Friday, April 25, 2003
Tomorrow I'll be doing the Alabama Bound bookfair in Birmingham. There's not much to it. I think I introduce myself and sign books. No reading. I do question the sense of a bookfair with no readings. But I'm sure someone had a reason for it. Someone always does. Anyway, if you're interested, you can get more details from the Alabama Bound website. I think I'll be up about 1 p.m., and signing afterwards. I have to leave for Alabama tonight, so this morning is somewhat rushed.
Last night I read through what I've written on the new story to Thryn and Jennifer. It sounds good. I confess, though, it's in first person. As an experiment, it seems to be a success. Perhaps conversion looms ever nearer and soon I'll see the error of my ways and abandon third person entirely. But I doubt it. The story still needs a title.
The copyeditor who marked all over the LRM ms. wants me to capitalize "realtor," claiming it's a trademark. Last time, with Threshold, the big fights were over "laundromat" and "dumpster," which are also trademarked. The fear is that trademark owners will sue the publisher if the words aren't capitalized, as their casual usage (and I suppose lowercase is casual) brings them ever closer to becoming arguably an everyday part of the language, at which point it becomes difficult to legally defend the sanctity of trademark. It's a load of dren. Realtor??? How completely idiotic would it look if you were reading along and there's the word "realtor" capitalized? I'll probably skip the argument, which I'd lose anyway, and go with "real-estate agent" or "realty agent." Unless those have been trademarked, as well. One never frelling knows. Foster capitalism, then art. Let's keep our priorities straight.
Anyway, enough crankiness from me for one morning. I need to go write.
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