Well, it is April Fools’ Day, but this isn’t a joke. [g] Mind, it isn’t that “Survivor,” either.
A friend of mine who runs an interesting blog on freelancing had asked me if I’d do an interview with her, for a series she was doing on the blog, explaining a bit about my own experiences with freelancing. I did, and if you’re interested in more of the background of what I did before I began writing novels [g], or what-all is involved with the business/promotional side of being an author…
Here it is.
Diana:
FWIW, I am a devout cafeteria Catholic and registered Democrat, though I find myself sliding into the realm of Independent.
No, discussing news show preferences does not equate to discussing politics but, in general terms, it has devolved into that. You have to admit that there IS that bent at Fox and, say, MSNBC. If they (ALL) presented the news in a straightforward manner, then we’d have something more equal to the news (of what I recall) from the days of my youth — Walter Cronkite for example. Hence, my preference for NPR, PBS and C-Span. No personalities cloud the subjects they report.
Regards,
Midge
Nathalie:
Please, no apologies needed. : )
Since I have no leanings in broadcast journalism, when I learn of someone who does, then I appeal to his or her better nature and ask that he/she maintain journalistic integrity and report the news, and do not dumb-down the viewing public.
I will certainly hope (and pray) for your success. I am from Los Angeles, too. Are you currently working in the industry or are you still in school?
Midge
Dear Midge–
Am whole-heartedly in favor of the application of _some_ kind of journalistic standards. The “media” as such has always been biased, and likely always will be (as I can tell you from reading Revolutionary War-era “news” accounts; Lord John’s encounter with the news clipping describing him as the Hero of Krefeld is not really stretching it for comic effect [g], even though the effect _is_ comic), but we did have a brief period in the US when the ideal of objective reporting was at least given lip service. Be nice to have that again.
Dear Maggie–
Well, it’s _hard_–the more so, because no one (including your family) thinks that writing is a good use of your time, unless and until you sell something. Up to that point, you are obviously just “wasting time” or (worse still) “TAKING time away from your family,” etc., etc., etc.
Mind, the moment you _do_ sell something, suddenly you’re validated–but up to that point, you can’t get no respect. Let alone “approved” time for writing.
This is why I always did my writing on my lunch break at the university and in the small hours of the night (when I was doing my freelance stuff; I’d normally keep a software review or textbook chapter open on one screen, and a scene from my novel on the other. When one stuck, I’d switch and work on the other until _that_ stuck, then switch back. And if my husband came into the room–I wasn’t telling _him_ what I was doing, either, for reasons noted above–I’d pop back to the “respectable” (i.e., money-earning) writing. [cough])).
Midge-
I just graduated and am doing an internship in entertainment news, which is mind-numbingly stupid, for lack of a better word. I’d like to break into something more serious, but, obviously, this is an *incredibly* difficult time to find something in my preferred arena.
(This bit goes out to everyone)
On that note, I am putting together a website to showcase my resume reel…Would anyone mind (Diana, that includes you) if I posted the link to the website here (once finished, which will be soon), so any interested parties can take a look and give me feedback (via my personal email so as not to deter from Diana’s blog)? I would appreciate your opinions, should anyone be so inclined to take a look…
Nathalie et al:
You better believe both entertainment and serious news is mind-numbingly stupid!
When it becomes an international event as to whether Michelle Obama broke protocol by hugging the Queen, or that Octomom (who lived about a mile away from me before she moved to La Habra!) is still commanding $40K per interview and ever became a news subject beyond the “miracle?” of birthing eight babies, then it demonstrates how dumb the execs in those high paying jobs really believe us to be.
Put in your time until you work your way up the ladder. Until then, you’ll have to put up with what the higher-ups believe is news worthy. And whatever you do, don’t inflate your lips, don’t develop a plastic forehead, and don’t implant yourself with boobs so huge that your face can barely be seen above your cleavage.
Good luck.
Midge
Midge-
I agree with you entirely – however, I would SO much rather talk about the weather, for instance, than Jessica Simpson sunbathing topless in Mexico this morning. Ugh. Lesser of two evils, right?
Thank you for the advice – it’s going in my permanent memory bank
Nathalie, please don’t apologize! If you want to work at FOX you shouldn’t have to justify it to anyone or make any promises. It shouldn’t even be a problem for anyone that you want to work there. I say, ‘Go for it with no apologies.’.
Although, I would be careful in making a webpage. These days, if you have conservative leanings and you want to get into the world of news you have to be very stealth about it. We know conservatives are persecuted and not offered jobs because of it. So, be careful, be smart and don’t let anyone talk you out of your beliefs in what’s right. (Can you tell I’m a conservative? And proud of it.)
Diana, what a great gift parents like that are. It’s so hard to overcome not having that growing up.
Renee-
Never fear, my website is nothing but a site to house my resume and video clips of recent work – news packages, anchoring, etc. No personal information beyond that…
And again, thank you so much for your enthusiastic support!
Dear Nathalie–
No, of course not–go right ahead!
Diana, I have to say, my husband is also a Fox News watcher and states about you: Good Woman! she is obviously intelligent! lol
Also, I have given you a little award and some good words on my site: http://www.lara-lalaland.blogspot.com. congrats! 
Diana – I'm detouring from the news commentary -
I just finished reading the Lord John books, following that alternating chronology of the novellas and novels!
I thought well of Lord John through the Outlander series and have become quite intrigued by him. I was wondering if the third novel – Lord John and the Scottish Prisoner – has any kind of eta? I'm interested in the back story of Lord John's relationship with Jamie and how it evolves from those tense/volatile scenes to their open respect witnessed in Voyager through A Breath of Snow and Ashes -if that's even potential subject matter for the next Lord John book?
I was also wondering if there was more to come in Echo about Jamie's appearance in front of the B&B in Outlander before Claire ever goes through the stones? I don't understand how Jamie's dream of seeing Claire accounts for Frank seeing Jamie…did I miss something?
Thanks – and sorry if this is a question that's been posed and answered multiple times.
Deirdre
Dear Deirdre–
With luck, I’ll start work on SCOTTISH PRISONER sometime after ECHO is done. [g] No idea when it’ll be finished/published, but _maybe_ late 2010 or early 2011. I won’t have any idea how long it it until I’m well into it–nor yet how much ground it covers.
Dear Lara–
Thanks! [s] Appreciate the good words!
“I’d normally keep a software review or textbook chapter open on one screen, and a scene from my novel on the other.”
Diana,
That sound very familiar to me. I always do this, when I write a short story and my Mum can come into the room any minute. You really can’t get on with your things this way sometimes. *sigh*
And I have to say I’m not very creative when I have something else on my mind like studying and learning for exams.
I hope you’re getting on well with An Echo.
Julia
Dear Julia–
So far, so good! Though there’s a lot to do yet. One day at a time…(sometimes one _word_ at a time [wry g], but as long as you don’t stop, you get there).
No, I don’t think I will stop.
For that I have too many ideas in my head but I have to finish some of them first.
Thanks for your answer.
Julia
Dear Diana,
I read the article when it was posted and was, too, amazed by your, um, energy. Diet Coke and candy bars must be quite a pick-me-up (not in the article, just picked up elsewhere).
Anne, Carlotta and I are going to the Gainesville event on 17 May. We are all very excited and look forward to hearing you speak.
M
Diana, thank you for your encouraging comments. Quote “Well, it’s _hard_–the more so, because no one (including your family) thinks that writing is a good use of your time, unless and until you sell something. Up to that point, you are obviously just “wasting time” or (worse still) “TAKING time away from your family,” etc., etc., etc.” Unquote. I have this to contend with also. No one gives any credit or respect to my writing and I always feel i have to justify my time spent working on it. I am not good at writing late at night, as my brain has usually given up for the day by then, but I have been thinking of “training” it to work later. I do believe that we operate out of habit and if you are used to working late you can do it, and it willl only take some time of making myself do this before I will find it a habit to do so. Thanks again for your encouragement and inspiration!
Dear Maggie–
Well, some folk find that they work better by getting up very early in the morning, rather than staying up late at night. Personally, I would just sit at the computer, staring blankly at the screen for thirty seconds or so before falling face-first into the keyboard, if I tried getting up a 6 or 7 AM to write. Now, 2 or 3 AM–no problem! [g]
Writing successfully is pretty much a process of playing mind games with yourself–both in how you get words on the page, and when you do it. You just have to figure out how your own mind works, and try to take advantage of whatever quirks you have.
Good luck!