I had to go shopping today to prepare myself for my new Call of Cthulhu game. Basic stuff, mainly a set of new dice since I tire of the criticisms that my dice are "gay" (they're just orange!) and a few sourcebooks that I've been missing out on. Mainly the latest edition of the core rulebook, something I've been coveting for a while. I also made way more impulse buys that I'd meant to, because I'm a straight-up B.A.-level sucker when it comes to FLGS clerks pushing me new product. As a result I also ended up picking up Tony DiGerolamo's Complete Mafia.
While I was there, the clerk Patty kept me there for about 90 minutes talking about how awesome I am, and how impressed she was with my Bent Spoon webcomic (strange, that...) and that my reviews are in print for Knights of the Dinner Table. I didn't mind, of course; I love talking about how awesome I am. She wanted to know what my goals were for the future with the whole movie-review thing, and I sort of gave a hem-haw "well I've got grad school..." pussy response. She really kicked me in the ass about how I need to get cracking on setting goals and trying to get my reviews off the ground and make a career out of it.
"I don't really know how to do that," I whined.
Well, she was actually very helpful. She told me I just have to get to writing letters and questioning newspapers and magazines, and most importantly, to prepare a portfolio of my published work. The notion that I have published work is a big edge, but I need to start exercising it. I'm going to look into pushing my work to the local free papers here, the New Times and Get Out, but I really doubt I'll get anywhere with them other than an impassive "We're not interested." But what the hell, I guess you never know until you ask, right?
Another counter monkey I'd never really met before (named Mike) agreed with most of this and gave me various other advice regarding my career. Evidently he's a published author as well and wrote several Deadlands supplements, and he seemed to have quite a lot of business savvy. He advised me to get my KODT deal arranged in writing since my current understanding between Jolly and I is an informal "You wanna write a review for me by the 10th?" basis. He also had some tips regarding my pipe dream to one day pursue a television show, and to get my writing published in a major publication-- not that KODT isn't a presigious publication, mind you...
The first thing he suggested was to take my Highlander fanfic and bury it in the deepest depths of my backyard, and never to mention it again. I suppose it makes sense, the very word "fanfic" raises a stigma over my whole work, not the least of which is a legal dilemma, because fanfictions are not legal uses of copyrighted characters, even if I'm not making any kind of money of them. In reality, my Highlander fiction doesn't use ANY characters and is more of an alternate-universe thingy that's very self-contained. But still, I understand where he's coming from. Even some people who read and respect my work won't even go near the fanfiction for the sole reason that it is a fanfiction. Which is a shame because I really think they'd like it.
Regarding the television show, he suggested that I simply go to the local public access television studio and make it happen. I'm never going to attract any kind of attention from an agent or get any kind of offer unless I get some solid television experience under my belt. The only ways to do that are to whore myself out as an intern for a television studio where I won't get paid and they'll treat me like a dog for two years, or to be my own boss and put a show on the air myself. I'd never really considered that, since I don't even know how to tune into the local public access channel, let alone go and contact them to set up a show idea. But it's something to think about. Who knows? Spoony Rant TV Show? Could happen!
But Mike had a big effect on me. He was nearly shaking me by the shoulders to get this stuff in my head. The last thing he said to me was "Noah, you're 24 and the one thing you're never gonna get back is these years. If you're going to do this, do it now. Don't waste one more day. Not one more day."
So...I guess I have to get started. Patty's offered to help out (she's a saint) with whatever I do. She told me how to set up a portfolio, mentioned that she knows some engineers who would work on a television show with me for free, and even mentioned that she knows reknowned author Michael Stackpole personally and might be able to hook me up with some sage advice from the Stack-man himself. Whatever happens I'm gonna do something every day to get nearer to that goal, even if it's just to send out an e-mail or fix up another entry in my portfolio. I guess Mike was right, I can't afford to waste any more time if I want to make this sort of thing happen. And I can't really count on much help to do it.
accomplished
groggy
nervous
gloomy
thoughtful
relieved
lonely
recumbent
bouncy
tired
energetic