(Busy) Notice

22Sep09

I’ve started work on my English/Business degree, and am actually *gasp!* enjoying the assignments so far. I’ve 3-4 papers to hand in over this/next week, so I guess I’ll be very busy on that front for the time being.

+ I believe in the Bates method. I have Relearning to See, by Thomas R. Quackenbush — the main points I retained were to

1) reduce stress,
2) not stare/strain (especially when using the computer),
3) move the eyes/blink through the day.

People who have 6/6 perfect eyesight, please be thankful for your perfect vision. I started off at about -6.75D for both eyes. I’ve managed to get it down to about -5D (outdoors, bright sun) over a year. Am trying to hit -4D by March next year. When I do hit -4D, I am 100%-confident I can go all the way down to 6/6 vision.

+ Teresa Teng (你怎么说 / ni zhe me shuo) — WOW.

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Author Interview Exchange

08Sep09

Two in a day:

1) I interviewed the lovely Wicked Redhead here, who very kindly took the time to do a Q&A with me too (Ms. Kirchoff writes science fiction & erotica).

2) Discussion with Cynthia Vespia @ Authors by Authors (Ms. Vespia enjoy martial arts and being an active fitness competitor, yow!).

+ The name of one of the characters in Book04 = D – - – - t  Y – - – - – - – u  I – a (fill in the blanks / Japanese name)…I might blog something about characters’ names in another post soon.

+ Am approaching the halfway mark of draft01 of Book03.

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Digital Fiction, Inspiration!

06Sep09

I am not too sure if  “digital fiction” is currently a genre or not — but looking at the way my next next book (Book04) might be going, I’m thinking of branding that book as such when it’s ready to hit the market.

This is why I sometimes have a hard time falling asleep at night. I usually get a good night’s rest, but when I don’t, I really don’t, haha. My mind will be abuzz with so many things — what to put into a particular story, which way(s) it should go, how much of it will/should be based on “real life”, etc etc. And this is just in the writing department.

When I finish something, I have already definitely thought of “the next project” — I tend to “think up of the next (project’s) concept” when I’m halfway through whatever it is I’m occupied with at present. Wasn’t really the case with Book01/EyeLeash though…I started writing Book02 when Book01 was definitely donedonedone. Though there is a portion in Book02 which was written in 2005.

Alright, enough nonsense. I don’t know if what I have in mind for Book04 can really be presented as “digital fiction” — I have one story in mind, but if it’s too short (my guesstimate is it might be of a novella length, which is anywhere from 20,000 to 40,000 words)…I will probably throw in 2-3 more stories. And if those additions aren’t digital stories (whereby most, if not all, of the story takes place via online mediums)…then technically, it’ll be contemporary fiction, and not the niche that’s digital fiction.

Stuff to chew on.

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INFJ roundabout thoughts

04Sep09

As a writer, I like to allocate a significant amount of time to: reading & writing.

Yes, marketing and networking are important, but if all the time and energy goes towards those departments, the next writing project is going to take a much longer time to get started on/continued on/be completed.

Which makes me think about Book03 (which I still have not gotten back to — which I INTEND to, in…say…a couple of weeks).

My first two books have left me quite, quite exhausted (writing, editing, publishing, and marketing them) — but I drew a bird sketch a couple of days ago, which calmed my mind down somewhat.

pen to paper straight | looks better full view :P

It’s one of the reasons I like drawing (it’s mentally stabilizing). I started drawing at around age 16/17, which is quite late in my opinion. I started doodling as a mass communications student, because I was so miserable the entire time, as I was trying to figure out “what to do with my life”.

I like using pen more so than pencil, when it comes to both writing and drawing. I hate pencil smudging, and pen, well, the medium allows for mistakes. In fact, it makes mistakes a necessity. And sometimes, I think that’s the best way for me to actually learn and retain anything that’s worth knowing.

Seemingly roundabout thoughts. It’s how I figure things out/keep things together.

Got to some e-mails/interviews (Book02) today…maybe I will check out the iTunes app for books, submit press releases to some magazines, and look into online podcasts (one avenue I haven’t checked out yet!). I’m trying to get as much as I can done before I start on my BA — I signed up for four classes for the Fall 2009 semester. I hope it goes well.

P.S. As an INFJ, this is one way I tend to spend many hours on Google.

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The Adventure of Transfer Credits

29Aug09

Short Version: I have had to switch universities in the past few days — the application deadline at the new place is 8 September 2009, so I’m hoping everything goes well.

Longer Version: When I was in Singapore, I completed an Associate of Arts degree via an extended studies program. The degree/official transcript came from Adams State College (ASC) in the US. I spent about a year and a half completing the degree (2005-2006).

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