Right, so I do keep two other blogs with the idea of making money from them. One day. (I really should get on the one of them). I have them through wordpress, which has this handy little feature that lets me know when a different site links to mine. I can then troop over to the site and check it out.
Most of the other sites are spammy, linking to mine with a bunch of other with no regards to targeted keywords or content, but when I checked out one today I found out that the article containing the link actually contained my copy aka writing.
At first I was like, is this for real?, but it was so obviously out of place. The article was about knee injuries, and linked to a post I wrote about common sports injuries that can be used to add tension to stories. None of the medical stuff I wrote was copy/pasted, just the situation I had set up for fictional characters.
I mean, I'm honored/pleased a bit that someone liked what I wrote enough to use it and link to it, but at the same time that's my work.
So I wrote the site admin an e-mail and he got back to me within hours saying they were looking into it. I was pretty impressed by the response time. (When I get unpleasant e-mails, I tend to let them stew cuz I don't want to deal with the contents. I'm so bad.)
Mostly though I just think I'm surprised. I know stuff like this happens, it's one of the reasons why I'm hesitant to post any part of my stories online. But I never expected it to happen to me. But then again, who does?
Aug 31, 2011
Aug 28, 2011
Identifing as a Writer
I kinda disappeared off Blogger for a while, sorry guys! And I'm real upset that the Spark blogfest went by without me remembering, as it was sure to be fun to participate. As it is, real life came and kicked me in the butt. I moved back to my parent's house (and away from my lovely writing group which is a shame), had to catch up with traveling friends, and visited Chicago twice in a span of nine days. One for an uncle's 80th birthday party, and another for my godmother/cousin's (Greek families are linked in so many ways) marriage. My feet are still hurting from all the dancing.
But, as is inevitable when at a function where you're at a table and you only know half of them, the question 'What do you do?' is brought up. I answered with a very eloquent 'uh...nothing'. Yay unemployment!
It wasn't until later that it crossed my mind that I could have said 'writer'. I mean, that does take up a chunk of my free time and it's a strong passion. But I've never felt confident enough in my skills to call myself that to strangers. Just family and friends.
But I caught myself during the actual wedding (which was done mostly in Greek and as I pretty much only know 'how are you?', 'I'm fine', and 'pass the salt' it's hard not to daydream) starting and plotting at least two stories. And I tend to use my experiences to come up with descriptive phrases all the time.
But, as is inevitable when at a function where you're at a table and you only know half of them, the question 'What do you do?' is brought up. I answered with a very eloquent 'uh...nothing'. Yay unemployment!
It wasn't until later that it crossed my mind that I could have said 'writer'. I mean, that does take up a chunk of my free time and it's a strong passion. But I've never felt confident enough in my skills to call myself that to strangers. Just family and friends.
But I caught myself during the actual wedding (which was done mostly in Greek and as I pretty much only know 'how are you?', 'I'm fine', and 'pass the salt' it's hard not to daydream) starting and plotting at least two stories. And I tend to use my experiences to come up with descriptive phrases all the time.
She felt as awkward as an atheist at a Catholic wedding.
After the exam, he felt as if he just got done with a five hour car ride - lethargic, stiff, and headachy.
The relief that washed over her was physical, as if the dentist had removed a wedge from between two teeth.
Probably not the best, but cues that even while getting a cavity filled I have words on the brain and that certainly should be enough to call me a writer at heart. Which in turn should make me less shy about admitting it. I mean, I do want to write professionally too (though there is a difference between PR materials and fiction). 'Writer' just connects with fiction in my head, so that might take some getting use to.
But yup, it's official. I'm a writer and I don't just do it for a hobby.
Aug 15, 2011
I'm a little obsessive over gadgets
I tend to get excited and obsessive about things that come across my path. Like good authors, where I read one book and then decided to read everything thing they've written. Or websites, like Goodreads which I've already mentioned or crazy places where fans hang out (such as Pottermore and HOL {which is apparently a functional virtual Hogwarts. You sign up for classes and have homework to do throughout the year}). Or new story ideas, where I'm up till ungodly hours of the night writing because I'm simply in the zone.
To bad I can't be in the zone about other things. :/
But, I also get excited about things. Like glitter pens and this really cool cell phone charm I have that's a screen cleaner too (except I played with it too much and the cleaner part ripped off).
Today I made a discovery that will forever help me in my writing as much spell check, an online inconsistency checker!
At first I was like, yes! Now I can keep my character's injuries straight and make sure times line up but it doesn't quite work that way. (Though I've heard rumors there are other programs out there that do) It's a word inconsistency checker, keeping track of when or when not things are hyphenated or when contractions are used or whether you use periods every time you list an acronym. (Which I don't, which drives me crazy because little formatting things like that can get on my nerves and take over an hour and I forget whether I've decided to use them or not after each writing break.)
I swear, I've spent the last hour submitting all my stories and it makes me feel silly and smart at the same time because now I know! Though I'm not excatly proud of knowing I apparently consonantly write 'untied states' instead of 'united states'.
To bad I can't be in the zone about other things. :/
But, I also get excited about things. Like glitter pens and this really cool cell phone charm I have that's a screen cleaner too (except I played with it too much and the cleaner part ripped off).
Today I made a discovery that will forever help me in my writing as much spell check, an online inconsistency checker!
At first I was like, yes! Now I can keep my character's injuries straight and make sure times line up but it doesn't quite work that way. (Though I've heard rumors there are other programs out there that do) It's a word inconsistency checker, keeping track of when or when not things are hyphenated or when contractions are used or whether you use periods every time you list an acronym. (Which I don't, which drives me crazy because little formatting things like that can get on my nerves and take over an hour and I forget whether I've decided to use them or not after each writing break.)
I swear, I've spent the last hour submitting all my stories and it makes me feel silly and smart at the same time because now I know! Though I'm not excatly proud of knowing I apparently consonantly write 'untied states' instead of 'united states'.
Aug 13, 2011
Friend Love
I have been gifted by Rebecca from Life in Clarity with the Liebster Award and I'm so happy and bubbly about it. It came as such a surprise, and I feel so unworthy, which means now that I just have to step up my game and become someone worthy of it because there were so many other people Rebecca could have chosen and have I mentioned I'm so so honored? And rambling, apparently.
The Liebster Award (meaning “friend” in German) is meant to connect us even more and spotlight new bloggers who have less than 200 followers – but hopefully not for long. The rules are:
1. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.
2. Reveal your top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.
3. Post the award on your blog.
4. Bask in the love from the most supportive people on the Internet – other writers.
5. And best of all – have fun and spread the karma!
Picking 5 fellow bloggers was hard, I'm so new to this network of authors and several I would have passed the award to have already received it (You go awesome people!)
~*~*~*~
Linda at Excuse Me While I Write That Down - A dear who was super supportive while we were doing MYWYN with a great sense of how writing fits in with life.
David at The Library Blogger - David's got a great project going on, travelogues of all the libraries he visits, and he's great at giving them stories and making them come alive.
Morton at Morton S Gray - She's always got writing lists that are insightful, humorous, spot on, and idea generating.
Bethany at The Writertorium - My hero if only for dying her hair blue, Bethany a fabulous person.
Sally at Quiller's Place - View from the Shed - The wonderful founder of MYWYN that connected me to so many people and encouraged me to get so much done in trying to earn money writing online. You are amazing!
~*~*~*~
You guys are all amazing and help make my life complete. It's something you should know.
The Liebster Award (meaning “friend” in German) is meant to connect us even more and spotlight new bloggers who have less than 200 followers – but hopefully not for long. The rules are:
1. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.
2. Reveal your top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.
3. Post the award on your blog.
4. Bask in the love from the most supportive people on the Internet – other writers.
5. And best of all – have fun and spread the karma!
Picking 5 fellow bloggers was hard, I'm so new to this network of authors and several I would have passed the award to have already received it (You go awesome people!)
~*~*~*~
Linda at Excuse Me While I Write That Down - A dear who was super supportive while we were doing MYWYN with a great sense of how writing fits in with life.
David at The Library Blogger - David's got a great project going on, travelogues of all the libraries he visits, and he's great at giving them stories and making them come alive.
Morton at Morton S Gray - She's always got writing lists that are insightful, humorous, spot on, and idea generating.
Bethany at The Writertorium - My hero if only for dying her hair blue, Bethany a fabulous person.
Sally at Quiller's Place - View from the Shed - The wonderful founder of MYWYN that connected me to so many people and encouraged me to get so much done in trying to earn money writing online. You are amazing!
~*~*~*~
You guys are all amazing and help make my life complete. It's something you should know.
Aug 12, 2011
Twas the mix of sugar and salt
This week has been one of those crazy ones where I've been really happy and then really not. Okay, that's a lie and I'm hardly ever not happy but I was at least mellowed out.
Good things ^_^:
Good things ^_^:
- Thanks to this fabulous video series and a late night practice session between volunteering and work (yay~ midnight shift!) I now know how to shuffle.
- I actually made my first dollar through Amazon's affiliate program on my book/movie review site. It isn't a lot, but tis my first and is one step towards a dream! I can't knock that.
- Rebecca is a super dear and awarded me with this, the Liebster Award.
It is awesome enough to warrant it's own post, but I'm on such a happy high it'll have to wait until I can put my thoughts in order. (insert mental squealing) - I've been devouring books. Seriously. I'm almost done with my third this week, it's like I'm in high school again with nothing to do but read books and ignore my homework. And now that I have a Goodreads account I now have several options of snagging a book and have a ton of other titles I have to check out (and have even won a free one, my second this year!). Not to mention, now that Borders is almost closed (the one near me is set to be gone by the end of Sept) and the sales are good, I can snag some random books and discover wonderful worlds and stories. Ah, bliss. The sun, a comfy chair, and a huge pitcher of lemonade.
- I have an insane amount of friends home this month. One just spent 6 months in Georgia (the country), another was in Oman for 2 months, another in India, and one who lives in Germany is back for a visit. Yay stories!
- Pottermore. For the hard core geeks. Of which I am on.
- Wednesday was my last time meeting with my 826 students, as the summer semester program is over and things don't get going again until late September to give kids the ability to settle back into school without an issue. It's a bummer, because we were talking about this huge project of putting together a book of all their work, doing the bindings ourselves (glue and the like, not thread, though I have made a couple of books that way) because our low distribution makes it cheaper to do ourselves, that will really get underway come Fall that I won't be here for because
- I'm moving :( In with my parents. It's kinda out of necessity, as my lease is up, I'm no longer a student and a student co-op isn't where I'm supposed to be, and while my part time job covers all of summer rent and half of fall/winter rent that other half is no longer coming from an edu fund and I don't want to get a job elsewhere and be stuck in a housing contract here. Home is home, but it's a small town that doesn't even have a public library! And has a very distinct lack of peers to socialize with. Warning: you may find your blogs filled with an over abundance of Jenny!
- I can't get a job. I want to do something with writing and have been applying like crazy (you'd think they were peppermints) to ad agencies to be a copywriter or some type of content producer. I know Facebook and Twitter, I be a social media manager! But apparently my experience is not enough and my networking skills suck because it grates against my ideals of doing things myself. Do I have some type of gig lined up at my parents place? ...No. I tend to wing a lot of things, but I'm seriously now I think going to create products from my writing injuries blog. And maybe become a substitute teacher. And maybe turn all my travel blog posts from my time in New Zealand into an e-book. People like travelogues, don't they?
- I need a vacation. Even just a two day deal and the two I had scheduled for this month have now slipped away. Bugger.
Aug 10, 2011
Agent Courtney's Prompt #6
Courtney has a prompt challenge on her blog, where the winner get their query letter critiqued. I don't exactly have a a query letter to be critiqued, but it's hard to say no to prompts when they're staring you in the face. I've been kinda lax on the site and Blogger in general for awhile, and so the 6th prompt is the first I've stumbled upon, but I don't think that matters too much.
2) Drawing things. It's a skill I've always wanted to improve (okay, learn) and being on an island gives me plenty of time. So, plan paper and pencils and pens (different from the writing one). And when I run out, I'll just learn to make my own ink or draw in the sand. (This is an island with a beach, right?)
3) I'd normally say books, but I don't think I can bring a bunch and I can't just pick one because even if it was my absolute favorite I'd eventually get sick of it. But still needing a distraction I think I'll bring a kitten. Something for companionship that's also warm and fuzzy and not boring because kitten/cats are so dang adorable and if I had a camera I could totally make youtube videos and become a star. I mean, that cat would, I'd just be the money making agent. It just better not destroy my sand drawings.
Prompt:
Three things you'd bring with you to a deserted island. Assume food and water are not an issue, and that you will be stuck on the island, Gilligan-style, for an unknown period of time. Defend your choices.1) Well, I was gonna say my laptop for the Internet, and then I figured wi-fi didn't exist, so now I'll say a laptop that I've previously downloaded lots of movies and e-books onto so I can watch/read to my hearts content and have access to Word to type. Actually, scratch that as I'm assuming that I'm also no where near a plug. So, number one is old school writing supplies: lots of pens and lined notebooks.
2) Drawing things. It's a skill I've always wanted to improve (okay, learn) and being on an island gives me plenty of time. So, plan paper and pencils and pens (different from the writing one). And when I run out, I'll just learn to make my own ink or draw in the sand. (This is an island with a beach, right?)
3) I'd normally say books, but I don't think I can bring a bunch and I can't just pick one because even if it was my absolute favorite I'd eventually get sick of it. But still needing a distraction I think I'll bring a kitten. Something for companionship that's also warm and fuzzy and not boring because kitten/cats are so dang adorable and if I had a camera I could totally make youtube videos and become a star. I mean, that cat would, I'd just be the money making agent. It just better not destroy my sand drawings.
Constructive Criticism- I Love You
I've been focusing a lot on my story Flicker for that dark fiction anthology I mentioned previously. Our group decided that Aug 1st were were going to share manuscripts and edit, but our group of 8 contributors only included 3 of us who actually produced something to share.
I'm not too sure what to think of my story. It's not very scary, though I've had a friend look over it and help me a lot with plot issues while I was approaching the deadline. Woot for late night writing sessions!
Anyway, I finished it, sent it to the other members in the group still interested in doing this anthology (though I don't if it counts as one with only three authors...anyone else interested?).
And of course, I'm reading it to my trust writer's group.
And as always, every time I bring something to them and read it I think 'this is not as good as I thought it was'. And it never is, as they fire off suggestion after suggestion to improve it and I can't but think that I was stupid to not have seen them before. But then they go all nice too and talk about things they like, or put smilie faces next to lines they enjoyed on the hard copies I passed around and get back and it makes be feel not completely worthless as a writer.
Constructive criticism is a god send, I surely would have gone crazy and given up on writing by now if I hadn't gotten a good comment once in awhile. And when such things come from writers I trust, it just means that much more too.
I'm not too sure what to think of my story. It's not very scary, though I've had a friend look over it and help me a lot with plot issues while I was approaching the deadline. Woot for late night writing sessions!
Anyway, I finished it, sent it to the other members in the group still interested in doing this anthology (though I don't if it counts as one with only three authors...anyone else interested?).
And of course, I'm reading it to my trust writer's group.
And as always, every time I bring something to them and read it I think 'this is not as good as I thought it was'. And it never is, as they fire off suggestion after suggestion to improve it and I can't but think that I was stupid to not have seen them before. But then they go all nice too and talk about things they like, or put smilie faces next to lines they enjoyed on the hard copies I passed around and get back and it makes be feel not completely worthless as a writer.
Constructive criticism is a god send, I surely would have gone crazy and given up on writing by now if I hadn't gotten a good comment once in awhile. And when such things come from writers I trust, it just means that much more too.
Aug 5, 2011
GoodReads
I have found a new obsession and it's name is GoodReads.
Rebecca Bradley's current read box always had me curious and jealous, and so I give many thanks to her for essentially walking me through the processes step by step to get my own up.
But yes, GoodReads. I had been using a book tracking app on Facebook for a while, but they died and were pushing everyone over to GoodReads and I can totally see why. You can keep track of books, but also interact with other readers of those books. Not to mention you can friend people (include author crushes), and I'm rather addicted to the book giveaways. They're a great way to get a hold of those unheard of treasures. And snag advance copies ^_~
It's totally part of my 'Friday check on updates' lists now.
Also, I just got a new book I bought in the mail and the author is forever endeared to me because of her dedication "To the adults who still believe in magic".
Or something of the sort, as the book is in my acon-less room and I'm chilling on the couch downstairs with a ton of lemonade.
Rebecca Bradley's current read box always had me curious and jealous, and so I give many thanks to her for essentially walking me through the processes step by step to get my own up.
But yes, GoodReads. I had been using a book tracking app on Facebook for a while, but they died and were pushing everyone over to GoodReads and I can totally see why. You can keep track of books, but also interact with other readers of those books. Not to mention you can friend people (include author crushes), and I'm rather addicted to the book giveaways. They're a great way to get a hold of those unheard of treasures. And snag advance copies ^_~
It's totally part of my 'Friday check on updates' lists now.
Also, I just got a new book I bought in the mail and the author is forever endeared to me because of her dedication "To the adults who still believe in magic".
Or something of the sort, as the book is in my acon-less room and I'm chilling on the couch downstairs with a ton of lemonade.
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