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Showing posts from October, 2015

2015 Can-Con - Day 1

The workshop I went to was mediocre. Why? I felt like I was in a science class learning something from a text book. We looked at some individual neat creatures, but didn't relate them to other creatures in the same ecosystem. We learned about ecotones, like estuaries, and cooperative systems, like how the vampire bats will share with bats that don't get blood at feeding time, and then reciprocate. I learned there was some stuff I've naturally done in my alien conspiracy already. Next, I went to the dealers room and put my chap books out. I ate while guarding the table and met people. I got to practice my pitch multiple times. With the dealers room closed at 7, it was off to a villains panel that gave me ideas on my villains for The Page & The Magician. Then it was a Blue Pencil session with Matt Moore where he read some of my work and gave me tips on how to make it better. He also let me know which parts he loved. Some parts need to be axed entirely. After that, a man I

What's done and what isn't

Working away at being ready for Can-Con. I couldn't get the booklets fully ready last night because I don't know enough about formatting. I sent the covers ahead to Staples, but have to fold those myself and bind them once I have the prefolded innards. Here they are: 6/130... Need to fold faster. Done: 1. Hallowe'en costume 2. Booklet writeup 3. Short horror story 4. Printed booklet covers Not Done: 1. Printed booklet innards 2. Pitch practice 3. Chapter for Blue Pencil Café 4. Folded covers 5. Cooking stuff Almost Done: 1. Notes for Sword Panel 2. Clothing selection Too much left and I'm working on dinner while folding covers. Ciao, R~

So much to do before Can-Con next weekend!

Ack! Book Cover design is nearly done. I JUST gave my designer the back cover text. Once he adds that and gives me the link, I can bring it to Staples and get some chap books printed to give out. But wait! I have to fix up the first chapter so it can be put into this little book. Before I can do that... Hallowe'en So at Can-Con, there's a Hallowe'en party. I've always loved Hallowe'en, so naturally I have to have a costume for it! I need to step out tonight to hopefully purchase the almost last thing I need. I'm currently dying a skirt to complete the costume. I need to find time to watch the movie, so I can portray the character accurately. If not, I'll just be cute and swear a lot. There's a mask, so no one will know it's me, right? Food While I can grab pho on Friday during the break between the workshop and the actual start of Can-Con, Saturday and Sunday I require food. This is always a challenge for me during things like this with my triple foo

Update - October 21, 2015

Well I've missed some updates recently. I'm sorry for that, but things have been rather hectic. Health I'm in physio for my neck. I think it's helping put the discs back where they should be. I'm hopeful that there will come a day where I will be pain free. I haven't heard about the other stuff yet. Writing I'm feeling a conflict. The course I'm taking to improve my skills is taking up so much of my time that I'm not getting to work on my actual writing projects. As such, I've decided I won't be going for the certificate. I already have tons of things like that for my wall and don't need more. I'm going to pare down to just what I need to do in the course to improve my skills. I will comment on some of the posts, but 15 per week is too much. I'll continue doing the assignments as they force me to do things I wouldn't naturally do, so I think they're helpful for growth. I also like hearing the feedback from others. I'll

The Sun Has Come Out

It's been cold in Ottawa for the past few days. There has been rain, and snow. Today, the sun shines its light upon us. Coincidentally, it is the day after Canada has elected a new leader. Despite my election hangover, I am relieved that the dark days are over. At least they appear to be and I'm going to enjoy it until something happens that I need to be on guard for. I've been on guard for far too long. This is part of the problem with my neck, I believe. There was a time that I was with someone who constantly put me on edge. Life was about ensuring their happiness and sacrificing my own. I nearly lost myself. The sight of my purse strap across my body caused upset. I walked on egg shells much of the time. I felt suffocated. I was told that I shouldn't bother writing because I wasn't J.K. Rowling, who I idolize. I felt unsupported in nearly everything I did and unloved. I got out, but those scars take time to heal. How much time is different for each of us. The com

Slightly Broken

Writing I'm working away at The Blood Waitress Club in-between the coursework for the fiction writing course I'm taking. I'm enjoying the course, but not always the reading of other people's work. It's all first draft content and doesn't always make sense. I'm enjoying the other readings though. I'm taking my homework along with me on my family visit for Thanksgiving this weekend. With The Blood Waitress Club, I'm doing an editing experiment. I'm using The Hero's Journey as a guide to organize the first draft into a story. This is helping reduce the pain of editing so far. I'm unsure if there are other guides like The Hero's Journey out there, but I figure it's worth a try to see if it helps me up my quality and reduce the pain in producing it. Social I've been rather busy of late. Last weekend was the Geek Market. The boyfriend and I had gone through much of the market when we decided to do the scavenger hunt. It was a new ad

A Gradient Day

I've been a little grumpy today. I had a setback with my food reactions, but I figured it out. For a time, I thought that I was reacting to sugar, but that wasn't it. I had a reaction to raw apple today. Earlier this week I had no issues with cooked apple. What does that mean? Likely that I have trouble with certain proteins from the apple. Why? Because I'm allergic to trees and apples grow on trees. Annoying, but at least I figured it out. I hope. I know that sounds nutty. There's a thing that happens called Oral Allergy Syndrome. People with environmental allergies can become allergic to a part of a food that is similar to something they are already allergic to. That similarity is removed when the food is cooked. Raw isn't always better. I wonder if this is part of why I became sensitive to yeast as I have a penicillin allergy, which relates to mold and fungus. No idea on the dairy and egg sensitivity. I feel like that came from left field except for cheese and yo