The Waiting Game

Part of this gig that will probably always drive me crazy is waiting. I'm not an inherently patient man. In fact, I'm not patient at all.

So I have several great projects out as proposals for magazine and book projects, and I'm waiting on all of them. If a couple of them come through, well, I can settle a bit and know what I'm doing for the year, but I'm kind of hanging until then. Sri Lanka or Texas . . . who knows? I think they will go through---all are viable projects that should make good reads. Still, I'd like answers shortly. Sigh--that's not how this business works. I've been on the other side of the desk long enough now to be aware of that!

The other part that is odd about my new gig is editing. Odd in the sense that it sort of takes some wind out of my sails--I'm suposed to be doing this new thing, but I still need to do some editing to pay the bills. It's not that I don't enjoy the projects, I'm just excited to tackle new magazine markets and see how far I can take this thing.

That aside, it is good to be able to focus exclusively on the projects on my desk. Both of the projects I worked on were terrific books. One is The 200-mph Billboard by Mark Yost. Mark is a WSJ contributor and former Speed Sport News writer who has carved out a niche for himself as a sports business writer. He's a good reporter, and a good writer, and the book is engaging, informative, and welll-constructed--a real pleasure to work with. One of the best parts is Mark is a neighbor and a friend, and being able to talk through things over a meal is a big help to the process. Plus Mark is an interesting guy, so it's all good. I can see the advantages of working in New York or even L.A.--it's rare that I get to work with authors who live in my neck of the woods.

The other is Top Dead Center, a compilation of articles from one of my favorite writers, Kevin Cameron. He's been writing for Cycle (and later Cycle Word) magazine since 1973, and was a well-respected privateer tuner before becoming a writer. I like his stuff, but had honestly forgotten how good he is. His profiles of racers and builders are insightful and a joy to read. He understands the racing mind in a way very few do, and is a great observer of people. The hardest part of the task has been trying to select 30-40 pieces out of the hundreds of great things he's written.

The week wasn't all editing, of course. I found some time to book my next ATV club ride down in Ocala, Florida. I discovered a group that volunteers to patrol the national forest, and the same crew is working hard to create an entirely new system as well as doing state-wide training. I think that will be a worthwhile story, and am also looking forward to taking photographs without freezing my fingers!

I have a bit more editing this week, but the big crush is past and I'll have time to focus on putting together queries and doing some background for a couple of story ideas.

So if I do my job, those queries will go out to magazine editors, and I can wait some more. I guess that's just part of this game, huh? ;-)