Daily affirmations of a word mercenary
Word Mercenary Category
On my tax forms every year, I carefully enter “WRITER” as my occupation. Is it a sham? Do I actually write anything other than self-indulgent online musings? You be the judge. This is where I post links and thoughts on my writings that have been published elsewhere.
So, we all know that sometimes I say things that nobody else understands. Witness “effluvia” and “ingénue.”
Today’s addition?
During a training session here at work, when asked what makes a good manager, I cited “unflappabilty.” I was then mocked for the remainder of the session. Did I get all riled up though? Oh hell no: I was unflappable.
And yes, flappable is also a word.
My Credentials
10
Apr
2003
In: Word Mercenary
In 1995, I went on a vacation with my father. I was a junior in college, and took a few days off from class to head to Colorado Springs to visit my grandmother with Dad. It was the beginning of my current career.
- 4 Comments
- Tags: bullshitting, college, copywriting, writing
Note To Self
2
Apr
2003
In: Word Mercenary
I need to remember to write a commentary for threebeats.com about why promotional photos of big name DJs always feature expensive jackets. What is UP with that?
Conversations with Mr. Vedas
12
Feb
2003
In: Word Mercenary
I’ve got some words a-brewin’ about the email anc omment exchanges I’ve had with Mr. Vedas, the father of Brandon Vedas. I’m musing about Kitty Genovese, the nature of reality, the intricacies of compassion, web voyeurism and drug machismo. There’s more to be said, but I haven’t figured out how yet.
Latest Article
11
Feb
2003
In: Word Mercenary
Shift.com: Not So Quiet On The Set, by me.
Even though the blog itself still isn’t up, the article I wrote about it is live on Shift.com. This was so that we could scoop an article that Salon may be doing on the same subject. [The I Love Your Work blog is up!]
The profile is pretty short, but I have more thoughts on the subject.
Impending Article
30
Jan
2003
In: Word Mercenary
I pitched an article about Helen Jane’s “I Love Your Work” blog, and it looks like Shift wants to run it on their website. I’m interviewing Helen Jane tonight. I’ll let you know when the article’s online — should be early next week.
Submissive
13
Jan
2003
In: Word Mercenary
I have a fire up my ass today! I’ve submitted four article pitches to Nerve, Salon, and xlr8r. Some of them old ideas (who remembers “Old Ravers Never Die” and “Of Pets & Toys”?) others new (living without a landline for two years). I’m just throwing spaghetti at the wall, waiting to see if anything sticks.
Resume -4
20
Dec
2002
In: Word Mercenary
My friend Dani (who was one of my Muthaship roommates) was cleaning out her Yahoo inbox and found a resume of mine from 1998. Dani has always been an expert resume crafter, and I’d sent her my resume for a little help. This was the finished product, but we both had to have a laugh at what my resume looked like when I graduated college.
Critiqued
17
Dec
2002
In: Word Mercenary
In what I hope will become an annual tradition, I’d like to present the 2002 Year End Critique. Here are 2002’s best critiques of my writing:
Stallings doesn’t perjure herself–truths cringe somewhere around the perimeter of her article, but my sadness and fear come from the fact that your average reader is not going to be able to see them in the face of glaring neon signs buzzing “sex,” “coke,” and “hollow-eyed and twitching.”
— Paul Ford in The Seattle Weekly. RE: Raving in Klickitat
I’m weary of cynical, negative, judgmental and in my opinion erroneous articles about the “underground” scene by jaded folks whose main concern seems to be finding a niche in mainstream media.
— user the_pxi on NWTekno.org. RE: Douse It
your narrative non fiction sucks by the way…maybe if you had somethig to write about…
— Anonymous. RE: Electrolicious
[I] was hoping for a bit more prurient detail or ironic slant.
— Michael Martin, Editor, nerve.com. RE: Come Together Right Now
This article to me was just another remider to me that very few writers have true journalistic integrity, and generally just want to get paid, and are willing to use sensationalism to serve their own personal goals. When you whine next time about whoring yourself for corporations, think about the whoring you did by writing that crap and the people you may have affected in the process.
— Jeff Boohr on NWTekno.org. RE: Raving In Klickitat
Freelancer Convention
14
Dec
2002
In: Word Mercenary
Yesterday I went to a freelancer convention. Yes, a convention of, um, two. Megasoul and I had an afternoon of lunch and note comparing. Some of the issues on the table at what I hope will be the first of several such conventions:
Style/Hygiene. Typically, freelancer couture includes sweats, a t-shirt, some sort of hooded sleeved warmth, and unbrushed teeth. “Hey,” Megasoul protested, “I put on a bra and jeans today because I knew you were coming over!” I, meanwhile, had truly gone all out by putting on shoes and mascara. However, at 1:30, Megasoul admitted she had not yet brushed her teeth. This matches with my habit of brushing my teeth after I’m done with my morning tea, which is usually sometime in the early afternoon. For a freelancer, everyday is casual Friday…minus the khakis, shoes, and dental care.
Housekeeping. Understood easily and quickly through the phrase, “always at home, always a mess.” They say home is where the heart is, but when home is also where the office is, things tend to get a bit slovenly. That is unless you’re one of those freelancers who would rather clean house than deal with that new project. If you are, then you have the admiration of both myself and my unfolded laundry.
Justifications. Megasoul showed me a deadline-driven project that kept her up until all hours last week. It was a lovely, impeccably designed photography book. Of toilets. Page after page of toilet pictures. She recounted finding herself at 4 am working away on a retouching job for the book, thinking, “Oh my god: it’s 4 am and I’m retouching the inside of a PORTA-POTTY!” I’ve experienced similar moments, and have established a helpful freelance creative-worker mantra: “I’m making money doing what I love.” Granted, you might be (in Megasoul’s case) retouching pictures of toilets or (in my case) writing about mortgages, but if you are paying your rent using a creative skill that makes you happy, you must focus on the means to an end, not the toilet or mortgages in front of you.
So, we all know that sometimes I say things that nobody else understands. Witness “effluvia” and “ingénue.”
Today’s addition?
During a training session here at work, when asked what makes a good manager, I cited “unflappabilty.” I was then mocked for the remainder of the session. Did I get all riled up though? Oh hell no: I was unflappable.
And yes, flappable is also a word.
My Credentials
10 Apr 2003 In: Word MercenaryIn 1995, I went on a vacation with my father. I was a junior in college, and took a few days off from class to head to Colorado Springs to visit my grandmother with Dad. It was the beginning of my current career.
- 4 Comments
- Tags: bullshitting, college, copywriting, writing
Note To Self
2 Apr 2003 In: Word MercenaryI need to remember to write a commentary for threebeats.com about why promotional photos of big name DJs always feature expensive jackets. What is UP with that?
Conversations with Mr. Vedas
12 Feb 2003 In: Word MercenaryI’ve got some words a-brewin’ about the email anc omment exchanges I’ve had with Mr. Vedas, the father of Brandon Vedas. I’m musing about Kitty Genovese, the nature of reality, the intricacies of compassion, web voyeurism and drug machismo. There’s more to be said, but I haven’t figured out how yet.
Latest Article
11 Feb 2003 In: Word MercenaryShift.com: Not So Quiet On The Set, by me.
Even though the blog itself still isn’t up, the article I wrote about it is live on Shift.com. This was so that we could scoop an article that Salon may be doing on the same subject. [The I Love Your Work blog is up!]
The profile is pretty short, but I have more thoughts on the subject.
Impending Article
30 Jan 2003 In: Word MercenaryI pitched an article about Helen Jane’s “I Love Your Work” blog, and it looks like Shift wants to run it on their website. I’m interviewing Helen Jane tonight. I’ll let you know when the article’s online — should be early next week.
Submissive
13 Jan 2003 In: Word MercenaryI have a fire up my ass today! I’ve submitted four article pitches to Nerve, Salon, and xlr8r. Some of them old ideas (who remembers “Old Ravers Never Die” and “Of Pets & Toys”?) others new (living without a landline for two years). I’m just throwing spaghetti at the wall, waiting to see if anything sticks.
Resume -4
20 Dec 2002 In: Word MercenaryMy friend Dani (who was one of my Muthaship roommates) was cleaning out her Yahoo inbox and found a resume of mine from 1998. Dani has always been an expert resume crafter, and I’d sent her my resume for a little help. This was the finished product, but we both had to have a laugh at what my resume looked like when I graduated college.
Critiqued
17 Dec 2002 In: Word MercenaryIn what I hope will become an annual tradition, I’d like to present the 2002 Year End Critique. Here are 2002’s best critiques of my writing:
Stallings doesn’t perjure herself–truths cringe somewhere around the perimeter of her article, but my sadness and fear come from the fact that your average reader is not going to be able to see them in the face of glaring neon signs buzzing “sex,” “coke,” and “hollow-eyed and twitching.”
— Paul Ford in The Seattle Weekly. RE: Raving in KlickitatI’m weary of cynical, negative, judgmental and in my opinion erroneous articles about the “underground” scene by jaded folks whose main concern seems to be finding a niche in mainstream media.
— user the_pxi on NWTekno.org. RE: Douse Ityour narrative non fiction sucks by the way…maybe if you had somethig to write about…
— Anonymous. RE: Electrolicious[I] was hoping for a bit more prurient detail or ironic slant.
— Michael Martin, Editor, nerve.com. RE: Come Together Right NowThis article to me was just another remider to me that very few writers have true journalistic integrity, and generally just want to get paid, and are willing to use sensationalism to serve their own personal goals. When you whine next time about whoring yourself for corporations, think about the whoring you did by writing that crap and the people you may have affected in the process.
— Jeff Boohr on NWTekno.org. RE: Raving In Klickitat
Freelancer Convention
14 Dec 2002 In: Word MercenaryYesterday I went to a freelancer convention. Yes, a convention of, um, two. Megasoul and I had an afternoon of lunch and note comparing. Some of the issues on the table at what I hope will be the first of several such conventions:
Hey there. I'm Ariel Meadow Stallings, a native Seattleite who's written my way up and down the Left Coast. Electrolicious is where I post daily randomata, but I also write for a living. My first book, Offbeat Bride, was published last year.
You're reading a page from the archives. Check the homepage for current content.
