thanks for refreshing this, and for the new contributions.

SRs--I'm curious what exactly you're writing about, your recent inspirations? I read your posts here regularly, and would like to know.

I'm writing daily as hard as I can, but at the end of the week after pushing, I'm discouraged with my work. I can't write a regular column, or commit to an ongoing gig, because of this problem of sucking. I'm trying to do a book of humour and parody, but that's it. If it works, it works, and I might keep trying, but if not, I'm not in a job with it.

The problem I'm having with humour, or my attempts at it, is it's all in the editing and tweaking. A thing is funny by a hair's breadth, and not if it's presented slightly differently. Charm. Charm is killing me. I'm not a snob, I need an editor, but I can't show people my spittings and drool. Well--you people, here, sure, but not potential publishers. So I'm trying to put the whole thing together with photos and formatting and every comma, no over-used words or phrases near each other (which is hard when you parody daily journalism) and I'm not doing as well as I had hoped. The only thing that keeps me from despair is that other stuff by other people also sucks, and gets along in the world. But can I live by that?
I'm not kidding. I spent a day drawinging newspaper comic characters into a mock-up of the Hollywood Squares game show. I thought it might be funny, these lingering but somewhat washed-up personalities. I don't know, in the end, if it was, funny. Is this how a sane person spends their time?
Another odd thing I'm finding about comedy is that it blows away in the wind. I have to write about something seriously, somewhere in the deal, as a paperweight, or it doesn't hold up. It becomes pathetic. But I don't like to admit to being serious. Therefore, basically, I'm screwed.

The only stuff my wife liked this week were my story leads. Here are some.

   Sleepwalker pees in sock drawer. story pg 37

   Considering marital counseling? It may be cheaper to divorce. Story pg 37

   High-minded principle conveniently abandoned. story, pg 37.

   Time running out for patient awaiting butt-hole transplant. etc.

   Discussion panelist's thoughtful, inward gaze is fooling no one. etc.
   
   Update: Kentucky-native George Cloony is still from Kentucky. Story, etc.

   Last and least:

   Start planning now to be more spontaneous next year.

                                                    fred