HOTEL UPDATE: I sent the “final” manuscript to my editor yesterday, about a month ahead of my deadline. I have a hard time imagining this as the final version. If I allowed myself, I could probably second-guess (worry about?) every word.
In my past life, I was an ad guy.
I went to art school to become an illustrator, but I always had concepts outside the scope of my own limited artistic abilities––so, I became an art director.
It’s a weird job and one that’s hard to explain. When my mom would ask, “Did you take that photo?” the answer was, no, I came up with the idea and then hired someone to do it. Or hired someone to illustrate it. She’d smile, obviously impressed, then ask, “So...did you take that photo?”
Eventually I worked my way up to Creative Director––a CD as we’re known in the ad world. I still functioned as an art director, designing ad campaigns, but gradually spent more time writing them. I also managed a stable of writers, art directors and designers, which was the best part. When someone asked what I did for a living, I’d just say, “I care for the watering and feeding of the animals.”
Sometimes I’d have to shovel out the stalls, too.
But I didn’t dream of working in advertising. Who does? That’s like dreaming of growing up to be a department store Santa, or a phlebotomist (I’m a frequent blood-donor, by the way. So to all you phlebotomists out there, I ain’t mad at ya, I ain’t got nothing but love for ya). Advertising is just not one of those classic 3rd grade career goals: fireman, astronaut, marketing exec?
So what did I dream of doing way back in the 3rd grade? I wanted to be a comic book artist. I wanted to grow up to be Jack Kirby (without the cigars) or Steve Ditko (without the Objectivism). Later I wanted to be Frank Miller (without the blood) or John Byrne (without the curse). Going to art school was just the grown up, responsible, practical version of that childhood dream.
And ya know, I’m happy to report that the childhood dream is still alive, slowly stirring from its 15-year coma. I’m working on a script for secretidentities.org––the Asian American Superhero Anthology (I reported on it in September). I’m concepting and writing, not drawing, but that’s fine with me. I’m used to having my confused relatives look at my work and ask, “Did you draw that picture?”
So while we’re walking down memory lane, what did you want to be when you grew up? Did you get there? Are you still trying?
Monday, November 19, 2007 
But don’t start until tomorrow. Because I’m meeting with one this afternoon to set up an S-corp. Yes, Bittersweet Productions is coming to an IRS tax-bracket near you.
