Or game beginning?
Starting right now, this very second, I am the man I am supposed to be. Not perfect yet, but not as unbelievably imperfect as I was fifteen seconds ago.
carpe somnium
And my somnium is the fact that I will be a bestselling author.
See you tomorrow.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Friday, April 25, 2008
In Austin...
Just stopping in to give an update. I'm in Austin, at Jena and Derek's house and have had a bit of a long day.
The flights were okay, although flying is just increasingly uncomfortable these days.
First impressions of Austin:
Very pretty. Muggy. Very very pretty. Warm.
The houses we went and saw today were very nice indeed. Great value for these homes down here. And Austin itself is a lovely place, with tons of variety in geography and offerings for things to do. Two of the houses we saw, the two that I would actually consider as a place to live in fact, were literally right next to parks. One of them was even less than a five minute drive to an LDS chapel! What luck!
There is great waterfront here, and tons of parks. Tolls are a bit of a bother, but aren't really that big of a deal. Traffic is significant, but not too terrible.
Lots of trees, long sunny days making for long growing seasons. However, I am told there is no real fall or spring, which is too bad. I like four distinct seasons in my year.
Anyway, that's really it. I better get done, as my computer's battery is on its way out.
I did write about 500 words in The Cabin today while flying. That was fun. I also got some more work from my newest client. He's keeping me busy, and that is good.
Tomorrow is the Interview Event. I will go with prayer to see if this is the right thing for us. I would not mind living here at all, but I don't really want to be here as a public school teacher. Maybe a private school would be okay.
Anyway, gonna write a bestseller.
carpe somnium
The flights were okay, although flying is just increasingly uncomfortable these days.
First impressions of Austin:
Very pretty. Muggy. Very very pretty. Warm.
The houses we went and saw today were very nice indeed. Great value for these homes down here. And Austin itself is a lovely place, with tons of variety in geography and offerings for things to do. Two of the houses we saw, the two that I would actually consider as a place to live in fact, were literally right next to parks. One of them was even less than a five minute drive to an LDS chapel! What luck!
There is great waterfront here, and tons of parks. Tolls are a bit of a bother, but aren't really that big of a deal. Traffic is significant, but not too terrible.
Lots of trees, long sunny days making for long growing seasons. However, I am told there is no real fall or spring, which is too bad. I like four distinct seasons in my year.
Anyway, that's really it. I better get done, as my computer's battery is on its way out.
I did write about 500 words in The Cabin today while flying. That was fun. I also got some more work from my newest client. He's keeping me busy, and that is good.
Tomorrow is the Interview Event. I will go with prayer to see if this is the right thing for us. I would not mind living here at all, but I don't really want to be here as a public school teacher. Maybe a private school would be okay.
Anyway, gonna write a bestseller.
carpe somnium
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
It's past my bedtime, so off I go
I really need to be in bed now, as part of my new campaign to sleep like an adult. So what I did today was this:
I wrote a final article for my client's job and sent it off.
I did a pile of research and note-taking for the ChartedCourse May newsletter. By the way, Blake tells me that he'll have some material for me to start working on for the sales rep manual soon. Cool: more work!
And I wrote just under 1700 words for The Cabin. I know, I was supposed to do 2000, but other stuff kind of piled up. I ended up running some errands and getting 64 boxes of cereal for our food storage! That's right, 64. They were a dollar a box at Smith's, and we had been waiting for this sale, as it is an annual thing. So now our food storage is looking better.
Anyway, I was actually close to not doing any writing for The Cabin today, but I fought back the temptation to watch TV and be a fat vegetable who fears finishing a novel that could really be something.
When I sign off here, I'll run and write an article for www.helium.com and then rate a little. But then I need to get to bed! I am nearly certain that as I regularize my sleeping, the incessant ringing in my ears will reduce.
So off I go.
I am going to write a bestseller and I think I may just be doing that right now.
carpe somnium
Nothing inspiring to write today. Just a day that brought me closer to my success.
I wrote a final article for my client's job and sent it off.
I did a pile of research and note-taking for the ChartedCourse May newsletter. By the way, Blake tells me that he'll have some material for me to start working on for the sales rep manual soon. Cool: more work!
And I wrote just under 1700 words for The Cabin. I know, I was supposed to do 2000, but other stuff kind of piled up. I ended up running some errands and getting 64 boxes of cereal for our food storage! That's right, 64. They were a dollar a box at Smith's, and we had been waiting for this sale, as it is an annual thing. So now our food storage is looking better.
Anyway, I was actually close to not doing any writing for The Cabin today, but I fought back the temptation to watch TV and be a fat vegetable who fears finishing a novel that could really be something.
When I sign off here, I'll run and write an article for www.helium.com and then rate a little. But then I need to get to bed! I am nearly certain that as I regularize my sleeping, the incessant ringing in my ears will reduce.
So off I go.
I am going to write a bestseller and I think I may just be doing that right now.
carpe somnium
Nothing inspiring to write today. Just a day that brought me closer to my success.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
The best laid plans...
Well, I woke up and my throat was still really sore and I felt crummy. My plan didn't quite work out. I ended up taking care of some stuff for my trip to Austin, dropping off a resume at a local private school, and then getting to writing.
I got a few articles done on Helium and will post them here:
http://www.helium.com/items/1012732-critics-reason-lambast-night
* This is a review of Shyamalan's "Lady in the Water," which I liked. Read my reasons why!
http://www.helium.com/items/1012658-doesnt-crisp-delicious-cucumber
* I describe, in straightforward terms, how to grow cucumbers. It's easy and doesn't take much work.
http://www.helium.com/items/982817-summers-coming-summers-coming
*This is actually an article I wrote for the Marketplace a couple weeks ago, but it wasn't purchased and is now in my articles list. So here it is! I describe how to grow a salsa garden. It's easy.
And that's pretty much it. I also got working on the ChartedCourse newsletter, but it's nearly my bedtime and so I'll do it tomorrow. I WILL do at least 2000 words in The Cabin tomorrow as well.
I also want to add a post I placed on the Helium forums. I feel like it expresses where my mind and heart have been lately. Something's going on in me and it's a good thing.
Writing is more than work, more than art, more than an expression.
It is a bloodletting.
When you sit down to write, you open your truest self to the eyes of all who will see your words. Even if you are creating a persona that is not you, who you are and what makes you is exposed.
And written words are as permanent as that which they are printed on.
Imagine you are writing in blood, because that's what you are doing.
As your writing moves and manipulates people, you are a predator. As critics deride and praise your work, you are the prey.
No matter what you write, if you expose it to the public eye, you are involved in an emotional violence that is graphic in the truest sense of the word.
Now. Some have said they have lost motivation. Lost motivation to write. This is your work! This is your art! This is you! The only reason you lack motivation is because you haven't delved deeply enough. Get into yourself and discover whether you are truly willing to spill your blood. If you are, get back to writing and quit griping.
Nobody said writing wouldn't be hard. It's not as if the Steinbecks, the de Berniers, the Whitmans, and the Brownings throughout history have not sweated over the smallest of words. Writing is work!
Writing is sweat. Writing is power over yourself and others. Writing is sweet. Writing is the greatest therapy for inner pain. Writing is violence and peace.
Aren't you proud to be a writer?
So that's what I've come to. I am a writer. I have a dream. My dream will take work. I will do that work. I will reach my dream.
I will be a bestselling author.
carpe somnium
I got a few articles done on Helium and will post them here:
http://www.helium.com/items/1012732-critics-reason-lambast-night
* This is a review of Shyamalan's "Lady in the Water," which I liked. Read my reasons why!
http://www.helium.com/items/1012658-doesnt-crisp-delicious-cucumber
* I describe, in straightforward terms, how to grow cucumbers. It's easy and doesn't take much work.
http://www.helium.com/items/982817-summers-coming-summers-coming
*This is actually an article I wrote for the Marketplace a couple weeks ago, but it wasn't purchased and is now in my articles list. So here it is! I describe how to grow a salsa garden. It's easy.
And that's pretty much it. I also got working on the ChartedCourse newsletter, but it's nearly my bedtime and so I'll do it tomorrow. I WILL do at least 2000 words in The Cabin tomorrow as well.
I also want to add a post I placed on the Helium forums. I feel like it expresses where my mind and heart have been lately. Something's going on in me and it's a good thing.
Writing is more than work, more than art, more than an expression.
It is a bloodletting.
When you sit down to write, you open your truest self to the eyes of all who will see your words. Even if you are creating a persona that is not you, who you are and what makes you is exposed.
And written words are as permanent as that which they are printed on.
Imagine you are writing in blood, because that's what you are doing.
As your writing moves and manipulates people, you are a predator. As critics deride and praise your work, you are the prey.
No matter what you write, if you expose it to the public eye, you are involved in an emotional violence that is graphic in the truest sense of the word.
Now. Some have said they have lost motivation. Lost motivation to write. This is your work! This is your art! This is you! The only reason you lack motivation is because you haven't delved deeply enough. Get into yourself and discover whether you are truly willing to spill your blood. If you are, get back to writing and quit griping.
Nobody said writing wouldn't be hard. It's not as if the Steinbecks, the de Berniers, the Whitmans, and the Brownings throughout history have not sweated over the smallest of words. Writing is work!
Writing is sweat. Writing is power over yourself and others. Writing is sweet. Writing is the greatest therapy for inner pain. Writing is violence and peace.
Aren't you proud to be a writer?
So that's what I've come to. I am a writer. I have a dream. My dream will take work. I will do that work. I will reach my dream.
I will be a bestselling author.
carpe somnium
Monday, April 21, 2008
Sheesh, been a while eh?
It's Monday night and it's been a tough day. Heck, a tough couple of days really.
I'll start at the beginning, sort of.
I had that interview on Thursday of last week, and it went more or less well. I fear I came off as inexperienced and unprofessional and unprepared. That's because I was unprepared, kind of. I had looked at the company's website and such, but the info I gleaned completely slipped my mind in the interview. It was laughable.
Anyway, I have no doubt that they will contact me this week, saying, "We've decided to go in another direction" or some such feather rejection.
Ahhh, Green Day just came on my Internet Radio. Nice.
Moving on. I had gotten a job from a client on Wednesday night but got pretty much nothing of it done until Friday. Then I finished it today. Friday was an interesting day. I spent my time on Helium, writing a few articles and then looking at jobs. It was kind of a blah day, unfortunately. I've been wanting to move back to Alaska lately, and it's kind of depressing because it's so expensive to live up there. We saw some lots for sale in Wasilla, one of which we might want to explore buying so we can build later, and that made me even more eager to get up there. Ugh.
So then Saturday was incredibly busy, with gardening work and other stuff, topped off by a last minute request to move somebody. I gathered some guys and we showed up, but it turned out the dude wasn't able to move. I have since been trying to help this fellow get his feet under him.
Sunday was busy as well, with Church meetings and several visits which went really well.
Today I had this client's project to do, but I woke up feeling sick, with a sore throat and running a slight fever. I hadn't slept all that well either, so it took me a while to get going. But get going I did and finally churned out the work.
Now I'm done. Tomorrow I will write 3-5 articles for Helium, rate for thirty minutes (this will take me two hours), then I will work up a newsletter for ChartedCourse.
I will then have the rest of the week to work on The Cabin, although I expect to get another job from this new client. If I do, I'll bash it out fast. Unless it's some esoteric topic like Medieval Minstrel Songs or something...
I got a call from a company I applied to a little while ago, which is called Pearson. They are an education company and I applied to be a technical writer with their SLC office. Anyway, I imagine that today's call was a preliminary interview. The guy I talked to said he would send my resume off to the hiring director in Salt Lake City.
So I should hear back from Spillman and Pearson this week. I'm also headed to Austin on Friday for an interview thing that lasts six hours. This is what they call an 'Interview Event' for all Texas Teaching Fellows candidates. See, the lame thing is that they just e-mailed me saying that they no longer have openings in my field of preference: ESL. But I already bought my tickets and I am excited to see what Austin's like. And it'll be neat to see Jena again, of course! The plan is to do the interview and get my name on a waiting list, even though teaching is not my first choice.
What this all adds up to is that I am feeling a little stressed (little... ha!). But I get to see mountains out my office window, I get hugs from kids during the day, smooches from Annemarie whenever she's around and I feel the need, so stress is a minor irritant when all is said and done.
Am I aiming too high as I try to get into a job as a technical writer? The truth is that I would prefer to be a copywriter or editor at a journalistic publication, but I'm having trouble finding openings for those anywhere that we want to live.
But in conclusion, on Friday I found a job that I could get as excited about as I am about The Friend. It's at Challenger School, which is a worldwide school for primary and grammar school. They are a great company and they want an educator who is a writer, or a writer who is an educator. I am both, so I really have to fight the hope that always seems to boil up when I find a choice job.
Why fight hope? That's dumb. Okay, I'm not going to fight the hope. If I compare hope and despair, hope comes out looking like a good cup of tea. So I figure I'll take it.
That's why I know I'm going to be a bestselling author, even if at the same time I write that doubt comes knocking.
carpe somnium
If you can't feel the determination, I can. In my bones, the corners of my eyes and the set of my jaw; I feel it.
I'll start at the beginning, sort of.
I had that interview on Thursday of last week, and it went more or less well. I fear I came off as inexperienced and unprofessional and unprepared. That's because I was unprepared, kind of. I had looked at the company's website and such, but the info I gleaned completely slipped my mind in the interview. It was laughable.
Anyway, I have no doubt that they will contact me this week, saying, "We've decided to go in another direction" or some such feather rejection.
Ahhh, Green Day just came on my Internet Radio. Nice.
Moving on. I had gotten a job from a client on Wednesday night but got pretty much nothing of it done until Friday. Then I finished it today. Friday was an interesting day. I spent my time on Helium, writing a few articles and then looking at jobs. It was kind of a blah day, unfortunately. I've been wanting to move back to Alaska lately, and it's kind of depressing because it's so expensive to live up there. We saw some lots for sale in Wasilla, one of which we might want to explore buying so we can build later, and that made me even more eager to get up there. Ugh.
So then Saturday was incredibly busy, with gardening work and other stuff, topped off by a last minute request to move somebody. I gathered some guys and we showed up, but it turned out the dude wasn't able to move. I have since been trying to help this fellow get his feet under him.
Sunday was busy as well, with Church meetings and several visits which went really well.
Today I had this client's project to do, but I woke up feeling sick, with a sore throat and running a slight fever. I hadn't slept all that well either, so it took me a while to get going. But get going I did and finally churned out the work.
Now I'm done. Tomorrow I will write 3-5 articles for Helium, rate for thirty minutes (this will take me two hours), then I will work up a newsletter for ChartedCourse.
I will then have the rest of the week to work on The Cabin, although I expect to get another job from this new client. If I do, I'll bash it out fast. Unless it's some esoteric topic like Medieval Minstrel Songs or something...
I got a call from a company I applied to a little while ago, which is called Pearson. They are an education company and I applied to be a technical writer with their SLC office. Anyway, I imagine that today's call was a preliminary interview. The guy I talked to said he would send my resume off to the hiring director in Salt Lake City.
So I should hear back from Spillman and Pearson this week. I'm also headed to Austin on Friday for an interview thing that lasts six hours. This is what they call an 'Interview Event' for all Texas Teaching Fellows candidates. See, the lame thing is that they just e-mailed me saying that they no longer have openings in my field of preference: ESL. But I already bought my tickets and I am excited to see what Austin's like. And it'll be neat to see Jena again, of course! The plan is to do the interview and get my name on a waiting list, even though teaching is not my first choice.
What this all adds up to is that I am feeling a little stressed (little... ha!). But I get to see mountains out my office window, I get hugs from kids during the day, smooches from Annemarie whenever she's around and I feel the need, so stress is a minor irritant when all is said and done.
Am I aiming too high as I try to get into a job as a technical writer? The truth is that I would prefer to be a copywriter or editor at a journalistic publication, but I'm having trouble finding openings for those anywhere that we want to live.
But in conclusion, on Friday I found a job that I could get as excited about as I am about The Friend. It's at Challenger School, which is a worldwide school for primary and grammar school. They are a great company and they want an educator who is a writer, or a writer who is an educator. I am both, so I really have to fight the hope that always seems to boil up when I find a choice job.
Why fight hope? That's dumb. Okay, I'm not going to fight the hope. If I compare hope and despair, hope comes out looking like a good cup of tea. So I figure I'll take it.
That's why I know I'm going to be a bestselling author, even if at the same time I write that doubt comes knocking.
carpe somnium
If you can't feel the determination, I can. In my bones, the corners of my eyes and the set of my jaw; I feel it.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
It's a late Wednesday night, but I figured I ought to report...
For most of today's work day I was perusing job listings. I actually ended up digging deeply in the Craigslist postings for Anchorage, since that is where my family and I ultimately want to end up. We've seen that there are lots for sale in a town outside of Anchorage and so our thoughts are turning more and more to how we can get back up there for good.
Anyway, I ended up applying to a job in the Salt Lake City area and to one or two in Anchorage as well. I apply to all these jobs and then I hear nothing back, so it's a little discouraging, but I'll keep on plugging along.
I also got another set of jobs from my newest client. This is turning out to be a good set up. I got a tiny start on it today and hope to get a lot of it done tomorrow. But I have an interview in SLC tomorrow, so I will probably finish the work on Friday morning.
I also wrote two articles for Helium today as well. Here they are:
http://www.helium.com/items/1003355-oprah-winfrey-certainly-omniscient
*This is a commentary on Oprah Winfrey's show, which I've never really approved of.
http://www.helium.com/items/1003275-peruse-annals-cinema-quickly
*This is an article about some of the best fantasy film villains of all time. It was a fun one to write.
I also got started on a mystery story for www.helium.com 's Marketplace, but it still needs work.
I need to hit the sack. I will be back tomorrow to report on the interview.
Gonna write a bestseller.
c a r p e s o m n i u m
Anyway, I ended up applying to a job in the Salt Lake City area and to one or two in Anchorage as well. I apply to all these jobs and then I hear nothing back, so it's a little discouraging, but I'll keep on plugging along.
I also got another set of jobs from my newest client. This is turning out to be a good set up. I got a tiny start on it today and hope to get a lot of it done tomorrow. But I have an interview in SLC tomorrow, so I will probably finish the work on Friday morning.
I also wrote two articles for Helium today as well. Here they are:
http://www.helium.com/items/1003355-oprah-winfrey-certainly-omniscient
*This is a commentary on Oprah Winfrey's show, which I've never really approved of.
http://www.helium.com/items/1003275-peruse-annals-cinema-quickly
*This is an article about some of the best fantasy film villains of all time. It was a fun one to write.
I also got started on a mystery story for www.helium.com 's Marketplace, but it still needs work.
I need to hit the sack. I will be back tomorrow to report on the interview.
Gonna write a bestseller.
c a r p e s o m n i u m
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Exercise+allergies+nap+muscling through=Tuesday
I finally got to bed at a reasonable hour last night, which was Monday, so I was able to get up at 6AM this morning and hit the Rec Center. It felt good, but I ended with a treadmill spring, which just about made me puke and faint.
I got a hold of myself without doing either of the above and made it home. Allergies were having their way with me by this time. A shower, allergy medicine and breakfast later, I felt like passing out. Freaking Benadryl. I actually did take a nap until just after noon. I pulled myself out of my stupor as the kids and Annemarie headed out for a walk down to the duck pond.
Between lunch, breathing deeply and drinking water like crazy, I got myself together and got to work. I did the jobs my client sent me, which took up the rest of the day. That's fine. I also wrote an article for www.helium.com, which I think actually turned out pretty well. It's about the common characteristics of good fantasy movies.
Here it is: http://www.helium.com/items/1001793-about-fantasy-films-moths
And that's pretty much it for the day. Oh, I also searched for job listings on several websites, finally turning one up on Craigslist. It is as an assistant publisher at Greenleaf Publishing Group in Austin. I applied and hope to hear from them soon.
So that's actually it for the day. Now I'm going to bed. I hope to get an earlier start tomorrow by not having to take a nap.
Gonna write a bestseller.
Carpe somnium!
I also hope
I got a hold of myself without doing either of the above and made it home. Allergies were having their way with me by this time. A shower, allergy medicine and breakfast later, I felt like passing out. Freaking Benadryl. I actually did take a nap until just after noon. I pulled myself out of my stupor as the kids and Annemarie headed out for a walk down to the duck pond.
Between lunch, breathing deeply and drinking water like crazy, I got myself together and got to work. I did the jobs my client sent me, which took up the rest of the day. That's fine. I also wrote an article for www.helium.com, which I think actually turned out pretty well. It's about the common characteristics of good fantasy movies.
Here it is: http://www.helium.com/items/1001793-about-fantasy-films-moths
And that's pretty much it for the day. Oh, I also searched for job listings on several websites, finally turning one up on Craigslist. It is as an assistant publisher at Greenleaf Publishing Group in Austin. I applied and hope to hear from them soon.
So that's actually it for the day. Now I'm going to bed. I hope to get an earlier start tomorrow by not having to take a nap.
Gonna write a bestseller.
Carpe somnium!
I also hope
Monday, April 14, 2008
Monday night.. getting things switched
Monday's over. I'm headed to the sack.
I started the day out strong, despite allergies. I wrote four articles this morning for www.helium.com . I also wrote a few this afternoon. Essentially I got six done today. I'll post them here:
http://www.helium.com/items/999574-fantasy-films-books-fantasy
*This article is about the use of the theme of self sacrifice in fantasy films and books. It was the last article I did for the Reward-athon on Helium, which ended today. I think I did nearly 100, or maybe even more, for this event. Some cool cash coming my way.
http://www.helium.com/items/999529-underdog-mighty-mouse-about
*I wrote about some of the more memorable fantasy heroes in film and books. This is a list of some that have struck me the most.
http://www.helium.com/items/998613-things-green-brown-should
*Another article about aerating one's lawn. It's a good thing to do. We'll do it this season.
http://www.helium.com/items/998517-death-great-equalizer-lives
*A relatively entertaining article about the fun people can have with their epitaphs and obituaries.
http://www.helium.com/items/998388-spring-barrelling-toward-grandeur
*A discussion of spring allergy treatments. Mostly just informative, but I had fun with the prose.
http://www.helium.com/items/998247-election-roaring-civility-rhino
*Political analysis of Obama and Clinton. Basically I take a position on which would be more historic: President Obama or President Clinton.
And that's what I wrote today. I also got a job from my new client. This is looking good. I got started on it and will finish it tomorrow.
I also spent a good chunk of today getting the new laptop up and running. I did a big file transfer so that I could do all of my work on this machine. I downloaded Skype and loaded up Paint Shop and some other stuff. This is a good computer. I can work a lot faster with it than with the old one. I'll keep the old one around as a back up hard drive.
That's pretty much it! I need to get to bed tonight at a reasonable hour, so I'm going there now.
Gonna write a bestseller. Carpe somnium.
I started the day out strong, despite allergies. I wrote four articles this morning for www.helium.com . I also wrote a few this afternoon. Essentially I got six done today. I'll post them here:
http://www.helium.com/items/999574-fantasy-films-books-fantasy
*This article is about the use of the theme of self sacrifice in fantasy films and books. It was the last article I did for the Reward-athon on Helium, which ended today. I think I did nearly 100, or maybe even more, for this event. Some cool cash coming my way.
http://www.helium.com/items/999529-underdog-mighty-mouse-about
*I wrote about some of the more memorable fantasy heroes in film and books. This is a list of some that have struck me the most.
http://www.helium.com/items/998613-things-green-brown-should
*Another article about aerating one's lawn. It's a good thing to do. We'll do it this season.
http://www.helium.com/items/998517-death-great-equalizer-lives
*A relatively entertaining article about the fun people can have with their epitaphs and obituaries.
http://www.helium.com/items/998388-spring-barrelling-toward-grandeur
*A discussion of spring allergy treatments. Mostly just informative, but I had fun with the prose.
http://www.helium.com/items/998247-election-roaring-civility-rhino
*Political analysis of Obama and Clinton. Basically I take a position on which would be more historic: President Obama or President Clinton.
And that's what I wrote today. I also got a job from my new client. This is looking good. I got started on it and will finish it tomorrow.
I also spent a good chunk of today getting the new laptop up and running. I did a big file transfer so that I could do all of my work on this machine. I downloaded Skype and loaded up Paint Shop and some other stuff. This is a good computer. I can work a lot faster with it than with the old one. I'll keep the old one around as a back up hard drive.
That's pretty much it! I need to get to bed tonight at a reasonable hour, so I'm going there now.
Gonna write a bestseller. Carpe somnium.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Yes, it's Saturday morning, but...
I figured I didn't post last night and there are a few things to mention, but from life in general and the writing career.
First, I bought a new laptop yesterday. I will be picking it up today; they needed to optimize its performance by getting all the advertising and trial junk off of it. While we didn't need the expense, I really needed it for work. More and more I'm needing to be online using several windows, or tabs, of browser for research while at the same time writing up notes. My current laptop was making this nearly impossible.
As for writing, I started working with a new client that I am hoping will keep giving me steady business. They seem like an ideal client, so I am excited. I also wrote four articles on www.helium.com that are more or less pretty good.
http://www.helium.com/items/992409-beowulf-cinematic-ancient-poems
*This one is a critique of the movie Beowulf in general and particularly on Angeline Jolie's work in it.
http://www.helium.com/items/992366-there-doubt-original-trilogy
*This is a listing of the lamest Star Wars characters ever, with explanations attached. Somewhat amusing but mostly spot on!
http://www.helium.com/items/992327-licensed-clinical-psychiatrist-therapist
*This is an amusing commentary on the phenomenon that is Paris Hilton. I usually get pretty angry halfway through these commentaries on politics and celebrity and pop culture, so buckle up!
http://www.helium.com/items/992282-brother-visit-family-summer
*This is a slightly tongue-in-cheek discussion of whether hybrid cars are cool. The short answer? Yes, they are.
http://www.helium.com/items/989922-stonehenge-conjures-feeling-mystery
*This is the article that I wrote as a proposed title. Helium people, in all their wisdom (I say that with mostly sincerity), figured it worked inside an existing title. That's just fine. Anyway, it's about Stonehenge's real purpose. This is further practice with writing up new events, although since it's for www.helium.com, I need to keep it timeless. Thus, it's also speculative and a commentary.
And that's it for now. I have to get to chores and yard work and stuff. I might tear out a tree today-- we'll see.
Gonna write me a bestseller. This is MY somnium to carpar. Okay, I don't know if I did the infinitive correctly there. Anybody want to guide me?
First, I bought a new laptop yesterday. I will be picking it up today; they needed to optimize its performance by getting all the advertising and trial junk off of it. While we didn't need the expense, I really needed it for work. More and more I'm needing to be online using several windows, or tabs, of browser for research while at the same time writing up notes. My current laptop was making this nearly impossible.
As for writing, I started working with a new client that I am hoping will keep giving me steady business. They seem like an ideal client, so I am excited. I also wrote four articles on www.helium.com that are more or less pretty good.
http://www.helium.com/items/992409-beowulf-cinematic-ancient-poems
*This one is a critique of the movie Beowulf in general and particularly on Angeline Jolie's work in it.
http://www.helium.com/items/992366-there-doubt-original-trilogy
*This is a listing of the lamest Star Wars characters ever, with explanations attached. Somewhat amusing but mostly spot on!
http://www.helium.com/items/992327-licensed-clinical-psychiatrist-therapist
*This is an amusing commentary on the phenomenon that is Paris Hilton. I usually get pretty angry halfway through these commentaries on politics and celebrity and pop culture, so buckle up!
http://www.helium.com/items/992282-brother-visit-family-summer
*This is a slightly tongue-in-cheek discussion of whether hybrid cars are cool. The short answer? Yes, they are.
http://www.helium.com/items/989922-stonehenge-conjures-feeling-mystery
*This is the article that I wrote as a proposed title. Helium people, in all their wisdom (I say that with mostly sincerity), figured it worked inside an existing title. That's just fine. Anyway, it's about Stonehenge's real purpose. This is further practice with writing up new events, although since it's for www.helium.com, I need to keep it timeless. Thus, it's also speculative and a commentary.
And that's it for now. I have to get to chores and yard work and stuff. I might tear out a tree today-- we'll see.
Gonna write me a bestseller. This is MY somnium to carpar. Okay, I don't know if I did the infinitive correctly there. Anybody want to guide me?
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Thursday night... whew!
Alright, it's late and I want to hit the sack. The guy's coming early tomorrow to get our new door put in, so I need to be up and alert when he shows up.
I wrote thirteen articles for Helium today. One of them is an initiated title, so I can't post it here because it's not active yet. I will now happily post the links to the other dozen. Read 'em and weep! Actually they're all pretty good and some are even informative, so you'll like them.
http://www.helium.com/items/987882-quick-organic-bandwagon-organic
http://www.helium.com/items/987906-american-apotheosis-quality-scripted
(No, I've never watched American Idol)
http://www.helium.com/items/987945-credit-cards-greatest-financial
http://www.helium.com/items/988008-rings-wasnt-movie-cinematic
http://www.helium.com/items/988543-people-there-fantasy-films
http://www.helium.com/items/988674-people-1960s-decade-change
http://www.helium.com/items/988792-those-bumper-stickers-calvin
http://www.helium.com/items/988836-office-supplies-store-please
http://www.helium.com/items/988934-ready-important-veggies-onion
http://www.helium.com/items/989079-would-believe-yellow-tomoato
http://www.helium.com/items/989769-world-going-green-while
http://www.helium.com/items/989858-acting-oldest-professions-worry
the best actors in my opinion!
So there they are: twelve pretty good articles. The one I can't list yet is a commentary on a news event. I'm trying to do more of these because I am trying to hone my news write-up abilities in order to be more employable.
I had hoped to do a tech guide article today as well, but I ended up needing to follow up on some job and publicity stuff. I got referred to a lady who's writing a cool-sounding book about unusual ways to find work so I sent off some info to her to see if she's interested in my approach. I also investigated a couple of other potential clients.
So this is good. I am going to keep trying to build my freelance business while squeezing in time for The Cabin. I continue to have to adjust my time frame for finishing the first draft of this book, but that's really okay. At least I'm not just lazing off. I really need to do the practical writing too so that I can get the bills paid!
Speaking of bills, I am about to stomp on my laptop, or roto-till it into the garden. Man alive, it's just slowing down like crazy. I cleared and organized a huge section of it, but there's no difference in speed or capacity. It's just old I guess. Almost eight years, and for a computer, that's old. I need a new one profoundly, but we really don't feel like we can afford one. So I'll keep hurling tame epithets at it while it takes a full minute to close a browser window.
That's all for now. Gotta hit the sack.
Gonna be a bestselling author because I am doing the following: carpe somnium.
I wrote thirteen articles for Helium today. One of them is an initiated title, so I can't post it here because it's not active yet. I will now happily post the links to the other dozen. Read 'em and weep! Actually they're all pretty good and some are even informative, so you'll like them.
http://www.helium.com/items/987882-quick-organic-bandwagon-organic
http://www.helium.com/items/987906-american-apotheosis-quality-scripted
(No, I've never watched American Idol)
http://www.helium.com/items/987945-credit-cards-greatest-financial
http://www.helium.com/items/988008-rings-wasnt-movie-cinematic
http://www.helium.com/items/988543-people-there-fantasy-films
http://www.helium.com/items/988674-people-1960s-decade-change
http://www.helium.com/items/988792-those-bumper-stickers-calvin
http://www.helium.com/items/988836-office-supplies-store-please
http://www.helium.com/items/988934-ready-important-veggies-onion
http://www.helium.com/items/989079-would-believe-yellow-tomoato
http://www.helium.com/items/989769-world-going-green-while
http://www.helium.com/items/989858-acting-oldest-professions-worry
the best actors in my opinion!
So there they are: twelve pretty good articles. The one I can't list yet is a commentary on a news event. I'm trying to do more of these because I am trying to hone my news write-up abilities in order to be more employable.
I had hoped to do a tech guide article today as well, but I ended up needing to follow up on some job and publicity stuff. I got referred to a lady who's writing a cool-sounding book about unusual ways to find work so I sent off some info to her to see if she's interested in my approach. I also investigated a couple of other potential clients.
So this is good. I am going to keep trying to build my freelance business while squeezing in time for The Cabin. I continue to have to adjust my time frame for finishing the first draft of this book, but that's really okay. At least I'm not just lazing off. I really need to do the practical writing too so that I can get the bills paid!
Speaking of bills, I am about to stomp on my laptop, or roto-till it into the garden. Man alive, it's just slowing down like crazy. I cleared and organized a huge section of it, but there's no difference in speed or capacity. It's just old I guess. Almost eight years, and for a computer, that's old. I need a new one profoundly, but we really don't feel like we can afford one. So I'll keep hurling tame epithets at it while it takes a full minute to close a browser window.
That's all for now. Gotta hit the sack.
Gonna be a bestselling author because I am doing the following: carpe somnium.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Late on a Wednesday e'en...
Gosh I love to sound pretentious.
I have to mention something. I imagine that every industry is filled with good people who are supportive and kind and who reach out to others. The writing profession does the same. Curtis, thank you for your thoughtful words and... I guess for the time you spent typing them. Really, that's a donation of a bit of your life, so thank you for that gift. Bob Younce, I don't know you well but have competed with you on www.helium.com and have seen you in the community forums. Thanks for the note. It means more than you probably intended it to, but as all writers know, we thrive on validation.
So that's my sentimentality for the day. Today I wrote nine articles for Helium. Yep, nine. And guess what? They all qualify for the Reward-athon, so wahoo. You know you want to read them, you know you do! Okay, I'll post the links. They will be in the order that I wrote them today, so you can judge if I get worse or better as the day goes on.
http://www.helium.com/items/983877-drink-merry-tomorrow-things
http://www.helium.com/items/986674-doesnt-night-games-getting
http://www.helium.com/items/986733-social-security-going-fading
http://www.helium.com/items/986772-access-hollywood-entertainment-tonight
http://www.helium.com/items/986817-homely-dictionary-might-picture
http://www.helium.com/items/987094-piranhas-swarms-sharks-media
http://www.helium.com/items/987109-karaoke-culture-beautiful-vibrant
http://www.helium.com/items/987118-fashions-foibles-interesting-gamut
http://www.helium.com/items/987152-united-states-suffering-winters
Okay, I'm not actually certain that the first link is an article I wrote today or yesterday. Oh well, it's a pretty good article.
Yes, it really is all a blur. Hey, don't give me a hard time; I'm trying to write another thirty articles in the next five days. Make that four days because I don't write on Sunday. Woohoo!
I sent out e-mails to prospective clients today, hoping to begin building my freelance business up more. I realized that I really could be doing more to make actual cash, so I'm going to go for it.
I haven't made time this week yet for The Cabin. I hope to tomorrow, but I am shooting for twelve to fifteen articles on Helium, so we will have to see. If I can keep this up, I will be at 1000 articles by the end of June!
Anyway, that's it really. I've begun reading The Abolition of Man by C.S. Lewis. It's marvelous. I've read the first bit, Men Without Chests before, and I love it even more now. I'm actually taking notes on it, if you can believe it.
This is all a part of my effort to stop reading crap and start filling my head with good stuff. I am doing this because I've been lazy in my education thus far and I am finally feeling like an idiot for doing so. Plus, I pray my writing will be informed by the good writing and thinking of the geniuses of the craft.
So C.S. Lewis is first. Annemarie is also supposed to be getting us started on our joint reading of the classics soon, about which I'm very excited. Didja see that? I made sure not to end my sentence with a preposition. I just had to put that in.
Sheesh, I'm a git.
Love to mum and dad.. wherever that came from.
Gonna be a bestselling author and carpe THIS somnium, bub.
I have to mention something. I imagine that every industry is filled with good people who are supportive and kind and who reach out to others. The writing profession does the same. Curtis, thank you for your thoughtful words and... I guess for the time you spent typing them. Really, that's a donation of a bit of your life, so thank you for that gift. Bob Younce, I don't know you well but have competed with you on www.helium.com and have seen you in the community forums. Thanks for the note. It means more than you probably intended it to, but as all writers know, we thrive on validation.
So that's my sentimentality for the day. Today I wrote nine articles for Helium. Yep, nine. And guess what? They all qualify for the Reward-athon, so wahoo. You know you want to read them, you know you do! Okay, I'll post the links. They will be in the order that I wrote them today, so you can judge if I get worse or better as the day goes on.
http://www.helium.com/items/983877-drink-merry-tomorrow-things
http://www.helium.com/items/986674-doesnt-night-games-getting
http://www.helium.com/items/986733-social-security-going-fading
http://www.helium.com/items/986772-access-hollywood-entertainment-tonight
http://www.helium.com/items/986817-homely-dictionary-might-picture
http://www.helium.com/items/987094-piranhas-swarms-sharks-media
http://www.helium.com/items/987109-karaoke-culture-beautiful-vibrant
http://www.helium.com/items/987118-fashions-foibles-interesting-gamut
http://www.helium.com/items/987152-united-states-suffering-winters
Okay, I'm not actually certain that the first link is an article I wrote today or yesterday. Oh well, it's a pretty good article.
Yes, it really is all a blur. Hey, don't give me a hard time; I'm trying to write another thirty articles in the next five days. Make that four days because I don't write on Sunday. Woohoo!
I sent out e-mails to prospective clients today, hoping to begin building my freelance business up more. I realized that I really could be doing more to make actual cash, so I'm going to go for it.
I haven't made time this week yet for The Cabin. I hope to tomorrow, but I am shooting for twelve to fifteen articles on Helium, so we will have to see. If I can keep this up, I will be at 1000 articles by the end of June!
Anyway, that's it really. I've begun reading The Abolition of Man by C.S. Lewis. It's marvelous. I've read the first bit, Men Without Chests before, and I love it even more now. I'm actually taking notes on it, if you can believe it.
This is all a part of my effort to stop reading crap and start filling my head with good stuff. I am doing this because I've been lazy in my education thus far and I am finally feeling like an idiot for doing so. Plus, I pray my writing will be informed by the good writing and thinking of the geniuses of the craft.
So C.S. Lewis is first. Annemarie is also supposed to be getting us started on our joint reading of the classics soon, about which I'm very excited. Didja see that? I made sure not to end my sentence with a preposition. I just had to put that in.
Sheesh, I'm a git.
Love to mum and dad.. wherever that came from.
Gonna be a bestselling author and carpe THIS somnium, bub.
The night of Tuesday the 8th
It's late. We watched The Pianist tonight. I had seen it before, but had forgotten it some and Annemarie had never seen it. Yeah, it's good. Too bad Adrien Brody hasn't done much of worth since. No, The Darjeeling Limited really doesn't count, neither does The Jacket.
Anyway, I've been depressed and on a downer these last couple of days. Doubt, depression, doubt, anger, feelings of inadequacy, questioning... it's all been mixing it up inside me. Ugh. Lameness. Still there, but I'm trying to just muscle/push/work through it. Annemarie's very supportive, of course. But a lot of men can't pretend it's all better after a perfectly wonderful hug.
I wrote some today and yesterday. Yesterday's articles were for a contest on Helium, and today's were for a variety of things. Here are the links. I actually think they're all good, with the first few rather entertaining.
http://www.helium.com/items/983877-drink-merry-tomorrow-things
http://www.helium.com/items/983094-senator-barrack-obama-voted
http://www.helium.com/items/983027-championship-biggest-biters-recent
http://www.helium.com/items/982953-pretty-senator-mccain-going
http://www.helium.com/items/982336-creaking-protestsi-lunge-sleepand
http://www.helium.com/items/980612-human-raisin-ayeat-resounding
http://www.helium.com/items/980496-drink-drive-drink-operate
http://www.helium.com/items/980323-remove-moles-flood-their
These ones are the articles I wrote last Friday, minus the quizzes I am hoping to be picked up by a Marketplace publisher. Some of these are poems... so read them if you dare.
http://www.helium.com/items/973986-scouts-american-really-hijacked
http://www.helium.com/items/973858-morningfresh-airand-lightglow-prisondrawing
http://www.helium.com/items/973853-early-morning-springi-found
http://www.helium.com/items/973825-unsaidwellthere-nothingmore-believe-everything
http://www.helium.com/items/972989-heres-experiment-google-adjusted
Yes, I've been staying busy. I just need something to happen here. Like a job offer, or even a job response that validates my writing at least a little bit. Arg.
That's all for now. Still gonna write a bestseller, I am. I just don't see it yet. Hopefully soonish.
I do love writing. I need to do it better.
Anyway, I've been depressed and on a downer these last couple of days. Doubt, depression, doubt, anger, feelings of inadequacy, questioning... it's all been mixing it up inside me. Ugh. Lameness. Still there, but I'm trying to just muscle/push/work through it. Annemarie's very supportive, of course. But a lot of men can't pretend it's all better after a perfectly wonderful hug.
I wrote some today and yesterday. Yesterday's articles were for a contest on Helium, and today's were for a variety of things. Here are the links. I actually think they're all good, with the first few rather entertaining.
http://www.helium.com/items/983877-drink-merry-tomorrow-things
http://www.helium.com/items/983094-senator-barrack-obama-voted
http://www.helium.com/items/983027-championship-biggest-biters-recent
http://www.helium.com/items/982953-pretty-senator-mccain-going
http://www.helium.com/items/982336-creaking-protestsi-lunge-sleepand
http://www.helium.com/items/980612-human-raisin-ayeat-resounding
http://www.helium.com/items/980496-drink-drive-drink-operate
http://www.helium.com/items/980323-remove-moles-flood-their
These ones are the articles I wrote last Friday, minus the quizzes I am hoping to be picked up by a Marketplace publisher. Some of these are poems... so read them if you dare.
http://www.helium.com/items/973986-scouts-american-really-hijacked
http://www.helium.com/items/973858-morningfresh-airand-lightglow-prisondrawing
http://www.helium.com/items/973853-early-morning-springi-found
http://www.helium.com/items/973825-unsaidwellthere-nothingmore-believe-everything
http://www.helium.com/items/972989-heres-experiment-google-adjusted
Yes, I've been staying busy. I just need something to happen here. Like a job offer, or even a job response that validates my writing at least a little bit. Arg.
That's all for now. Still gonna write a bestseller, I am. I just don't see it yet. Hopefully soonish.
I do love writing. I need to do it better.
Friday, April 4, 2008
The date stamp says the 4th, but for me it's the 3rd still.
It's mighty late; nearly 2AM. I just couldn't stop until now. That's kinda cool.
Here's what I did.
Helium.com
I wrote one poem for the contest, three articles for the Marketplace, and four articles for general consumption. Yes, that makes eight! I wrote eight articles for Helium today! Wild, eh?
Here's a link to the poem. It's a little sweet:
http://www.helium.com/items/970795-quicksandso-strolling-alongminding-businesson
I can't link to the articles I wrote for the Marketplace, but I can describe them. They are for an entertainment site and they are quizzes. But not academic quizzes. They're on whether you should be a hitman, or what goddess you might be. The reason I can't link to them is because they're not actually Helium's. They are the sole property of the publisher, even if they don't use them. That's fine. I imagine at least one will get picked up. I'll do more tomorrow.
Here are the four articles. They're on various topics and are mildly entertaining and mostly informative:
http://www.helium.com/items/971591-remember-pennsylvania-years-thought
http://www.helium.com/items/971562-friends-supposed-conscious-about
http://www.helium.com/items/970966-preparing-gardening-tools-season
http://www.helium.com/items/970933-purpose-there-after-death
So there you have them. I rated a little bit and intend to do a goodly amount tomorrow. Gotta keep those stars.
As for the contests, I am beginning to place in the poetry contest and am finally in contention for the top six (and sometimes the top three) in the other one. I really had better win something. I was trying to win it all, but I don't think there's much hope of that.
The Cabin
Anyway, as you can imagine, my day was pretty taken up by Helium. Plus I had to go out and buy our new front door, which I will pick up tomorrow. Hopefully it can be installed early next week.
But I finally got to The Cabin after Annemarie and I got back from going out to eat. Yes, we got a baby-sitter. Yes, we went to Asuka. Of course it was good.
I figured I'd do maybe a thousand, maybe 1500 words tonight. But I couldn't stop. I wanted to keep going. So I did 3300. We are cooking right along. If I actually get this to 50000 words, I will be pleased. I'm not trying to pad it, mind you, but the character keeps wanting to do other stuff. That's fine, too. I am at just under 37,000 words right now.
Neat-o.
Anyway, I really have to hit the sack. Still gonna be a bestselling author, no matter how much I have to learn.
carpe somnium!
Here's what I did.
Helium.com
I wrote one poem for the contest, three articles for the Marketplace, and four articles for general consumption. Yes, that makes eight! I wrote eight articles for Helium today! Wild, eh?
Here's a link to the poem. It's a little sweet:
http://www.helium.com/items/970795-quicksandso-strolling-alongminding-businesson
I can't link to the articles I wrote for the Marketplace, but I can describe them. They are for an entertainment site and they are quizzes. But not academic quizzes. They're on whether you should be a hitman, or what goddess you might be. The reason I can't link to them is because they're not actually Helium's. They are the sole property of the publisher, even if they don't use them. That's fine. I imagine at least one will get picked up. I'll do more tomorrow.
Here are the four articles. They're on various topics and are mildly entertaining and mostly informative:
http://www.helium.com/items/971591-remember-pennsylvania-years-thought
http://www.helium.com/items/971562-friends-supposed-conscious-about
http://www.helium.com/items/970966-preparing-gardening-tools-season
http://www.helium.com/items/970933-purpose-there-after-death
So there you have them. I rated a little bit and intend to do a goodly amount tomorrow. Gotta keep those stars.
As for the contests, I am beginning to place in the poetry contest and am finally in contention for the top six (and sometimes the top three) in the other one. I really had better win something. I was trying to win it all, but I don't think there's much hope of that.
The Cabin
Anyway, as you can imagine, my day was pretty taken up by Helium. Plus I had to go out and buy our new front door, which I will pick up tomorrow. Hopefully it can be installed early next week.
But I finally got to The Cabin after Annemarie and I got back from going out to eat. Yes, we got a baby-sitter. Yes, we went to Asuka. Of course it was good.
I figured I'd do maybe a thousand, maybe 1500 words tonight. But I couldn't stop. I wanted to keep going. So I did 3300. We are cooking right along. If I actually get this to 50000 words, I will be pleased. I'm not trying to pad it, mind you, but the character keeps wanting to do other stuff. That's fine, too. I am at just under 37,000 words right now.
Neat-o.
Anyway, I really have to hit the sack. Still gonna be a bestselling author, no matter how much I have to learn.
carpe somnium!
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Wednesday draws to a close
Not bad, not bad. Let's see, I wrote piles, found a line on a pretty good job, talked to a lady named Twee, and got through a tough spot in The Cabin. Not bad at all.
So, like I said this morning, I wanted to write four articles for Helium. Okay, I actually wrote seven. Two were poems, but they're for a contest. Here are links to the latest:
http://www.helium.com/items/968581-means-shocked-question-asked
http://www.helium.com/items/968543-heart-attacki-todayhung-coatlooked
http://www.helium.com/items/968510-apartmentsdoors-windowswalls-roomscontain-people
http://www.helium.com/items/968477-shyness-really-doesnt-persons
http://www.helium.com/items/968200-begins-small-glimpse-perhaps
http://www.helium.com/items/968155-admit-freely-thirteen-seventeen
http://www.helium.com/items/967428-protect-files-computer-using
Whew. And this next one is the journalistic-type one that I wrote but had to turn into commentary for the purposes of timelessness.
http://www.helium.com/items/966247-through-generations-humanity-earth
I also rated for about forty minutes or so. So www.helium.com really got the lion's share of my efforts for the day.
Because of this labor on Helium, I ended up with less time for The Cabin than I had intended. But I still did just over 3800 words today.
Do the math with me: 2500 (Monday) + 5000 (Tuesday) + 3800 (Today) = 11300 words so far this week. My main character is leading me places I didn't intend to go, which has been interesting, since some of this book is autobiographical.
In any case, this week has probably been my most productive week of writing so far. I just have to keep it up.
The Etcetera
I went to that job fair this morning without much confidence that I would find anything worth my time. These things, particularly in the Provo/Orem area, seem to be 70% all about recruiting a willing sales force. That ain't me.
But I talked with a nice young lady by the name of Shersti who works for a company out of American Fork. We discussed a position they are trying to fill that would seem to fit my background and qualifications. She was pleasant and enjoyable to talk to, and I feel like I made an impression. I went ahead and e-mailed her an electronic copy of my resume, although I had given her one there at the fair.
Anyway, we'll see what happens. I am very interested to learn more about this job and company.
I also got a call from a lady named Twee who works at a company in Austin. I had sent an e-mail asking for further info and this was the second response I'd gotten back. Twee was very kind and excited, wanting me to let her know when I was going to be in Austin so we could do an interview. I really don't have specific plans yet, so I told her I might get back to her.
But that job looks like a sales rep job, which I don't do anymore. So I doubt I'll follow up on that with any real conviction.
Anyway, that's all for now. Oh, I did the shuttling to and from Spanish school today in the hopes of helping Annemarie get her current translation project done quickly. I find that the traffic is irritating, which reminds me that I really don't want to have to commute to any job I get. Nope, I really don't.
carpe somnium
Yes, I am going to be a bestselling author, since you asked.
So, like I said this morning, I wanted to write four articles for Helium. Okay, I actually wrote seven. Two were poems, but they're for a contest. Here are links to the latest:
http://www.helium.com/items/968581-means-shocked-question-asked
http://www.helium.com/items/968543-heart-attacki-todayhung-coatlooked
http://www.helium.com/items/968510-apartmentsdoors-windowswalls-roomscontain-people
http://www.helium.com/items/968477-shyness-really-doesnt-persons
http://www.helium.com/items/968200-begins-small-glimpse-perhaps
http://www.helium.com/items/968155-admit-freely-thirteen-seventeen
http://www.helium.com/items/967428-protect-files-computer-using
Whew. And this next one is the journalistic-type one that I wrote but had to turn into commentary for the purposes of timelessness.
http://www.helium.com/items/966247-through-generations-humanity-earth
I also rated for about forty minutes or so. So www.helium.com really got the lion's share of my efforts for the day.
Because of this labor on Helium, I ended up with less time for The Cabin than I had intended. But I still did just over 3800 words today.
Do the math with me: 2500 (Monday) + 5000 (Tuesday) + 3800 (Today) = 11300 words so far this week. My main character is leading me places I didn't intend to go, which has been interesting, since some of this book is autobiographical.
In any case, this week has probably been my most productive week of writing so far. I just have to keep it up.
The Etcetera
I went to that job fair this morning without much confidence that I would find anything worth my time. These things, particularly in the Provo/Orem area, seem to be 70% all about recruiting a willing sales force. That ain't me.
But I talked with a nice young lady by the name of Shersti who works for a company out of American Fork. We discussed a position they are trying to fill that would seem to fit my background and qualifications. She was pleasant and enjoyable to talk to, and I feel like I made an impression. I went ahead and e-mailed her an electronic copy of my resume, although I had given her one there at the fair.
Anyway, we'll see what happens. I am very interested to learn more about this job and company.
I also got a call from a lady named Twee who works at a company in Austin. I had sent an e-mail asking for further info and this was the second response I'd gotten back. Twee was very kind and excited, wanting me to let her know when I was going to be in Austin so we could do an interview. I really don't have specific plans yet, so I told her I might get back to her.
But that job looks like a sales rep job, which I don't do anymore. So I doubt I'll follow up on that with any real conviction.
Anyway, that's all for now. Oh, I did the shuttling to and from Spanish school today in the hopes of helping Annemarie get her current translation project done quickly. I find that the traffic is irritating, which reminds me that I really don't want to have to commute to any job I get. Nope, I really don't.
carpe somnium
Yes, I am going to be a bestselling author, since you asked.
Goal time for Wednesday
So far so good this week. Time to ramp it up.
I'm going to a job fair in about an hour, but by that time I will have written at least one article for http://www.helium.com/. I'm actually gonna shoot for two.
My total Helium article count for today will be four. I will rate for about a half hour to forty-five minutes, but I am at five stars now and that puts me in a good spot.
I will also do at least 5000 words in The Cabin today. But here's the real goal: 7000. Yep. It's time to put my all into this.
I'll be back later to report.
I'm going to a job fair in about an hour, but by that time I will have written at least one article for http://www.helium.com/. I'm actually gonna shoot for two.
My total Helium article count for today will be four. I will rate for about a half hour to forty-five minutes, but I am at five stars now and that puts me in a good spot.
I will also do at least 5000 words in The Cabin today. But here's the real goal: 7000. Yep. It's time to put my all into this.
I'll be back later to report.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Look! It's not the middle of the night!
Here I am! Peek a boo! Inai inai ba!
Okay, sorry there. Hehe.
I got it all done! Woohoo!
I was able to tune out distractions for the most part and did exactly what I set out to do today. Here's the play-by-play (for any March Madness addicts, which I am not one of.. and I won't apologize for it).
Helium.com
I set out to write three articles for www.helium.com and I did so. The first one I did was a journalistic piece about a doomsday cult in Russia. They rejected the first version, saying it wouldn't be timeless, so I rewrote it as a commentary and I have high hopes of seeing it published. I am trying to develop journalism skills so that I can become more attractive to clients and employers.
I also rewrote, completely, an article that had been deleted due to length. The third article I wrote was for a contest, and it is sitting happily at the top of its title group. One of the articles I wrote last week for this contest is the last one in its group, and that's really ticking me off. It's like that group isn't being rated or something. Mine was the first article in the title, which isn't always the best thing, so I have some hope that its position will improve over the rating period for this contest. But I intend to write at least one more contest article tomorrow.
Anyhoo, here are the links to the articles I wrote today which are active on Helium:
http://www.helium.com/items/965542-while-expert-speak-sloppy
http://www.helium.com/items/965490-minimum-nothing-shake-stick
The article about the doomsday cult should be active in a day or two. I'll post the link here when it shows up.
Then I rated on Helium for a solid hour. Whew. It can get very dull, but I listened to music while I did it. I have to keep this up, because I must get all the money from the Reward-a-thon.
The Cabin
So then I emerged from the office and found everybody asleep. It was just after 3PM and it was time to get the older boys from Spanish School. Annemarie woke up as I came out and looked blearily around. She was having Braxton Hicks contractions for much of the day and was wiped out by 9PM. Poor lady.
Anyway, I said I would go get the lads and I did so. I got back about 4 PM and got to work on The Cabin soon after. With a break for dinner, clean up and bedtime routines, I finally got back to it just before 9PM. I stopped a few minutes ago having added about 5200 words to it! Wahoo. Boy howdy, this character is going places I wasn't really expecting. But it's a good time. A really good time.
So that's my day. I got some responses from a couple job apps that I sent out. One wants me to come in for an interview, but that's in Austin, so that's kind of hard. Plus, they call the position Marketing Associate, but I get the feeling that this is a euphemism for sales rep. No thanks.
The other is for a job with a local company that I applied to do some freelance work with. They turned me down for that, but I figured I would see about being their staff writer, as it's a company that looks professional and to be going places. They want sample web copy, so I sent an e-mail back to clarify instructions and hope to hear back tomorrow.
What will be will be. I will keep trying to learn this craft. Gonna read Stephen King's On Writing Well again, this time with an eye to learning from a master. I hope to find a workshop in the coming weeks where I can take my work to.
That's all for now. Gonna be a bestselling author.
carpe somnium
Okay, sorry there. Hehe.
I got it all done! Woohoo!
I was able to tune out distractions for the most part and did exactly what I set out to do today. Here's the play-by-play (for any March Madness addicts, which I am not one of.. and I won't apologize for it).
Helium.com
I set out to write three articles for www.helium.com and I did so. The first one I did was a journalistic piece about a doomsday cult in Russia. They rejected the first version, saying it wouldn't be timeless, so I rewrote it as a commentary and I have high hopes of seeing it published. I am trying to develop journalism skills so that I can become more attractive to clients and employers.
I also rewrote, completely, an article that had been deleted due to length. The third article I wrote was for a contest, and it is sitting happily at the top of its title group. One of the articles I wrote last week for this contest is the last one in its group, and that's really ticking me off. It's like that group isn't being rated or something. Mine was the first article in the title, which isn't always the best thing, so I have some hope that its position will improve over the rating period for this contest. But I intend to write at least one more contest article tomorrow.
Anyhoo, here are the links to the articles I wrote today which are active on Helium:
http://www.helium.com/items/965542-while-expert-speak-sloppy
http://www.helium.com/items/965490-minimum-nothing-shake-stick
The article about the doomsday cult should be active in a day or two. I'll post the link here when it shows up.
Then I rated on Helium for a solid hour. Whew. It can get very dull, but I listened to music while I did it. I have to keep this up, because I must get all the money from the Reward-a-thon.
The Cabin
So then I emerged from the office and found everybody asleep. It was just after 3PM and it was time to get the older boys from Spanish School. Annemarie woke up as I came out and looked blearily around. She was having Braxton Hicks contractions for much of the day and was wiped out by 9PM. Poor lady.
Anyway, I said I would go get the lads and I did so. I got back about 4 PM and got to work on The Cabin soon after. With a break for dinner, clean up and bedtime routines, I finally got back to it just before 9PM. I stopped a few minutes ago having added about 5200 words to it! Wahoo. Boy howdy, this character is going places I wasn't really expecting. But it's a good time. A really good time.
So that's my day. I got some responses from a couple job apps that I sent out. One wants me to come in for an interview, but that's in Austin, so that's kind of hard. Plus, they call the position Marketing Associate, but I get the feeling that this is a euphemism for sales rep. No thanks.
The other is for a job with a local company that I applied to do some freelance work with. They turned me down for that, but I figured I would see about being their staff writer, as it's a company that looks professional and to be going places. They want sample web copy, so I sent an e-mail back to clarify instructions and hope to hear back tomorrow.
What will be will be. I will keep trying to learn this craft. Gonna read Stephen King's On Writing Well again, this time with an eye to learning from a master. I hope to find a workshop in the coming weeks where I can take my work to.
That's all for now. Gonna be a bestselling author.
carpe somnium
Tuesday's goals
I'm here quickly. Today I'll write three articles for Helium. One will be a current events, news-type article. I will also rate for about 45 minutes to an hour.
Then I will do The Cabin. I will get at least 5000 words done today. It's flowing like melted butter into my bread mixer.
That's it. I am admittedly depressed about the latest word on The Mars Betrayal, but I'm trying to look past that and stay focused. It's a little hard to do that when the comments basically strike to the core of what I'm trying to do. It's hard not to question myself and what I'm doing. In fact, I am questioning, but trying to keep it to a minimum.
Anyway, whatever. Arg.
Then I will do The Cabin. I will get at least 5000 words done today. It's flowing like melted butter into my bread mixer.
That's it. I am admittedly depressed about the latest word on The Mars Betrayal, but I'm trying to look past that and stay focused. It's a little hard to do that when the comments basically strike to the core of what I'm trying to do. It's hard not to question myself and what I'm doing. In fact, I am questioning, but trying to keep it to a minimum.
Anyway, whatever. Arg.
Reporting on my Monday
I'm back. Yes, I was gone for a few hours, but don't worry. Breathe easy.
So it's late on this Monday night, but I had a goal to reach and I actually did it. Here's how the day went.
Taxes
I got them done in a few hours. There was a lot of data and worksheets and forms and deductions to get through, but I found that TurboTax really is all that it is touted to be. Good news came of it. As I said, I had expected to owe money, mainly due to the large chunk of cash we took out of our refinance.
We are owed a good refund! I was wrong! I love being wrong sometimes, but don't quote me on that.
Anyway, so no worries there. I e-filed and we are all set for the year.
Helium.com
I wrote two articles for www.helium.com today, as I said I would do. They took a little longer than I had wanted: about 45 minutes each, but that was really okay. Here are links to both of them:
http://www.helium.com/items/963713-hollywood-others-hollywood-simply
http://www.helium.com/items/963553-heard-ubiquitous-clubs-found
The first one is a rewrite of an article that they deleted because it was lame and way too short. The second is an article for a contest I am trying to win in, but one of my articles is doing shockingly bad! Sheesh.
Anway, as always, you can see all of my articles if you go to:
http://www.helium.com/users/45690
I rated for probably a total of thirty to forty-five minutes. I also spent a few minutes on the community boards, trying to regain my presence there after a few months' absence.
The Cabin
So I then had my goal for The Cabin. But it was already late. So we got the kids to bed, then I watched the Jazz cream the Wizards on TV. That was fun. I watched Perry Mason, then got to work.
I did 2500 words tonight. It felt good. I really have a strong image of this story. I feel invested in it.
But the lack of investment I feel in The Mars Betrayal seems to be showing through. I got word today that the latest draft is nearly as crummy as the first. I don't actually get it. I really felt good about this latest draft, but then I also felt good about the first.
So I'm a little dumbfounded.
I've been told that I need to get it right, and that I should take the time to do so. They say it won't make it into the first launch, so I guess we're looking at next year probably.
I will do exactly that. In fact, I'm not gonna do a darn thing with it for a week or two. In the meantime I will finish my first draft of The Cabin. I will also try to find a workshop that can help me with my graded reader troubles. I will also try to get a hold of some of the graded readers the editorial team suggested that we read so that we can get an idea of what they are looking for. Clearly I need to be doing more homework for The Mars Betrayal.
That's fine. I still feel like I'm a good writer, despite what this editorial team appears to think. Maybe one of us is right. Who knows, maybe we're both right and I need to adjust my writing more for the graded reader audience. Although I must admit that I probably am more in tune with the audience than any of them, since I have been a teacher of ESL/EFL as recently as seven months ago!
Anyhoo, such is life. I'll do more homework.
As I said this morning, no more mucking about. I will become a good novelist. I will do what it takes to learn. No more mucking about. I'm going to be a bestselling author.
carpe somnium meum
right now
So it's late on this Monday night, but I had a goal to reach and I actually did it. Here's how the day went.
Taxes
I got them done in a few hours. There was a lot of data and worksheets and forms and deductions to get through, but I found that TurboTax really is all that it is touted to be. Good news came of it. As I said, I had expected to owe money, mainly due to the large chunk of cash we took out of our refinance.
We are owed a good refund! I was wrong! I love being wrong sometimes, but don't quote me on that.
Anyway, so no worries there. I e-filed and we are all set for the year.
Helium.com
I wrote two articles for www.helium.com today, as I said I would do. They took a little longer than I had wanted: about 45 minutes each, but that was really okay. Here are links to both of them:
http://www.helium.com/items/963713-hollywood-others-hollywood-simply
http://www.helium.com/items/963553-heard-ubiquitous-clubs-found
The first one is a rewrite of an article that they deleted because it was lame and way too short. The second is an article for a contest I am trying to win in, but one of my articles is doing shockingly bad! Sheesh.
Anway, as always, you can see all of my articles if you go to:
http://www.helium.com/users/45690
I rated for probably a total of thirty to forty-five minutes. I also spent a few minutes on the community boards, trying to regain my presence there after a few months' absence.
The Cabin
So I then had my goal for The Cabin. But it was already late. So we got the kids to bed, then I watched the Jazz cream the Wizards on TV. That was fun. I watched Perry Mason, then got to work.
I did 2500 words tonight. It felt good. I really have a strong image of this story. I feel invested in it.
But the lack of investment I feel in The Mars Betrayal seems to be showing through. I got word today that the latest draft is nearly as crummy as the first. I don't actually get it. I really felt good about this latest draft, but then I also felt good about the first.
So I'm a little dumbfounded.
I've been told that I need to get it right, and that I should take the time to do so. They say it won't make it into the first launch, so I guess we're looking at next year probably.
I will do exactly that. In fact, I'm not gonna do a darn thing with it for a week or two. In the meantime I will finish my first draft of The Cabin. I will also try to find a workshop that can help me with my graded reader troubles. I will also try to get a hold of some of the graded readers the editorial team suggested that we read so that we can get an idea of what they are looking for. Clearly I need to be doing more homework for The Mars Betrayal.
That's fine. I still feel like I'm a good writer, despite what this editorial team appears to think. Maybe one of us is right. Who knows, maybe we're both right and I need to adjust my writing more for the graded reader audience. Although I must admit that I probably am more in tune with the audience than any of them, since I have been a teacher of ESL/EFL as recently as seven months ago!
Anyhoo, such is life. I'll do more homework.
As I said this morning, no more mucking about. I will become a good novelist. I will do what it takes to learn. No more mucking about. I'm going to be a bestselling author.
carpe somnium meum
right now
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