I absolutely love when a plan comes together. Nothing gives me greater satisfaction. I take the time to plan something and then I watch as all the pieces slowly come together. It’s such a rush.
I find it even more fascinating when something wonderful happens and I had nothing at all to do with it. No plan, no execution, nothing. Just BOOM! There it is.
Let me tell you a story.
Back in the summer of 2008 I began writing restaurant reviews for this magazine . I am a writer after all but I hadn’t really written anything significant for a while and I felt that this was a good opportunity. My former S/O hooked me up with the editor of the mag and we developed a list of places to review. I had no idea what I was doing but I figured it out and finally fell into a groove.
I really enjoyed it at first. I didn’t mind that I wasn’t being paid or that I had to pay for my own meals, gas and mileage. What I did mind, was that my reviews needed to be slanted in a positive way. You see, the editor’s goal was for me to write something good about these places so they would in turn buy advertising from him. Also, if you flip through some of the pages of the magazine and look at some of the pictures … well, if you know me, you’d know that the places he wanted me to go were not places that I would generally frequent. It wasn't even really about the food, it was more about the party. The magazine is geared to a younger audience and let’s face it, I’m over 40. And the editor was older me.
Anyway, I pressed on because it was a writing opportunity.
After about a year I decided it was time to move on. The assignments were becoming more demanding and the byline just wasn’t worth it to me anymore. But I still wanted to write the reviews. My love for writing about food had increased significantly. I played with the idea of soliciting other magazines or newspapers to try and get a paying gig but then it hit me: it’s not about money, it’s about eating and writing. That was when I decided that I could just do this on my own and Delicious! was born.
I could go where I want. I could be completely honest about my experience. I could write or not write whenever the spirit moved me. I wrote my first review on July 8, 2009 and I haven’t looked back. I get real pleasure out of eating and describing puttanesca sauce or a vitello saltimbocca. Some of the places are fancy and some are just dives and I’m having a ball doing this. There is no pressure and it is truly something that I love to do.
Fast forward to Monday, December 13, 2010 and I receive an email from a local sous chef and culinary professor. In her email she tells me that my former S/O gave her the link to my food blog and she asked me if it would be okay if she used it in her culinary classes as a teaching aide.
She says:
I would use your blog for:
1. Plate presentations from local area chefs
2. How you describe the entrees, apps and desserts
3. Flavor profiles that local area chefs use
Students do not have the money to try all these restaurants so it is good that you take them there.
How sweet is that? She has also invited me to visit her classroom to taste her student’s assignments and provide feedback. I mentioned to her that my daughter was very interested in the culinary arts and would it be okay if I brought her along. She agreed.
I never thought my little food blog would help anyone in this way. Kinda gives me a warm and fuzzy. Especially, since one of my prayers is that God will put me in a position where I can be of service. I certainly did not expect this. I’m just eating and writing and trying not to get fat and look what happened? There are about 40 reviews on the site right now and yesterday I made a list of restaurants to visit in 2011 and I can’t wait to hit the first one.
I love when a non-plan comes together.
Showing posts with label writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writing. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Thursday, August 13, 2009
At My Age, It's Not Cool ...
To play games
To participate in popularity contests
To be part of a clique
To have anymore children
To have sex in a car
Not to say exactly what’s on my mind
Not to do exactly what I want
Not to be able to say “no” when necessary
To date men my son’s age
To dress like my daughter
People say I have a lot of rules for myself. Usually those people are people who are trying to get me to do something I have no interest in doing. Recently, someone asked me to do something that I have absolutely no desire to do. Here’s how it went down:
As you may or may not know, for the past year I have been writing restaurant reviews for one of the local magazines here in VB. I was excited about doing this because I wanted to sharpen my writing skills, deal with deadlines and build my library of published works. I agreed to do this on a volunteer basis because I love doing what I do. Last month, I interviewed a restaurant manager for one of the places we were to feature. We spoke for at least thirty minutes and I took about three pages of notes. It was one of the more in-depth interviews, as I usually just eat and write … but this guy wanted to talk. No problem. Well, the article came out and apparently one of the owners was not so thrilled with my write up. Why? Not because I said horrible things about the food. On the contrary, the food was excellent. As was the service, price and the atmosphere. This guy’s nose was out of joint because his name wasn’t mentioned in the article. Well, honey if your manager had given me your name it would have been mentioned.
So, the publisher of the magazine sends me the following e-mail:
[Owner Guy} is one of the owners and feels really pissed that he was not in the article. His number is XXX-XXXX. I told him we might want to do an interview with him, maybe man of the month. We could explain the whole story about him starting the place. I can't get [the guy I spoke to] to answer his phone.
Hmph.
I’ve thought about it for a couple days and here is the reply that I’m sending:
I have been writing restaurant reviews for [Name of Magazine] for the past year and I have appreciated the experience and the opportunity to build up my library of published works. I have done this on a 100% volunteer basis because I enjoy doing what I do.
However, I have no interest in writing a “Man of the Month” article in order to stroke [Owner Guy’s] ego. If he has a problem with what I wrote in the [name of restaurant] article, then he needs to have a conversation with [guy I spoke to]. Everything I wrote came directly from [guy I spoke to]. The names that were included were the names that [guy I spoke to] provided.
Additionally, the time and expense that I put into writing the reviews has become burdensome. As I said, while I have enjoyed the experience I feel this should be the end of our professional relationship.
Sorry dude, I don’t do the ego-stroke. Never have, never will.
Truth be told, Bryan and I have spoken quite a bit about using our talent and resources and starting our own entertainment/restaurant guide … maybe now is the time to take that more seriously.
To participate in popularity contests
To be part of a clique
To have anymore children
To have sex in a car
Not to say exactly what’s on my mind
Not to do exactly what I want
Not to be able to say “no” when necessary
To date men my son’s age
To dress like my daughter
People say I have a lot of rules for myself. Usually those people are people who are trying to get me to do something I have no interest in doing. Recently, someone asked me to do something that I have absolutely no desire to do. Here’s how it went down:
As you may or may not know, for the past year I have been writing restaurant reviews for one of the local magazines here in VB. I was excited about doing this because I wanted to sharpen my writing skills, deal with deadlines and build my library of published works. I agreed to do this on a volunteer basis because I love doing what I do. Last month, I interviewed a restaurant manager for one of the places we were to feature. We spoke for at least thirty minutes and I took about three pages of notes. It was one of the more in-depth interviews, as I usually just eat and write … but this guy wanted to talk. No problem. Well, the article came out and apparently one of the owners was not so thrilled with my write up. Why? Not because I said horrible things about the food. On the contrary, the food was excellent. As was the service, price and the atmosphere. This guy’s nose was out of joint because his name wasn’t mentioned in the article. Well, honey if your manager had given me your name it would have been mentioned.
So, the publisher of the magazine sends me the following e-mail:
[Owner Guy} is one of the owners and feels really pissed that he was not in the article. His number is XXX-XXXX. I told him we might want to do an interview with him, maybe man of the month. We could explain the whole story about him starting the place. I can't get [the guy I spoke to] to answer his phone.
Hmph.
I’ve thought about it for a couple days and here is the reply that I’m sending:
I have been writing restaurant reviews for [Name of Magazine] for the past year and I have appreciated the experience and the opportunity to build up my library of published works. I have done this on a 100% volunteer basis because I enjoy doing what I do.
However, I have no interest in writing a “Man of the Month” article in order to stroke [Owner Guy’s] ego. If he has a problem with what I wrote in the [name of restaurant] article, then he needs to have a conversation with [guy I spoke to]. Everything I wrote came directly from [guy I spoke to]. The names that were included were the names that [guy I spoke to] provided.
Additionally, the time and expense that I put into writing the reviews has become burdensome. As I said, while I have enjoyed the experience I feel this should be the end of our professional relationship.
Sorry dude, I don’t do the ego-stroke. Never have, never will.
Truth be told, Bryan and I have spoken quite a bit about using our talent and resources and starting our own entertainment/restaurant guide … maybe now is the time to take that more seriously.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Missing Mojo
A friend of mine sent me an email about a writing contest and wanted to know if I had any interest in participating. Sadly, I did not.
I wonder what happened to me. Nine years ago I had a story to tell and over the course of several years I told it. During that period of my life I was going through a divorce and I desperately needed my characters to get me through each day. I had a great time. Those ladies, Daphne, Angela and Kya, were the best thing that ever happened to me.
Time goes on and life continues. So many things have happened through the years and I have allowed my writing time to dwindle. In fact, it’s probably limited to my restaurant reviews and this blog.
I still enjoy writing but I don’t feel like I have another story in me. I am a one hit wonder. And the term “hit” is relative. In my mind it was certainly a hit.
I know that my priorities were much different nine years ago. I was strictly in survival mode. Now, I’m in living mode. I want to participate in anything that will enhance my living. I remember a time when I couldn’t see beyond my children’s graduations. I figured that at that point I was done and I could quietly go away. I know how that sounds and I’m happy to say that I now know that there is too much living to do to quietly go anywhere. My life is a gift and if I choose to never write another word I am so blessed that I had the opportunity to write the ones that I did.
Don’t let this day pass you by without doing something that really matters.
I wonder what happened to me. Nine years ago I had a story to tell and over the course of several years I told it. During that period of my life I was going through a divorce and I desperately needed my characters to get me through each day. I had a great time. Those ladies, Daphne, Angela and Kya, were the best thing that ever happened to me.
Time goes on and life continues. So many things have happened through the years and I have allowed my writing time to dwindle. In fact, it’s probably limited to my restaurant reviews and this blog.
I still enjoy writing but I don’t feel like I have another story in me. I am a one hit wonder. And the term “hit” is relative. In my mind it was certainly a hit.
I know that my priorities were much different nine years ago. I was strictly in survival mode. Now, I’m in living mode. I want to participate in anything that will enhance my living. I remember a time when I couldn’t see beyond my children’s graduations. I figured that at that point I was done and I could quietly go away. I know how that sounds and I’m happy to say that I now know that there is too much living to do to quietly go anywhere. My life is a gift and if I choose to never write another word I am so blessed that I had the opportunity to write the ones that I did.
Don’t let this day pass you by without doing something that really matters.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
How Many Times Have I Seen This Episode?
I enjoy taking trips to the bookstore. I could browse for hours at the different titles and if I had unlimited amounts of disposable income that is where I'd spend it. That sounds weird now since I spent the better part of the morning unsuccessfully searching for the perfect peep-toe pump. Suffice it to say, I never the leave the bookstore disappointed or empty handed.
Today's trip did not involve searching for the latest bestseller. Although I have finally reached the last chapter of New England White ... I'm sorry to say I was a little disappointed with this one ... I was not looking to find it's replacement. This trip involved research. Writer's research. I need help getting this thing going. What thing? The freelance career that I want to have established by the time my youngest graduates from high school in four years.
My plan for the day was to go to the beach. While soaking up the sun I planned to get some reading and some writing done. I hadn't planned on the rain and it threw everything out of whack and put me in a foul mood. I yelled at my daughter over something small and I hibernated in my room for several hours. Then it dawned on me ... I am a slacker. I have been telling my son for years that I don't want him to end up like me ... figuring out what he wants to do when he's forty. I want him to take advantage of the possibilities now while he's young. I want him to do something. And there I was lying in bed watching TBS for hours on end because I'm a slacker. I now understand why people post up in the sandwich shops and coffee houses with their laptops. They are not pretentious posers ... they are trying to get the hell away from the television. That's why I went to the bookstore.
I don't think I have ever really set very high expectations for myself. I expect things to come relatively easy, you know, because I think I'm special. It's easy for me to switch gears if things don't go my way. That's a tough thing to admit. Geez, spoiled and a slacker. I really believe that it's not too late to turn things around. I have to realize that no one is going to wave a wand over me and turn me into a focused, hardworking person who never quits. I have to get up every friggin' day and decide to do this thing. Because I want it so badly.
While at the bookstore I picked up a Writer's Digest. Since I voluntarily let my subscription to Essence slip I figure I could replace it with something that will actually help me. I also bought a book called Get a Freelance Life. Here's the thing: I know how to write but I don't know how to pitch myself as a writer. One thing I do know is that the answer is not in another episode of King of Queens.
Today's trip did not involve searching for the latest bestseller. Although I have finally reached the last chapter of New England White ... I'm sorry to say I was a little disappointed with this one ... I was not looking to find it's replacement. This trip involved research. Writer's research. I need help getting this thing going. What thing? The freelance career that I want to have established by the time my youngest graduates from high school in four years.
My plan for the day was to go to the beach. While soaking up the sun I planned to get some reading and some writing done. I hadn't planned on the rain and it threw everything out of whack and put me in a foul mood. I yelled at my daughter over something small and I hibernated in my room for several hours. Then it dawned on me ... I am a slacker. I have been telling my son for years that I don't want him to end up like me ... figuring out what he wants to do when he's forty. I want him to take advantage of the possibilities now while he's young. I want him to do something. And there I was lying in bed watching TBS for hours on end because I'm a slacker. I now understand why people post up in the sandwich shops and coffee houses with their laptops. They are not pretentious posers ... they are trying to get the hell away from the television. That's why I went to the bookstore.
I don't think I have ever really set very high expectations for myself. I expect things to come relatively easy, you know, because I think I'm special. It's easy for me to switch gears if things don't go my way. That's a tough thing to admit. Geez, spoiled and a slacker. I really believe that it's not too late to turn things around. I have to realize that no one is going to wave a wand over me and turn me into a focused, hardworking person who never quits. I have to get up every friggin' day and decide to do this thing. Because I want it so badly.
While at the bookstore I picked up a Writer's Digest. Since I voluntarily let my subscription to Essence slip I figure I could replace it with something that will actually help me. I also bought a book called Get a Freelance Life. Here's the thing: I know how to write but I don't know how to pitch myself as a writer. One thing I do know is that the answer is not in another episode of King of Queens.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Running
It's Wednesday and the third day in a row that me and 5:30 a.m. have greeted each other.
Got up
Read Proverbs 4
Took a shower
Made a pot of coffe
Sat down at the keyboard and wrote until 6:30 when I had to start getting ready for work.
I'm up to 140 pages.
Again, small victories and I know 3 days does not make a habit ... but I'm working on it and it feels good. I was reminded today by a friend that when I wrote the first book I would get up at 4:00 a.m. and write until 6:00. Yeah ... I was a little younger then ... maybe I'll work toward that.
I'll probably start to post updates regularly on Saturday morning. But today's post is about running.
I'm a runner. Not an athletic type of runner -- although I did run track in high school. I wasn't a superstar but I had a good time and I looked really good in the shorts.
No, I'm talking about those of us who make it a habit of running from situations that feel too intense to deal with at the moment. I'm a runner. I admit it. I run from relationships, I run from jobs ... and of course, I always find a way to rationalize it so it doesn't appear that I'm running. I should win an award for my rationalizations.
Seriously.
Since no one in my life will shake me and say "Stay put!" I'm going to do it myself.
What the hell are you running for? Here's a newsflash for you, girlie: you can't escape by running. You will continue to be faced with these same situations until you deal with them and reach some kind of resolution. You're way too old to be running anyway. Ain't you tired?
Yes, I am tired.
I was contacted by two different headhunters in the past five days. Isn't that funny? I mean, right now the satisfaction level at my current place of employement is quite low, so my rationalization is that the calls from the headhunters must be a sign that it's time to go. I've got issues. Leaving one corporate job to go to another one is not my plan.
I'm staying put. No more running away. The bullshit at work, job hunting, spats with my guy are all unnecessary distractions. Enough already. I've got work to do.
Got up
Read Proverbs 4
Took a shower
Made a pot of coffe
Sat down at the keyboard and wrote until 6:30 when I had to start getting ready for work.
I'm up to 140 pages.
Again, small victories and I know 3 days does not make a habit ... but I'm working on it and it feels good. I was reminded today by a friend that when I wrote the first book I would get up at 4:00 a.m. and write until 6:00. Yeah ... I was a little younger then ... maybe I'll work toward that.
I'll probably start to post updates regularly on Saturday morning. But today's post is about running.
I'm a runner. Not an athletic type of runner -- although I did run track in high school. I wasn't a superstar but I had a good time and I looked really good in the shorts.
No, I'm talking about those of us who make it a habit of running from situations that feel too intense to deal with at the moment. I'm a runner. I admit it. I run from relationships, I run from jobs ... and of course, I always find a way to rationalize it so it doesn't appear that I'm running. I should win an award for my rationalizations.
Seriously.
Since no one in my life will shake me and say "Stay put!" I'm going to do it myself.
What the hell are you running for? Here's a newsflash for you, girlie: you can't escape by running. You will continue to be faced with these same situations until you deal with them and reach some kind of resolution. You're way too old to be running anyway. Ain't you tired?
Yes, I am tired.
I was contacted by two different headhunters in the past five days. Isn't that funny? I mean, right now the satisfaction level at my current place of employement is quite low, so my rationalization is that the calls from the headhunters must be a sign that it's time to go. I've got issues. Leaving one corporate job to go to another one is not my plan.
I'm staying put. No more running away. The bullshit at work, job hunting, spats with my guy are all unnecessary distractions. Enough already. I've got work to do.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Here's The Jump Off
I began this novel on May 27th 2006.
Pages: 135
Words: 27,090
Today, on January 28th my alarm went off at 5:30:
Me: God, please pull me up out of this bed so I can start writing again!
Nothing
Me: God, please don't let me fall back to sleep
Nothing
Me: God?
God: Your life is going to be so much better one year from now if you will just take this one step.
I got out of bed.
I took a shower.
I made a pot of coffee.
I sat down at the keyboard and completed three pages.
Very small victories.
If you are a writer, you know that the writing is not the problem. The writing is the easy part. The real hard work begins after I type THE END.
editing
query letters
editing
submitting
editing
rejections
editing
rejections
editing
publishing
marketing
promotion
sales
book signings
book reviews
**sigh**
This is not for the squeamish, but there is absolutely no reason why I can't do this...again. I promised a plan and I'm still working on it. But I don't want to get hung up on the plan and keep myself from moving forward. In the short term I have to think about a book cover design and finding an editor. If I am consistent and recapture the attitude of self-discipline that I once had I could conceivably have a first draft completed before the end of the summer.
Pages: 135
Words: 27,090
Today, on January 28th my alarm went off at 5:30:
Me: God, please pull me up out of this bed so I can start writing again!
Nothing
Me: God, please don't let me fall back to sleep
Nothing
Me: God?
God: Your life is going to be so much better one year from now if you will just take this one step.
I got out of bed.
I took a shower.
I made a pot of coffee.
I sat down at the keyboard and completed three pages.
Very small victories.
If you are a writer, you know that the writing is not the problem. The writing is the easy part. The real hard work begins after I type THE END.
editing
query letters
editing
submitting
editing
rejections
editing
rejections
editing
publishing
marketing
promotion
sales
book signings
book reviews
**sigh**
This is not for the squeamish, but there is absolutely no reason why I can't do this...again. I promised a plan and I'm still working on it. But I don't want to get hung up on the plan and keep myself from moving forward. In the short term I have to think about a book cover design and finding an editor. If I am consistent and recapture the attitude of self-discipline that I once had I could conceivably have a first draft completed before the end of the summer.
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