Munich
May 17, 2011
Completely different topic! During the last couple of years, I’ve been very entertained and inspired by a writer named John Scalzi. He has rapidly growing stature in the science fiction field, but like me he also writes about movies and video games, as well as lots of other types of writing. His long-running blog, The Whatever, is full of gossipy anecdotes, testimonials and opinions on, among many other things, the writer’s life. 
I’ve always known what a lazy writer I am. That, frankly, was a major reason for keeping this travel journal. Just a test of my writing endurance: Could I successfully maintain a daily blog for a twelve week period? I’ve been pleased with the results, mostly, and, inspired by Mr. Scalzi in several different ways, I’m eager to roll my sleeves up and try to earn more of my living by writing.
An area I’m interested in investigating is, duh, travel writing. I enjoy traveling so much, and I clearly like talking about it with my keyboard. I wonder if I can find some outlets where I can submit some travel writing?
It’s important for me to feel inspiration at this moment, because, as this job is winding down and I don’t have much else in the pipeline, I’m starting to feel the creeping “What If I Don’t Get Another Gig For Six Months” dreads. You might think I’d have a ton of money stockpiled after this assignment, but it’s going to be a surprisingly small amount. No, it’s not because I’m a crack addict or a shopaholic (anyone who knows my wardrobe knows this isn’t true). It’s because whever you start working after not working for a while, you’re digging yourself out of a hole for a certain number of paychecks. In my case, it was a big damn hole.
So the reason I won’t have a year’s worth of dollars ready to take care of me when I return to Los Angeles is that I’ve paid off three of my four credit cards and gotten caught up (to a certain degree) on back taxes. Not completely caught up, I hasten to add. But I’ve made good progress.
So I need to keep working, damnit.
I also need to stop depending so utterly on this software training work. I love doing it, and I enjoy the jobs when they come. But they are too sporadic these days. They should be supplemental income, not my only income. And if I’m not willing (or able?) to get an in-house training job, I need to have a second major source of income. Perhaps it’s stupid to hope writing could be that source, but still, it’s a goal. The idea feels right inside my head. We’ll see.
Areas I’d Like to Try Writing More On
- Books (duh)
- Games (duh)
- Movies (duh duh)
- Travel
- Politics/Gay Rights
- Politics/Rational Thought vs. Superstition in Public Policy
- Pets
- Food
- Low Carb Living
Am I leaving out anything obvious here?
Tommorrow: Back to Munich stuff!
