ampersand

Setbacks.

Dealing with a massive disappointment this week, I’ve been alternately despondent, filled with rage, quietly optimistic, and full-on exhausted. I fear what yet another winter here will mean for me, my head, and my sanity. Once more, I feel trapped in a life that, nearly 30 years in, still doesn’t feel like mine. I use too many commas. I want to cry and hit something or just disappear in a more complete way than I already have.

A (much delayed) miniBookExpo: Business Edition review | Relevance by Tim Manners

Relevance took me a long time to read. I want to state that up front and for the record. But I also want to say that it’s not really the fault of the book. When I signed up for the mBE:BE at OneDegree, I didn’t expect  my life to become as hectic as it did this fall. So, it turns out that I’m lucky to have ended up with a book like Relevance, one that was written in small, easily digestible chunks. I could leave the book and come back to it days (and sometimes a month) later, and still be able to pick up the thread of author Tim Manners’ argument.

And what is Tim Manners offering up in Relevance? Using bite-sized case studies of well-known brands (think Starbucks, Disney, Wal-Mart and Toyota, just for starters), the book is split into three parts: Relevant Problems, Relevant Solutions, and Relevant Outcomes. Manners discusses what he believes to be the most important aspect of marketing – relevance.  And in a tautly written 256 pages, he does a masterful job.

The well-researched and interviewed case studies examine the concept of relevance from a number of perspectives (including design, advertising and investment), giving marketers a lot of new ways to consider the way they market their own brands. The main thing I’ll take away from this book is something that I (and probably other marketers) allow themselves to forget when we get bogged down in the day-to-day: Only one thing is relevant to consumers, and it’s always been the same thing: The product. Definitely something for marketers to always keep in mind, especially in times like these.

the universe is busy. leave a message at the tone.

[Editor's Note: I'm cleaning out my 'Drafts' folder. So, you're gonna read some things out of order. This post, for example is from June.]

So, the popularity of “The Secret” and the law of attraction can be directly related to the power of Oprah. However, it’s been around for years, and is no secret. In fact, thanks to The Artist’s Way and Conversations with God, they’re concepts that I’ve known about for years (and that’s all thanks to a friend of mine). Of course, they’re not necessarily concepts I’ve believed in all that much. Otherwise, my life would be much different right now. I guess, though, there’s an argument to the fact that the things I’ve asked the universe for don’t really fit the storyline of my life.

Yes, I’m considering this all in a very writerly fashion. That’s because breaking things down into stories is what I do. That’s who I am. And that epiphany is what’s driving my current  upswing into believing this whole “The Universe is listening” thing again, like it’s some kind of esoteric THX.

Why am I on this bandwagon again? Because a couple of weeks ago, I realized just how unhappy I am in my life. Just, supremely and totally underwhelmed. Hours after I realized that and decided that this unhappiness was instead a massive opportunity, I stumbled across the blog of a TV writer. She’d recently posted some insider info about a writing fellowship I’d considered applying to years before, but had ruled out based on its price. Except now it’s free. And the deadline is in a few short weeks. So, I took that to be a sign and committed myself to a few weeks of craziness while I attempt to write two sitcom spec scripts. We’ll see what happens come October.

[Hi, me again. It turns out I only wrote one script for the application -- a spec episode of Scrubs. Yeah, yeah, call it overdone, it's the show that called to me.]

i did it.

so, i didn’t end up writing TWO scripts for this competition. but I did complete one, just by the skin of my teeth. and from where i sit now, on my couch, inhaling a pint of haagen-dazs while watching Oprah discuss my second favorite book of all time, Middlesex, i’m pretty proud of it. The script. Not the slothful behavior and lack of a balanced meal. This is the first thing I’ve eaten since approximately 10:30 last night, and before that the week was spent only grazing.

So, this week has put me through the gauntlet physically, mentally and emotionally. Before I crash (I’m operating on no sleep in nearly 36 hours), I have to say that starting this week, I’m gonna take better care of my body. Unless I make some changes, my body’s not going to let me put it through this kind of trial as I age. Right now, however, I am in a wonderful mood. Perhaps it’s the onset of delirium.

But I’m so glad and grateful and proud that I’ve managed to somehow juggle 60-hour work weeks, plus freelance work on the side and participating in a semi-active social life with the consumption of mass quantities of Scrubs, and the planning, writing and rewriting of this script. And I’m thankful for all the people who’ve been supportive of this pursuit.

After a couple weeks off, I’m starting a Big Bang Theory script. But between now and then, I’ve tacked on a couple days to a long weekend and will be getting my life back together on those days.

But first, sleep. Lots and lots of sleep.

busy busy busy!

A status update. I’m giving up on the online dating thing for a while. There’s been too much run-around, not enough actual dating. When did the world (myself included, absolutely) lose its follow-through?

But, fear not (because I knew you were scared)! Instead of devoting my time to shopping for a boyfriend, I’m throwing myself back into TV writer-mode. In the next three weeks, I’m planning to write TWO sitcom spec scripts to submit to a fellowship in LA. On top of my work commitments, time out from the migraines that will not be kept down, softball and friend time, I’m gonna get this done.

Still deciding what shows to spec. I want to write a Scrubs, but everyone’s declaring it played. Which, I guess makes sense. The show’s entering its eighth season. But I think I’ve got a good idea. And then there’s the Flight of the Conchords episode I outlined. And a couple of other shows I’m considering. Guess I better make these decisions sooner rather than later.

Time to get back to work!