Genius at Work

The Diary of Josh Freelantzovitz of Park Slope, Brooklyn

MONDAY Bought fax machine. Programmed fax header: "JoshWorks." Faxed senior editors at The New Republic, Esquire, GQ, Vanity Fair, and The New Yorker my hot story proposal about a diver from the rump Yugoslavia who's training for the Olympics. Also faxed my capsule-review clips from The Boston Phoenix and that humor thing I did on spillproof coffee mugs for the International Edition of Institutional Investor. Cold-called editors to see if they got my fax.

TUESDAY Out for coffee: Ozzie's. Read a story in Wired about old Atari games' being revived for today's P.C.'s. Gave me an idea for a lighthearted piece about "vintage" software. Writing went really well, faster than I expected. I put a header on the file so the top of each page says, "First Serial Rights—Copyright 1996, Josh Freelantzovitz." Faxed the manuscript to Wired, and also Details—Joe Dolce once killed one of my stories there but said he liked my description of virtual sex as "cybercoitus."

WEDNESDAY Took F train into Manhattan. Met friends at cafe Limbo in the East Village. Gossiped about pub party at Ed Doctorow's. None of us have met Ed, or been to a pub party, but my friend Will's girlfriend once interviewed to be Ed's assistant. Will's girlfriend now works at George.

THURSDAY Walking down Sixth, en route to the Angelika to see Georgia for the third time, when— bingo!—David Rieff and Susan Sontag in the window of Da Silvano. Went in, introduced myself— told Dave I was completely into his stuff the year I lived in Prague. I said we should hook up, do some stuff for Harper's together. Before I knew it, the maTtre d' had hustled me outside. Man! Paul —| ' Auster was so much cooler when I stepped on his foot and spilled all his papers at the 92nd Street Y!

FRIDAY Had a hot idea for story about Chinese actress Gong Li. Faxed proposal to Vanity Fair and Premiere. Called them to see if they got the fax. Vanity Fair assistant said 41 other freelancers had already proposed stories on Gong Li. Told her I have an exclusive with the caterer for Farewell My Concubine; she still said no go. Told her I'd send in my Smashing Pumpkins proposal.

SATURDAY Slept in; was up till 4:30 working on my screenplay. It's about a man who runs a condom store. Perfect part for Matthew Perry from Friends, who I have an in with—my old roommate Kim knows his sister. It's funny—I always seem to have lasagna the night Friends is on. My friends Rebecca and Caitlin say they do, too—possible item for the Times's "Styles" section?

SUNDAY Stood with friends outside Aggie's in the Village for four hours waiting to have brunch. Finally went to Bubby's, where the wait was only two hours. Saw Rick Hertzberg go by on his bike. Also J.F.K. Jr., on blades. Will and I talked about doing a doublebyline piece on Berlin nightlife and German Gen Xers. Swing would definitely be into it. Maybe it's even a book—Will's cousin is a graphic designer at St. Martin's ...