OT: Flag interviews-by phone or if you visit NYC/east coast

[samburusunset]

Kel, Let me know when you go to liquor Betsy up. She's still got 1/2 a bottle of tequila. You can get two birds with one stone.

[DirtyMartini]

[quote="Mary"]sweet thing, despite the fact that I can't cross the ocean right now, that I can call you cause I don't have enough money for a long chat, I would love to give my contribute for the Nutters Behind the Green.[/quote]

Don't worry, sweetie. I'll be eating the phone costs. (It wouldn't be the flag if it didn't cost me somehow.) We can find a way to schedule a call.


Thanks, Bongo. Same goes for you. (I'm toying with the thought of a road trip to Toronto at some point in the fall, but I'm honestly not sure if I can swing it, so there is always the telephone.)


Amy, will do. The more drunken birds, the better!


Thanks, everyone!

[Chatchka]

DM, I believe I was suitably liquored up for our interview, which should align to the standard for all other interviews, right? One bottle of wine, 3-4 dirty martinis or an equivalent measure poured into the interviewee should do the job. Either way, It sure was fun hanging out with you again and providing little-to-no contribution to your book.

[jennym]

is it too late to hop on this train? i'll be at foxwoods next weekend. or i'm avail by phone.

[Mary]

[quote]We can find a way to schedule a call.[/quote]
. That's very nice from you! better have my translator ready for the occasion!

[DirtyMartini]

Thanks, Jenny. I was really tempted to head up to CT to interview folks while they're assembled, but I can't swing it time-wise, and really, I'd hate to bug people while they're gathered to party. A phone call will be just fabulous.


HAHA, Mary, thanks. If you've got a translator on hand, I certainly wouldn't object considering my Spanish is limited to food and cursing and my Portuguese is non-existent; but we'll muddle through. If need be, I'll ask questions in English, you can answer in whatever combination you can manage, and I'll get someone to translate for me later. We'll just have to work out a system so that I know when you're done talking.


[quote="Chatchka"]DM, I believe I was suitably liquored up for our interview, which should align to the standard for all other interviews, right? One bottle of wine, 3-4 dirty martinis or an equivalent measure poured into the interviewee should do the job.[/quote]

And I thought it would be the phone bills that would kill me. I am so screwed.

Chatchka, thanks for the chat and the accommodations. It was a great deal of fun!

[Chatchka]

Bumping for the flag.

DM, It occurred to me this weekend that I wonder if you'll end up writing the book that you plan to write?

[luddite lady]

When DM finishes this book about the Flag, she can write another about all the adventures she had during the writing of the first book.

[DirtyMartini]

^Heh. Honestly.


[quote="Chatchka"]DM, It occurred to me this weekend that I wonder if you'll end up writing the book that you plan to write?[/quote]

Doubtful, but I expect as much. My approach has already changed twice and will likely do so again: I can only plan so much with so many unknowns. It's kinda like getting the flag schedule itself together: you spend a bunch of time figuring out how to make things work, then someone new comes along with different plans or useful insights, and you have to rearrange to accommodate that new information. Sometimes you can just shove it in between known elements; sometimes you have to scrap everything and start over.

Same thing happened with the ending for the flag article here on SC.net. The last section was originally pretty general, skipping over some details because the piece was already lengthy from trying to accommodate other details that I thought necessary. I had written around one hole that I thought I could fill with a comment from Stewart and then be done; I was just waiting for his quote.

Then the quote arrived, and the whole last section had to be scrapped and rewritten.

Totally worth it, of course. I can't say that I didn't curse at the Maestro for a few days for it (no offense, Stewart), but that quote is gorgeous, it makes the piece, and though the writing ain't exactly Hemingway, the rewritten ending is far stronger than the original. The best laid plans of mice and men are just no match for Stewart Copeland. Or his fans.

It's all par for the course, of course. There are a lot of questions that I can't even begin to answer myself and therefore cannot even prepare for. More than anything, it's a question of time; the organizing and research (especially with the new search limitations) and interviews and transcribing all those interviews, etc., takes about twice as long as the actual writing -- and that's saying something considering what a slow writer I am. It's all on my own clock and dime without any foreseeable goal, so I can't even pretend that this will be done quickly. I'm just doing what I can with what I've got.

I could really use a couple of minions, though.

[Schmaffy]

[quote="DirtyMartini"]I could really use a couple of minions, though.[/quote]

READY!!!

[Susan]

Kel, I am swamped with work and life at the moment but am always happy to respond to your e-mails on matters of writing style, punctuation, and editing. I like taking my head out of my own work and thinking about other projects but not having to actually produce said projects

[Chatchka]

I'm not as strong an editor as Schmaff and Susan, but I'm willing to help. Keep me in mind, my friend.

[63falcon]

[quote="Schmaffy"][quote="DirtyMartini"]I could really use a couple of minions, though.[/quote]

READY!!![/quote]

I like that, "Kellie's Minions", ominous and innocuous at the same time. Good luck with all this DM-I'd have hired a ghost writer (ok then, a Ghost In the Machine writer) by this point. And I can't wait to get a chance to read yer end result!

[DirtyMartini]

Thanks, ladies. Huge thanks to you, Susan and Schmaffy (and if you're lurking out there, my friend Kirby), for the reading comprehension, insights, and drive-by help with my random attempts at breaking the English language. I'm extraordinarily grateful to have people whose brains I can borrow when mine has ceased to function. Thank you.

[Charliearnoid]

It's not looking good for La Jolla, but you got my number Kel. Or to save you some $$, text me and I'll call you.