Paint Me A Story: Working Writer Jim Alexander
Melinda Palacio -- December 9, 2007
In this series on working writers, Ink Byte features writers who keep their day jobs. House Painter Jim Alexander says that being a painter is the perfect gig for a writer. His 40-hour per week work load means he doesn't have time for some of the luxuries afforded to an author who has "made it." However, he writes everyday and works hard at his craft, and his hard work is starting to pay off.
Alexander has been writing for thirteen years. He had always garnered attention and laughs with his pranks and stories. But it was his wife of 25 years, Lora, who signed him up for a free Adult Education writing class with Cork Milner, suggesting he write down some of his lies. He quickly found he had a knack for humor. "Whenever I read anything I wrote," said the Santa Barbara resident, "people laughed, and it made me feel good." His teacher Milner recruited him up as a humor columnist at the Montecito Journal. Alexander has been writing a monthly column ever since his first stint, July 1996. The only thing that has changed is the pay; he used to get paid in free meals from the restaurant owned by Jim Buckley, the Montecito Journal's then managing editor.
Jim Alexander
The Montecito Journal asked Alexander to write his column every two weeks, rather once a month. Alexander was forced to say no and reserve time for his first labor of love, fiction. "I enjoy writing fiction more," he said. "It's more involved and harder for me. Humor comes pretty easy." He admits to having used humor as a way to make his mother change her mind about punishing him when he was a young boy. In fact, he says he's willing to do almost anything for a laugh, especially after a drink or two. "I don't mind making a fool out of myself," said the 54-year-old writer.
In addition to his monthly column, Alexander has written several short stories and two unpublished novels, Same As It Ever Was and Pieces of Eight, a mystery. He hasn't had much luck with finding an agent or a publisher for his books, but that might be due to his lack of marketing enthusiasm.
"Because I work full time, I only have so much time to write and even less time for marketing. I love to write and hate marketing. There's no imagination in marketing. No creativity in marketing."
Marketing is also a skill he doesn't push in his job as a painter. He prides himself in telling potential clients that they actually don't need a new paint job. However, he is happy when he's working and making money. He's been a painter since high school and he's good at his job. His favorite writer is Wally Lamb because he used to be a house painter. "For a writer, it's a perfect job," he said. "It's mindless work; you can think about your stories all day long."
Marketing woes aside, he waits for the day an agent will tell him that his novel would make exciting movie and garner a hefty advance. In the meantime, he keeps writing and has enjoyed some publishing success. Recently, Carpinteria Magazine published his short story, "Baby Grand." The magazine's editor was surprised that the serious and tragic tale, set in Carpinteria, was written by a humor columnist. Another boon for the working writer was having his short story, "Rancho Zorra Dusk," selected for an upcoming Speaking of Stories performance at the Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara. He attributes his recent success to his hard work and being a more experienced writer.
"Many people can write, but not many have the determination to learn the craft and sit down and write every day. That's what it takes. After work, I sit down every day. I used to write in the morning, before work, but now emails take up that time. Every day that you write, you become a better writer."
Unlike his humor, which calls for a funny beat and punchline, in his serious fiction, Alexander strives to evoke an emotion. He's most excited about his new collection of short stories, Paint Chip Tales.