At first, I could not be bothered, and my friend Dara and I would just roll our eyes with sheer boredom. As she became less and less interested in the class, I became more fixated on blogging and the Internet. I was one of the very few students who updated their blogs more than once a week because I was genuinely interested in what I was writing about (Public Relations and Popular Culture).

As my program was winding down, past graduates and PR professionals were invited to the college for a Professional Development Day, that included seminars on compiling a portfolio, resume writing, a mock job interview and a an open Q&A. the woman leading the Q&A group was Zoe Siskos who works for Social Media Group in Dundas, Ontario.

She is like a social media guru, and her company works alongside many very well known companies, establishing them in the realm of the Internet and becoming more social media savvy. Zoe began talking about how awesome and important social media was in today’s world, and she name-dropped a site called Twitter. “That’s an interesting name for a social media site,” I thought to myself. Zoe explained the concept of it to us and described it as micro-blogging. I took down the website address, and forgot about it for about a month.

When the class ended, so did everyone else’s blogs (with the exception of a few). I decided that since I had grown to love blogging and social media so much, that I was going to continue updating. I also remembered that Zoe mentioned Twitter, so I signed up for an account and was on my way.

Fast forward a few months, I am working full time now. Many of the projects I have been working on, and have been assigned have had a very youth oriented and social media feel. It is now my job and responsibility to create fan pages on Facebook and MySpace, establish a YouTube account, and the biggest, and most important task I am responsible for (and it really is my baby), is the photo blog created to help promote an upcoming event at my work. 

I definitely do not mean this in a harsh way, but many of the people I work with and around, have no idea what is going on in the world of social media, or what it really means. During my job interview, I mentioned my online activity and the Special Events Manager and HR Associate looked at me bewildered and asked me to explain further, what exactly a “Twitter” was. The pair were amazed that I was blogging for a website thousands of kilometres away in Texas, while I sit and write from my home in Ontario. While my co-workers are busy planning the events, I am busy promoting them online.

Sure, I would have been able to do the majority of the things I complete at work without the help of that social media class, but just knowing how to create and maintain projects has really helped. Because of that one small step I made, I find myself more and more interested in learning about social media and dipping my toes into the waters of Web 2.0. There is more to life than Facebook and MySpace, and I kind of like it.

Not only that, but because of Zoe and her passing along of information about Twitter, I would not have met so many great and amazing people from around the world, been able to share and exchange ideas with my new friends, and the most important part, I would not be contributing to Culture Feast.

Ok, so at this point, you’re probably thinking, “Who the heck is Lee Pace?”  Well, he’s only the cutest thing to ever hit the silver screen.  If it’s possible, I’m more enamored with him than Daniel Day Lewis and Hugh Jackman put together.  Yeah, I know; it’s probably hard to believe, but I think it’s got a lot to do with the character he was playing the first time I ever saw him: Ned, the Piemaker, from Pushing Daisies.

I could write an entirely separate blog on how much I love, love, love Pushing Daisies.  If you didn’t catch any of the abbreviated (due to the writer’s strike) first season, I highly recommend you try to pick it up on DVD before the second season starts in the fall.  It’s so original, and some might say sickeningly sweet, but I happen to love getting covered in the ooey gooey goodness every Wednesday night at 7 p.m. on ABC.

Ok, so I suppose that’s enough of my pimping Pushing Daisies, but you have to understand my love for that show and for Ned to understand why I was so excited to see something else in which Lee Pace starred.  He’s just brilliant, and his brilliance shone during The Fall.

The Fall was directed by Tarsem Singh, who also directed The Cell, and according to one other review I read , The Cell had some great visuals with a bad story, but that person thought he’d finally found a decent story to go with his amazing visuals, and I totally agree.

After seeing the trailer, this was one that I knew I had to see in theaters.  I’d had two botched attempts to see it with friends, and as I checked the Magnolia’s website to see if our final attempt was also destined to be foiled, I found that fate was playing a super nasty trick on me.  So I made time to go see it at the absolute last minute, and I’m so glad I did.

Pace plays Roy Walker, a paraplegic in a turn of the 20th century Los Angeles hospital.  Cantinca Untaru plays Alexandria, a little girl at the same hospital who has broken her arm picking oranges in the California orchards where her family works.  Alexandria stumbles into Roy’s room one afternoon, and an odd friendship ensues.  

Roy begins to tell Alexandria a tale of 5 men who have each sworn to kill the evil Governor Odious.  Roy’s soothing Southern drawl is the narration, and Alexandria’s imagination provides the characters.  A scary x-ray technician she saw in the hallway becomes the costume for all Governor Odious’ henchmen.  Roy is the protagonist (naturally), and her favorite nurse, Nurse Evelyn, is his love interest, and all the other characters from Roy’s tale have the faces of people from Alexandria’s life.

The scenery was simply spectacular.  I was moved by each scene.  From the vast orange desert, to the “burning bush,” to the greener pastures, and onto the island palace sanctuary: every location was mesmerizingly beautiful.  It was definitely the most imaginative and original film I’ve seen in awhile…maybe ever.  I was so glad I made the time to see it in a theater; so when you rent it, I highly recommend making arrangements to see it on a high definition or plasma screen TV.

Pace was not a disappointment.  He is an exceptional actor.  Other than his performance on Pushing Daisies, I’ve seen his barely mentionable role in The Good Shepherd, and I saw White Countess, even thought I don’t remember his character at all.  I also saw a little known Showtime movie called Soldier’s Girl, which I will blog about at a later date.  Each performance was as varied as the locations used to shoot The Fall, and he’s believable in every one.

Untaru’s performance was splendid.  She’s such a child, and it’s so perfect.  Her interactions with Pace were absolutely delightful.  There were moments when I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself, not so quietly, because their conversations were so realistic.  Pace would say something and she’d agree, and then he’d ask her if she really understood him, and she’d say yes, but you know she didn’t, and they go round and round like that.  It’s precious.

The Fall is one of those films where the trailer is a masterpiece unto itself.  It wasn’t misleading, but there were definitely parts of the film that were contrary to what the trailer represented, but that made it all the more pleasing.  It perfectly blends the child-like enjoyment of a fantastic fairy tale with the horrible misery of very adult problems.  It reminded me that if we take a few moments to look at things from a child’s perspective, everybody can always use a little “happily ever after” in one way or another.

The diet soda is a breakthrough in ways few problems have the ability to be solved.  Imagine if you will that it was possible to have more government spending and yet pay less in taxes.  Think of the possibilities, more programs for you and me, but not taking away our hard earned money, fantastic.  This is the gift that diet soda has given humanity.  And yet, while the diet soda really is genius in a bottle, it sometimes is not used the way our mad scientist would have intended.  You see, while drinking a regular pop might cost you three hundred unneeded calories, and removing those calories can help you lose weight.  Feeling like you have carte blanche to eat anything you want just because you are drinking a diet soda really is not going to help.
 
I tend to approach my weight issues the same way I do global warming.  Sure it is terrible, but what can I do about it?  I feel like one of those "real men of genius" in a Budweiser commercial, if there was such a commercial, it would sound something like this:
 
“Bud light presents, real men of genius.”
“Real men of genius!”
 
“Today we salute you, Mr. Diet Soda Drinker Guy.”
“Mr. Diet Soda Drinker Guy!”
 
“You can eat a triple bacon cheese burger, large fries, onion rings and an Oreo pie but insist on drinking a diet soda to wash it down.”
“I can hear myself getting fatter!”
 
“No tofu, soy products or veggie burgers for you, if it did not have a mama, you’re not going to eat it.   So crack open an ice cold Bud Light oh battle of bulge warrior, your wasteline may not get any thinner, but at least you can say that you tried.”

“Mr. Diet Soda Drinker Guy!”

This year has been a crazy and busy year. I just started a new job, I’m busy with my blog, my podcast and writing on Culture Feast, and I’m ready to just sit on the beach and stare at the ocean. What is it about life that gets us so stressed out that sometimes we get even stressed about taking a vacation?

I have 5 days to pack and get ready for the long two day drive to Destin. I know I’m going to have fun and I hope I can relax a lot. But I’m stressed out! I still have to work (my 2nd week at my new job) this upcoming week and I still have several projects due with my blog writing. I’m also a bit stressed that I have and take enough money to enjoy me 7 days in paradise.

This post isn’t to brag or to make anyone envious. On the contrary, I want to know if there are other people out there who stress out about vacation? Shouldn’t going on a vacation make you feel peaceful and relaxed? And nine times out of ten, do you ever feel like you need a vacation after your vacation? I sure do.

According to recent research, 43% of Americans suffer from major stress in their daily lives. Three out of five doctors visits are stress related. Finally, stress is linked to five deadly “diseases” that plague our society today: cancer, heart disease, lung ailments, liver damage and suicide.

I read these statistics and it hit me hard. It’s not necessarily my eating that I need to watch or the chemicals I consume on a daily basis. Yes, both of these are very important in maintaining your health. However, I never really think how stress really harms my body. So, I decided to write this to get you thinking. What are you doing to reduce stress in your life? Maybe, just maybe, you need a little vacation.

What’s so tragic is that she’s incredibly talented. She’s written a thriller that, I thought, rivaled and even exceeded some of the brand-name authors you can pick up at your local bookstore. So what happened? There were several reasons why she came to her decision, but the last time she came to our group, she boiled it down to, “I haven’t written anything in weeks and I don’t really feel guilty about it.”

The more I see and read, I’ve come to think that a great writing career doesn’t necessarily go to those with the most talent. A quote by Sophia Loren bears this out. She once said, “Getting ahead in a difficult profession requires avid faith in yourself. That is why some people with mediocre talent, but with great inner drive, go much further than people with vastly superior talent.”

It’s sad to say, but I’ve known others, just as talented as my friend or any other published writer, who have quit. It’s easy to understand why. There is only so much rejection a person can take and writing demands lot of time that can be spent on more worthwhile or productive pursuits such as spending time with your family. And just because a person has spent hours composing something doesn’t mean she has something pretty to show for it. With writing the work is never done. I look at things I’ve written in the past and wince because I think, “Man, I could have written that so much better.” Or “Damn, I used the word media, the plural, when I meant medium, the singular.”

There is a part of me that thinks it would be really great to be a house painter or a cake decorator. With those jobs you see the results of your work and have something beautiful to show for it at the end. And if you’ve done a lousy job, it’s readily apparent. A page full of weak verbs, a plot that doesn’t go anywhere, and insipid characters are harder to spot.

 I really hope my friend, after taking some time off, comes back. Some people need to take a break and reevaluate things. About every two or three months I’ll get in a funk, which is usually spurred  by a rejection letter, trouble with plotting, or unclear character goal and motivation, and I’ll ask the heavens, “What the hell am I doing this for?” Usually the frustration is short lived and I always come back. In my case, what else would I do? I wouldn’t truly be satisfied doing anything else.

On any given Monday, I could spend minutes a day deleting all of the unread emails that she has forwarded me. I don't mean any disrespect to my grandmother, but I pretty much got the 'Obama = terrorist' message in your first email. You know I am a well informed, educated man. I graduated from an accredited university (UNT '07); you were there.  I'm not amongst the undereducated masses that not only thought finishing high school was unnecessary, but also make up the majority of stereotypical Texans.  I just don't fall into that group of people that is swayed by propaganda whether it is political, racist, or fear based.

I get it. Barack Obama is a Muslim name. And to a God-fearing Christian, anything Muslim is going to come off as Satanic and inspire all sorts of fear based responses. This is easy to do when your main source for Muslim related information comes from a small-town church pastor and the 700 Club. I'd be willing to bet that if I were to follow  the email trail on one of the emails that begins: FWD(:FWD:FWD:FWD:FWD:…………..FWD:Barack Obama is Muzlim for 'Kill Americans'), I'd probably find at least 20 addresses with @….church.org in them. I'd say that it amazes me that the people that are entrusted to deliver the 'words' of God and Jesus are usually the ones that are first to instruct people to reject, hate, or rally against other religions, but I know better.

Maybe I'm too naive. Maybe I should feel an overwhelming need to exercise my right to speak freely and arm myself properly. Maybe I should be skeptical of everyone with a foreign accent. 'Are you sure this is chicken in my kung pao chicken? I'm not sure. My red-blooded American pastor said to be cautious. And I know he is NEVER wrong.'

Honestly, I would rather live in a world that I die being wrong than live a fearful life being right. Because the truth is, hatred is a multi-headed monster. All the bullets and missiles in the world will only suppress it. Hatred is the herpes of humanity and wars are the Valtrex. Even with regular treatment, it is still possible to spread hatred.

It is possible to spread it via forwarded emails. And honestly, I'm just not interested in being a carrier. I'm not interested in perpetuating the slanted, narrow views that these emails express. I'm still going to dislike various aspects of the cultures of other races, but I'm more likely to dislike the same things within my own.

Grandma, through no effort of yours, I'll most likely excuse myself from participating in the election in November. In doing so, I'm not staging any form of protest. I just don't like feeling like I am throwing my vote into an abyss. I still live in the same state that almost unanimously voted for G. W. both in 2000 and 2004. I don't care how dynamic Mr. Obama might be, he's not winning Texas in 2008.

Obama may very well end up winning the election and I'm sure that scares a lot of people. And they should be. Change is scary, but it is also necessary. It wasn't so long ago that people were afraid of automobiles and televisions, but I think we can all agree that those have worked out pretty well for all of us. I look forward to the day when we stop caring about someone being the first woman to… or the first black person to….

Hopefully then, and only then will I stop burning hundreds of calories a day deleting those unread emails.

This is what I can't figure out. The student was told several times by me and by the testing directions that her phone should be turned completely off. She either chose to ignore me, or she just didn't pay attention. Now if I were taking a college entrance exam, I would be darn sure to listen and pay attention. Wouldn't you? The student should have known about the rule, but she still thought it was okay to tell the Advisor she left it on and that is why she did poorly. Just by admitting that she broke one of the labs biggest rules, put her in jeopardy of never being able to take classes with us.

If we had chosen to, we could have pursued a cheating claim and had we been successful, she would be not allowed to enroll. Still, that was the excuse she gave. What kills me even more is that the Admissions Advisor (who's job it is to know the testing policies) bought her story and came down to plead her case. What made her think it was a good idea. I seriously do not think she saw it was a mistake until I reminded her that the student should not have had her phone on at all per our policy. Her mother's texts should not have been an issue.  The student still thinks we are unfair, and the Advisor should have known better. Really, a little common sense could have saved us all from this scenario.
 
It all boils down to one thing: where is the common sense? Yes, there are clueless people in this world. However, there seem to be more and more of them these days. It is like personal responsibility, knowing right from wrong, and just plain being aware are rare traits. Being oblivious happens. When it happens chronically, it is annoying. When it happens because you don't think the rules apply to you, or you can't be bothered to listen or pay attention, it is a major problem. I see more and more of this every day and I am starting to worry.

It seems like common sense has been replaced by self absorption. If it isn't all about us, what we want and how we want it, we aren't interested. It doesn't even register to us. We want immediate gratification. God Forbid we wait a few seconds to have access to that perfectly good garbage can, lets throw the almost close and empty Sprite bottle over that girls head into what we assume is a trash can…but isn't. This really worries me.
 
Sometimes I feel bad. I don't want to seem like I think I am better than others. I make mistakes, and I have my share of less than classic moments. Still this wide spread loss of common sense just kills me sometimes! I see it in all age groups, but it seems to be most prevalent in the under thirty crowd. There are times where I can't tell if it is really abandoning common sense, being totally self absorbed or mix of the two. I've blamed the "entitlement monster."

Yes, the quickly spiraling out of control villain that has young people used to having everything done for them and given to them. Maybe if they would have learned personal responsibility, they wouldn't be as clueless.  I don't know, and really I'm not trying to play the blame game. I just want to know how we got here so we can try and make it stop.

I saw a billboard for Leatherheads at the movie theater when I went to see Michael Clayton back in February, and by the time I actually saw it in the dollar theater a few weeks ago, I’d totally forgotten that it even existed.  Of course, I knew virtually nothing about it, but I like George Clooney and I LOVE John Krasinski (Where, oh where is the Jim to match my Pam in my real-life office?!), so I figured together they could cancel out my mild dislike for Renee Zellweger.

I knew it hadn’t done well in theaters.  There wasn’t really a lot of buzz surrounding its release, and there was even less once it was released.  February is kind of like the no-man’s land of movies.  It seems like all the really great films are released around Christmas time now; just in time to make themselves eligible for the Academy Awards and to keep their film fresh in the minds of the Academy.  Then the awards are at the end of February, so the first of the year is kind of a dead time for movies.  One of those times that you really want to go to the theater on Friday night, but you check to see what’s playing and realize there’s either nothing you want to see, or worse, nothing you’ve even heard of.  Well, at least that’s my take on things.

So I didn’t really expect much out of this one, which made it all the better that I loved it as much as I did.  From the very beginning when I realized that it was set in the 1920s, I was infatuated.  Just like I’m fascinated by the Holocaust, if it’s possible, I’m actually more fascinated by the ‘20s.  The clothes, the hair, the fashion, the styles: they’re all so enchanting.  Even writing that sentence gives me warm fuzzies, makes me giggle like a schoolgirl and leaves a huge smile on my face.  I just love that era.

So that was the first point in the movie’s favor.  Then it just turned out to be the perfect screwball comedy.  You know the type.  Most of it is far-fetched and silly and could never happen, but somehow it all just clicks and is delightful.  I laughed out loud the ENTIRE time, and unfortunately for the guy sitting down in the front of the theater, I have a very loud laugh when I’m thoroughly enjoying something.

So I guess I could get around to telling you a little about the movie and shut up about how much I loved it.  Clooney, who also directed the film, plays Dodge Connelly, a playboy type who can’t get enough of football even though professional football is a joke.  He hears about Carter Rutherford (Krasinski) a college football star who also happens to be a Great War veteran and hero.  You can’t get anymore All-American than that.

Connelly, being a schemer, figures he can use Rutherford’s success to boost the popularity and the budget of pro football.  And it works – for the most part.  But there’s always a wrench in the system somewhere.  It turns out that Rutherford’s hero status might be in question.  Enter Lexie Littleton (Zellweger), firecracker reporter and women’s libber long before there was an official Women’s Lib Movement.   Let me just say that if I could somehow raid her clothes from this film, I would beg, borrow and steal my way into a size 0.

Anyway, Lexie is assigned to get the real story of Rutherford’s war experience out of him.  No one was bargaining on him falling for her or her falling for him or Dodge falling for her or her falling for Dodge.  Who would have thought that a movie about the beginnings of pro football would turn into a romantic comedy?

The screenplay is charming.  The characters are refreshing.  Don’t let the bad box office showing dissuade you from getting this one from Blockbuster or Netflix.  If you can appreciate a quirky sense of humor, great acting and even better writing, you’ll be adding this one to your collection.  I know I will.

Book info:

Grape Man of Texas:
Thomas Volney Munson & the Origins of American Viticulture
by Sherrie S. McLeRoy & Roy E. Renfro, Jr., Ph.D.
The Wine Appreciation Guild
April 2008 · 2nd Edition · 334 pages · $24.95 · Hardcover
ISBN 978-1-934259-04-7

As you walk up the steps to the diner, there is a patio with red picnic tables where you can sit and enjoy your meal. As you enter the doors, a pinball machine greets you to your right, and the staff is busy placing orders and calling food numbers. It does not matter what time of day you visit, there always seems to be a crowd.

Easterbrook’s offers over 15 different varieties of hot dogs alone, including the Wonder Dog, the Belly Buster and for the vegetarians, there are veggie dogs too. Any topping you crave on your hot dog, you can get, and Easterbrook’s does not draw the line on anything. The diner caters to just about everyone. If you want chilli and onions on your hot dog, it can be done, or if you just want it plain, nobody will judge you. In 2007 alone, Easterbrook’s sold over 2,000 kilometres (that’s about 1,300 miles) of hot dogs.

To go along with the long list of hot dog varieties, Easterbrook’s has an impressive selection of ice cream flavours. Everything from the usual chocolate and vanilla, the list goes on and on, including orange sorbet, chocolate chip cookie dough, mint chocolate chip, cherry cheesecake, moose tracks, and my personal favourite, birthday cake.

Items on the menu are fairly priced, making family trips, and even a first date Easterbrook’s affordable, and fun. The moment you step foot in the door, you are instantly taken back in time. The small booths seat two very cosily, and there are business cards and people and couple’s names written on the walls. Hanging all over the diner are headshots of famous Canadian actors and other local celebrities who have dined at Easterbrook’s and left a little memento.

Easterbrook’s is a fixture in the community, and holds a special place in the heart of many. If anyone is ever in the area, drop by for lunch or dinner and stay for some dessert, because it is not every day that you can tell someone that you have eaten at a famous landmark whose roots are deeply planted within the community and surrounding area.

Pentagon officials have stated that President Bush will not instigate an American attack on Iran, but will seriously consider supporting an Israeli intervention. The scenario is further complicated by the likelihood of an incumbent Democratic President bent on negotiation versus military tactics. 

Barack Obama is not likely to support a military strike against Iran, and therefore the Israelis have a very small window of opportunity to act with American approval.

The one thing that all sides agree on is that any strike by either Iran or Israel would trigger a catastrophic round of retaliation that would rock global oil markets, send the price of petrol soaring and wreck the progress of the US military effort in Iraq.

Bush is very concerned about the safety of Israel, as indeed are many Americans. Israel is one small country constantly threatened by several surrounding Arab nations. United States support has been a deciding factor thus far in the protection of the Israeli state.

Based on the soon-to-be changing political climes in the U.S., Israel will likely be working to formalize plans for an attack that President Bush will approve. With elections taking place in four short months, the window of opportunity is rapidly closing.

Will Israel take precautionary measures against a potential nuclear Iranian threat? As in the case of North Korea, it is unlikely that Iran step away from nuclear development until they have nuclear strike capability. Stay tuned.

The biggest news in the last few days has been the new iPhone 2.0 firmware that was pushed out for all iPhone users. In essence, this firmware update was for the 3G so that it would work properly and add more benefits. Thankfully, Apple was smart in that they decided everyone should have these benefits, not just the new iPhone folks. With that said, this new firmware has basically changed the “1.0 iPhone” to a new masterpiece thanks to the addition of 3rd party apps from “The App Store.”

So lets say, though, you’re really wanting a faster speed so that’s why you’re considering the new iPhone. According to reputable sources, the 3G is twice as fast than the old iPhone when browsing via cellular and almost as fast as being connected to Wi-Fi. That, in itself, could be a reason to purchase a new phone. But did you also realize that AT&T’s 3G coverage isn’t the best? Check out this map of AT&T’s 3G network. Sadly you’ll see there’s not much blue which may make “smaller city” folks blue that they bought it. The second benefit for getting the new iPhone is a way more advanced GPS that literally “blips” on the map as you walk down the street. That may be cool, but is it worth $199 cool? That I still don’t know.

Other than that, there’s really no difference between the “1.0 iPhone” and the 3G iPhone. We both have the new firmware so in essence, one is faster than the other, when you’re browsing the internet away from home or work. In my opinion, the real saving grace for the argument to get a new 3G (considering you have the “old” one) is as long as you’re eligible for an upgrade, the price of $199 really isn’t too bad. There’s no way I’d be thinking about this if the iPhone was originally priced back in 2007.

So, lets hear from you. Those of you, like me, who are still on the fence about getting the 3G, list your reasons why you’re waiting. Those of you who’ve already taken the plunge, tell me why I shouldn’t be on the fence.

That sounds really negative, doesn’t it? It wasn’t all bad. I’m just let down. In my previous post, I wrote with excitement about going to Austin to the Agents and Editors Conference. The trip really was worthwhile. I met some interesting (in a good way) writers and even made a couple of friends.

So what was it that brought me down? The keynote speaker at the luncheon, Sara Nelson, Editor-in-Chief of Publishers Weekly, also wrote a memoir called “So Many Books, So Little Time.” At the beginning of her speech, Ms. Nelson promised to bust some myths about the publishing industry. There was one myth she didn’t really need to bust for the majority of us. She said aloud that only 1% of all books submitted to publishing houses become published. Most writers know this but saying it out loud is enough to drain anyone of hope. Ms. Nelson went on to say that even though she had connections in the publishing business, as well as a mother who would do anything to promote her daughter’s book, her book sold well, several thousand copies, but it still wasn’t a runaway blockbuster hit. And she made okay money from it but not a huge amount.

A pall settled over the tables. I don’t think we were truly prepared for someone to tell us the God’s honest truth. I’ve been to other conferences where keynote speakers gave more of an, “If I did it, you can do it” speech. A couple of years ago, I had the pleasure of hearing brand name author Debbie Macomber speak. Ms. Macomber told us that she once had a contest judge read her anonymous entry in front of people as an example of someone who should never, ever write again. Macomber recounted how she didn’t let that one person’s comment stop her. She kept at it, writing and rewriting, all while staying at home raising six children, until one day Simon and Schuster called and wanted to publish her book.

At the A&EC, I guess I wanted hear a fairy tale. That all it will take is for me to publish my book and sell thousands of them is to believe in myself and all my dreams will come true. As I talked to people afterward, most seemed to be asking themselves, “Why the hell am I busting my ass writing? Am I stupid for doing this?” However, I did meet a pragmatic lesbian couple who saw it differently. “Well, the lady told the truth. If you’re getting into something, don’t you want to know what you’re getting in to?” I admit, they had a point.

After the luncheon, I underwhelmed my appointed agent with my pitch. I gave a snappy, five sentence sales job, delivered with a lot of enthusiasm. “Ms. X, I wrote a light-hearted women’s fiction book about….” She stopped me and said, “No one reads chick lit anymore.” (For those of you who may not be aware, according to publishers in the know, the term “chick lit” is as dead as Latin.) To which I replied with a smile, “Well, that’s why I wrote a light-hearted women’s fiction book.” However, she did ask to see my first fifty pages so I really can’t complain. I compared notes with another writer who pitched to the same lady and heard the exact same thing she had told me. But when my friend pitched to a different agent with the same schpiel, that one was very enthusiastic and had the opposite reaction.

On Sunday, everyone seemed morose. Subdued. For many of the three hundred attendees, this conference was their first ever. They were new writers who thought this would be a good place to start and give them direction. Some were authors who had poured their hearts and souls into ONE self-published book and hadn’t written a sentence since. Of course, no one would be cruel enough to tell those people that they really didn’t have much of a chance of getting an agent or becoming published if all they’ve written is one book. It takes years of writing and tons of rejection to become a better, worthy writer.

I think all of us left the hotel reevaluating what we want and how serious we are about writing.
I don’t mean to harsh everyone’s mellow so I’ll end this post with something positive I heard an agent say. “There will always be readers. There will always be writers. And there will always be agents.”