Dear Writers, why can't any of you follow directions?
Ooo! I know the answer to this one! Because that would require READING, and writers don't do that. Proof READERS do that! Am I right? Do I win anything??
Since we are ranting about work. Here we go. Email from Sunday at 7pm. Professor. Heading up some inter-departmental, inter-college, international cultural trip to Ghana. Oh, cool. They are video taping it and making a documentary on it. OK, cool. They would like some audio support. Um. ok. They are doing interviews MONDAY the 2nd, and would like mic's. First thing in the morning. Alas, Monday I was off, because I work this weekend. Also, we don't do video, we do dance and drama.
"Well, is there a boom mic we can borrow? Maybe a lapel mic"?
We don't have any boom mics.
"Why not".
We don't do video!
"and the lapel mic"
it's designed to plug into a wireless transmitter, not into a camera. They have those mics over in VIDEO SERVICES next door at Studio Art.
"I don't know anyone over there".
You don't know me either.
"We have budget to buy stuff, can we just buy one?"
Sure, but not for Monday.
"Why not?"
Well, it's not something most places have in stock locally. You can't get it at Wal*Mart.
"Oh. Wow. Well? How much would it go for?"
I haven't shopped around for one of those in a long time, since I don't do video, but I would venture in the $200-700 price range.
"Oh! oh. We don't have THAT much budget".
Maybe you should call the video people at Studio Art. Oh look, they have an email addy labeled VIDEO GENERAL QUESTIONS!
t SMACK!
:: breathe ::
Thankfully my boss is very much behind me and saying "You are handling it wonderfully. Just keep stressing, "we are not geared to support that. Sorry."
eta: formatting and a have into haven't
oo! I know the answer to this one! Because that would require READING, and writers don't do that. Proof READERS do that! Am I right? Do I win anything??
Yes! You win a smack to the back of the head with a croquet mallet! Well done, you!
So when my editor at the college textbook I'm writing a chapter for thanked me for being the only one of his sixty authors who always met deadlines and always followed formatting instructions he wasn't kidding?
I'm willing to bet large sums of money that he wasn't kidding.
Happy birthday, Deena!!!
For those who have seatbelt discomfort, my sister got me something that, as a non-parent, I had never even thought of: car seat strap covers. They make these ingenious little covers for car seat straps to make it cushy for the baby. Also works for delicate neck skin that gets rubbed by seatbelts. And, some designs have fun things on them. Mine has a big ladybug. Still not the most comfy thing in the world, but works pretty well and helps with rubbing my neck.
No, Typo Boy. He wasn't kidding. I have writers who must be told what our guidelines are and where the style guide is EVERY TIME they hand off a project.
Not only was he not kidding, he was also setting up an altar to worship you.
"I don't know anyone over there".
So, you're working with my faculty now? I can't tell you how many times I've had variations on that conversation -- "Can I check out a forblegezwatchit?" "We don't have a forblegezwatchit - but they have hundreds of 'em at that big help desk right down the hall." "But I'd rather check out a forblegezwatchit from you!" "Thanks. But our forblegezwatchits have the small inconvenience of NOT ACTUALLY EXISTING IN THIS OR ANY OTHER PHYSICAL PLANE."
So when my editor at the college textbook I'm writing a chapter for thanked me for being the only one of his sixty authors who always met deadlines and always followed formatting instructions he wasn't kidding?
I'm willing to bet large sums of money that he wasn't kidding.
I'll see those large sums of money and raise a sparklepony that he wasn't kidding.
I don't even know why we HAVE author guidelines.
