Read the real life stories and experiences of freelance writer Mike Gagnon.

New Job...

I quite unexpectedly got  hired for a new job today...and they plan to groom me for management thanks to my business experience and education...cool!

It's not the broadcast gig, I haven't done the final audition for that yet, a lot of schedule conflicts, so I have no idea if it's something I'll pursue or not, but anyway, it's cool.

Spoon!

Mike

Posted by: lightning at 17:29 | link | comments (2)
work, life updates, surprises

I was so caught up with the news that comics legend Marshall Rogers had died this past week, that today I only just found out that Drew Hayes passed away as well. Such a sad dissapointment. Both were idols of mine.

Posted by: lightning at 15:01 | link | comments
comics, links, rambles

Recently started watching "The Hour" with Georgie Strom on CBC again. This show is getting better every year. Check out my cover story about recent episodes at www.sexcomicsandrocknroll.com

Posted by: lightning at 17:20 | link | comments
work, articles, links, writing, tv , random stuff

I'm selling a bunch of my stuff on eBay because I need the money! Great deals!

Check out My Ebay Auctions

Posted by: lightning at 12:30 | link | comments

After that last posting I feel much better. I think I just needed to get it out. By that afternoon I felt as it a weight had been lisfted. Much better.

Thanks to Ron for his support.

Well, I gotta go and pay some bills, so...later.

Mike

Posted by: lightning at 08:37 | link | comments
life updates

Hated by Millions...

At least that's how I feel.

The last few months have been shit. I've been getting kicked in the balls, gut and face at every turn. And the worst part is that I don't deserve it. In the last few months I've had spoiled artists make fake claims about me, discovered that many people that I considered friends are petty back stabbers, gotten screwed around by potential employers, and become very disillusioned about the entire comics industry; something I used to have a deep passion for.

Is it a phase or a slump? I don't know.

I can't even really call it a slump because I have a lot to be happy for too. I've got a potential gig in broadcasting. I'm writing freelance paying work for clients. I even finally started working for a local magazine that pays really well, I did my first article for them yesterday, and it was a very positive experience.

So I mean it's not all bad, but I'm still not making enough money. Mostly from debts I've been carrying for awhile now catching up. I can continue to keep a positive outlook about keeping my head above water, but every time I think about writing about comics or getting back into comics more I despair when I see the brain dead crap on most of the chat rooms, forums, and many websites...

Maybe I should just stop there. I feel as dark and depressed as the rainy day world outside my window looks.

I still have things to be happy and grateful for. Maybe tomorrow I'll be in a better mood. I still love comics and graphic novels...I just don't know where my place is in them anymore. I'm doing a lot of soul searching.

When I see how negative and petty much of the news and commentary about the industry has become I have to question whether I want to be a part of that, or associated with it in any way.

I think society itself has become too much of a high and mighty moral judge. Everyone wants to be Simon Cowell without the knowledge or experience to back it up. Grown adults go on the internet and attack other people like children and schoolyard bullies, fighting and debating over pointless differences in opinion, or trying to knock down anyone trying to do something positive in the world.

Fuck them all.

I don't really feel that I can relate to other comic fans any more, or publishers, or "comics journalists" for that matter. Why can't people just enjoy things for entertainment and not make them out to be items of grand importance that they aren't, to be picked apart and argued about over every minute little detail? Get over yourselves. If you hate everything about comics so much why do you read them? Go watch a movie or something and stop thinking that just because you have an opinion you have to force the rest of the world to hear it. The rest of the world doesn't care.

Man I'm in a funk today. Like I said, maybe tomorrow I'll have a much more positive outlook on all of this.

I wish I could get back the fun and enjoyment of comics, just being entertained and screw the rest. When I do comic related work that's what I try to recreate for other people. That's why I started Graphic Novel Depot. To just create and provide an environment of enjoyment and entertainment.

I wish I could go back in time 30 years, or been born decades before I was. Back before fanatics and spoiled children took over the industry. I've been interviewing a lot of old comic vets lately, and I must say, the more I learn the more I wish I could go back. The older guys have a much more down to Earth sense of the industry and the world around them. It's nice to talk to level headed people. I can remember when that was a normal occurrence. Now it's like a huge relief every time I find one because it confirms that they do still exist. I find myself being drawn, more and more to that older material. It's ironic, I hated it when I was a kid, but now...

So what do I do? Immerse myself in a fantasy world devoted to a past from decades before I was born? That doesn't seem like a real answer, just a better way to cope with all the crap...or avoid it.

Its funny how everyone thinks they can do everything better than everyone else, tells anyone who will listen that they could, but never actually do it.

I had to chuckle today...I was thinking of this: If everyone who wrote negative reviews about me and my comics back in the days when I was creating/publishing had actually bought the books I would have been rich. For every book sold there were a multitude of negative comments. That's why I can't take comics reviews seriously anymore in a lot of cases, because I know from personal experience that most of the people who made negative comments about my work never actually read it, just went off of press releases. It really speaks to the difference in quality and professionalism between the comic media and the real media...at least I hope it does.

If all of journalism is as false and off base as some of the stuff I've seen about comics online we're all doomed as a society.

Slowly, I see it in all forms of entertainment, anyone who becomes a "celebrity" or at least some sort of public persona, gets attacked, hated and picked apart by fans and media. Eventually all of our celebrities will be hated and criticized for everything that they do. It won't take long before the entire appeal of being a celebrity fades away at this rate.  For the first time people won’t want to be famous.

Maybe after that all the armchair critics will calm down and level heads will take over again and bring us some entertainment without immersing it in negativity.

Or maybe this is all just my bad mood inspired by nasty weather...

 

Posted by: lightning at 12:59 | link | comments (2)
comics, bitching, random stuff, life updates

Yes, I changed the template again. The old one was ugly. At this point I'm going to say I don't give a damn anymore, but I do think this one looks much nicer than the old one. Anyone agree?

Posted by: lightning at 11:11 | link | comments
rambles, web design

Finished an interview today with Gerry Conway. Quite entertaining, a very nice fellow. It's nice and I dare say refreshing to talk to someone realted to comics that has the ability to step back away from t he industry and speak in an intelligent, mature, unbiased, level headed manner. Very refreshing.

I've been interviewing a lot of the old time vets of comics lately for an assignment, and I have to say that most of them are much more realistic and open minded than their younger fans and contemporaries. I wish I'd been born 20 years earlier.

I interviewed Hopward Chaykin last week too, which was fun, although I was nervous as hell.

Posted by: lightning at 15:34 | link | comments (2)
work, writing industry, life updates

Tales of the Unexpected.

Totally unexpected.

With all the stuff going on and my big plans for stuff coming up, the phone call I got took me totally by surprise.

Since being a freelance writer isn't always a secure stable income I often spend time applying for steady part time work in other areas during lulls in assignments. A little while back I applied for a rather unique employment opportunity. It's involved in media, but not print/publishing, it regards a career in entertainment and broadcasting.

I applied on a whim and didn't even think that the audition went that well.

Apparently I was wrong.

I just got a call from the broadcasting company saying that they are really interested in me, and want me to come to Toronto for a follow-up interview, info session and other stuff I won't divulge now.

Totally taken by surprise.

So, I haven't told Pam yet, but when she comes home for lunch today I'll talk to her about it and we'll have to discuss which of the several dates and times they've offered will work.

Posted by: lightning at 09:44 | link | comments
work, life updates, surprises

MySpace.

Awhile ago I set up a myspace account just to keep in touch with a couple of people. Now I'm getting people contacting me from it, so I figured I might as well set it up and fill-in some info.

This includes the blog function. So now I have two personal blogs. How long will this last? Hard to say. Can I maintain 2 personal blogs as well as my other work?The magic 8 ball says "not likely"...but I'll do it for now...

www.myspace.com/sexandcomics

Mike

Posted by: lightning at 09:36 | link | comments
web design, random stuff, writing industry, sneak peaks

Hey there. Readers of this weblog are really lucky. Why? You guys get an exclusive sneak peak of the new online retailer Graphic Novel Depot.

Check it out at www.graphicnoveldepot.com

Posted by: lightning at 16:25 | link | comments
work, business, web design, sneak peaks

Phew okay! I'm back! I've been away. Very busy. Writing, but also tied up doing some web content work. I've been really, really busy with a big job. So big, so important, and so busy I haven't had time to get several articles done or update my websites, even Sex, Comics and Rock'n'Roll.

This job I've been working on doesn't pay immediately, but it's big enough that I'm hoping for it to pay off well in the future. woohoo! I'm excitied and since I'm almost finished I'm taking time to catch my breath and catch up on a couple other things. I've got 2 very important interviews to conduct with comic creators within the next couple of days too.

On a completely unrelated note...

There was a big sale at a grocery store the last time we were in Owen Sound. They had a huge sale of items for $1 or less. There was a bunch of different kinds of cereal on sale so we got a whack of them. Not big, full sized boxes mind you, but medium to smallish, big enough to be a heck of a deal though. Some were $1 and others were only 77 cents! So we got a whack of ceral and it's like a cereal library on top of our fridge now.

This morning at breakfast, my mind started to wander and I discovered that you can make the name of any breakfast cereal sound evil just by how you say it or pronounce it. Especially if you go "Bwa-ha-ha-ha" after. But really think about it. Try it. It's all in the pronounciation...

Another unrelated note, does anyone like this St. Patrick's themed background? I seem to be having a hard time making this page look the way I want it to. I may keep this after St. Patrick's, but not sure..

Anyway, I really have nothing important to say. Hope I didn't distract anyone from doing something meaningful with their time.

Kirk Out.

Posted by: lightning at 14:26 | link | comments
rambles, life updates, day dreams