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As you know, no matter what your field or expertise is, the challenge of creating on a deadline is universal. Whether you are painting oil on canvas, hand crafting a set of living-room chairs, or building a Start-up, creativity is one of the most important secrets to success. As someone who has been teaching art classes for more than seven years, I can tell you that the same creative issues come up over and over again for both professionals and students alike. Ultimately, no matter what you create, it comes from within—from your true authentic self. Why not do it better?
The following tips are ones I apply to my own personal creative process and have passed on to thousands students to enhance and evolve their processes. These tips work! You don't need to do each and every one of them every time. Try them all and choose which ones feel the most natural.
There too lies the key to defining your creative process. Asking the right questions is key. If you are designing a logo for a new soda company, you need to know as much information as possible about the product, the company, the company's target customer, and any other competitors. So, how do you figure this out? Ask yes/no questions about the product, the company, the company's target customer, and any other competitors.
A good first question might be, "Is Pepsi a direct competitor to my soda company?" If the answer is yes, analyze Pepsi, their design esthetic, colors and advertising verbiage to better understand how Pepsi markets to your target customer. Continue to ask this question and analyze every company to which you answer "yes".
Once you start answering yes/no questions, it gets easier to define your creative needs and direction. Yes/no questions work just as well when you a creating a painting. "Am I trying to evoke a romantic feeling in the viewer?" "Is it Winter time in the painting?" "Is weather even a factor?" Is the sky really blue, or blue green, or rich blue in the middle that fades into a soft muted grey-blue on the edges?"
If your questions are getting too complicated, dial them back to a simple "yes" or "no". The trick to this technique is to truly immerse yourself, your mind, your being into the creative project at hand and ask really good questions. A five minute meditation before hand is always helpful! It gets easier with practice and time, I promise!
So, this is what I decided to do. Instead of beating myself up, I decided to go to the Campus Art Center and take a pottery class. It was a low stakes, not for a grade, remember why I like art, again, pottery class. It allowed me to just do. Within a couple of class sessions my creativity had taken a complete 180. Not only was I able to create again, but the things I created were better than they had been in a long time. I saw a clear correlation between the low-stakes pottery class and the subsequent end to my creative block.
I am not particularly skilled or talented when it comes to pottery. but, what that pottery class allowed me to be creative for creativity sake. I didn't have to worry about a grade or a critique or a client's needs. There were no target customers or fears of re-taking a class. It was just me and my lump of clay, that I could do with as I pleased. It opened me up! Once the creative juices were flowing again in one arena, they flowed easier in every other arena.
Work an activity into your schedule that is both creative and low-stakes. It can be anything: Redecorate your bedroom. Play an instrument. Make sandcastles–then destroy them with glee. Take two and a half minutes to dance to your favorite song. Bake an assortment of cupcakes, making sure to taste test every flavor. Go out on a sunny day to pick wildflowers. Arrange a bouquet when you get back home. Do something creative that is easy and doesn't matter if you fail. Trust me, this will super charge your creative batteries.
One of the most important things you can do to help your creative process, is to create your "zone". My zone starts with my desk. It is personalized and cute and efficient. Efficiency is important in a workspace, and will mean different things to different people. Set up you space in whichever way which allows your work to flow with the most ease.
Once my workspace is ready, I decide whether to sit or stand. I set out a pitcher of water, and choose what I want to listen to, ambiance is essential, and I need either music or conversation going on around me to relax and focus. This is my zone. Your creative space may look similar to mine or completely different. They key is to be comfortable and to avoid the need to step away every five minutes.
It is equally important when creating your zone, to understand what distracts you or pulls you out of "Productive Mode". These days, social media is a huge distractor for many. If you are one of those types and are creating on a computer, I recommend setting up an app that will turn off your social media or your favorite shopping sites during the work day. These apps are especially good because they require you to restart your computer in order to override them.
Phone calls and emails can also be distractions. Schedule two times a day to check your e-mails, once around lunchtime and again at the end of the day. This allows you to catch all of your morning emails at once and answer any final pressing questions before you call it a day.
For phone calls, you can of course turn off your ringer. Most smart phones have the ability to customize the ringer for specific numbers. If you are a mom, maybe you turn off your ringer to everyone but your son's daycare provider. Distractions really do matter. Try hard not to let distractions pull you out of your zone when it's time to create. Set up your perfect zone and immerse yourself in it. You will love the creative results.
4. The wheel exists!
Everything you create is influenced by things you have already been exposed to. I am sorry to say this, but nothing is truly original anymore. Once you fully accept that, it will help free you from feeling like you must be so perfectly original. The wheel exists, don't waste your energy trying to reinvent it!
So, how do you create something "new" in a world void of originality? The first thing you need to do is research and reference what is already out there. You can even use existing ideas as a springboard to your original twist on a chosen concept. For example, if you are designing a website, start looking at your competitors websites. Ask "what is working" and "what is not working"? Maybe even begin designing your site to be similar. Do Not Copy….I repeat Don't copy a referenced idea. Use some of the strongest concepts to get yourself started, then freely adapt the design into something different.
If you want to write a book that makes you feel as good as you did when reading Harry Potter, don't copy the plot. Instead, analyze how JK Rowling developed your favorite characters. Look at the different experiences that shaped the characters and use that as a starting point for how to develop the characters in your own story. Never copy, but DO reference. You have already been influenced by other projects, so instead of copying them loosely, understand that you are referencing them and honor the original.
To perform at your best, you need to be mindful, aware of how the food you eat and the exercise that you get, or don't get, affects your brain. Check in with yourself about an hour after you eat. Does your brain feel clear? Do you feel energized? If not, then it might be time to rethink what you just ate. Or maybe it is time to do a quick stretch?
A simple change to my lunch habit made a big difference to my creative output. During lunch breaks, I used to find myself often selecting a diet soda alongside my meal. When I started to pay attention to how I felt, I noticed that when I drank diet soda, I would feel bad an hour later. I began to alternate between ice tea, water, and a stevia based soda, sometimes. That super small change in diet really made a huge difference in how I felt after lunch. I functioned much better without diet soda in my system.
Listen to your body. Try to connect what makes you feel really good and what doesn't.
You will be more creative and feel better physically and mentally if you practice mindfulness. It sounds like a far out idea, but all it is, is paying attention. Mindfulness is just checking in with your self and being aware of how you feel. It is essential to the creative process.
What is great about this, is it changes your threshold. You no longer have to create something amazing, you get to create something terrible, hopefully, horrible to the point of being funny. When you start creating something bad, on purpose, it gets the creative juices flowing and helps reinvigorate that "make it happen" attitude.
Creativity results from the act of doing, so if you can't think of something good, think of something bad. Do it and let the act of doing, open you up to a better idea and greater creativity!
Begin with a blank journal and a pen, then give yourself 20 minutes to write. Don't think. Just write whatever pops into your head. Do not use a computer, or allow yourself any electronics or distractions. Just write, pen on paper, and do not erase anything.
What you create during Morning Pages should be raw, and totally unusable in terms of written material. For me, the first two to three pages are usually a mess of jumbled personal and emotional thoughts. I clarify goals, reset expectations, and prioritize. Many times the writing is totally illegible. But, then something magical happens, once that first jumble is out of my head and onto the paper, I am better able to focus on the important writings.
Morning Pages are most helpful for me when I am overwhelmed and need direction. This routine has helped me uncover truths, clear out brain clutter, and most importantly make amazing creative connections so obvious, it was difficult to believe I hadn't figured them out sooner!
Many creatives experience similar effects from swimming, bike riding or even going to the gym (For the best results, avoid a gym with loud music and/or TV screens). Many creatives find such an amazing, positive correlation between exercise and creative productivity that they schedule regular fitness into their weekly to-do lists.
As a working person, I know that time can be a hot commodity! Our world is relentless at times and the idea of scheduling in exercise isn't always realistic. But we are Creatives, who get paid for being creative. We can't afford a creative block! Take a quick walk directly after lunch. It doesn't have to take long and you do not have to go far, ten or fifteen minutes is enough. After eating, I often feel lazy and ready to nap. Taking a walk reverses the drowsy mental state that can come from eating a meal, which leads to better creativity in the afternoon.
Perfectionism Paralysis happens when you cannot finish a project; it is never quite done because it is never quite perfect. Do yourself a favor and let go of trying to be perfect. Perfectionism holds people back and it will hold you back too. Professionals and students alike have found themselves stuck in the "Perfect Trap". Perfectionism Paralysis Is very closely connected to a fear of failure. Perfectionists are afraid of rejection. They want to catch every imperfection before the world can point them out. Wether you are a writer who cannot quit critiquing and rewriting, or a fashion designer who continues to pulls seams and rework embellishments; it is really easy to get caught in the "Perfect Trap".
Of course you want to be good at what you do. You want everything you lay your hands on to be brilliant and amazing. But, at some point you also have to trust that you have done your research; you have put all you have into the project, and you have to let go. In my experience, most people experiencing my art or designs, don't even notice the things that I feel still need to be fixed, the things I may have literally lost sleep over.
If you are feeling Perfectionism Paralysis, but have yet to do anything about it, I recommend referring back to tip "#6 Do something terrible" or "#2 Do something else creative". All ten of these tips are designed to help creativity flow efficiently, but those two work best for digging yourself out of the "Perfect Trap" Your project isn't going to be perfect. Don't let that stop you from being creative.
Don't make your life harder than it needs to be. Instead of becoming overwhelmed, create a project list and prioritize. Sometimes the most important task on your list can be the source of your project anxiety. So, start with the easiest task, check it off and move to the next easiest task. It feels so good to conquer your to-do list, and when you are feeling trapped, a list helps you to dig out by putting one foot in front of the other. Once you knock some of the simpler tasks out of the way, it becomes much easier to tackle the more challenging items on your list.
There is a school of thought that says: " Always tackle the hardest tasks on your list first." I can understand that, if you are juiced-up about a project and not experiencing any blocks creatively. Starting with the biggest, most complicated or most difficult tasks allows you to make huge strides towards a completed project.
But if you are already overwhelmed, then that may not be the best approach. Starting with easier tasks allows you to build your confidence. The goal is to avoid feelings of insecurity and frustration. Those feelings are counterintuitive to the creative process. Start with the easiest task and work your way down the list. This allows you to focus your intent and move towards your goals.
Good luck on your creative endeavors!
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Subscribe to our email list, and be the first to know what Little Dipper is creating & offering! We are still a very young company, but excited to work for & with creative people.


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Prague Square Hostel
Just 150m from the Old Town Square! Free Wi-Fi, free breakfast, free towels, linen and more.... More...
Hostel Santini Prague
The historical center. Only 1 min walk from the Charles Bridge. Free internet/wifi, free breakfast, free towels and more... More...
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Hostel DownTown is located right in the centre of Prague, about 5 by walking to the OldTown Square. We offer private rooms as well as dorms and ensuite dorms.... More...
Hostel Delmedio
Hostel Delmedio is situated in a historical building and offers comfortable accommodation, communal kitchen, travel desk and free internet access.... More...
Ahoy! Hostel
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Charles Bridge Economic Hostel
Small charming property right in the heart of historic centre of Prague. Building with the rooms is placed right by the Charles Bridge........ More...
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From the masterminds behind The MadHouse Prague hostel comes The RoadHouse Prague.... More...
Hostel HOMEr
We totally have the best location ever! Hostel Homer is all about chillaxing all cool. Come and meet backpackers from around the world over a nice cup of tea or wine.... More...
Attractive Penzion
The Pension Attractive is situated in historical centre, on the embankment of the Vltava River next to the Charles Bridge...... More...
Safestay Prague Charles Bridge
Impressive new hostel just in the heart of Prague.Wooden floors, granite staircases,modern bathrooms with colored tiles and double window panes to keep the building warm in winter... More...
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Our new district pages for Prague allow you to choose from our selection of hostels in Charles Bridge. Read customer reviews of Charles Bridge hostels and view youth hostels on map of Charles Bridge, Prague. You can choose another district in Prague by using the filters on the left.


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It's not really funny is it. There's no punch line. But that's why i like it. It's more like a blog in comic form. It's a comic blog. it's a "clog". [Jack Black voice] Bam. There it is. A new word. Who invented that? Me, baby. Mmm. [Hip thrust/]. That's right. And don't you forget it. [/Jack Black voice]
This is pretty good too:
Scott C
He's the guy who did these:
Friends with E.T.
by simon baird
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
1 comment:
- Gomez said...
I like it... the ones featuring cats are soooo true. Nina seems to be like Mr Peterson. :)
- November 04, 2008
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What Do You Know About Painting
6 Simple Steps to Follow When Hiring a Painter for Your House Painting your house can be done in two ways.You can either engage a professional to do it or carry it out yourself, in case the job is not big and doesn't require a lot of detail.Choosing the best contractor should be geared towards obtaining quality service at a sensible price.This means that you have to play your part in looking for a contractor to paint your house.Below are listed simple steps to help you in these process. Carry Out an Extensive Research There are always numerous painting contractors to choose from at any particular time.An elaborate research should be carried out to ensure that you settle for the best.You can easily obtain the information needed to make the right choice from the internet, friends and former clients of the painter. Select and Interview a Number of Contractors It's advisable to interview more than three contractors before you settle on the best among them.This is intended to provide you with an objective analysis that will ensure that your choice is the right one.The interview provides you an opportunity to explain what you require and get the contractors' feedback on the estimated cost of the project.Obtaining as much information as possible during this time is crucial if you wish to avoid signing the contract ignorantly.
Finding Parallels Between Businesses and Life
Get the Full Contract Details Ensure that you get a complete contract containing a detailed project description after choosing the best contractor. The contract information includes the contractor's particulars as well as what is covered and what is not.Details of insurance cover should also be clearly spelt out in the contract to take care of accidents occurring during project implementation.Make a point of asking for a guarantee from the painter.The guarantee is the assurance by the contractor that they are willing and able to fix any mistakes that occur in the paint job during a specified period of time at no extra cost to you.
If You Think You Understand Painters, Then This Might Change Your Mind
Determine the Paints Required Selecting the paints that are required for the job should be your next activity.It is best if you choose them yourself.This will ensure that your preferred paint is used to finish your house. Finalize the Deal Making the down payment of the project is the next logical step after the preliminary details have been taken care of.The down payment should however not be too large.In addition to this, extra payments should only be made depending on the progress of the contract.This includes holding out the final payment which should be about 15% of the entire project cost until the project is completed.Doing this ensures that the contractor does exactly what they were told to. Thus, your satisfaction as a client is guaranteed.


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Job burnout is a special type of work-related stress that causes physical and emotional exhaustion. It's such a problem that it's now officially recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as an "occupational phenomenon." Tom Eddington, a conscious leadership expert who advices CEO's and non-profit leaders, experienced burnout first hand and now offers advice for avoiding it:
- Take the long view on life. It is so easy to get caught up in the job you are doing at the time, what is going in the moment, and think you can just push and push and push. It is just a very shortsighted behavior. It is very easy for us to live a one-dimensional life, particularly for men in our culture, thinking about how much money we make, our career advancement. Have a more holistic view of what life is and what the purpose is for your life.
- Pay attention and listen to your body. Warning signs to watch for include fatigue, any kind of frequent colds or flu; if anything is depleting your immune system or if you are draining or overworking your adrenal system; headaches, tension, unusual aches and pains. And pay attention to your emotions. your temperament are you reacting rather than responding? Is your fuse short? Are you impatient with people? Look at your life. Do a self-assessment. Let your body tell you what it needs: What is your diet like? Are you exercising? Do you have contemplative practice? Are you getting adequate sleep?
- Be willing to change. It may require you to go away and do a weekend or week-long retreat where you are out of your normal habits patterns and behaviors, where you have an opportunity to reflect where you are, what is really important and what really matters to you.
For more information, visit Tom's website.


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10 Fresh 2019 Chevy Volt Review – Chevrolet, colloquially referred to as Chevy and Officially the Chevrolet Division of General Motors Company, is the American Auto Branch of the American Company General Motors (GM). Louis Chevrolet and General Motors founder William C. Durant began the company on November 3, 1911 as the Chevrolet Motor Car Company. Durant applied the Chevrolet Motor Car Company for a controlling stake in General Motors using an reverse merger occurring on May 2, 1918 and pushed himself back into the GM presidency. Soon after Durant's second ousting in 1919, Alfred Sloan, together with his maxim"a car for every purse and purpose", could pick the Chevrolet brand to develop into the volume pioneer at the General Motors family members, attempting to sell mainstream autos to compete together with Henry Ford's Model T 1919 and over taking Ford since the best selling auto inside the united states of america by 1929.
2019 Chevy Volt Picture top 2019 Chevy Volt 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe Getting A Diesel Option, Source : resumeopinions.club
Chevrolet-branded motor vehicles have been sold generally in the majority of automotive markets throughout the world, In Oceania," Chevrolet is represented by its Australian subsidiary, Holden, with came back into the place at 2018 after a 50-year shortage together with all the launching of their Camaro and also Silverado pickup truck. In 2005, Chevrolet has been relaunched at Europe, primarily attempting to sell vehicles built by GM Daewoo of South Korea using the tagline"Daewoo was grown up enough to eventually become Chevrolet", " a move rooted generally Motors' effort to build a international brand around Chevrolet. With all the re introduction of Chevrolet into Europe, GM planned Chevrolet to be always a conventional value manufacturer, while GM's conventional European standard-bearers, Opel of Germany, and also Vauxhall of great britain wouldbe moved upmarket. However, GM reversed that movement around in overdue 2013, declaring that the brand would be pulled from Europe, with the exclusion of their Camaro and Corvette at 2016. Chevrolet automobiles will probably last to be promoted from the CIS states, for example Russia. After normal Motors fully obtained GM Daewoo in 2011 to create GM Korea, the previous using the Daewoo automotive model was stopped at its own native South Korea and triumphed by Chevrolet.
2019 Chevrolet Suburban Overview Chevy Volt Interior Beautiful Chevrolet Epica 4 Ov Lt 2 0d A T Ecc, Source : alohadreamcars.com
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In the united states, Chevrolet sells and produces a vast array of autos, from sub compact vehicles to medium-duty industrial trucks. Due to the prominence and name recognition of Chevrolet as a member among General Motors' world wide marques, Chevrolet, Chevy or Chev can be used occasionally being a synonym for standard Motors or its own products, one particular example being the GM LS1 motor, popularly known from the title or a variant of its progenitor, the Chevrolet small-block engine.


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Creative Writing Group posts
2015: Hopes and goals
January is already nearly done, and I'm only just setting myself some goals? What can I say: it has been a busy year already.
But that doesn't mean that I haven't been thinking about what I hope to achieve this year. Already, some planning has happened and things are shifting. So let's get down to it! What stars am I aiming for this time?
Life Stuff
As annoying as it is, life stuff impacts on my ability to write and create the stories that are buzzing around in my head. So what are the things that I'm hoping to get done this year, and will they make my writing life easier?
The beloved and begrudged day job pays the bills and makes everything possible. I have some hopes for improvement in this area, particularly with how challenging it is right now, but I really can't complain.
I'm in the enviable position of:
- Having a job that pays my bills
- Enjoying the job and liking the people I work with
- Being relatively secure in my job
- Qualifying for long-service leave this year. I just need to decide when and how to use it!
I'm always leaning towards new prospects and opportunities, but really, staying happy and healthy in my current position will suit me just fine for this year.
Over the past 18 months, I have reorganised my home to be more comfortable and conducive to writing. I'm most of the way through the process, so my main goals for 2015 in this area are to:
- Finish up the reorganisation, which mostly means:
- Gutting the dining room and refilling it.
- Sorting out the old office. It's going to become a guest room or possibly a beanbag room. Or both.
- Enjoy my surroundings.
- Use my writing balcony more.
Ah, the monkey on my back, the fly in my ointment. It hasn't been good, though I've been keeping my head above water (which I judge by my ability to keep going to my day job). I'm hoping to do some investigations into potentially helpful avenues, depending on cost, and will mostly keep trying to look after myself.
This is what we're really interested in, right? What writing am I hoping to achieve this year? A tricky question, because I'm not sure if I should continue to aim high, or learn from last year and be more conservative.
I guess, at the end of the day, this is a list of things I want to achieve. So let's start there!
After a hiccup in the latter part of 2014, Starwalker Book 4 is still under way. I'm still loving writing it, too. My aim is currently to finish up Book 4 and get to the end of the current arc.
My plan has always been to stop there. I've got the kernels of ideas for Book 5 brewing (the seeds are being planted in Book 4), but there's not enough there to write. Yet. I don't believe in starting blindly; I won't write without knowing what it is I'm writing (I've done this before and it doesn't work for me). It's simply not ready.
On top of that, I have been writing Starwalker for 5 years now (!!!). I am immensely proud of that, and I'm just as in love with it now as I was when I started. But it's time for a break. I've got projects piling up on my to-do list that I would love to get to, and right now, I don't have headspace to seriously write more than one at a time.
So what does this mean? It means I'll be putting a pin in Starwalker after Book 4 is complete. I may come back to it one day, but I'll be taking a rest from it.
If I get the itch to play in the Starwalker realm, I may well continue building the Shorts. I have a list and an idea for most of them, and shorts are a good way to capitalise on downtime.
I may also look into publishing options. Self? Traditional? Kickstarter-funded? All good questions to consider.
Vampire Electric
I made good progress on this last year, and I want to capitalise on that this year. My long-term goal is to:
- Complete the second draft (currently about 50% done) and get to the end of the story
- Do an analysis of the draft and see how happy I am with it, and what work it needs. It might need to be broken up into multiple novel-sized chunks.
- Serialise the third draft, editing and reworking as I go.
For 2015, I want to work on the first of those bullet points. It's going to be a big story; if current patterns hold true, I've got about 100,000 words left to write. This means I'm unlikely to finish it this year, but I'll probably work on it as my NaNoWriMo project again and make a good-sized dent in the remainder.
Apocalypse Blog
These ebooks have been out for a while, and I'll be honest: I've let them languish. I have edits I need to do to them, and new covers to apply, and new blurbs to write. I need to adjust the pricing and try to lift their market presence.
In all, it's probably not a huge amount of work (though with marketing, it's a bit of a black hole, so we'll see), but I want to set aside the time and mental space to do it.
Vampire Victim Support Group
This is a lot of fun, and because they're shorts, I'm hoping to be able to fit them in between other stuff. I've got a list of them roughly mapped out, and hope to expand the series over the next year. I've also got some big-picture ideas (the original idea was a group of loosely-connected vignettes, and I've started pondering ideas for the connective material), but we'll see where that goes.
Tales from the Screw Loose
This project (otherwise known as the 'robot brothel story') has been lurking for a while and is almost in a state that's ready to write. Talking with a friend about it recently, it's easy to get enthusiastic and excited about it. It's not going to be a short or quick project (current plan have a rough trilogy outlined), so this will take some investment. Probably a good one to serialise.
I'm not confident of my ability to get to this in 2015. The projects listed above could easily fill up the year, and I'm not in a place where I'd put this at the top of my list.
Chances are, what I'll do is see whether I could cope with a second serial when I get to the stage of serialising Vampire Electric. That probably won't be this year. So Screw Loose will remain on hold, for now, but not forgotten.
Other Stuff
I'm not entirely sure what this covers. I know I talked last year about putting anthologies together, but I really don't have the mental energy for a project like that this year. Or at least, right now. I think the list above is plenty to keep me busy; everything else is on hold. Backburners. I'll fight the urge to get distracted by squirrels and shiny objects.
I will add that I'm hoping to be a bit more regular with posts on this blog. I let a few things languish last year, so I'm aiming to be better this year. Finish what I start, which means putting up a lot of posts currently sitting as half-finished drafts. I'm getting there, one step at a time. Watch this space!
Writing Events and Community Stuff
I'm still very active in my local writing community. And by 'active', I mean that I organise a bunch of events, get people together, and have a load of writing-related fun. I have no intention of changing this. My writing friends are a constant source of support, amusement, inspiration, and comfort. I wouldn't trade them for the world.
Monthly Writing Group and Write-in
That said, I am changing things up this year. The monthly events I run are successful and working, but that doesn't mean that they can't be better. I have spread the events out over the month, sharing the load around a bit, and I'm hoping that will wind up being better for my health (previously, the two big monthly events were on the same weekend, which was a big, tiring time for me). It also spreads the cost of the events, which will help many of my attendees.
Writer's Retreat
After the turnout and feedback we got last year, my co-ML (Municipal Liaison – I have a wonderful friend who helps me to organise the events) and I are in discussions about whether we will do another one this year. The main issue seems to be the cost and getting time away from family commitments. We can't do anything about the latter, and we work to keep the prices as low as possible, but at the end of the day, if it's not working, we need to be honest about it.
We're looking at other ideas and options, and it's likely that we'll try something new and different this year. Cross your fingers for us! I'm sure it'll be fun, if a lot of work, but it's always worth it.
Writers' Asylum
This has been a lot of fun over the past couple of years, and I'm aiming to run another one this year. I took feedback last year and have some ideas for how to change it up, so there'll be a new setup this time. I've got the theme in mind and I think I know what the challenges should be. I'm hoping to make it fun for everyone who gets involved.
That's everything! It's a big list, now that I look at it all in one place. I'm both a little daunted and utterly ready to get going. So much to do, why waste time?
Let's go. Let's make 2015 better than 2014. Onwards and upwards, my friends.
I hope you'll all join me on the journey.
Retrospective: the year that was 2014
Hard to believe that it's already 2015. Sheesh! So much has happened, and yet, not anywhere as much as I had hoped.
2014 was a frustrating year for me. Struggles with my health meant struggles with everything else… but let's take an honest look at what I accomplished last year, compared to what I set out to do.
I have been so grateful for the support and help of my family, friends, and readers this year. They have helped me achieve the house stuff, sent me well-wishes, and supported me when I was flagging. I don't ask for help often or easily – I'm a very independent person – and I've needed a lot of it over the past year. Thanks to everyone who has been there, including those of you who I only talk to through a screen. Your words, your time, and your attention are always appreciated.
Home/life stuff:
- Day job – it continues, it's going well, and I'm still utterly grateful for it. 🙂
- Big house change-around – not complete yet, but I've got the main parts tidied up and working. In 2014, I finally got a whole bunch of my comic book art framed and up on the walls, and I set up an awesome writing balcony for myself. Love that balcony, it's wonderful. Still a bunch of work to go to 'finish' the change-around, though.
- Beating my health with a stick – it has been more like the other way around. Bah. 🙁
Writing stuff:
- Starwalker Book 4 didn't quite go to plan. Due to health stuff, there were more delays and interruptions than I like, enough that I was frustrating myself. Late in the year, thanks to a few factors (I haven't written a post about this yet, have I? I should do that), the fourth chapter took a bit of a turn down a dark alley, and proceeded to drag its feet, sucking and slurping along until I put a pin in it. I took a break from it for about six weeks, and I really needed that time to get my head straight and come back to the story fresh. The fourth book has had a little bit of retconning done and is now back on track, humming along on a much better path.
- Other Starwalker stuff – hasn't really happened, mostly because Book 4 took much longer than expected, especially with the break and reset of a section. Nope, haven't edited any of it, or done any more shorts yet.
- Vampire Electric – the second draft is coming along nicely! It was my NaNo project for 2014, and it is currently sitting at about 100,000 words. Disturbingly, I'm only about halfway through the story. It's going to be a long one! I'm pleased with how it's going, though, and looking forward to getting back to it at some point.
- Other projects – all pretty much on hold. With my health as it is, I just haven't had the mental bandwidth to deal with multiple projects at the same time. Writing a web serial means that I have to have my attention pretty much glued to Starwalker the whole time. I don't consider this a bad thing – I still love to write Starwalker – but it is a restriction. I did a little poking around on the edges of a couple of projects, planning a few things out, but nothing substantial. Yet.
- This blog – I didn't have any particular goals around this, but updates have been spotty at best. I really should do better. I have a whole list of things I want to write about but just didn't get to.
Writing community stuff:
- My Creative Writing Group is still going strong! We had a lot of fun over the last year, and the turnout continues to be strong. They're a wonderful bunch of people and I learn a lot with them.
- I tried something a little different with the Writers' Asylum this year. It went well! Some changes were made due to feedback from the previous year and they seemed to work well. I got some more feedback and I have a plan to try for the next one. Ideas are in motion.
- NaNoWriMo went well. I wrote loads, and events were big and crazy, and we spent a weekend on an island again. There were a couple of things that didn't go so well – a couple of issues with people, which is always a danger when dealing with a big, diverse group, and our TGIO party got rained off – but nothing we couldn't work around or get past. We tried a couple of new things, and learned some stuff we'll put into practice next year. On the whole, a successful month.
2014 was pretty hard on me, but looking at it this way, I think I achieved more than I give myself credit for. I think it's because I had to fight harder than usual to get things done, and I champ at my own restrictions because I demand more from myself than what I'm currently capable of.
I think the most disappointing thing in the whole year was having Starwalker wander off-track and having to retcon to pull it back into line. That upset me, because I try to be better than that. I try not to let the pressures in the rest of my life bleed into my writing, and I failed.
On the other hand, the thing I am most grateful for is the support I got when I took that hiatus and took the time to get my head straight. I often say how wonderful my readership is, and this is just another example of how much they do for me, and how much they mean to me. There was not a single complaint, even when they admitted that they weren't enjoying the story so much since it started to slide. There was support and encouragement, and understanding. They are what I like to call 'awesome humans', and I'm proud to have them as my readers.
I'm also proud that I stood up and took action when the story was going wrong. It took a while for me to admit to myself that I was in a place I couldn't write my way out of, but once I had, I didn't hide it. It's not easy to put your hand up and admit you made a mistake, especially to the people you want to have adore and trust you. So, yes, it sucks that I got into that position and I'll be doing my damnedest to never be there again. But I think I handled it well – or at least I didn't suck at it – and it came good in the end.
Perhaps that's the best thing I can take away from 2014: there were many battles in it, but I got through them and out the other side. I have learned things, and grown, and I'm still pleased to be who I am. Onwards! Into a shiny new year and all the promise that it holds.
Looking Forward: 2014
We're already a couple of weeks into 2014, but it's not too late to set goals! Let's see what I've got on my list for this year.
I should perhaps add a caveat that I'm going to be a bit more conservative than I was last year. Struggles with my health and energy levels are forcing me to be a bit more realistic, as goals I know I can't reach just depress and discourage me. If I go above and beyond, then fantastic. But this is what I'll be happy with achieving. Maybe a little more. I like to aim high, even if I'm pulling my focus in slightly.
Home / Work
Might as well get this stuff out of the way! My goals here involve:
- Keeping up with the day job as I am currently. It's going well, I'm always learning new stuff, and it enables me to do all of those other things that make me happy. I'm lucky enough to have a good group of people around me, too, and I'm thankful for that.
- Finishing up the big change-around at home. The first phase of this is done, and it's going great. There's still some tidy-up work to do and the next phase to knock over before I'll be content with how things are. This will make things easier for me at home, releasing more time and energy for other things.
- Beating my health with a stick until it behaves. Worth a try, right?
Ah, the beloved web serial. Book 4 is well underway and I'm aiming to finish this particular story arc (and book) this year. Will there be a Book 5? At this stage, I'm honestly not sure – there are a couple of places the story could go after the end of the current trials, but I don't have any set plans for that yet.
It's also possible that it's time to put a pin in that particular project and move on to one of the others on my list. Do I have much more story left to tell there? Would it benefit from a break? All good questions, and no doubt I'll be asking them right up until it's time to make a decision. Which will probably be around the end of Book 4, whenever that happens.
Could that be the end of Starwalker? Unlikely. It just might change from its current pattern.
Here's what I have in mind for this year's tasks:
- Finish Book 4. Unless it extends beyond the end of this year, but right now that's not looking likely.
- Edit Book 1. A light edit is partially done; I'm looking to finish the edit off and tidy it up for potential submission to publishers.
- Do more shorts. Elliott's one is fighting me, but I'm determined to defeat his story and release it into the wild. I have a list of others to do, too, and aim to get to some more of them as well.
- Look at publication options. By the end of the year, I'd like to have sorted out my options and decided what I want to do. The Kickstarter is still a possibility.
Vampire Electric
I'm loving how the second draft of this story is coming out. This year, I'd like to continue with the second draft and see if I can get closer to finishing it. It's falling into 3 parts and the first part is almost done. One more NaNo should give me the second part, at least. Hopefully I'll be able to work on it a bit more than that, but that will depend on other commitments (and potentially whether Starwalker is still running as a serial).
I'm also considering putting this up as a serialised novel, once the second draft is done. Effectively, I'd be serialising the third draft, as all I'd be doing is editing and posting. However, considering how much more there is to write in the second draft, I have no idea if I'll even start this in 2014.
It's entirely possible that I have already bought the domain for such a serialisation, however. Ahem.
Tales from the Screw Loose
Recently, I had a little squee moment when my brain stumbled over the missing piece for this story. I finally have everything I need to start writing this one! Except for time and opportunity, of course.
I'm not sure yet whether I'll write this one as a serial, or as a background project to be serialised later (like I'm considering with Vampire Electric). I'm pretty sure that I will serialise it somehow. A lot will depend on Starwalker and whether I keep that going as a serial, as that will dictate my capability for writing another fresh, off-the-cuff serial. (Trying to write two serials at the same time would be a recipe for disaster for me. Let's keep things realistic!)
I'd like to get all of the groundwork laid for this story this year. Maybe even start the first draft (or set of posts). A lot will depend on how the two projects above are going!
Apocalypse Blog
Ahh, the good old Apocalypse Blog. I've got new covers and fresh edits to apply. I mean to sort these out! Get the books all redone and shiny, and publish them on all the outlets I can get my e-fingers on. I'll also be changing up the pricing structure to reflect the latest trends. I'd like to rejuvenate the sales for my beloved trilogy and see my graphs go back up again. That would be lovely.
I'm still getting requests for a fourth book on this series. Which I love! I'm so happy that people are enjoying it. I don't have any fixed plans for a fourth book, but I have notes lying around for some shorts. No promises at this point, but if an idea from this world bites strongly enough, I'll write it.
Last year, I wrote a couple of shorts for anthologies. This year, I hope to see them published, but that depends on the projects in question. Watch this space!
I'm also looking at putting together my own anthology this year. I've got a few themes in mind to choose from, and the kernels of ideas for stories. Still working out details, but I'm aiming to have one released (to the public! to buy and read!) this year. This will be a collaboration effort, rather than an anthology of my work – I'll be writing one story for it, maybe, and editing, collating, and typesetting the whole thing for release. I have a couple of friends I'll be working with on this, so it's not just me.
This is a first for me. I'm not sure how it'll all go, but I'm sure it'll be interesting to find out! Need to polish up my ability to write short stories. Also need to figure out more of the back end side of doing a project like this.
I love learning new things.
Writing Community
I adore my local writing community, and that I get to help shape it. I have no intention of stopping, because of all the wonderful help, support, and encouragement I get from the awesome people around me.
Creative Writing Group
Into its sixth year now and still going strong. This year, we have a new time-slot to experiment with, later in the evening, and it'll be interesting to see how that goes. I took a poll of the subjects that the group wanted to talk about at the end of last year, and I'm curious to see how that list works out. I have a few topics to research so we can talk about them, and that's all good.
Writers' Asylum
This was an experiment last year and went so well that I'm doing another one. Preparation for this is going well (I got the prompts written recently), and I'll be lining this up for April soon. Watch this space!
Can't go without mentioning this. I fully intend to resume my Municipal Liaison mantle for the 8th year, and we'll be having fun with the usual events. Plus, there are plans for a new-style Kick-off Party and another Writer's Retreat. The ball for the Retreat will probably start rolling soon (organising an event this big has to be done well in advance). I'm looking forward to the awesomeness already.
Is that everything? I think that's everything.
Oh, except that a friend and I have been sorting out setting up an editing service. It's a way for us to do what we love and raise some money in the process. I'm both eager to get going on this and reeling at the thought. Right now, it's on a pause until I can get stuff at home more settled. Then I'll be able to give it the attention and devotion it deserves.
More on this in (hopefully) the near future. For now, I have a set of goals before me. So enough talking about it: let's get going. Onwards, my friends!
Mad writing specialness
When I was sorting out the library room for my Creative Writing Group for this year, I was informed that I couldn't have the room in April. At all. It was booked out for some month-long event. For about five minutes, I was upset. Then I shrugged and decided to see it as an opportunity to do something a bit different.
April used to mean Script Frenzy, a challenge to write a script in a month brought to you by the OLL (the same people who do NaNoWriMo every year). However, it ended last year; there won't be one this time around. It's a shame, because I had hoped to take part one year. But it seems that April is opening up for writers all over.
Now, we all know that I can get a bit ambitious when it comes to writing events. My 'let's do something a bit different' impulse is what led to the Writer's Retreat. I've got a lot on my plate this year, so I shouldn't go too crazy here. Right? Yeah, okay.
So naturally, 'we can't have an hour and a half's CWG meeting' prompted the question 'why don't we do a day of writing things instead?' Because that's a logical progression. My brain immediately leaned towards the notion of making a day out of it, of making it something special, a stand-out event in the year rather than just a fill-in thing we did because we couldn't do our regular meeting.
I might as well aim high, right?
That was the extent of my pondering late last year, when I got the confirmation of my CWG dates. Then other distractions took over and I put it to the side. After all, April was months away.
It's a little closer now and my brain is, apparently, a bit restless. So I got to thinking about what we could do, where we could go, options options options.
The easiest thing would be to use the Monthly Write-in time to do something for the whole day (it's on a Saturday, which means I won't have to juggle work). That means we could use the cafe where we usually write. Venue and time: easy.
But what to do? We get together and write all the time. It should be different to that. It should be challenging and invigorating. It should be inspirational. Everyone should be able to walk away feeling positive and good about what they've done that day. And it should be drop-in, drop-out, because not everyone can make day-long events.
That's how I wound up with the notion of let's do a day of writing challenges. Not just writing prompts, but actual challenges. Not snippets, but longer pieces (500-1,000 words). On the hour, every hour, for a whole day. A variety of stuff, things that people might not normally try in their writing. Challenges to push and stretch us.
Uh oh. I feel a plan forming.
I think this can work. I'm already thinking of ways we could make it more awesome. We could have an online version, and post the challenges up online (on here?) so people who can't make it to the event can still join in. I could see if my lovely friend Sarah would want to start us off with Writercise, a bit of gentle exercise and mind-prep for a day of writing. She created it for the Writer's Retreat and everyone loved it. I could also see if the QWC would want to be involved (prizes? Maybe even an alternate venue? Or support and advertising?).
That's what I've got so far. What else? I'm not sure. Ideas are still percolating. Anyone got suggestions? Ideas? Candy? Send 'em over, I'm sure I can put them to good use.
Creative Writing Group: into 2013
I have been pondering the future of my Creative Writing Group for a while now. I have been running it for over 4 years, and it's good to stop and consider the situation every now and then.
It's going really well. As I mentioned in the 2012 retrospective post, I still get a really good turnout, and people seem to enjoy the sessions. I still enjoy running it.
Still, it has been getting hard to think of things to talk about at each session. I don't want to repeat material too much or people will just get bored and stop coming. On the other hand, I've got enough fresh members that most of them won't remember the first time we went over things.
Also, over the time the CWG has been running, the format has evolved. We used to do regular critiques, but that dropped off over the past couple of years because no-one wanted to submit pieces for critiquing. I'm perfectly fine with that; I run the CWG for its members, so I'm happy to go with their preferences.
Lately, I've been leading discussions on specific topics. I usually get a pile of material together, and either talk us through it or call on others for opinions and experiences (most often, both). The room in the library that we use has a whiteboard, and this is proving useful for gathering information and prompting discussions.
It has been a great learning experience for me. I've done a lot of writing courses and study, but I don't pretend to know everything there is to know about writing. I may lead the group but it's not about expounding my views. It's about exploring different aspects of writing and working out what's important for our writing. In preparing for a meeting, I research the topic of the month to make sure I'm not just taking my own limited knowledge in with me.
For example, when preparing for a meeting about planning novels/long-form stories, I had to look up the snowflake method because it's a basic planning method. It's not for me, but the whole point of these sessions is to share things that others might find of use. It's hard to do that if you don't know what the options are.
That's all going really well, but like I said, I was starting to run dry of things to talk about. It felt like it was time to shake things up a little and see if I could refresh our group. I want 2013 to start with a surge of enthusiasm and engagement.
So, at our last meeting, we had a long discussion about what sort of things we wanted to talk about in the CWG. I ask at every meeting if people have stuff they wanted to explore and got few responses. This time, with the prospect of a new year and a fresh start, the group opened up and gave me a whole list of things they wanted to tackle. I was delighted! For some of it, I have no idea how I'm going to find material to talk about. Other stuff I already have loads of notes prepared. I'm looking forward to both!
I also floated the idea about getting critiquing going again. On the heels of a frenetic NaNoWriMo, most of the people in the CWG have at least a first chapter. The reactions were overwhelmingly positive about this idea, and so we're going to give it a try.
So now I'm really enthused about the CWG going into 2013. I have lots of stuff to look into, which is something different to fill my brain up with. I love learning new things. And the CWG members seem eager to keep going.
I'm also pondering some marketing options. I've had many comments about how people struggle to find the group and most have stumbled across it by accident or heard about it by word of mouth (for example, through NaNo). I've got a couple of options that I can pursue, so maybe I'll try them out and see what happens.
Another thing I'm pondering is what to do in April. The library where I hold the group can't let us have the room that month, so we'll be homeless. I want to do something else instead. But what? Some kind of Writing Derby? Games? A party? I'd like to take the opportunity to do something a little different (no-one likes a stale writer) and there are so many options that I don't know where to start!
I'm sure something will come to me. It usually does. If all else fails, I'll just pick the brains of my writers.
Feeling good about the CWG in 2013; I think it's going to be heaps of fun!
The year that was… 2012
The beginning of a new year is not so different from any other day. It's an arbitrary demarcation of a calendar that we give meaning to, rather like a lot of people did to the Mayan calendar (particularly, its end). It think it's good to remind ourselves that calendars only hold the meaning we give them.
The turning of the year is a way to mark time and, hopefully, progress. It's a chance to step back and take a look at where we were and where we are now. It's a chance to try to gain some perspective. It's when we look forward and think about where we want to be. It's when we take the time to make plans, rather than the usual day-to-day we live.
So let's start with the road travelled so far. 2012: a year of struggle for me.
Necessary toil: my day job as a technical writer pays the bills and lets me do my creative writing. Plus, I get to put my writing skills to good, professional use.
Over the past year, I coordinated the delivery of:
- A major release, 2 and a half years in the making. I coordinated the entire documentation side of the project from start to end. Getting it released was a huge effort and I was glad to see if over and done with!
- 2 minor releases, both roughly 4-month projects. There might have been another one in there. I lost track; they kept turning up on my plate without any warning.
With all that to juggle, there were a lot of changes. Over the year, I changed:
- Positions twice. Once from team leader to team writer, and then back to team leader again (it's a different role now and I'm managing developers and testers as well as writers, which is all new to me).
- Teams thrice. Lots of reasons for this, most of them positive about me.
- Desks more times than I can remember, but at least three times!
Other challenges included continuing to strive to overcome problem team members (despite no longer actually being in the same team as them) and adapting the documentation processes after a restructure as our department moved into Agile practices.
It has been stressful to say the least, and a lot of mental effort to stay on top of it all. But I did. I pulled off everything they handed to me. I made it to the end of the year without snapping and breaking down or getting myself fired. I'm still here, working away and keeping my head above water.
Financial Issues
At home, things have been tough, too. Like so many others here and around the world, our financial situation is not good. We've been fighting to make ends meet, and wound up moving house to reduce our costs. (It's a good move and a lovely house, so I'm not disappointed by that, but wow it was a lot of work.)
A lot has been resting on me at home. I'm the primary breadwinner, which means those times when I've wanted to walk away from my job, even downgrade to something less stressful, I can't afford to. So I've pushed through and done what I can to support my family while they get their own stuff sorted out.
It's all coming along, as slowly as it always has. We're in a more sustainable position now, which is good, and that should lift some of the pressure.
Between the chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and other issues that are exacerbated by stress, I haven't had the best of years. I'm running ragged most of the time. I've been sick more than usual.
I'd like to think that it hasn't impacted my writing but I know it has. I've missed posting deadlines; more than once, I've put posts off for a week because I can't make it. I despise that. I hate knowing that I've failed to keep my promises; my readers are wonderfully forgiving, but I'm not. I know that if I don't push myself, it won't get done at all. I don't like letting myself or my readers down.
I don't know if the quality of my writing has been impacted. I don't have any real perspective right now, but I suspect that it has.
It's just another one of those things that I'm pushing through. I'm carrying on despite it, because I refuse to let things like this stop me from doing what really matters to me. Which is:
Here's the part that we're all interested in: that wonderful activity that I fill up all my off-time with, the thing that gives me a break from everything else when I need it and keeps me going. The things that spurs my hopes and dreams, and spills my soul out onto pages.
Even with everything that has been going on (and still is!), even with all that clutter in my head, I have stories to tell. I have characters who want to speak. I have things to say. It has been harder than usual – writing with energy when you don't have any is far from easy – but I've done my best to keep up.
My web serial is still going strong. I'm averaging a book a year and this year doesn't seem to be any different (though this third book is looking like it's going to stretch well into next year!).
I'm still loving it. Starry and her crew are so much fun to play with, even when I'm torturing them. I have a wonderful, supportive readership; checking the comments on the posts is a highlight of my week.
The visit rate has been holding fairly steady through the year, slowly creeping upwards. Currently, I'm getting over 3,000 unique visitors a month, and anywhere between 250 and 400 visitors every day. It's easily beating the Apocalypse Blog's stats, which hit 200 visits on a good day if I was lucky (I think it averaged around 180 v/d).
Starwalker has made it to the top 10 of Top Web Fiction's lists, and has been hovering around the number 1 spot for science fiction for some months now. This makes me insanely happy and proud.
The actual writing part has been rocky. As mentioned above, I've had to delay posts a few times this year. Keeping it going has been a struggle at times; one that I hope hasn't been visible to the reader, at least not in the writing itself.
I feel like Starwalker's plot has slid sideways and meandered more than I'd like, but it's still heading in the right direction. I still know where it's going to end up and how it's all going to end. I'm excited to get there, though it'll be a little while yet. So many miles to go!
Overall, I'm really happy with where I am. The serial is over 300,000 words now and still going. All my plans are still working and I'm laying the foundations for what's to come. It still makes me smile when I sit down to write it.
This is usually something I keep promising that I'll do and then never get to. But this year, not so! I made a start on some Starwalker shorts, and three of them are complete.
Not as many as I had hoped for, but it's a start. They prompted positive reactions and I can't ask for more than that. I have lots of plans in this area, but that's for another post.
Vampire Electric
Ah, the elusive steampunk novel. I started off this year writing it in tandem with Starwalker, but had to take a break around March to get my breath back. It took until November for me to pick it up again. I made good progress with it, though there's another big chunk that needs to be written before the first draft is done.
I'm really pleased that I've been able to keep working on it, even if my attention in this area has been sporadic. Often, it takes me a while to get back into a project – it's one of the reasons I try not to take 'breaks' – but not so with this one. It still speaks to me loudly enough that I can take a few months off and still go back to writing it without any problems.
It's not finished yet but it's getting closer.
The annual novel-writing craziness was a wild ride this year. I've written four blog posts about it, so I won't go into details here. In brief: it was hard, I learned things, my people are awesome, and I'm completely nuts (but the Retreat was amazing).
Apocalypse Blog
This one is last because I haven't done any actual writing in this area this year. However, there has been activity!
Early this year, books 2 and 3 of AB were released. Around the same time, Amazon realised that Book 0 was free elsewhere and price-matched it, which led to a huge up-kick in sales.
I am now getting monthly cheques from Amazon. They're not huge, they're not enough to pay the bills with, but they do mean that I'm a published, paid author. I still grin like a kid when I think about that. I feel like I've Made It, at least in the indie sphere.
The books are doing well! After some experimentation with pricing, I'm selling roughly 150 books per month. Book 0 (the free one) usually hovers in the middle of Amazon's top 100 (in science fiction).
I'm also getting some pretty awesome reviews. People keep asking when the next (4th) book is coming out. There's no more, not yet!
Readers like my work enough to want more. Couldn't ask for more than that, really.
Writing Community
I wrote about this in reference to NaNo, but it's worth saying how awesome the people around me have been this year. The group has been building for several years now, and over the past year or so, it has taken on a momentum of its own. I feel that the writers in this city have really gelled and become a wonderful, supportive community that I'm a big part of.
In fact, I'm often leading it, which is intimidating when I stop to think about it. As a NaNoWriMo ML, I naturally do a lot of the coordination, but it extends well outside November. Its monthly write-ins and weekly drinks run all year now, along with my regular writing group.
My Creative Writing Group is still going strong. It has been running for over four years now and I still have a good turnout every month. There are new faces joining and long-standing ones drifting away, but that's the way of things. We have yet to run out of things to talk about and explore, and if I know my group (which I do pretty well now!), we won't stop any time soon.
I've made many good friends through the various groups and events that I'm a part of. They've become dear parts of my life and I'm grateful for all of them. As years go, this one has been a winner in this respect.
Not to mention that I have an actual social life now. Who knew that would happen to me? Who could have predicted that it would come out of what is, essentially, a solitary activity?
Life is strange. And there's so much more to come.
That has pretty much been my year. Productive, hard work, and progressive. I'm in a better place now than I was at the beginning of the year. I'm getting there, one slow step at a time.
I'm glad 2012 is almost over; I'm done with it. I'm looking forward to closing the book on this year and starting a new one. Next year will be better and brighter.
Where I've been
2012 has been a rocky year for me so far. One of the most obvious signs of that is the lack of posts on this blog. I keep coming back here and lining up things I want to post about, but finding the time and brain-space to actually post has been out of my reach for much of the time.
I won't go into detail why. I'll just summarise and say that my day-job has been very stressful (more so than it ever had before). I don't deal well with unreasonable expectations, untenable positions, or problems I'm unable to fix. I'm under a certain amount of pressure at home as well (most of it financial and none of it anyone's fault – life just gets that way sometimes). Couple all of that with CFS (which is made worse by stress, of course), and, well. Let's just say that it has been a strain to get anything productive done in my 'spare' time.
This blog is usually the first thing to fall off my radar when I get busy, as it's the one I have least commitments to. So, to those of you who read this blog: my apologies, and thanks for your patience. It's not that I love you least! I'd make more of a commitment to updating here if I thought I was capable of maintaining it!
Sadly, it has also been affecting my current web serial. I've missed posts, delayed things, mostly due to health reasons. I despise doing that. Part of what works for my web serial writing is keeping to a schedule, and missing that schedule means I'm letting myself (and my readership – more on that later) down. However, I have to be realistic and recognise that it's not always possible to keep it up! And I'd rather not put up a shitty post just for the sake of posting.
All the same, I think the quality of the writing has probably suffered. At least a little. It makes me sad to know that (I take a great pride in my work, and I consider the web serial 'work', not play). It also makes me look forward to editing Starwalker! (Whenever that may be.)
However, it's not all dire news. Firstly, I'd like to say that I have the most wonderful readers. They have been nothing but understanding and supportive, despite the amount of 'sorry guys, there's gonna be a delay on the next post' messages I've had to put up so far this year. I've had so many wonderful comments, letting me know that it's okay to take the time I need, and even emails offering more support and advice.
I can't tell you how much I appreciate those messages. You guys are why I write. You make it all worth it!
I work to live and live to write. I push myself to write more and write better because I love it. I have so many ideas, so many things I want to do, so many stories I want to share with the world. Running around in my head right now:
- Starwalker (in progress!).
- Apocalypse Blog shorts (shelved but not forgotten).
- Vampire Electric, the steampunk novel (along with a couple of non-vampire sequels).
- Screw Loose, the robot brothel (the next web serial? Maybe!).
- Starwalker spin-offs (I have a few in mind, including the villain shorts, the story of the Carapace, and something centred on the consciousness of stars).
I can't wait to get to them all. I can't wait to share them with everyone. I can only focus on one thing at a time right now (between working full-time and fatigue), but I hope to get to them all eventually.
And then there's all the other writing stuff I'm involved in. I'm still running my Creative Writing Group every month, and the Monthly Write-ins are where I get a pile of writing done! Planning for NaNoWriMo 2012 started a couple of months ago and is already galloping ahead.
On top of all that, the ebook sales for the Apocalypse Blog are going amazingly well. (I'm hoping to do a post specifically about that; fingers crossed I'll get to it soon!) I got my first cheque for ebook sales in this week! I can now say that I'm a professional, (self-)published author.
So, yeah, it's been a hell of a year so far. But I'm just finishing a week's holiday from work and I'm feeling better. I've caught up on a few things (this blog being one of them!). The work of dealing with the stressful parts of my life continues, and they're being weeded out steadily.
Writing posts like this is usually an interesting exercise for me. I know I'm ambitious with everything I try to do. I know I push myself hard (mostly because if I didn't, I wouldn't get anything done; it's too easy to let CFS be the excuse that stops you from doing or being what you want).
Today, I look at everything here and I think: I'm actually pretty awesome. I'm holding it together and I'm getting there. I'll come out of the other side of this rocky patch better than before.
Most of all, I'm grateful. For the friends who listen to me whine, who hug me and make me laugh. For the family who love and protect me. For the budding MLs who are helping me with the NaNo stuff this year, and my previous co-MLs. For the readers who enjoy my work, both those who let me know and those who visit silently. For those who spend their money on my work, both through donations and buying ebooks, and help me know that they believe my stories are worth paying for.
You all know who you are. I love you and thank you. I'm lucky to have you in my life.
Time to press onwards. Hopefully you'll hear from me soon! Be well, everyone, and I'll try to do the same.
Writing, talking, absorbing
The writing events are coming thick and fast lately! And it's only going to get worse (or better, depending on your perspective) for me as November gets bigger in the windscreen.
The weekend was packed full of writing events, rather like last month's weekend of writing and awesomeness but with less birthday celebrations. Once again, the Creative Writing Group meeting coordinated with other events. This time, however, there were a lot more than two festivals competing for attention!
I managed to get to two of the festivals on offer. These were the Emerging Writers' Festival – specifically, the Digital Writers' Conference that was held as part of the EWF – and the Write Around Moreton Bay: Readers and Writers Festival. Big thanks to the lovely Elle, who gifted her Digital Writers' Conference ticket to me.
Both days were jam-packed, fun, and informative. I had a great time, met interesting people, and caught up with some familiar faces. I also got to hang out with a good friend, so it was all good!
Today, I've got pages of notes that I have to write up into coherent blog posts, a Starwalker post to finish (as I was sick last week and didn't manage to get it up), and some formatting of ebooks to do. Looks like taking the day off work to rest hasn't led to a lot of resting! But I'm feeling well enough to get started, so might as well get to it. Onwards!
Kylie Chan and being published
As I mentioned recently, Kylie Chan came to talk to my writing group this month. I've been lax in updating here when this stuff happens, but I'm trying to get better at posting this kind of thing!
First, it might be useful to have a little bit about Kylie Chan. She's a bestselling author in the Australian fantasy market, with four books published in her Dark Heavens series so far and the fifth one out later this year. She's published with Harper Collins' Voyager imprint, who are dragging their feet about publishing her overseas (in the US and UK markets), but she hopes to be released in at least one of those markets by early next year.
She writes modern fantasy (or contemporary fantasy, if you prefer) based in Chinese mythology and set in Hong Kong. It's interesting stuff – I'll review the first book of the series if I get the chance.
The meeting was a relaxed affair – we asked her questions and she chatted to us in a very open, honest way. I love it when guests feel comfortable enough to do that, as I generally try to foster a relaxed atmosphere in the group. We wound up running way over time, partly because traffic delayed people getting there and because it was really hard to stop talking! (Eventually, we got hungry enough to break for dinner, and that was it.)
We got lots of interesting and useful information out of the talk. We talked about the different ways to approach writing – 'planners vs pantsers', and the middle ground. Personally, I tend towards a 'stepping stone' approach, but the group is made up of a variety of planners and discovery writers. Everyone has their own way! It was nice to have a writer encourage us to write however it was best for us.
Kylie also talked about what it's like to be edited, and was very frank about her experiences with getting and being published, which is better than hedging and trying not to put people off. (To be clear: this is talking about the traditional paper publishing industry, not self- or e-publishing.)
Let's face it: getting published is hard. And once you've crested that hurdle, being published is not all it's cracked up to be (unless you're a rare shiny thing like JK Rowling or, heaven forfend, Stephanie Meyer). Startling worldwide success aside, when someone tells you 'don't give up your day job', they are not necessarily insulting your talent; they might just be aware of how hard it is for a writer to earn a living from traditional publication.
Royalties are small and are only paid after they have covered your advance. From what I understand, it's not uncommon for a book not to earn back its advance, and royalties tend to return little to the author.
There are ways to maximise what you earn from your work. Being published in as many territories as possible is one way, though you won't get the same percentage from foreign market sales as you do from the book's home market (which is, I believe, the first market it is published in, not necessarily where the author is). There are other ways, but this topic is what a lot of the talk revolved around.
For an unpublished author, negotiating that first contract can be a losing battle; you don't have any cards to play, being an unproven risk for the publisher, and you usually don't know what pitfalls to look for. You're asked to sign away a lot of your publishing rights. On the plus side, you're being published and on your way to being a known, successful writer. Future contracts will be easier to negotiate.
For writers in Australia, it's tricky because while the Australian market is good, it's not that big, especially when compared to countries like the UK and US. If your Australian publisher has the international rights to your book and chooses not to publish you overseas, then you can't take advantage of those markets. That's a lot of revenue to miss out on.
So what can we do about this? The most direct way is to go through an American or UK agent/publisher (there is no reason why you can't do this) and be published in one of those countries first. It's quite common for authors to do this, particularly genre or niche writers – I know a British horror writer who got published in the US, because it was so difficult to get horror published in the UK.
Another hurdle for Aussie writers selling overseas is writing about Aussie things. Kylie's series involves an Australian main character, which is seen as a barrier to publishing in other markets (particularly the US). On the plus side, her books are set in Hong Kong and you don't have to be Australian to read them (the Australian flavour to the book is subtle and unobtrusive, in my opinion), so hopefully this won't be a big problem for her. I just hope the publishers agree and take the chance to find out!
Kylie also recommended a couple of books that helped her to prepare her books for publication. They were:
- Self Editing for Fiction Writers – Browne & King
- The First Five Pages – Noah Lukeman
I think I've babbled on enough. That doesn't cover everything we talked about, but no-one wants a blow-by-blow. Right?
Hope you all find it helpful. I know I did!
Stumbling in
Last night's writing group was great fun. Thanks to footie and traffic, everything ran a bit late and we didn't get a huge turnout. There was enough of us for a good discussion, though, and it was wonderful to have Kylie Chan's advice and insight into being published. I'll aim to post more about that soon.
I wound up getting home so late that I didn't have time to sort out my Starwalker post. It's all written and edited! I just need to get it uploaded and formatted, and post it. The formatting takes attention and time, and I'll sort that out as soon as I get home tonight. Sorry everyone – it's on its way, I promise!


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What To Consider When Shopping For Gun Accessories.
When in the process of shopping for gun accessories, the security firms is much concerned. The quality of the accessories is paramount since the market is full many fake accessories which one can mistake to be original. In orders to purchase the best quality gun accessories and equipment, it's imperative to consider checking the following issues.
As stated earlier, quality is the key and you need to get the best ammunition and other important equipment for your gun since any grave mistake can turn against you. This feature will help you in the field as good equipment like the ammunition and rifles are able to instantly operate without issues of delay or failure.
A good thought on the best kind of ammunition to buy are vital in your operations. Since the operations in the field are much requiring, its focal to go for those accessories to suitable features such as high speed of the bullet and attached to the full light torches for lighting. A good accessory should have room for expansion and improvement as urgent need may arise requiring customized guns.
You will find features that can be added to such guns to modernize them and to make them improve on precision and range. The price of the accessories ought to be determined first as the budget is vital due to different pricing of such gun accessories. It's imperative to note that the prices of various accessories are based on their ability and the features they have where the sophisticated ones are costly.
The tools chosen should have the requisite registrations to be on the right side with the law. The gun accessories bought should be new and operational to ensure they clearly fit into the system as they aren't used at all. The process of selecting the accessories should be based on comparing the various tools available and taking the one customized to fit in many tasks.
The testing for the accessories is vital in instilling a good overview of how they are handled. There is a lot of cheap accessories to the market that is having higher potential to meet your need. The values of the accessory that you purchase to depend on the knowledge that you have, increase your knowledge about how accessories work, various available accessories and the trends in the gun accessory market.
You may revert to the digital networks of the blogs where such information is posted for free. Locally available weapon managers and controllers may be of help to you when buying gun equipments.
The 10 Commandments of Guns And How Learn More


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Status: Open
Know more about this business than we do? Cool! Please submit any corrections or missing details you may have.Help us make it right
Shop RadioShack for a great selection of tablets, no-contract phones, audio accessories, Bluetooth devices, DIY components and more.
The Shack helps you get it right with the biggest brands and latest products
RadioShack in Rockaway provides major carrier Cell Phones, DIY, Headphones, Batteries, Technology Products & Services along with personal attention & guidance from knowledgeable. - Electronics Store Rockaway,Cell Phone Store Fairfield,Computer Repair Fairfield,Batteries Fairfield,Headphones Fairfield -
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Used to be a great store. Not there anymore.
In Short
While the name dates back to the invention of the radio at the turn of the 20th century, today the electronic store offers a myriad of modern technological finds. With equipment...
Go to Jen for your phone sales! It's So Right!
In ShortWhile the name dates back to the invention of the radio at the turn of the 20th century, today the electronic store offers a myriad of modern technological finds. With equipment ranging from the latest crop of cell phones, digital cameras, batteries, and various accessories for the home, car and office, the store can outfit even the most electronically-challenged shopper. The sales...
Radioshack is located at 100 Rckway Twnsquare Mall, Rockaway, NJ..
Radioshack can be found at Rockaway Townsquare Mall 100. The following is offered: Cellular Phones. The entry is present with us since Sep 9, 2010 and was last updated on Nov 14, 2013. In Rockaway there are 8 other Cellular Phones. An overview can be found here.
RadioShack is the nation's most experienced electronics specialty retailer, with innovative products and services, committed to enhancing the customer experience, finding the best solutions to fit each need.
Radioshack is located at Rockaway Town Square Mall, Rockaway, NJ. This business specializes in Cellular Phones.
Every few weeks, the company offers podcasts on their homepage where knowledgeable employees host a do-it-yourself project and share helpful advice
RadioShack offers a range of installation services for your home satellite system as well as repair services for most in-warranty and out-of-warranty equipment. So, haul your defunct computer products, home electronics and wireless telephones to the nearest store.


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Under the scheme, incoming Master students will not have to meet key costs upfront and can start repayments for their learning and housing two years after graduation.
The University of Luxembourg expects to welcome 300 Master students through the €5 million initiative. It is open to students from any of the 32 other Erasmus+ programme countries and students do not require collateral or third-party guarantees to benefit.
The cost of education is one of the main barriers to studying abroad. This initiative aims to overcome that financial obstacle and make postgraduate study abroad accessible to students from all backgrounds.
Through the guarantee agreement signed with EIF, the Erasmus+ programme shares part of the risk with the university that students will not pay back the university for the costs they have incurred.
Tibor Navracsics, the European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, said:
"This contract with the University of Luxembourg marks a new chapter for the Erasmus+ Master Loan Scheme. The involvement and commitment of universities is one of the big strengths of Erasmus+ and helps us continuously improve the programme. New initiatives to support student mobility such as the Master Loan scheme open up fresh opportunities to students and universities alike, and I encourage more universities to take advantage of them."
A new approach to student finance
The agreement between the European Investment Fund and the University of Luxembourg represents a new direction for the Erasmus+ Master Loan scheme.
This is first time where a university acts as the financial intermediary. Erasmus+ Master Loans are also available in Spain, France, the United Kingdom and Turkey through more traditional financial intermediaries such as banks.
Public and private bodies (acting on their own or in a network) can act as financial intermediaries as part of the Erasmus+ Master Loan scheme. More information can be found in the European Investment Fund's call for expressions of interest.
Erasmus+ Master Loans
Erasmus+ Masters Loans are currently available for:
- outcoming and incoming from/to Spain
- outgoing and incoming students from/to France
- outgoing and incoming students from/to the United Kingdom
- outgoing students from Turkey
- As of today, incoming students to the University of Luxembourg
For more information on the scheme, eligibility and how to apply, visit the Erasmus+ Masters Loans webpage.


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Barista skills classes & workshops at Fonté Coffee offer a mixture of theory and practice in a quite relaxed yet very interactive session under the supervision of our professional coffee master Olivia. Our coffee courses offer a fantastic advantage anyone with a love for coffee who wants to learn more. All our classes are kept to a limited size to ensure optimum learning standards and are classes are well supervised so you the Barista gets the most attention when you are practising on our coffee machines.
Coffee Brew ClassSpend 3 hours in a relaxed environment in Donabate, Co. Dublin. These classes are a mixture of theory and practice delivered by our very own coffee master Olivia.
Course includes the following:
- Brewing techniques and methods such as Chemex and French press
- How to choose the right coffee
- How to set your grinder
- Timing and Extraction
Our baristas have been expertly trained by Fonté's Seattle team. There is nothing they don't know about our premium hand roasted coffee. From the bean picking to the care given by Steve our roaster in Seattle, right through to how the bean makes its way to Dublin to make the perfect coffee.
You will also receive 10% off any retail purchase on the day of the class.
2-Day Barista Skills Workshop
From total novice coffee-lover to someone already working in specialty coffee or who has a desire to work in specialty coffee, or just has an interest in coffee... Learn right from the beginning at Fonté Coffee what it takes to become a barista. We'll give you the tools and support you need to keep everything you love about good coffee progressing forward.
Learn about the origins of coffee & our own Fonté coffees, milks, espresso machine equipment, troubleshooting, coffee recipes & true appreciation of single origin & blends. After your course, you will have a brand new outlook on the craft of coffee and will have your own completion certificate to prove it!
Latté Art Class
Do you want to perfect your latté art, learn new techniques or maybe simply start as a beginner? In our latté art class, we will spend 3 hours ensuring you learn the perfect technique for steaming milk, creating the perfect foam for your cappuccino and pouring latte art designs. Our class sizes are small to ensure you get the time to practise your pour while our coffee masters give you handy tips to help you perfect this. Latté art is becoming more important in the world of coffee today, and lets be honest it doesn't just happen overnight. Patience and practice are the key. This class is the perfect way to improve your technique, if you already have some background in coffee.
Based in our training academy in Donabate, Co. Dublin, you will learn The following in our latté cart class:
- The importance of using the right milk
- Ensuring you know the correct temperatures
- Knowing the correct jug sizes to use
- Some Fonté secret tips on our latté art
This class is for both beginners and improvers. With small class sizes we will be sure to focus on everyone's individual needs.
You will also receive 10% off any retail purchase on the day of your class.
Classes are available on the following dates throughout 2020:
January 18th
February 15th
March 21st
April 18th
May 16th
June 13th
July 18th
August 15th
September 12th
October 17th
November 14th
December 19th


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GATE Program Info Meetings on Sunday, January 28, 2018
Please join us on Sunday, January 28th to learn about MSU Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) programs for advanced students.
Information meeting sessions will discuss:
Summer 2018 programs, which have been restructured to include grades 3-10.
Academic Year programs (grades 7-9) that begin Fall 2018
Dual Enrollment
Testing options
Sunday, January 29, 2018
Information Meetings Schedule
11:00-11:45 AM LEAF: French
11:50-12:35 AM Testing / Dual Enrollment
12:40-1:10 PM Break / Browse Info Tables
1:15-2:15 PM General (Summer Programs, Testing, Dual Enrollment)
2:20-3:05 PM ISHALL: English
3:10-3:55 PM CHAMP: Math
See more details by clicking "Download PDF" at the end of this announcement.
Michigan State University Business College, Room N100
632 Bogue Street
East Lansing, MI 48824
Free Parking available in Ramp 1.
Campus map available at http://maps.msu.edu/interactive/
Fill out the RSVP Form located at: www.gifted.msu.edu/gateinfo2018
The RSVP deadline is Friday, January 19.


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Amsonia tabernaemontana 'Storm Cloud'
Common name: Bluestar
The name speaks for itself, in spring the foliage emerges rather black in color and then fades to a dark green throughout the growing season.
Vivid blue star shape flowers form in spring and continue for weeks.
One of the brights blue flowers out there.
The lush green foliage turns a bright yellow in fall.
Great for borders and mass plantings.
Younger plants will have more of a vase shape, however make sure to give it plenty of room to grow for when it reaches its mature size.
Deer resistant
Height: 24"
Spread: 38-42"
Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Zone: 3-9
Photos courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.