The more things change ...

So ... as I've noted elsewhere, today was my last day of work as a New York Times Employee. Come Monday, when I show up for work, I will be an employee of Boston Globe Media Partners. Other than, that, nothing's changed. Although I suppose saying "I work for the New York Times" had a certain cache, even if it was only ever kinda true. I'll still sit at the same desk and do the same job for the same pay. For the moment, at least.

***

I finished the first draft of my manuscript for Why We Should Suffer For This. Going to take a couple weeks off from writing it, and then dive into the second draft. It feels good having that done with, even if I know it's just the beginning of more work. But soon ... soon ... something ...

See, here's the thing: I entertain dreams of selling the book to a publisher and making at least enough money to quit my day job and  just write for a living. But what is more likely is I will sell it for not enough to quit, or even more likely than that, release it on a small press and make something that very much resembles nearly nothing. Having swum in these waters a long time, I know the odds rather well. But ... well ... fuck it. What's the sense in being a writer if you can't dream big, even in the face of impossible odds? Especially in the face of impossible odds. I've taken disappointment on the chin before, and I'll do it again. All that matters is that you keep swinging.

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I had mentioned earlier on this blog that I'd be reading Oct. 25 at Annie's Book stop in Worcester. It seems I was mistaken: I'll be covering Phish that night. (First time ever seeing them! I'm actually kind of ridiculously excited, in that "I love new experiences" sort of way.)

Anyway, the incredibly gracious Kristina England has forgiven me for the inadvertent double-booking, so hopefully I'll be making the show up sometime soon. In the meantime, my talented and beautiful wife will be performing instead!

Worcester Storytellers
Lea C. Deschenes features
Annie's Book Stop
65 James St., Worcester, Mass.
7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25, 2013

Go root her on while I'm off investigating the mysterious ways of the Phish Phan ...