Monday, April 30, 2007

On To Other Things

Writers are often credited with being a peculiar lot and sometimes people are actually disappointed if a writer doesn't act like a screwball.

Then, there's this --

I was in line at the Post Office to mail my Nicholl entry and thought "oh, no, what if the mail treats my screenplay like some of my Netflix envelopes?" Some of them look like they've been gnawed by angry postal workers.

So, I snatched my envelope right out of the hands of the Postmaster and ran back to the counter to stuff my screenplay into a very important looking Priority Mail envelope. That way, I could also get a return receipt and know exactly when my screenplay arrived. Plus, it would get there quicker than most of the other last minute mailers and mine wouldn't get sent out in the very last pile to readers.

I waited in line and handed it back to the Postmaster only to think, "Wait. This doesn't solve a thing." So, I snatched it back.

Again.

It's okay. He knows me.

This time, I stuffed my screenplay into an Express Mail envelope.

"You're sure this time?" He asked.

"Of course," I explained, "Now, in case the vehicle carrying my envelope falls prey to flood, earthquake, Apocalypse, or alien abduction, I still have time to print and mail another copy postmarked by May 1st."

As I left, I heard the lady behind me ask, "Was she serious?"

"It's okay," he replied, "she works for the City."

10 comments:

Suburban Screenwriter said...

You could have just soldered it shut in a steel case wraped with bubble tape and a pound of duct tape then attached a GPS unit and then put that into an express envelope...that way if, god forbid, it was destroyed in a freak zombie attack or something of that nature you could just track it with the GPS hehe sorry it's the mountain dew talking...break a leg with the entry MaryAn. We're all rooting for 'ya

E.C. Henry said...

You're a jewel, Marry Ann. I go through the same angst when I submit my work.

I have 6 words for you.

"Mail your script in manuscript boxes."

You can buy them through the Writer's store online, or maybe though Office Depo.

Still, I know the relief you feel when your masterpeice is FINALLY MAILED. Hope this is the year when all your dreams come true.

- E.C. Henry from Bonney Lake, WA

MaryAn Batchellor said...

GPS tracking! That's brilliant, SS! And I totally overlooked the zombie possibility....

Grats, E.C., relief will come when this tracking number shows up on the usps web site...

Tracy said...

All the best, MaryAn. I really respect your determination and hard work - it's infectious.

Anonymous said...

Congrats. I discovered this morning how hard it is to fine brads in Houston.

Hope to meet you at the finalist diner...

MaryAn Batchellor said...

You're buying the drinks afterward.

Anonymous said...

did I hear a sigh of relief as you walked out of the PO, in that it was a sigh of "well, it's on the way, let the writing Gods do their thing."

I'm pulling for you (what I am pulling is subject for another post heh)

MaryAn Batchellor said...

Tracy, thanks. Visited your blog BTW.

Todd, it's not on the way until I see my tracking number!!! Where is it? WHERE IS IT!!!! So help me if I have to drive it to Greg Beal's office myself....

Anonymous said...

Good luck!

Unk

ASA said...

Best to you, Maryan!