Working the floor
There has been a lot going on over the past three months, but, to paraphrase my favorite former blogger, I haven’t been:
a) analyzing Sanskrit
b) getting drunk with magazine editors
c) mastering Guitar Hero 2 on the 360
d) researching obscure insects
e) becoming more and more dependent on cereal [a]
f) making crazy plans that other people seem to be accepting
g) watching Top Chef like it is as good as Project Runway [b]
It’s been busy. But when you’re a writer, busy doesn’t mean shit. I had lunch with a New York editor a few years ago, shortly after I started contributing to his magazine, and I complimented him on a recent feature. It was from a busy writer I admired. “Nightmare!” the editor shouted. He started flipping out. “The guy’s a hack. We had to rewrite that shit from the foundation up…” and he goes on to talk about the staff reinterviewing everyone, obvious details missed, and how the writer was sloppy and lazy. I just said a few words of surprise, nodded and stuffed my face to avoid any more commenting on my end. If bylines are any indication, the writer was - and is - a busy man. If busy is the measure of success, when does the QA team jump in? [c]
So during the last three months I’ve done plenty of researching, writing and thought to insure the best product. [d] I can’t release weak shit. Unfortunately, blogging, as well as sleeping, social time and general cleanliness habits, took a backseat. Was the sacrifice worth it? Time will tell.
For now, here’s the latest stuff:
- I now write regularly for Inc. Technology, the prestigious magazine’s new small business website
- The incredible Annalee Newitz edited my S & M flavored piece on the Nintendo cult classic Chibi-Robo for other magazine issue #11 [e]
- I’m the bimonthly tech columnist for the sci-fi and anime publication Cinescape. This is where you can hear more rants. Catch up here.
I can’t talk about anything else. The only thing I can guarantee is that this summer’s gonna be a hot one.
-
[a] Really, why is it so damn expensive? That’s a story.
[b] As if.
[c] Quality Assurance in nerdspeak.
[d] Most of which, because of darned lead times, won’t be out until much, much later.
[e] No, I wasn’t kidding.