Paisano
Paisano
In addition to my weekly Spot-On columns I'm also now writing a semi-monthly food column for a social net-working Web community named Gather. Gather, uhmm, "gathered" me in because in it's early days it was focused on quality writing and I'm egotistical enough to think my writing has "quality."
Over the past 15 months I have been regularly reposting older material from SG on the site. No money in it, but it was essentially labor-free publicity for SG, and, then, there were some damned good writers who'd also been sucked in. You may know Farmgirl Susan and kitchenMage as food writers and there are other equally compelling writers on a wide collection of topics (the thing that kept me involved).
This February Gather created a cadre of correspondents on nine key topics, including food, and asked for "auditions" for positions in each category. A total of 60 places were filled from around 2000 applications. Susan, KM, and I were selected to fill three of the nine Food Correspondent slots. And we even make a little direct cash from the gig. Not bad.
One of the things that encouraged me to apply was that, because all of my SG posts were suitable for Gather then my Gather posts would be suitable for SG. Cool! Effectively I get paid for a couple of my SG posts when I republish them here.
And then the demon took over.
In my first Gather column I decided to devote it to peasant foods, gave the column the title "Paisano," and wrote a new lede for a recipe I'd already published here. Fine. No big deal until I got to the second column. Apparently I'd accidentally opened a supernatural conduit between myself and some spirit from Tuscany or Bohemia; maybe North Africa. Spain is a possibility…
I discovered his ambiguous background when writing my second column, but it seemed innocent enough. Then I wrote the third piece, and he began to assert himself. What had I done?
With my last column he was clearly in control. This accidental d'jinn of what writers call a "conceit" had completely relegated me to a role as supernumerary. I feel like Stephen King doing one of his cameos in the movies based on his books.
I've decided to avoid bringing the Paisano here by republishing those columns as I had originally planned. I like this blog and hope to keep it unsullied by culinary or cultural demons. But if a bit of fiction amuses your bouche then the Paisano is an intriguing old reprobate. I'll keep you informed of his future adventures, and if you’d like to see how the accidental invocation of this Old World archetype evolved:
Food for Working
The Kitchen Bowl
Mud-bugs
Lentil Soup
And pray for me.
In addition to my weekly Spot-On columns I'm also now writing a semi-monthly food column for a social net-working Web community named Gather. Gather, uhmm, "gathered" me in because in it's early days it was focused on quality writing and I'm egotistical enough to think my writing has "quality."
Over the past 15 months I have been regularly reposting older material from SG on the site. No money in it, but it was essentially labor-free publicity for SG, and, then, there were some damned good writers who'd also been sucked in. You may know Farmgirl Susan and kitchenMage as food writers and there are other equally compelling writers on a wide collection of topics (the thing that kept me involved).
This February Gather created a cadre of correspondents on nine key topics, including food, and asked for "auditions" for positions in each category. A total of 60 places were filled from around 2000 applications. Susan, KM, and I were selected to fill three of the nine Food Correspondent slots. And we even make a little direct cash from the gig. Not bad.
One of the things that encouraged me to apply was that, because all of my SG posts were suitable for Gather then my Gather posts would be suitable for SG. Cool! Effectively I get paid for a couple of my SG posts when I republish them here.
And then the demon took over.
In my first Gather column I decided to devote it to peasant foods, gave the column the title "Paisano," and wrote a new lede for a recipe I'd already published here. Fine. No big deal until I got to the second column. Apparently I'd accidentally opened a supernatural conduit between myself and some spirit from Tuscany or Bohemia; maybe North Africa. Spain is a possibility…
I discovered his ambiguous background when writing my second column, but it seemed innocent enough. Then I wrote the third piece, and he began to assert himself. What had I done?
With my last column he was clearly in control. This accidental d'jinn of what writers call a "conceit" had completely relegated me to a role as supernumerary. I feel like Stephen King doing one of his cameos in the movies based on his books.
I've decided to avoid bringing the Paisano here by republishing those columns as I had originally planned. I like this blog and hope to keep it unsullied by culinary or cultural demons. But if a bit of fiction amuses your bouche then the Paisano is an intriguing old reprobate. I'll keep you informed of his future adventures, and if you’d like to see how the accidental invocation of this Old World archetype evolved:
Food for Working
The Kitchen Bowl
Mud-bugs
Lentil Soup
And pray for me.
Technorati: Food | essay | cooking
Labels: food column, food commentary, gather
8 Comments:
Congratulations, you are now double famous! I will have to make it out to Knoxville sometime to try you food and then blog about it! What is the the next catered event that you have? Can I crash? Better yet, why not come to my house and be my professional chef?
Lannae,
You come, I'll cook.
You seem to be enjoying your writing more and more, which makes me enjoy it more and more!
I am glad you have found venues in which to share your knowledge and love of food. Paisano is a perfectly good moniker that suits you just fine.
I didn't realize your blog was so widely read! And here I thought I was part of an elite group who had found you. Congratulations and keep it up!
Andrea,
"You seem to be enjoying your writing more and more,"
I am. And particularly because I'm finding room to explore writing. To experiment. To think.
I think you're also discovering the beauty of this un-regulated medium. Eh?
Paisano is a pretty cool guy, ya know. It's always nice when you can let your other personalities come out to play.
btw, better banner...
KM,
Stephen did that banner for me, his design background really shows.
I love it! The ol' man sounds like one cool cat- you're lucky he has chosen you to take under his wing.
Love all the new outlets for your writing... more Kevin for us to love!
S'kat,
It's strange. I have no idea where he came from, but he appeared on my keyboard and proceeded to take over that column.
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