show is often at its best when two or more of the women actually interact with one another.
Brothers & Sisters is also off to a good start with the usual family dramas. The cliffhanger was certainly expected and could have been structured differently but essentially this remains a well-structured series with a strong ensemble.
Monday
Chuck is a well-done show, so far, although it needs to find a focus pretty quickly. It’s nice to see a loving sibling relationship, which anchors Chuck from the nonsense that has been dumped on him. Our CIA cutie is nicely shaded while the NSA creep could be a horrible stereotype, saved thanks to Stephen Baldwin’s performance. How this storyline is sustained will be the true test, I think.
How I Met Your Mother seems finally ready to tell us who this mystery woman is. All the characters have moved along in their lives so it’s time to bring the title to life. I only wish they mixed things up a bit so we different combinations from the cast.
Heroes deepens its mysteries while starting new storylines and introducing new characters. While I miss Nikki, Micah and D.L., it’s probably best not to have tried to fit their story in with the rest. Much speculation has been heard about the Mexican Wonder Twins and their powers but I’m willing to wait. The acts of the Golden Age Heroes, as I call the previous generation, seem ready to come back and haunt them which, to me, only deepens the overall story. Some great casting has continued to make this one of the strongest hours on prime time.
Tuesday
House enters the season with a nice challenge – House needs to replace his team. He’s become as dependent on them as he has his vicodin. The winnowing process and variety of would-be teammates has been entertaining and it’s nice to see Robert Sean Leonard have more to do than suffer from House’s abuse.
Boston Legal continues to be this maddening mix of over-the-top character farce coupled with compelling legal dramas. I’ll be curious to see how the cast makeover settles in and if we actually get to see Denny Crane practice law or run the firm. The relationship between Denny and Shirley has been surprisingly sympathetic.
Cane got slammed by the critics and I can see why. There’s little original here once you get past the ethnic angle. It’s got a great cast (I’ll see Hector Elizando in most anything) but needs some better dialogue and better pacing. The pilot felt awfully slow.
Wednesday
Pushing Daisies is a delight. With its oversaturated color palette and Jim Dale narration, this is a fairy tale with a set of off-kilter characters that you immediately warm to. The leads and supporting cast are equally strong so it’s up to the writers to make the most of them. I can see why ABC pushed this so hard; it’s the most original series of the season.
Bionic Woman looks appealing, with a fine cast. How David Eick will keep this from becoming standard action fare will be the challenge. Also, everyone has issues, everyone has secrets and that could weigh the show down if not handled carefully. The Fairfield jury remains out on this one.
Back to You is your standard sitcom, the kind they don’t make any more. The reason it is nearly extinct is that the form was constantly watered down with bad premises, bad casting, and awful writing. This is the all-star team come together for almost one last hurrah. The show is entertaining, if predictable.
Dirty Sexy Money is, as Deb put it, “over the top enough to be enjoyable.” It certainly boasts a great cast and an interesting premise. As long as Peter Krause’s hunt for his father’s killer doesn’t overshadow his dealings with the family, it should be fine. I gather, though, his strained relationship with his own family is getting downplayed but we’ll have to wait and see.
Thursday
Smallville wrapped up last season’s cliffhangers way too quickly, dropped Supergirl into the mix without much foreshadowing and threw us for as loop when we saw where Lana wound up. This really needs to be the show’s last year because the constant twisting of the relationships has gone beyond credulity. Also, with Mom in Washington, just what does Clark do when he’s not rescuing the world? His path to journalism is entirely missing.
Ugly Betty is a hoot and is off to a fine start. This is like a sorbet, refreshingly silly and well done after all the drama throughout the week.
Grey’s Anatomy remains, in my mind, one of the best structured and sustained series on television today. Yes, Meredith and some of the others are way too whiny, but how they inter-relate and how cases resonate with the personal lives is strong. It’s also nice to see some shading to Bailey, who should shine this season.
Big Shots should be better than it is given the cast. Some of the storylines are interesting while some of the characters are inconsistent. It is certainly the smarmiest show on the air and we may not keep this one around.
ER is okay but definitely showing its age as we remain on the spin cycle as things go round and round without really going anywhere. Stanley Tucci is a nice addition but it may be time to bring this series to an end.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 01:08 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
October 04, 2007
The Week So Far
This is a weird week, a transitional one.
The major freelance assignments are done and several little bits awaited me as the week began. I figured I could tackle a bunch of this stuff and find the time to finally get back to my original idea. Also, I’ve begun talking to other people about using my editorial and publishing skills to act as project manager on some tings. I spent part of Monday and Tuesday on those matters, hoping they catch on and can lead to some nice paying work.
Without pressing deadlines over my head, I find myself more easily distracted. Motivation is also a little harder to come by. Still, there’s work to be done and fortunately, I received a ton of excellent notes from a friend, Allyn Gibson, who reviewed my Star Trek: The Next Generation eBook. As a result, Tuesday was spent making the changes which involved fixing poor word choices and restructuring the opening sequence. The eBook is better for his efforts and it went off to Mr. Editor before the day was out.
Wednesday saw me with just the 1000 word article for Star Trek Magazine. It’s my first assignment for them and a chance to contribute to their 15th anniversary salute to Deep Space Nine. I puttered a good chunk of the day on researching it in addition to running some errands but it also got done and delivered to the other Mr. Editor.
Then a funny thing happened. A website I’ve done some writing for called and asked me to tackle a few more things for them. They wish it to remain anonymous and that’s fine by me since it’s not all that creatively challenging and the pay is good. At least they think well enough of me to keep giving me things.
Today, while having the car serviced, I received a call about a project I thought might be dead. Nope, it’s just been in Legal Hell and it only emerged unscathed yesterday. Now I have to put together numerous ideas and present a formal plan for my involvement.
All of a sudden, a week that looked fairly barren and scary when it comes to paying work has perked up. It won’t make me rich or even replace the WWN income, but it does keep things going, starting with bolstering the somewhat deflated ego. Should any of the above actually happen, it could mean enough streams of income to make staying home work for the short term, and that’s not bad at all.
The freelancer’s life is a scary one and one I remain unconvinced I’m cut out for. It certainly helps that Deb is also working out of the house most days and I have someone to actually see and speak with. Robbie pops in and out to and from college or work so he is also around. Still, some mornings I wake up facing a very uncertain world and it can be scary. Yes, the last two periods of unemployment took months to resolve themselves but it never replaces the occasional moments of panic.
One upside to being here is that it means stuff gets done without waiting for the weekend. I’ve also been a little freer than usual to hit the campaign trail at the drop of the hat, as I did Tuesday afternoon as the First Selectman and I knocked on doors together.
It’s all very much a mixed bag right now and as I wait for things to resolve themselves I find my emotions swinging from one extreme to another which no doubt drives the family up the wall.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 04:35 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack