Planning Ahead

Posted by Bob Greenberger on December 6, 2009

You put your nose to grindstone and you suddenly look up and days, even a week, can flash by.

That’s pretty much what’s been happening since I am attempting to complete lots of different things before Deb and I take our vacation in less than a week (that too has snuck up on us).

As I’ve discussed previously, a larger-than-expected percentage of a freelance writer’s time is spent seeking the next assignment. After all, as I outlined this fall, expected work didn’t begin as planned and I was caught short on work with attached income.

After the SFWA reception, I was in touch with an editor I had met but she has yet to respond so a door opened and closed quickly there. At the same time, though, a door I thought was permanently closed, cracked open a wee bit as the acquiring editor changed. So, a proposal from fall 2008 is finally being read by someone in a position to actually buy the thing.

Also, Dynamic Forces seems pretty happy with the work I did on the Howard Chaykin Retrospective so we’re talking about my doing similar efforts for other artists. Just this week, we settled on the follow-up and suddenly, I have someone new to research and prepare to work on in January. The way the schedule is filling up, it will be the assignment that will replace the ghost project on my calendar.

Meantime, I spent the better part of the last week doing the actual research for the ghost project which allowed me to draft a sample chapter for review. My editor liked it enough to send off so that was encouraging. I can now spend the next few days beginning to draft subsequent chapters until the Guy decides he likes my writing or has changes or fires me.

Being honest with your editors is another lesson I’ve imparted in the past. That includes an open line of communication so I just sent off a round of reminders to everyone I’m actively working with, spelling out which days I’ll be away from the desk and noting that while I may be crazy enough to check e-mail while away, I will not be doing active work. As a result, if they need something, they know to rush requests to me now or wait until I get back which, of course, smacks up against the final two weeks of 2009 when most business slows down.

This way, I can deal with delayed requests from my patient editors or can forge ahead on the second issue of my DC project or continue on the ghost project.

Planning your schedule in advance is a tremendous tool to maximize your work (and subsequently your income). I was always amazed when Mike Friedman would waltz into my DC office, deliver a script and know six months in advance when he’d had an opening for additional assignments. These days, I employ those very lessons he taught me and use them to good effect.

Holiday Preparations

Posted by Bob Greenberger on November 30, 2009

I was somewhat surprised by the number of people who posted on Facebook their utter amazement that I had already started decorating, shopping, wrapping, and in general welcoming the holiday season.

I’ve made it pretty clear, I am a creature of habit and our family does not officially recognize the season until Santa Claus makes his way to the end of the Thanksgiving Day Parade. No holiday music is played or decoration hung until that moment, and even then we ease into things. Usually, the Sunday of the long weekend is when the interior decorations come out of storage and we begin decorating the house. Weather always dictates when the exterior lights go up.

Having said that, I should stress that by early November I am pestering Deb to allocate a weekend in the month to begin the holiday shopping. I want to enjoy the holiday and not spend December in a frantic mode. Instead, by spreading out all the elements, we can accomplish much and still take time for each other.  We try and complete the shopping by early December so there’s plenty of time to wrap and ship, avoiding the lengthening lines at the post office and the stress of a potentially delayed delivery.

We tend to write the family newsletter in November, cleaning it up and printing it in early December so we can begin the cards, again, keeping in mind the time it takes to address, mail and deliver (especially for overseas friends). This year, Deb has asked there be no newsletter and a tradition, dating back to 1996, appears to be at an end.

By accomplishing all this early, there’s time for the baking, additional decorating, parties, socializing, and unwinding. Ideally, it’s all done by mid-month so we can really take advantage of time off. We need time to watch our favorite holiday movies and specials, after all.

We’ve accelerated some of this given our impending vacation, costing us nine days in December. So, not only does all of the above need doing, but preparations for our departure also takes up some time. Still, it just meant blitzing through some stuff this weekend and taking a shortcut or two (a few less gifts, not as much baking, mailing labels to cut down on addressing time, etc.).

I want to come back and not freak out that Christmas is just five days away. I will anyway, but I try and convince myself otherwise.

The Traditional Season Begins

Posted by Bob Greenberger on November 26, 2009

The traditions that bind a family are to be cherished. I’ve written in the past about these and how much they mean to me. Last year, many of these changed as we went through Robbie’s illness and passing and this year, we’re doing things as close to normal as possible.

Kate came home Tuesday night and today we’ll be joining Bob & Laurie Rozakis on Long Island, part of their extended family. One alteration to the routine is that our presence has been requested early for maximum socializing time. To accomplish this, we’ll have to skip the full telecast of the parade and the synchronized at Noon playing of Alice’s Restaurant.

Our traditions will be adjusted further as we interrupt the festivities to take a vacation, resulting in less time to bake and decorate and the like. We only get Kate home for Christmas weekend, and don’t see her again until mid-January. Moving furniture around to accommodate the new flatscreen TV means a new place for the tree, another change. Overall, though, we’re keeping as much as we can the same — it brings continuity, stability, and a sense of comfort.

It’s also a week when the feasting begins in earnest. The week began with the SFWA Holiday Reception, which meant a dinner in advance. Tuesday, there was a small reception for Democrats who ran in the just-concluded election, which meant more food. After picking Kate up at the train, she needed food, which meant I got to eat some more. And yesterday, we were invited for dinner at our friends around the corner and Martha’s a great cook. Martha, Tom, Deb, and Kate reveled with not only the food but the wine.

And now, way too much food courtesy of Bob and Laurie. Oh my.

But you know what, it also means we’re out of the house, spending time with people whose company we enjoy.  It also means things are beginning to transition from the Go-Go workaday reality to a slightly differently paced holiday season where we blend in visiting, shopping, cards sent and received, gifts bought and received, and great music wafting in the air wherever you go.

It’s a time of year that I relish.

May each and everyone enjoy their Thanksgiving Day and the weekend that follows. Hug your friends and family, eat with abandon and stay warm, dry, and safe.

What’s Been Happening Professionally

Posted by Bob Greenberger on November 25, 2009

As you know, I prefer being busy, juggling as many balls as possible. It forces me to focus and work efficiently. Whenever I am at loose ends, I fritter away too much time and am sloppy with my work habits.

The slow fall has driven me to distraction but these last two weeks have been much more as I like things.

I spent much of the time researching and writing the first issue of my DC project, timing myself to see how much time each subsequent issue was likely to take so I could plan ahead. Meantime, the actual proposed outline continued to morph (as do so many things in the DCU it appears) resulting in my spending a delightful hour in Dan DiDio’s office on Monday. We went through my rebuttal notes, line by line, and Dan either agreed and reversed himself or argued for his point of view. I spent a few hours yesterday revising the final outline and that will require some additional writing but that’s fine, I’m getting paid for it.

I also wrote a one-off script for a different DC title, and delivered it to my editor just before I took the train to the city. Once he approves the script, I can freely tell you what it is although it’s an inventory script so can’t tell you when you can read it.

I additionally was asked to copy edit a manuscript for a media tie-in property. Now, copy editing is perhaps my weakest skill set, but the client felt I had the right understanding of the concepts to make certain what they produced was clear, concise and could be understood by others. I devoted hours each day over the last week reviewing it and completed the first pass yesterday. I will spend the three-day weekend giving it a second pass then deliver it on Monday, making my deadline.

Meantime, I have continued to collect artwork for the Howard Chaykin Retrospective and signed my contract for the ghostwriting project.

That leaves me just a handful of working days before Deb and I take an honest-to-goodness vacation. I’ll devote that time to beginning to research the ghost project, presuming I get the promised outline so I can focus on the necessary material. DC Project issue #2 will be my first task in 2010.

Now, I’ve also been continuing to scout for other work since I know I will have free time coming up after the New Year. As a result, I was in full networking mode at the Science Fiction Writers of America annual holiday reception on Monday. It was a sheer delight seeing my old friends but also reconnecting with editors I know or meeting new ones. That’s always fun as the clusters of people come together and break apart with amazing regularity. First thing yesterday was writing numerous follow-up e-mails and with luck, the one editor who expressed interesting in something, will respond.

And that’s pretty much what’s been going on at the home office.

Quick Note

Posted by Bob Greenberger on November 23, 2009

Been very busy, for a change, writing and getting stuff done around the house. I’m off to spend the day at DC Comics attending to various projects prior to attending the annual SFWA Reception for the first time in five years. Very excited to see old friends and make new connections.

Meantime, I did an interview with my pal John Drew for his podcast, The Chronic Rift, and it goes live tonight. Check it out and then come back here and I’ll update you on the world according to Bob.

For Your Holiday Gift List

Posted by Bob Greenberger on November 19, 2009

My pal Steve Rosenhaus alerted me to the following item in the latest issue of Time Out New York. Listed as a recommendation for their Holiday gift guide:

The Batman Vault by Robert Greenberger and Matthew K. Manning

This heavily illustrated slab of geek bait gives a detailed tour through the history of Batman, from the first comic books to his still-evolving present. Billed as a “museum in a book,” it reproduces panels from the ’30s, sums up the exploits of the ineffective Gotham City police department and revisits the birth of the young sidekick Robin, who debuted in April 1940. True to its title, the Vault is also stuffed with freestanding promotional treasures from the superhero’s past, including a paper Batplane from 1943 and a Catwoman design sketchbook from 2003. Running Press, $50

For the Fairfielders

Posted by Bob Greenberger on November 17, 2009

Our town is a growing 57,000+ and gets covered by the Connecticut Post, in addition to three weekly papers – the Fairfield Citizen-News, Fairfield Minuteman and the Fairfield Sun.  Interestingly, you have to read all four to get a real sense of what’s going on in town both politically and culturally. The coverage, I’ve noted, has been spotty with big stories ignored or underplayed and not a lot of good solid digging going on.

That’s one reason why I think the Fairfield Online News launched in the late summer. Former Post beat writer Andy Brophy is the main man behind this, aided and abetted by former Fox News staffer Alexis Harrison and a host of columnists. Guys on my side of the aisle dismiss it as Fox’s version Fairfield news, slanted to advance the Republican agenda. And you know what? Sure, some of the news coverage shows a bias and an aware reader can filter the articles.

Andy, to his credit, is covering stuff the other four have missed or ignored. His features on our town’s past are also solid.

Starting today, I’ve joined them – not switching affiliations mind you, but becoming a regular columnist. Entitled Fairfield Citizen, I’m being given fairly free rein to write about whatever issues come to mind.

First up is an Open Letter to the RTM, spelling out what the 23 newbies can expect and how it works. Next will be the flipside, an Open Letter to the Voters, pointing out what their responsibilities are to the people they put into office.

Commentary welcome.

Feast or Famine

Posted by Bob Greenberger on November 12, 2009

I’ve mentioned this before, but it bears repeating. A freelance writer probably spends more of his time seeking assignments than actually doing the work. After all, we need to generate and sell ideas or we have little to do.

Our reputation and skill sets will get us work, but we can’t depend upon the kindness of editors. Instead, we need a wide and deep network, keep out ears to the ground and pounce on opportunities.

I despaired recently that out-of-the-blue assignments have dropped off dramatically since the Wonder Woman book was offered me back in June. That’s a perfect reason why one cannot sit back and wait for the phone to ring.

I also note that earlier this year, I was excited because I had so many different irons in the fire that I thought 2009 would be another good year. Several of those projects just aren’t generating interest and have cooled off considerably. My major fall project was to start after Labor Day and only really started on Friday. It really does appear to feast or famine.

As a result, my mood can swing from despair to elation depending on the day. Wednesday, for example, I was agitated and three different things went wrong all based on the cowardice of editors or colleagues unwilling to talk directly to me but passing messages through intermediaries. I’d much rather hear bad news from the source and have a chance to understand what went wrong and if possible, get the chance to fix it myself.

Today, though, the phone rang and I was offered an assignment. It’s cool and it’s very exciting although not necessarily lucrative. But it’s the kind of thing I cannot possibly say no to. Here’s the catch: it’s a ghostwriting gig and I can not reveal what it is or who it is for. Nope, no way. If I do, I spoil the project and most likely cost myself ever working for the company again. But trust me, it’s really nifty.

I was also offered a copy editing gig this afternoon, not because I’m a great copy editor, but more because I understand the concepts being written about and can be a fresh pair of eyes to ensure it makes sense to the client. That’s a short term gig and it was nice to receive.

Finally, a spec project that keeps inching towards a sale has been delayed again and again but now it appears the thumbs up or down will finally come on Tuesday and that’s encouraging.

So, to sum up, on my desk right now is the major unannounced project that will keep me busy half a month for the next 15 months. Additionally, I have a comic book script to write followed by the copy editing followed by the ghost writing. Suddenly, my plate filleth and all is right with the world.

King Con Report

Posted by Bob Greenberger on November 8, 2009

I wasn’t sure what to expect from King Con when I was invited to attend, but it came as a most welcome distraction after a rough political week. Held at the Brooklyn Lyceum, it most reminded me of the smaller NYC cons of the 1970s although the dealers’ tables were all replaced with artists’ tables. There may have been one pure retailer in attendance. Instead, the tables were filled with people who work for DC, Marvel, or smaller houses and it was a most collegial atmosphere.

The Lyceum is a rundown structure that I am told hosts Opera performances in the area occupied by writers and artists while the panel floor was normally used for weight lifting. While downstairs was crowded and warm as a result, the spacious panel floor was unheated and many panelists and attendees wore coats to keep warm.

I arrived just before Noon yesterday and immediately caught up with Matt Manning, my co-author of The Batman Vault. I spent the next hour or so wandering the small space and checking out the wares. There was quite a lot on display, much of which I was unfamiliar with so started chatting up authors and artists such as Charles Soule, who wrote Strongman, a well reviewed graphic novel from Slave Labor Graphics.

I headed upstairs and caught most of the panel dedicated to Act-i-Vate, a collective website. The 11 panelists discussed their strips and how they got involved, and how this medium allowed them to find print homes for their projects. They also talked about their first print anthology, The Act-i-Vate Primer, now on sale, and I was fascinated by all the people, most of whom I was unfamiliar with. The one I did know, was Dean Haspiel, who was a major help with The Howard Chaykin Retrospective.

Afterwards, there was a panel dedicated to Harvey Pekar and the new Pekar Project, which sounded like a tremendous way to expand Harvey’s unique brand.

While waiting to begin the Batman panel, I was “backstage” and caught up with the fabulous Christine Norrie, my former assistant at DC, and a pretty amazing artist. I also had a few minutes with my Iron Man editor Steve Saffel, which is always a treat.

The Batman Panel was moderated by another old friend, historian Peter Sanderson, and he came very prepared with excellent questions which had Matt, I, and the legendary Denny O’Neil riffing on themes and history that we may not have discussed otherwise.  Overall, it was an excellent discussion but you can tell the audience the con attracted by the fact that the previous two panels were filled to overflowing while our crowd was maybe two-thirds the size.

I was greeted afterwards by my former Weekly World News art director Kristine Schmidt so we had time to play catch up before a final turn around the crowded dealers’ floor.

Driving home, I felt good to be out and about amongst peers and fans. It was a welcome distraction and a good experience, making me think back to the days when pros and fans could more easily congregate and chat at the shows before they evolved into full-blown entertainment extravaganzas.

Tomorrow in Brooklyn — King Con

Posted by Bob Greenberger on November 6, 2009

Tomorrow, I will be in Brooklyn, attending the first ever King Con. For a small off-season show, it has a pretty nice guest list.

I’ll have hanging around during the day and appearing on one pane, at 2 p.m.

UNLOCKING THE BATMAN VAULT: SATURDAY

Join Denny O’Neil (editor and writer, BATMAN), Matthew K. Manning (author, WOLVERINE: INSIDE THE WORLD OF THE LIVING WEAPON), and Bob Greenberger (author, BATMAN ENCYCLOPEDIA) as they discuss the Dark Knight’s 70 year history. Greenberger and Manning will talk about their new book, THE BATMAN VAULT, which includes reproductions of rare Batman memorabilia. Moderated by comic’s historian Peter Sanderson (MARVEL CHRONICLES, Publishers Weekly).

If you’re attending, please make sure you say howdy.