Will make this quick since I'm very tired and want to watch an episode of Northern Exposure before going to sleep.
Job interview today went very well. It's for a reporter position for a northern Oakland County (Michigan) newspaper. Editor liked my resume and writing samples. Said he'd call in about a week. We'll see what happens.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Will be meeting a Detroit Tiger tomorrow
Lefthanded pitcher Bobby Seay, who will be making an appearance at the Davison, Mich., Kroger. Am a little nervous. Will have to make sure my camera batteries are good to go.
Ahhh, the fun finances of writing
In my ventures as a freelance writer, I've run into these scenarios quite a bit:
1) Website tells you that for a fee of x dollars per month, they'll give you access to thousands of freelance jobs. One site that I subscribed to for a month gave me access to maybe 20 jobs in a month. Talk about a tax write-off. There are legit sites out there, but this one wasn't one of them.
2) Other sites will give you work, but to get the work, you must pay a service fee per month. I pass on these and if ask, I'd say, "No, you don't understand: I don't pay you to work. You pay me."
1) Website tells you that for a fee of x dollars per month, they'll give you access to thousands of freelance jobs. One site that I subscribed to for a month gave me access to maybe 20 jobs in a month. Talk about a tax write-off. There are legit sites out there, but this one wasn't one of them.
2) Other sites will give you work, but to get the work, you must pay a service fee per month. I pass on these and if ask, I'd say, "No, you don't understand: I don't pay you to work. You pay me."
John McCain's running mate...who will it be?
We know it won't be Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal. He has ruled it out and says he wants to focus on Louisiana's problems. (As someone who was born and spent the first year of their life in The Pelican State, I can respect that).
Some say that Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty has the inside track. Mitt Romney, of course, is still a strong possibility.
Some say that Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty has the inside track. Mitt Romney, of course, is still a strong possibility.
Hurricane Dolly hits South Texas
This is a concern for me, since I'm from South Texas. Looks like it'll miss my family (which lives inland and further up the Coastal Bend in Beeville while my mother-in-law and her husband and son (they live near McAllen) might have to be more careful.
Around 15 inches of rain with winds around 85 mph. Hopefully that'll be the worse of Hurricane Dolly.
Around 15 inches of rain with winds around 85 mph. Hopefully that'll be the worse of Hurricane Dolly.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Who will be Barack Obama's running mate?
Will John Edwards once again serve as a potential brides' maid? Will Georgia's Sam Nunn serve? Will it be Hillary Clinton?
Doesn't really matter to me, since I won't be voting for B.O.
I will say this: IF Obama does get elected, expect him to blame all his mistakes or problems on the Bush Administration.
Doesn't really matter to me, since I won't be voting for B.O.
I will say this: IF Obama does get elected, expect him to blame all his mistakes or problems on the Bush Administration.
Paying to work
If ever my life settles down, I would love to busy myself--when not writing--by acting in local productions. There's always been the thrill of getting on a stage and pretending to be someone you're not. I remember taking a theater arts class my senior year in high school and regretting not taking it my freshman year.
Sometimes, I'll see ads for movies being made near my area. Had a chance to go to a casting call for a horror film about an ominous town, but due to the gasoline money and the subject matter, I decided not to go. Other sites offer an opportunity for anyone to work as an extra. Sounds great, right?
One problem: you have to pay a nominal fee for their services.
A friend from college who has worked as an actor tells me that no reputable company connected in the entertainment industry will make you pay for the opportunity to gain access to possible jobs. The only payment a true agent would do is a commission after you've already secured work.
In the meantime, a few actors I've spoken to say the best way to get in is to get training, work in local productions and go from there. One actor said this to me: if fame is your goal, don't even start.
Sometimes, I'll see ads for movies being made near my area. Had a chance to go to a casting call for a horror film about an ominous town, but due to the gasoline money and the subject matter, I decided not to go. Other sites offer an opportunity for anyone to work as an extra. Sounds great, right?
One problem: you have to pay a nominal fee for their services.
A friend from college who has worked as an actor tells me that no reputable company connected in the entertainment industry will make you pay for the opportunity to gain access to possible jobs. The only payment a true agent would do is a commission after you've already secured work.
In the meantime, a few actors I've spoken to say the best way to get in is to get training, work in local productions and go from there. One actor said this to me: if fame is your goal, don't even start.
Short fiction story: Capturing the idea
I submitted this to Writer's Digest last year. Didn't make the cut, so I thought I'd post it here to give viewers an idea of what my fiction looks like. This went through about six edits before I finally got it to where I wanted it.
Capturing the idea
By Richard Zowie
Becky stopped, her blue eyes bulging, as if lost in a trance of excited concentration. She and Mike had been about to walk out the door of their home with their three daughters for a quick trip to the grocery store when she stopped on the carpet, right where it met the linoleum of the kitchen. Their girls were already out the door and were probably already getting into their seats in the car.
The glassy gaze remained on her face.
“Honey, what is it?” he asked, watching her reach with her left hand into her purse and produce a small purple notebook. After transferring the notebook to her right hand, her left hand then furiously fished for something else inside the purse.
“Becky, what is it?” he asked again, but she still ignored him, her eyes intensely concentrating on what they could see in the purse.
“Rebecca—” Mike began, knowing that when Becky was focused on a task like this, she completely ignored the world around her.
“I’m looking for my pen,” she finally said as her hand moved even more frantically, almost as if wrestling something inside the purse. “It’s in here, isn’t it?”
Becky’s disorganized ways, which he had long given up on trying to reform, didn’t surprise him as she always seemed to be losing something. But this time, things seemed urgent. It was as if the checking account was overdrawn and she was trying desperately to search the purse for any debit receipts she’d forgotten to have him ledger.
“I think so, why?”
Her hand moved faster still, as if about to tear a hole in the purse. Anger joined the excitement and scared look on her face. “I can’t find it, Michael! Where is it?” She only called him Michael (he detested his too-formal given name) when she was either angry or excited.
“I thought I saw you put it into your purse an hour ago.” He paused. “You had written some thoughts about that short story. Why?”
“So, the pen’s in my purse?”
“Probably.”
“But I can’t find it!” her voice, a fevered shriek, was growing more frantic.
“But it should be in there, Rebecca.” She, like him, didn’t care for her given name but was far too consumed with finding the pen to notice him using it.
Ignoring his calmness and still unable to find her pen, Becky turned her purse upside down and shook it as hard as she could. Always one to hate clutter, Mike cringed as countless items cascaded onto the floor and plopped muffled onto the carpet: keys, compact, lipstick, a black day planner that she almost never used, change, cell phone and her wallet.
But no pen.
Exasperated and almost crying, Becky reached up to brush back a lock of curly black hair that had somehow come out of the ponytail on the back of her head. When she did, her left hand brushed up against her ear and hit something hard. Her brow twitched in confusion as she reached up to see what odd object was there.
Tucked behind her left ear was a blue Paper Mate Flexgrip Ultra.
Mike laughed as Becky snatched the pen, clicked it open, opened the notebook, sat quickly and started scribbling down words, so fast that only she would be able to read them. It took 30 seconds, but at the end, she felt relaxed. Her blue eyes sparkled as a wide smile crept across her face.
“Honey, are you ok?” Mike asked, his laughter subsiding as he started to help her gather the items to be put back into her purse.
“Better than ok,” Becky replied, oblivious to his laughter. They put the items back into her purse, including the pen and notebook. “I think I just came up with an idea for the next Great American Novel. You know that story about the woman who buys that old telephone?”
“Yeah.”
“I just thought of how to make it work.”
“Are you sure?” Mike asked.
Becky smiled again. “I’m as sure as I am that I love you.”
Mike shrugged, and Becky kept smiling. He wasn’t a writer and would never understand. Sometimes, these ideas come once in a lifetime. For a brief blip in time. Once they’re gone, they’re gone forever. And fleeting ideas don’t care if you couldn’t find a pen in time. Or that you had to empty your purse.
© 2007 richardzowie.blogspot.com. May not be reproduced without the author’s permission.
Capturing the idea
By Richard Zowie
Becky stopped, her blue eyes bulging, as if lost in a trance of excited concentration. She and Mike had been about to walk out the door of their home with their three daughters for a quick trip to the grocery store when she stopped on the carpet, right where it met the linoleum of the kitchen. Their girls were already out the door and were probably already getting into their seats in the car.
The glassy gaze remained on her face.
“Honey, what is it?” he asked, watching her reach with her left hand into her purse and produce a small purple notebook. After transferring the notebook to her right hand, her left hand then furiously fished for something else inside the purse.
“Becky, what is it?” he asked again, but she still ignored him, her eyes intensely concentrating on what they could see in the purse.
“Rebecca—” Mike began, knowing that when Becky was focused on a task like this, she completely ignored the world around her.
“I’m looking for my pen,” she finally said as her hand moved even more frantically, almost as if wrestling something inside the purse. “It’s in here, isn’t it?”
Becky’s disorganized ways, which he had long given up on trying to reform, didn’t surprise him as she always seemed to be losing something. But this time, things seemed urgent. It was as if the checking account was overdrawn and she was trying desperately to search the purse for any debit receipts she’d forgotten to have him ledger.
“I think so, why?”
Her hand moved faster still, as if about to tear a hole in the purse. Anger joined the excitement and scared look on her face. “I can’t find it, Michael! Where is it?” She only called him Michael (he detested his too-formal given name) when she was either angry or excited.
“I thought I saw you put it into your purse an hour ago.” He paused. “You had written some thoughts about that short story. Why?”
“So, the pen’s in my purse?”
“Probably.”
“But I can’t find it!” her voice, a fevered shriek, was growing more frantic.
“But it should be in there, Rebecca.” She, like him, didn’t care for her given name but was far too consumed with finding the pen to notice him using it.
Ignoring his calmness and still unable to find her pen, Becky turned her purse upside down and shook it as hard as she could. Always one to hate clutter, Mike cringed as countless items cascaded onto the floor and plopped muffled onto the carpet: keys, compact, lipstick, a black day planner that she almost never used, change, cell phone and her wallet.
But no pen.
Exasperated and almost crying, Becky reached up to brush back a lock of curly black hair that had somehow come out of the ponytail on the back of her head. When she did, her left hand brushed up against her ear and hit something hard. Her brow twitched in confusion as she reached up to see what odd object was there.
Tucked behind her left ear was a blue Paper Mate Flexgrip Ultra.
Mike laughed as Becky snatched the pen, clicked it open, opened the notebook, sat quickly and started scribbling down words, so fast that only she would be able to read them. It took 30 seconds, but at the end, she felt relaxed. Her blue eyes sparkled as a wide smile crept across her face.
“Honey, are you ok?” Mike asked, his laughter subsiding as he started to help her gather the items to be put back into her purse.
“Better than ok,” Becky replied, oblivious to his laughter. They put the items back into her purse, including the pen and notebook. “I think I just came up with an idea for the next Great American Novel. You know that story about the woman who buys that old telephone?”
“Yeah.”
“I just thought of how to make it work.”
“Are you sure?” Mike asked.
Becky smiled again. “I’m as sure as I am that I love you.”
Mike shrugged, and Becky kept smiling. He wasn’t a writer and would never understand. Sometimes, these ideas come once in a lifetime. For a brief blip in time. Once they’re gone, they’re gone forever. And fleeting ideas don’t care if you couldn’t find a pen in time. Or that you had to empty your purse.
© 2007 richardzowie.blogspot.com. May not be reproduced without the author’s permission.
Joined some writers sites
One is for Michigan writers and another focuses primarily on fiction. Am looking to really delve--in my spare time--into my first love of fiction. We'll see what happens.
I like to carry a reporter-sized notebook with me and jot down fiction story ideas as they come to me. So far, I'm up to 20. And then there are the scores of other ideas I have on my computer. To me, it's exciting to create new worlds and new characters and see where the story goes. I may just post something I submitted to a Writer's Digest contest.
I like to carry a reporter-sized notebook with me and jot down fiction story ideas as they come to me. So far, I'm up to 20. And then there are the scores of other ideas I have on my computer. To me, it's exciting to create new worlds and new characters and see where the story goes. I may just post something I submitted to a Writer's Digest contest.
Dallas Cowboys blog on hiatus
I had been blogging about the Dallas Cowboys at www.americasteam.info, but they are currently having problems at the site and are working on them. Will keep you updated.
Ads on my blog
I saw today that there's an ad from PETA on my blog. At the risk of offending advertisers and losing money, I'd advise against clicking on it unless you suffer from terminal morbid curiosity. I'm not a vegetarian, but I am tolerant of those who go meatless. My problem with PETA is that they base their arguments on extremely limited research. It's always a kick to see how they take Bible verses out of context (such as Jesus overthrowing the tables of the merchants in the temple because they were selling animals, when what He was really doing was because they were turning it into an unscrupulous marketplace).
Monday, July 21, 2008
New blog photo of me
I've been considering tinkering around with this blog's look and have decided, for the time being, to keep it as it is. Perhaps it's part of my restless nature to constantly try to retool things. I did, however, post a new photo.
Think it seems odd for a 35 year-old man to be holding a rubber ducky? Let me explain: I love ducks. When I was 15, my Aunt Juanita (one of my Mom's four sisters) gave me a baby duck as a gift. I fell in love with it instantly and from there developed what's turned into a 20-year love for ducks. Since then, I have amassed a collection of duck pictures, figurines and even items of clothing (including a University of Oregon t-shirt and mousepad). I also have a couple of rubber duckies.
My wife got me this blue one in the photo recently, so I decided to take a photo of myself with it. Photo looked cheery and less psychotic than my previous one I had here, back when I was in the hippie stage of my hair touching my ears.
I showed the rubber ducky to the neighbor's ducks, but they seemed disinterested. (Yes, I know it's silly, but it's part of my way of keeping myself entertained in this dreadful Seinfeld Era where the pointless mundane often passes for humor).
Enjoy.
Think it seems odd for a 35 year-old man to be holding a rubber ducky? Let me explain: I love ducks. When I was 15, my Aunt Juanita (one of my Mom's four sisters) gave me a baby duck as a gift. I fell in love with it instantly and from there developed what's turned into a 20-year love for ducks. Since then, I have amassed a collection of duck pictures, figurines and even items of clothing (including a University of Oregon t-shirt and mousepad). I also have a couple of rubber duckies.
My wife got me this blue one in the photo recently, so I decided to take a photo of myself with it. Photo looked cheery and less psychotic than my previous one I had here, back when I was in the hippie stage of my hair touching my ears.
I showed the rubber ducky to the neighbor's ducks, but they seemed disinterested. (Yes, I know it's silly, but it's part of my way of keeping myself entertained in this dreadful Seinfeld Era where the pointless mundane often passes for humor).
Enjoy.
Upcoming feature story about a soccer player
Today I took photos and completed an assignment for the Davison Index regarding a young soccer player. Nate and I got to chat briefly about soccer and its failure to catch on as a popular sport in America. When you look at Europe, Central and South America and Asia, soccer tends to be extremely popular. Why not here?
I don't understand, for instance, how sports talk show host Jim Rome* can talk about the "exciting" sports of golf and auto racing but talk about how boring soccer is. Soccer and golf both take great skill, but a minute is about all I can take of watching golf.
*Don't get me wrong about Romey--I love his show and think he's funny and witty. But I happen to disagree with him about the golf/soccer issue.
I don't understand, for instance, how sports talk show host Jim Rome* can talk about the "exciting" sports of golf and auto racing but talk about how boring soccer is. Soccer and golf both take great skill, but a minute is about all I can take of watching golf.
*Don't get me wrong about Romey--I love his show and think he's funny and witty. But I happen to disagree with him about the golf/soccer issue.
John McCain set to choose his running mate soon
Possible candidates include former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, current Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal, former NYC mayor Rudy Giuliani and Florida governor Charlie Crist.
I suspect it'll be Romney, with my second guess being Crist.
I suspect it'll be Romney, with my second guess being Crist.
Seeking domain hosting services
I'm looking to get my own Website, one where I can post a professionally-done photo of myself along with my resume, writing clips and even a blog. Anyone know of any good hosting services?
I'm hoping to spend about $45 to buy and maintain the site for a year. I was once with iPowerWeb, but their prices seem to have gone up.
I'm hoping to spend about $45 to buy and maintain the site for a year. I was once with iPowerWeb, but their prices seem to have gone up.
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