Attending to Details

Since I leave tomorrow morning for the beach for my writing weekend with the girls, today is "clean-up" day.  I have about 6 phone calls I've been putting off that need to be made, I need to make a poster for a book signing I'm doing on Monday night, I've got the ever present pile of "I'll get to it when I have more time" papers piled by the side of my desk that need to be sorted through and either acted upon or thrown out, and I've got work to turn in and appointments to set up for next week. Also need to do laundry, pack, and practice my speech.

One thing I also have to do is send a letter to a magazine that's published my work for years and threaten to sue them if they don't pay me money owed. I'm hesitant to enter into the fighting ring on this one just because I don't want another battle in life, but they owe me over $1,000 and the publisher won't return my calls or answer my e-mails and they are several months behind on payments.

People like this irritate me. I've always had payment issues with these people but I would eventually get my money (usually 3 months late). But I'm tired of having to beg and plead for money that is legally owed me. And I have bent over backwards to be nice--I've offered to have them set up a payment plan and told them if you can't pay me one month and have to wait a month, that's fine.  Just pick up the phone and let me know.  Nothing. No response.

I will take them to small claims court if I have to.  I'd prefer not to as what a waste of time, money and energy to have to go fight about something about which there can be no dispute.  I have a signed contract and the articles have already been published in their magazine.  It's a no-brainer. 

The downside is I have several articles into them that I've already written and I'm guessing once I send this letter they won't run those and so I'm out my time and effort for those pieces. But considering I'm not being paid anyway, there's no real difference right?

I'm trying not to think ahead.  One step at a time. Today is pulling together the documentation and the letter.

I'm feeling sluggish.  I slept until 6 today and feel like I've wasted the morning. I know that's silly and 6 is still early by most people's standards, but when you live with the God of Dawn who is up at 4:30 AM every day you do feel a bit useless when you don't pull yourself out of bed until 6.  I'll make a to-do list.  That always perks me up and gets me motivated.  Is there anything more fun in life than crossing completed items off a to-do list???

I'm such a geek.... =)