The Meaning

Another week of writing reviews and class papers went by and I made it through. The reviews were actually easy. The paper for class was tough. I did well at the beginning of class but I seem to be doing worse and worse. Maybe analyzing other's work isn't my thing. I think it's really hard when you have to give the interpretation of a story but it has to be the one your teacher thinks is right. Different stories have different meanings to everyone. And the teacher tells us to think freely but it seems hard to believe that you could be unbiased when your the authority on the subject and the little people disagree with you. So I have a hard time writing the essays and mostly because I stress over finding the meaning of the story for my teacher rather than what it means to me.
The reviews however seem to come easier every week. Whether people like them who knows. Comics are more my thing anyway.
My inquiry into the superhuman story was not a reject, I did get guidelines for a submission. It's for an on going series and you don't need experience. Fortunately they check submissions every 2 to 4 weeks, so if I don't get something done right away, all hope is not lost.
In the good news section, I would like to say that my 3rd issue is almost done and I will have help publishing it which will give me plenty of time to do more fun stuff like write.

The best part of writing

The heat is back and to be honest the last thing I want to do is write. I love the thought process of writing, it lets me get away from my stressful and boring reality. Dreaming about the lives of others, that are far more interesting than my own, that is something I can never shut off. However, the physical act of fingers to keys or pencil to paper seems dreadful to me in the heat. Doing anything other than laying perfectly still in front of a fan makes me miserable. But you'll be happy to know that during this current heat wave I have trudged on. Because I love dreaming, which is the best part of writing. And unfortunately, without the physical act of putting my words on paper my dreams would be lost. If not lost then merely kept to myself. Not out for the world to see and share in the dreaming that makes me happy.

As for this blog, it has occurred to me that it may not be the most entertaining thing to read, but I can't please everyone. I write this journal mostly for myself, so I can one day look back and see how much I tried or didn't try to accomplish my dream. If someone wants to read about my adventure, please do. If it entertains you or bores you, the point is you read it. And whether you continue to read it or never look at it again doesn't bother me. I know no matter what I write, I will never please everyone and I'm going to have to learn to be okay with that. So if nobody ever comments on my blog or even reads it. Oh well, at least my story didn't go untold like those who say 'I could do better' and don't even try.

Just an update on the progress of my ventures. I have applied for a job writing a continuing prose saga featuring a superhuman. I'll let you know how that goes. Also the third issue is coming along real well. Hopefully, it will be finished by the end of the week.

Hang on Snoopy!

I know it's been a while but I haven't really had much to tell anyone about. The self-publishing comic is still going on. I try to write a page of script a day but I'll admit I've been very bad about that. Sorry!

I must say that I have been doing a lot of writing for school and my reviews, so my writing time is now being dispersed for deadlines. And in case anyone is wondering, the reviews came a little easier this week, but still a challenge. I also felt more confident in my opinions, so I feel it's progress.

I am also sorry to say that I received an e-mail saying I did not get the jungle-girl gig. Apparently, it was very coveted because it was a mass reject mail with over sixty names. No kidding. So I think that the vampire horror/adventure I applied for, which ad I found on the same site, probably got similar response numbers. That's why I didn't get it, because there were way better applicants. But the jungle-girl publisher was very kind in sending a thanks, but no thanks letter. Another to add to the stack.

Some days I feel like Snoopy. And if you don't get what I mean by that you need to read all the old Peanuts Gang strips, especially those with Snoopy on top of his dog house with a typewriter before him or if he's checking the mail. Then you'll understand.

Up to the challenge

Well yesterday I was given the challenge of writing my second set of reviews for Comic Avalanche. It was tough because there wasn't anything I particularly wanted to read. However, after forcing myself to read stuff just for the reviewing I actually enjoyed it. This project however, wasn't that easy. I don't think I'm a good critic, but you learn from a challenge. So I will continue on and hope to do well.
As for other projects, my self-publishing project seems to be coming along well. But nothing interesting to report, yet.
I think that the horror-action/ vampire job is not going to be mine but that's okay because if I can't sell it anywhere else it's going right here. Of course, I have to finish it first but it kind of has a back burner since it's not in high demand.
I applied for a job writing a jungle girl story, so that could be interesting. And I am still working on the second sci-fi/western. Other than that things are pretty mellow.

Jumping In

I try to get every job I possibly can as a writer. I will work for free, that's fine. But if you want to get noticed you have to get yourself out there. So the other day I saw an ad for a writer of a sci-fi/western story. And I had already started on a new idea for that genre, because as I mentioned before, I was invited to write another story for the first sci-fi/western anthology I had written for. So I thought that I would send that idea to this different ad because it would mean exposure in two completely different books instead of just one. Therefore more people would see my work.
Now normally when I see an ad I think about responding for a while, because I am scared. But lately I dislike most things about my life except writing. I realize that if you're going to do something you have to just jump right in, no hesitation. And so I convinced myself to respond without even looking twice (instead of the four or five times I normally do, making sure I meet every qualification).
Guess what?
It was an ad for the same anthology I'm already working on. I felt like a moron. If I had taken the time to reread it like I had before, I would've realized that it had the exact same guidelines. But the response from the publisher was nice. He has a possible penciler and inker for the story and he said I could still write another story. And I apologized for being such a buffoon, and mentioned that if I ever get time to work on it another story might be coming his way.

Anyway, to what I've been working on lately, I had some difficulty retrieving my comic script to send to my artist. But have been working on the next issue as well. I have got my comics for this week and am preparing to write my review(s) for Comic Avalanche. But mostly I spent my time writing for my critiquing literature class.
This week we had to write an essay about a story where the character finds out some life shattering news at the end of the story. And we had to prove whether or not they knew the information all along. The paper it self took ten minutes to write but the deliberation of which side to take took me at least an hour.
I love and hate stories like that. I hate the uncertainty. However, I love not only that the writer entrust you to make up your own mind about the story based on the little part of it you have read, but also how it really means something different to everyone who reads it.

What A DAY!

Okay I know it is very exciting, two posts from me in less than 24 hours. So I am sure you are dying to know what would cause such an unusual occasion, and I am going to tell you.
In my last entry I mentioned the comic review I applied for. Well I sent my review and in about ten minutes I got an e-mail saying it was okay and he was going to post it on the site. I am also welcome to do at least one review a week. How great huh?! The website is www.comicavalanche.com and you want to go to reviews. And there you will find me. The guy who runs the site is just an avid collector who started the sight for entertainment only so it's way cool, check it out.
I know it's not creative writing but it is publishing experience. And I might be able to deal with critics better if I have been one, right?

Filled with anticipation!

Just to let everyone know it is still very warm here in Lansing. But the writing continues.
I have actually started the third issue of my series which might be a graphic novel, we shall see.
I am really excited about this one because it is going to take a real stab at the stereotypical way women are portrayed in comics and it's gonna be hilarious. I know I'm killing you by filling you with anticipation. Yeah right!

In other news I have applied for a job writing comic reviews on a website. It's not exactly my strong suit but I can make it work. So hopefully that works out, keep the fingers crossed.

Now for an update I have not heard back about the horror/adventure vampire story but the deadline isn't until Sunday, so they could be waiting for all submissions. But since I'm uncertain, I have kind of put it aside so I can work on my series.

Also I sent in my bio and pic for the sci-fi/ western and shortly after I was invited to write another story if I am so inclined. Maybe I will, but I'll need an idea first.

By the way I'm sorry that I am still having trouble figuring out how to post individual paragraphs instead of just one. Oops!

Too hot to function!

First let me say that it is HOT! I know it's Michigan but it has been near ninety everyday this week and it's not changing for a while. But don't worry my creative juices are still flowing and have not been run dry by this sweltering heat. However, I have no air conditioning in my office(home) so I have no desire to do anything but lay in front of the fan. I have a way to fix this problem though.

It is time for me to become one of the stereo-typical writers who sits in a coffee shop. Actually, it will probably be a restaurant, I hate coffee but love food. I know since I have no functioning laptop that I will have to go old school and break out the pen and paper. This will also create more work for me later when I have to type it in. Although, it's better than sitting around doing nothing but watching my thoughts to write about flow out of my head like the breeze from my fan out of my window.

Since I clearly haven't been writing too much, there really isn't much to say. I did start summer classes this week. I'm taking a course where we critique literature. It's a lot of essay writing about interpreting what other writers are trying to say. I don't know how well I'll do because half the time I don't even know what we're talking about.

Picture Imperfect

Okay so here is the latest update. I have finished issue two and it is shorter than the first so clearly I am still battling with my unboring filler material problem. I just know that the third and fourth issue are going to be ten times as long as the first two and then I'll have to figure that out. The education continues.

So I just turned in a synopsis for the horror/adventure story that is supposed to be something in the werewolf and vampire hunter style. Mine is kind of like that. If it gets rejected by the publisher I'll finish the story and print it right here. An exclusive original story for my fans. Try to contain yourselves. And don't jinx me just cuz you wanna see it here first. HAHAHA!

Now seriously, I finally lost patience and mailed a note to the publisher to the sci/fi western story. I had been frustrated thinking he might have stolen my story and then it hit me that you'd have to be pretty bad at writing to claim my stuff as your own and that is when I figured that he must have absolutely hated it. But it turns out that he liked it, he's just been busy. Which I can very well understand. But the crazy thing is that he wants a bio and a picture of the anthology. I have never taken a good picture. So I thought a crazy picture of me would be a good idea, then I would have a reason to look stupid and it would be funny. But would it really be funny? I have a horrible sense of humor that no one else seems to get, so would they just think I'm a lunatic? They probably would, especially after reading my work. Anyway, I'm sure it will all work out.

By the way I am sorry for entries that are one long paragraph, I am an idiot when it comes to using this blog.