Into the Jungle

Posted by Bob Greenberger on April 12, 2006

Some good news for a change. Yep, one of those irons in the fire is ready to come out.

I will be writing a story featuring the Ghost Who Walks for Moonstone’s forthcoming Phantom anthology. Currently, there’s enough in the works that they are projecting this as a two volume project, the first of which is tentatively slated for a December 2006 release.

Growing up on Long Island, I was drawn to the Phantom’s adventures in the pages of the long gone Long Island Press and have been a fan of the character ever since. I’m sure the fact that he was the only costumed adventurer on the comics page initially drew me to him. Then, I was captivated by the jungle setting, the notion of the 20 Phantoms that preceded him and even the clean art by Sy Barry.

I later learned that Barry lived in the same neighborhood. My best friend Jeff and I interviewed him for a fanzine and he gave us a souvenir Sunday page, which we foolishly cut into pieces so we could share it. That interview never saw print since the zine folded but when I created Comics Scene I had Jeff re-interview Barry and the article ran in the first issue.

I have all the novels from the 1970s and was thrilled to edit the character at DC. Hëll, I got Joe Orlando to return to the drawing board for the miniseries, written by Peter David, and had some fun with that. Then I launched the monthly with Mark Verheiden and Luke McDonnell and think we did some terrific material.

During the process, I met a few times with the Phantom’s creator, Lee Falk who appeared a character out of the past. He always wore an ascot and was very clear on how he wanted his character portrayed. As a result, he felt the stories Mark was writing were too violent and we had to pull back from traditional comic book mayhem to something closer to the strip.

When Joe Gentile at Moonstone made the offer, I was thrilled. He’s also allowed each writer to suggest or lineup an artist for the 1-2 spot illustrations each story will sport. With luck, another old pal will agree and this will be even more fun. I’ve done my research and refreshed myself on his world and will be starting the writing today.

The Political Scene (this week)

Posted by Bob Greenberger on April 11, 2006

Well, I’ve had my dose of politics for the week and it’s only Tuesday morning.

On Sunday, the Democratic Town Committee held its biggest fund raiser of the year, the Century Club (so named for the century-note, $100, it costs to attend). The event was an opportunity to honor one veteran with the Eunice Postol Public Service Award and a rising star got the Young Turk Award. From what I gather, few other DTCs in the state do something on this scale so it’s kinda cool.

It was held at the posh Patterson Club in the rich part of town, deep in a Republican-dominant district. From 12-3 we hobnobbed, chatted, ate a fine brunch and heard from many people.

Given the density of the party faithful, it was a magnet for candidates so it was interesting watching New Haven Mayor John DeStefano and Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy work the room, lining up support for their bid for the Democratic nod to oppose Jodi Rell in the Governor’s race. Diane Farrell was there, stumping in her quest to unseat Chris Shays in Congress and Ned Lamont, the loud voice challenging Joe Lieberman’s Democratic credentials, was also briefly in attendance. On the more local front, current state rep in the 132nd, Tom Drew, was of course with us as was the Democratic challenger for the 133rd, Kim Fawcett. Our Selectmen, Ken Flatto and Denise Dougiello, were almost eclipsed by the star wattage.

All the pols walked the room, pausing at tables and chatting up the familiar and the new. I had a chance to finally meet our Attorney General, Richard Blumenthal, whose work I respect. We’d attending various meetings and functions together in the past but never spoke so he confessed I looked familiar and was surprised we hadn’t met. He immediately added, “And if there’s anything I can do for you, just call.” Deb wanted to know if I asked for a job (I did not).

There were cameras on every table so I wound up in a group shot with Blumenthal and took a bunch of the people at our table. In all, a fine afternoon and I gather we had a great turnout and will have cleared a nice sum for the upcoming campaign season.

Last night I attended my first District Leaders meeting, prior to the monthly DTC meeting. One member carefully constructed two lists, one of standing sub-committees for things like recruitment and canvassing, while another listed campaign-centric activities that needed manpower. We were supposed to discuss the list, finalize it and then have people sign up during the meeting. Sadly, we meandered all over the place so a few things got accomplished but nowhere near enough to justify the hour of my time.

Our DTC meeting was more interesting as DeStefano once more spoke to us in his campaign. We also briefly touched on whether or not the DTC should endorse any candidate currently running for any office. Instead, we passed a resolution that the DTC urges the party and the losers in the contested races to support the actual nominee and work for the greater good. While it sounds self-evident, apparently, a certain Senator has made noises about running as an independent should he somehow lose the party’s endorsement. There was some additional chat about how delegates to the various conventions were selected since they were to represent the will of the DTC but we don’t know how the delegates were leaning, especially since at the time we were picking candidates, most hadn’t made up their minds. An interesting dilemma without a clear answer.

With the rah-rah stuff now past, it’s back to governing. Last week the Board of Finance showed their partisanship with a series of moronic budget cuts intended to hamstring the current administration’s ability to function. Their true purpose and agenda remains unfathomable but it may force the Board of Ed to appeal the proposed $2.6 million budget cut which would fall to the RTM. The political wheels are churning, spoiling a chance to pass a lean budget designed to keep the tax increase down without hurting essential services and programs.

Quick Update

Posted by Bob Greenberger on April 10, 2006

We haven’t chatted about work in a while so I figured I’d clue you in.

Last week was one of those critical mass weeks where a number of projects finally got done. None of them were started and finished last week, but they were done in bits and pieces, and just by chance they got wrapped.

So, last week I managed to complete my article for Fairfield Magazine and my essay for BenBella. I also did my two usual Weekly World News pieces and then was asked for a third. In many ways, these unexpected pieces are the most enjoyable in that I get a line or two, or even just a headline, and then have to come up with a story, plausible in its grounding but over-the-top in its execution. With each one, I’m getting a little more comfortable.

Meantime, I also conducted a number of interviews for my book for Cutting Edge Careers: Artificial Intelligence. The book will be made up, primarily, of fresh interviews with people holding AI jobs in different fields. It turns out there are few primary sources to gather information on careers in the discipline. Thanks to regular reader Tom Galloway, he’s helped me get in touch with people and one has been so gung ho, he’s put me in touch with others. I have two more interviews, at least, to conduct this week.

Still to come, there’s a bunch of irons in the fire, some taking longer to heat than I’ve expected. And a few things have been delivered for months now but my various editors have been mum so I can’t tell if I need time for rewriting.

Looking over my log, I’m very pleased by the breadth of material I have tackled and the larger-than-normal number of places I have landed work. During those times when I had a day job, you know like most of my adult life, I could only manage one or two projects at a time.

Now, I find I need to strike a regular balance between job hunting, freelance assignment hunting and actually doing the work I’ve netted. Then there’s the issue of over committing – I’d hate to keep accepting work then have one of my irons actually come out of the fire and demand attention that complicates the schedule. It’s certainly a learning process. Fortunately, I have other fulltime freelancers I can turn to for advice.

This does not mean, in any way, that I have stopped job hunting. However, it’s been a slow process and the interviews few and far between. I still think I can make my best contribution as a guy on someone’s staff since I so enjoy the collaborative environment. Everyone keeps telling me this has happened for a reason, and I will be happy whenever I land, but that it will take time.

Fortunately, I keep finding interesting ways to fill that time.

Happy 18th Robbie

Posted by Bob Greenberger on April 9, 2006

What a long, unusual day.

Saturday the 8th began at midnight as we celebrated our son turning 18. Eighteen is one of those milestone ages – the beginning of legality. He can register to vote, has to register for the draft, can actually use gym equipment without an adult’s approval.

For something like two years, he’s been planning this celebration. He got everything he asked for: he rented out the Community Theatre, where he volunteers, for a midnight showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Some three dozen pals attended and were served popcorn, cupcakes and soda – many arrived carrying their own caffeine, hoping to stay awake into the wee hours.

The marquee read “Happy Birthday Robbie” and we had everyone crowd the lobby to sing before the showing began. We warned everyone in advance this was a non-participatory screening since I had little desire to clean up rice and toast at 2 in the morning. Also, many hadn’t seen the movie at all and should at least experience it once before interacting with it.

Deb left soon after it began and I grabbed a seat away from the kids so they had some semblance of privacy. The movie played and during the “Time Warp”, Robbie led a group in the rear for the dance. Much giggling ensued and then the movie played.

By the time everyone left and we got the place in shape, we returned home around 2:45. Deb woke me at 9 so we could give Robbie, who was already awake, his present which was a Nintendo DS system.

Deb and I took care of stuff until we left for Long Island. We went to the nursing facility where two of Deb’s oldest aunts resided, and where her mother was up from Florida to check on them. Deb’s brother Jeff was also there, having taken Grandma out for a slightly late birthday lunch. We all visited for a bit, sharing in leftover cupcakes from the night before.

We then took Grandma with us and headed for Chinatown. She hadn’t been in Manhattan in ages and Rob thought seeing Chinatown again would be fun. We actually found street parking and then went wandering in and out of shops that remain remarkably alike (so I wonder how any of them stay in business). Around dinner time we let Robbie select a restaurant and he chose wisely. We beat the dinner rush and the food was fresh and tasty.

Afterwards, we wandered some more, eventually working our way towards Little Italy for dessert. Grandma suggested Farrara’s which was crowded but the tables turned over quickly so we got seated not too long after arrival. The stuff there is pricey but very well made and incredibly good.

(All the while, I kept checking my phone, expecting a call from my proxy during the Federal League’s auction. At 9:45 I finally got a call – it was over, and Drew Friedman, scion of Mike – reported my roster for the 2006 campaign. He got me the hitters and some speed I asked for but none of the starters I wanted which I think will put be in a bind unless my rookies come through.)

We dropped Grandma back at the home then returned to our own beds at 11. Long day, fun day, and a happy birthday for the youngest member of the family.

Mystery Musing

Posted by Bob Greenberger on April 7, 2006

Last night was our third book discussion in the Detective, the Reader and the Author series. We discussed Josephine Tey’s Daughter of Time, her final novel featuring recurring detective Alan Grant. (I admit, reading that name again and again kept me thinking about the long-time comics writer and acquaintance.)

I enjoyed the book, moreso than the previous two. Largely, I think that had to do with the historic nature of the mystery. For those unfamiliar with it, the book has Grant lying in a hospital, recovering from injuries, and he begins to investigate King Richard III and whether or not he was the monster history decided he was. As a result, we were treated to the peeling away of various histories and got down to the source material and Tey makes a convincing argument that Richard was anything but a monster. Most likely, she reasoned, he had no reason to kill the two young princes, the heirs to the throne who vanished.

Anyway, our discussion leader brought to the room his usual well-prepared information about Tey, the story and put it into context. After all, as written in 1951, it was a product of its time, a post-World War II England, and in an era before readily accessible information on the net. Unlike the previous two meetings, he allowed the room to have its say and allowed himself to be dragged off course by the discussion. One woman in the room had read the book nearly four dozen times through the years, finding the historical material utterly fascinating. She even brought in a print of the Richard III painting that got Detective Grant curious about the mystery.

What I found interesting about the conversation and comments made during the break, was that while I readily enjoyed the book, others found it difficult because of the dense history being covered. We’ve all reacted very differently so while I enjoyed Tey, I found myself cool to Ngaio Marsh and only so-so about Raymond Chandler. I signed up for this to expose myself to other mystery writers and our leader, a dean at Yale, clearly has done a good job with the variety.

Next up is P.D. James, and I snagged a copy on my way out last night, sitting with it while waiting to collect Deb. A third British novelist, but a product of the 1970s and thus a different look at the society. Should be fun.

Guidelines for Writers

Posted by Bob Greenberger on April 6, 2006

I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Steven York, but we are both active members of the International Association of Media Tie-In Writers. He shared with us something he posted on his own blog. I, like many others, have found this a useful set of guidelines and with his kind permission I share it with you.

Writers and other delusional people
By J. Steven York

I heard yet another story the other day of a writer being scammed by a so-called agent. What was most horrifying about the story was not that they were paying the agent to rewrite their stuff, but the sheer glee and delight with which the writer was submitting to the process.

Rule #1 in this business is: Money always flows towards the writer. If it doesn’t, something is seriously wrong. If you fail to recognize this, or worse, mistake it for success, you are playing the fool.

There is no more gullible, self-delusional, fog-headed being on the planet than an aspiring writer. So predictable and common are their delusions that an entire industry of crooks, con-men and scam artists exists to exploit them, and such a sweet deal it is for them, too. Not only are most of their scams perfectly legal, their marks are actually grateful to be scammed! It doesn’t get much better for a predator than that. It’s like the entire herd of antelope crowding around the lion shouting, “Eat me! No, eat me!”

Wait. No. Keep reading. You may resemble this remark. Fact is, most of us do at one time or another. And if it does describe you, take comfort that you have plenty of company. I hear from these people all the time. Some of them I’ve had extended correspondence with, and I’ve learned some things.

Most of the writers getting scammed aren’t dumb. They’re nice, intelligent people who sincerely want to be writers, and have simply lost their way. Most of them are so invested in whatever flavor of Kool-aid they’ve swallowed that they not only can’t see the truth, they don’t want to. Yet most of them are aware, on some level, that something is wrong. That’s usually why they write me. They have concerns. They have questions. Just not enough to wake up and look around. The correspondence, in antelope-terms, usually goes something like this: “This lion has actually agreed to take me on! Right now, it’s chewing on my leg. And it’s great! Although, I’m concerned about the bleeding. And the dismemberment. But really, it’s good! It’s great! Uh, should there be so much pain? But I’m good!”

Okay, here are the truths, some of them anyway, that every writer should know. Read them. Memorize them, Live them. And please, do so before you graze among the scam agents, book doctors, vanity publishers, and the various flavors of publishing delusionaries who, with the best of intentions, invite you to participate in their own mad delusions, and partake of their special Kool-aid.

Truth Numero Uno – Being Published vs. Being Read

First truth, and maybe even more important than rule #1 above (or at least as important): Writers do not need to be published. Writers need to be read. This should be obvious, but it’s not. Having a pallet full of expensive hardcovers in your garage is not getting you read. Being in an ebook that’s downloaded thirty times isn’t getting you read. Going out through a small press or a literary zine with a print run of a hundred copies isn’t getting you read (not in the way that you want to be, anyway).

Being read means selling to a national magazine, being published through a real book publisher and showing up on chain-store shelves, or at least being published on a high-traffic web-site with thousands of visitors daily. Yet again and again writers are seduced with the notion of seeing their manuscript in print between two covers. If this is you, my advice is this: Go to Kinkos and pick out a nice font, and some pretty paper. Then, once you have a book to look at, get over it and get back to the real work of getting read, or forget being a writer.

Corollary to Rule Numero Uno: The markets that will get you read most are generally also the markets that can afford to pay you the most money. Refer to Rule Number the Second.

Rule Number the Second – Payment

If you don’t get paid, and I mean up-front, then it isn’t a sale. People who don’t have money to pay you generally don’t have money because they aren’t selling books. Refer back to Rule Numero Uno.

Corollary to Rule Number the Second: “Paid in copies” is an oxymoron.

Second corollary to Rule Number the Second: An advance is the only money you can ever count on, and even then, the check has to clear.

First Royalty Statement of Rule Number the Second: 6% of nothing is nothing.

Second Royalty Statement of Rule Number the Second: 100% of nothing is nothing.

Third Royalty Statement of Rule Number the Second: 110% of nothing is still nothing.

Rule Third, Third, Third – Editorial Opinions

Rule Third, Third, Third: Ultimately the only opinions about a manuscript that count are yours and the person who can actually buy the manuscript.

Rule Third, Third, Third Corollary One: Your mother cannot buy the manuscript.

Rule Third, Third, Third Corollary Two: Your workshop cannot buy the manuscript.

Rule Third, Third, Third Corollary Three: Your agent cannot buy the manuscript.

None of which means you can’t listen to these other people, but the responsibility to apply (or not apply) their opinions is ultimately yours.

Scofield’s Axiom (a superset of Rule Third, Third, Third): You are responsible for your own career.

Rule the Four – The Secret Handshake

Rule the Four: There is no secret handshake.

Rules 5 – Agents

Rule 5a: Any agent you can get as an unpublished, unsold writer is most likely not anybody you want as an agent. There are rare exceptions, but they are rare, and they are exceptions. Do not assume the agent courting you is either, until you have done much research.

Rule 5b: The primary job of an agent is to submit manuscripts and make deals. Agents do not sell manuscripts. Manuscripts sell themselves. If your manuscript is not equal to this task, the best agent in the world cannot help it.

Rule 5c: Anyone can call themselves an agent (just as anyone can call themselves a publisher). Saying it does not make it so. Neither does a business-card, letterhead, a web-site, or a line of snappy banter.

Rule 5d: Agents make their living off a percentage of the income stream of the writers they represent. Any deviation from this, either in terms of your own money or anyone else’s, is at best highly suspect.

Rule 5e: Agents work for you, and not the other way around. That still doesn’t mean you pay them, except as described in 5d.

Rules VI – Ideas

Rule VIa – Ideas are cheap. Ideas are plentiful. Stop thinking of them as being made of gold. A good writer can turn a bad idea into a good book far easier than a bad writer can turn a great idea into a good book. If you have only one great idea for a book, the best thing you can do is put it aside and think of a dozen more, because until you can do that, you probably aren’t going anywhere as a writer.

Rule VIb – Nobody is going to steal your silly idea. Probably it isn’t worth stealing, and if it is worth stealing, you probably aren’t the first one to come up with it. In any case, so what if they do steal it? If you had an “idea for a house,” and somebody else built it, would the house belong to you?

Rule VIc – Stealing words is a crime. Stealing ideas is frequently a smart thing to do, but always steal from the best. Start with Shakespeare and work your way forward.

Rule ala Seven – The Easy Genre

Rule ala Seven: There is no easy genre. Romance is not easy. Science fiction is not easy. Fantasy is not easy. Writing children’s books is not only not easy, it is very, very hard. People looking for an “easy” genre don’t want to write, they want to have written. They are pretenders. If you are the real deal, don’t worry about what is easy, or what is hot. Write the stories you want to write, and the stories you want to tell. Practice. Develop your skills. You can worry about marketing later.

Rules da 8 – How Becoming Published Will Change Your Life

Rule da 8: When you make your first sale, your problems are only beginning.

Rule da 8.1: Publishers don’t buy books, they buy careers. If you aren’t thinking past your first book, you are of very little value to anyone. Pray the publisher forgets to ask.

Rule da 8.2: Wash, rinse, repeat. Repeating is the hard part.

Rule da 8.3: The only time a second book can be easier than the first book is when the second book is already written, and even there lie pitfalls.

Rule da 8.4: You can’t rest on your laurels unless you have some, and even then, laurels don’t pay the electric bill.

Rule da 8.5: Sharks gotta swim, writers gotta write. Sharks stop swimming, they die. What does this tell you about writers?

Statement of Limitation

Those are only a few of the truths that aspiring writers need to know, but they’re enough for you to chew on for a while. Pretty much, success in this business boils down to do the work, submit the work, and keep learning. Don’t waste your time looking for shortcuts, because none of them preclude these three basics and the search will waste your time.

And remember that you don’t even have the right to call yourself a failure if you don’t try, and you still don’t have the right unless you’ve stopped trying. Until then, you’re still a success waiting to happen.

Good luck out there. Just remember, you make your own luck.

Some Opening Day

Posted by Bob Greenberger on April 4, 2006

Opening Day at Shea Stadium is a tradition Deb and I have upheld since 1989. Despite my current status, we were determined to be there. Additionally, we were going to let Robbie play hooky and join us as a senior year treat.

Normally, we drive to Shea in the morning, park and take the subway to NYC. This way, we have a car awaiting us for when the game is over. This year, Robbie and I drove down from Connecticut. Normally, it should take an hour (my best time was about 50 minutes). We left at 10:40, figuring to arrive in the 12 noon range for a 1:10 start. The idea was to be there for the Opening Day events, relaxed and happy.

Instead, name an impediment, and we probably encountered it. It all stated to slow down when we were stuck for a drawbridge on the Hutchinson River Parkway. Once that ended, we hit an endless line of traffic across the Whitestone Bridge and crawled along the Whitestone Expressway until we finally got to Shea. During all this, I was relatively calm but with each passing minute, I was losing that calm and getting more and more agitated at the morons who cut in front of me or the inability of NY’s finest from controlling the traffic or the gods from laughing at me.

Robbie began to score the game for me as we crawled. Yes, that’s right, the game had started.

We got to Shea and were waved away from it, to follow a snaking line deep into Flushing Meadow Park. Finally, we were allowed to park on a field well behind the Unisphere, with the stadium in the distance. For this privilege, I had to fork over $13. You’d think there’d be a discount based on distance and inconvenience.

Robbie and I trudged to the Stadium at as brisk a pace as possible in the raw, gray weather. We got to Gate B only to be waved on to the Press Gate and there we stood on another line as one guy checked tickets and another waved the metal detector over us. So we waited our turn. Once we entered, the promotional schedule magnets were all gone. Then the escalator to the Upper Reserve level was out so we continued our trudging.

As we took our seats, it was the top of the sixth inning and the trip from home took us 4 hours and 10 minutes.

Deb got there well before the ceremonies and quietly froze in her seat, enjoying the view, waiting for us (and our picnic lunch).

We actually sat in our seats for something like 1:20 minutes as the game ended in the top of the 9th as Billy Wagner made his Mets debut by collecting his first save. Now, we missed most of the scoring although we were settled enough to watch David Wright smack the team’s first homer in the bottom of the sixth.

Turning around, we hiked back to the car. Once we got settled back in the vehicle, Robbie called Kate to proclaim that while she may have been jealous of this “treat”, it was nothing to miss. We then crawled through rush hour back to Connecticut. Total round trip was 8 hours and 20 minutes.

There’s definitely something wrong with this system.