Khakis and a pretty shirt would be fine, Susan. But I went for gypsyish myself; you haven't seen the Chinese jacket in question, but it's bright purple brocade lined with black velvet.

The thing is, at SF conventions and conferences (I've been to both), you're surrounded by fellow geeks. At RWA conferences, you're surrounded by fellow ladies. Middle-aged white ladies, to be specific. You do NOT have to dress the way people dress on the cover pictures of their novels, but you shouldn't look scruffy either. Artsy bohemian is fine.

Oh, I wouldn't consider doing scruffy in any case - nothing to do with genres or anything else. I'm out in public with strangers who share my craft? I want to look good.

So because this week wasn't sucking enough already, I got my notification from SN that my Angel spec did not make the finals.

Yes, yes. Always a semifinalist, never a finalist.

ETA: And this post makes me sound more upset than I actually am. Because I'm sort of resigned to it all by now. Final nail in the scriptwriter career coffin, you know.

Oh, shit, Kristen. I bet it's better than the finalists, by rather a lot, too.

And yes, the week, so far, she is suckola de maximus.

Oh thanks. I still love my spec a lot. And hey, if it's the last script I ever write, it was a nice note to go out on. A sort of little love letter to my hometown.

Does it have to be the last script you write?

I don't know the background, but, well - does it?

Eh. It doesn't have to be. I mean, it's not like someone's gonna try and break my fingers if I sat down to write. But, yeah, it probably is the last one.

I haven't had the drive to write a script in...oh...close to two years now. Right around the time that I came to the realization that I didn't have the personality to make it as a screenwriter. Then I lost my job and ended up completely out of the industry. So even if I suddenly had the desire to write a dozen specs, I don't have any contacts in the TV world to show them to.

I wouldn't go as far as to say that I regret the attempt to break into the business but I would say it wasn't one of my smarter ideas. *snerk*

Are you set, completely, on screenwriting? Why not fiction, or drama?

I'm not sure if that question is dumbassed, or out of line. It's just that as a writer, I hate seeing other writers not get their shot, especially if the stuff is good.

Oh I suck at writing narrative. I could drown you in dialogue but ask me to write a descriptive paragraph and I'm like a deer in headlights. That's how I ended up in screenwriting. Because if I wanted Jane to pick up a pencil, all I had to say was, "Jane picks up a pencil."

Sadly, "Jane picks up a pencil," makes for a very boring read.

Sadly, "Jane picks up a pencil," makes for a very boring read.

In fiction, possibly so. But in drama? Playwright in the making, perhaps? Or does that particular journey not feel right?