Happy Halloween! And the last day of NaNo prep!

Happy Halloween 2011! (Created at Picnik.com)

What a weekend. NO INTERNET! It’s like somebody borrowed my arms for the weekend or something. I kind of sat in my chair for a few hours wondering what to do at first. Of course, then I realized OMG I needed to finish all my prep work for NaNoWriMo, which starts TOMORROW. Got a good bit of the outline done (whatever I end up with at the end of NaNo is going to need SERIOUS work if it’s going to be any kind of readable item. This is my first shot at a horror/murder mystery sort of thing, and I have NO IDEA WHAT I’M DOING. There are giant holes in the plot that are going to take some serious work to fill.) For some reason I still haven’t finished my main character’s profile — which is really okay, because he’s developed in a lot of ways that I hadn’t expected just through the writing of the outline, so I’ll mostly just wing it.

So that was the POSITIVE of the WEEKEND OF NO INTERNET. The negative(s): 1.) I had to cancel a job due on Saturday because I couldn’t get the research done or submit the piece when it was finished. Bye bye, $20. Thanks, Charter Internet. I wonder if I can demand that back along with the one day lost service (which, btw, was completely nonsensical, as we DID NOT HAVE EVEN ONE FLURRY OF SNOW, NOR DID THE CABLE TV GO OUT.) and 2.) I didn’t get to do my whole annual scary-thon. I had a whole list of movies I hadn’t seen before, and I didn’t get to see a single one. I watched Rocky Horror, of course, because Halloween just doesn’t exist for me if I don’t do the Time Warp. I watched Night of the Living Dead, which… I don’t know, I think it’s been left behind too far by modern zombies to be really scary anymore. (My mother has had nightmares about it since she saw the original first run. If you really want to freak her out, just hide somewhere and whisper, “They’re coming to get you Baaaaabara.” Heh.) I have a fairly extensive collection of horror on DVD, but I’ve seen most of them so many times already, I’m BORED with them. Point being? NO ONLINE MOVIES.

Honestly? I’m kind of more annoyed about the latter than the former. I LOVE MY HALLOWEEN ACTIVITIES. It’s my favorite frickin holiday, and having the festivities upset is like Xmas being being cancelled! The internet came back up late last night, so I got to watch the original Halloween, at least. It’s funny, as I was watching it (besides admiring that rockin late 70′s style — those platforms and bell bottoms, baby!), I was sadly thinking that it really hasn’t held up well over time. I mean, I seem to remember a LOT more people dying, and being scared half out of my mind the first time I saw it as a kid. But then, when I shut down my computer and started closing up the house for the night… I WAS CREEPED OUT OF MY TREE. SRSLY. We have this giant picture window in the kitchen with no curtains, just plants for privacy, and I had to like, RUN by it so I wouldn’t look out and see Michael Myers staring in at me. Closed shower curtain in the bathroom? THROWN OPEN. Which is TOTALLY against the Horror Movie Rules, but I couldn’t stand the idea that MICHAEL MYERS MIGHT BE HIDING IN MY SHOWER (totally getting my horror movies mixed up there). Got ready for bed FAST. Ran through bedroom, locked windows, slapped the shades shut, jumped into bed and under the covers. Of course, I then continued reading the horror novel I’ve been reading, but still. Reading isn’t as scary as movies for me for some reason. (Wow, that’s some ugly grammar.)

I think there are two ways a good horror movie can scare Teh Pee out of you. One is during the movie, when you’re gripping your chair so hard you crack the wood, or possibly your significant other. There’s all that jumping and screaming, etc, which doesn’t happen a lot with horror anymore. Then there’s the movie that stays with you after it’s over. The ones that make you stay out of the water, the basement, the attic, that make you scared to even look out the frickin windows, or go to camp, or go out at night at all, for that matter. I confess, for example, that The Ring did both for me. Same with the Blair Witch project (although the latter unfortunately has no real replay value — the gimmick only really works once.) But I’ll tell you what, after seeing the BWP in the theater, when I had to go down into my friend’s whitewashed basement to get soda or something, I was SERIOUSLY freaked.

Today I’m torn. I’ve not scheduled anything so I can watch Halloween programming, but I don’t know if I want to watch what’s happening on network TV, or if I want to try to get some of my scare-fest in. Not that I’m really restricted to today, of course. There’s nothing to say I can’t watch the rest of the week, but schedule-wise is going to be really hard — I have a newspaper piece due Thursday and need to finish up a few more interviews for it this week, I have Dr. appointments up the ying-yang and have to get bloodwork done for them (which means sitting at the blood draw for hours), and I have a meeting on Thursday about a possible tutoring job. Basically, incredibly busy week, no time for fun movies. BUMMED HEATHER.

OMG ALSO NANOWRIMO! 1667 words a day, baby. I have to make sure my Xanax prescription is filled while I’m out tomorrow so I don’t have a total breakdown this month, I swear. And what’s funny (not ha-ha funny) is that since I started focusing on the newspaper work and Yeepet.com, I haven’t been taking many of the regular contract pieces I was doing. I’m not sure how that’s going to effect my income this month, but I’m hoping the 3-4 pieces I’ll have in the paper next month will make up for it. The gifty holidays are coming, you know, and I have every intention of buying a Kindle Fire after the first of the year.

Wow, I’ve been so babbly today! I missed you guys! But now I must be off to finish the novel prep and debate the viewing schedule. I hope everybody has an awesome Halloween, and that my Pagan Friends have the most blessed New Year!

You're Welcome.

 

You know what I can’t stand?

When you bust your booty all day, and it still doesn’t feel like you got anything done! I managed to throw together an extra piece for my local paper gig that was literally last minute, made some phone calls for the next paper deadline which is on Monday, and…

Um, maybe I didn’t get that much done, and that’s why I feel like I didn’t get that much done. But what I did took all day… what’s up with that?

Been getting the materials ready for NaNo! Almost finished with one major character profile, have one more to go. Have named all minor characters (of which there are an awful lot!), built the two major areas the story will take place in, and started the very beginning of the outline.

See, got a lot more done on the fiction today than the paying work! But it’s my “art,” man! MY ART, I TELLS YA!

Also, I had nachos today. They were scrumptious.

 

It’s the moooost wonderful tiiiiime of the year….

Yeah, I know, the “holiday” season is still… well, about a week off, since we all know that the decorations start going up as soon as the Halloween ones come down. But THIS is my favorite time of the year. I love Halloween, I love NaNo. Of course, I still love Thanksgiving and Xmas too, but Halloween is #1.

I haven’t been posting much lately because I’ve been SO sick and SO busy all that the same time. I haven’t had even the tiniest speck of energy left to blog with. I think I mentioned before that when I don’t feel like talking to anybody, that generally ends up meaning talking to my blog, too. Besides, with the way my work has become focused, blogging doesn’t come as naturally, as often. I don’t have frequent publishing or updates to share — most of my work is either offline or… well, offline. EXCEPT MY WONDERFUL AWESOME YEEPET.COM ARTICLES AND BLOGS. Seirously, if you haven’t signed up to take part on that wonderful site yet, you’re really missing out. If you’re one of those people who loves to talk about their pets, there’s noplace better.

What I’ve been doing besides blogging and working on the newspaper (SO much more challenging than I ever expected. I’m a research geek girl, I was completely unprepared to start interviewing people! I’m getting the hang of it, but I get nerves every time I make a call!) is getting ready for NANO! ONLY DAYS TO GO! I’ve decide I AM going to go with my very first “horror” novel. I have no idea really how to plot it, so right now I’m working on the outline to make sure I don’t get stuck in the middle. It started out as a short story, but ended up to be too complex for that, and I haven’t quite figured out if it’s enough even for 50k words. But that’s what NaNo is for, right, just throwing caution to the wind and going for it?

If you’re doing NaNo, or if you want to see my NaNo page, stop on by… well, my Nano page. Man, am I eloquent today or what?

 

I’d like my “bleurgh” noted for the record, please…

I know, I’m always sick, blah blah blah. Well, I am sick. Again. I have the seasonal PLAGUE that the flu shot does nothing for thanks to a depressed immune system, and I wouldn’t mind the whole achy, coughy, sneezy, sniffly, sounds-like-a-Nyquil-commercial stuff if I wasn’t so DANG FUZZY IN THE HEAD AND CRANKY! I’m sitting here looking at a project due tomorrow, yelling at it like, “I DON’T CARE  ABOUT YOU, BLAH BLAH TOPIC! NOBODY CARES ABOUT YOU! YOU’RE JUST SOME REGULATION THAT SOMEBODY HAS TO UNDERSTAND SO I HAVE TO WRITE THIS BORING CRAP INSTEAD OF LYING IN BED WATCHING HAMMER HORROR MOVIES ON MY LAPTOP AND EATING JUNK FOOD!”

And then I feel guilty for yelling at a project that will pay me money… and then I feel completely insane for yelling at a project at all.

Hey, speaking of horror, have any of you checked out “American Horror Story” on FX? AWE–wait for it–SOME! I was so freaking creeped out I can’t wait for the next episode! I actually did lay in bed yesterday afternoon, but I spent like, half the day looking online for something I felt like watching. Ended up with a bunch of South Park Halloween episodes (Simpsons are better when it comes to those) and then I ran into AHS… which was TOTALLY what I was looking for. I love scary movies, but I also love to whine about “them damn kids and their movies nowadays where blood and gore passes for horror.” This show uses real CREEP factor, mystery, and did I mention creep factor?

Also? Cranky because I have to choose between checking out Grimm and Fringe on Friday because I am the last person on the planet without DVR, and I always forget to look for things I want to watch online unless I write them down. Bleurgh.

Maybe I’m just cranky because I’m OLD.

Jussgoawaiplzkthnkzbai

 

Last Chance to Get Your Cute Kitty Noticed!

Enter or Vote Today! Contest ends Sunday!

Even if Fluffy is too shy to enter, don’t forget to look through all the adorable kitties, and vote for your favorite. But hurry, the context ends tomorrow, October 16!

(Yeah, I realize there was no real segway there. But… I guess no matter how sad I am, work still has to go on. Yeepet does so much to help educate people about animals, while making the site a fun gathering place for those of us who love them. They’re also involved in offering a place where animals who need homes can be found… or find their forever people. It’s a great site, and I’m happy to be a part of it.)

 

RIP Pete, Vermonts Beloved Moose

RIP Pete, Vermonts Beloved Moose | – Yeepet.

Living near the area where Pete the moose lived, he was kind of a mascot, kind of a friend to me and everyone nearby. Hearing that he had passed away just broke my heart, and I felt like I needed to pass the word to others who may or may not have known his story.

 

How unprofessional is it to complain about jobs?

Leave me alone.

Is a writing blog the place to whinge about the issues freelancers may or may not run into in their daily work life? As long as you don’t complain in identifying details about particular clients or employers, can you discuss particular issues you run into with other writers, or is that stuff that’s suppose to be left to locked down forums or what have you? Or are you supposed to shut your mouth, do your work, and be happy you have any jobs at all?

I don’t know… maybe I’m getting my autumn blues (even though I love autumn — it never made any sense to me). Maybe I finally came down a bit from that high of having such awesome work. Maybe I’m just tired and sick. Or maybe I’m just seeing the true colors of so me of the companies I applied to work for.

I really want to hear from other freelancers — or any writers out there. Where do you go to share your disappointments where people won’t look at you like a whiner? Is your blog an appropriate place to share those things? Are there any good forums where you don’t have to pay to chip your way into a snotty qlique that looks down at anyone who makes less than $100 an hour, or scoffs at those who do certain kinds of work?

Ugh. I just want to go back to bed. But I have this assignment that I pretty much had shoved on me about a topic I no knowledge about, and have about 14 hours to complete. If I say no, that’s the end of any job from that company.

SEE? WHINGE.

 

Attention Cute Kitties!

It started off as just a blogging job, but now I’m kind of head over heels involved in this wonderful pet site, Yeepet.com. I adore the owner, and I love the opportunity to exercise my crazy pet lady tendencies and actually call it “work”! So I have to run around crowing about whatever awesome thing is going on there at the moment. Right now, that’s THE CUTE CAT CONTEST!

As those of you who have been following my freelancing adventures know, I’ve been working for an awesome pet social and information site called Yeepet.com. I adore it — some of my most fun is had doing pet related stuff. But anyway, this is why I’m posting today:

Cute cats needed!

KatKabin Cutest Cat Photo Contest

Do you have a cute cat? Enter our contest and show us the cutest side of your adorable kitty. You need to be a registered user to enter this contest. After your registration, log in and upload one or more pet photos of your pet. Photos will be voted on by registered users of Yeepet.com.

QUICK TIP: To have a better chance to win, enter multiple cats or add multiple photos of your cat to this contest.

The contest will end on Oct 16, 2011 at 11:59pm PST. The contest is proudly sponsored by Brinsea Products. Three (3) winners will be selected. Prizes include KatKabin or SkratchKabin.

See Terms and conditions here.

Stop by and join for the contest, but stay for the chance to talk with other pet parents about your bbs!

Join Yeepet.com and Celebrate YOUR Animal Friends!

 

Yeah, so…

The Post-a-Day thing has turned into more “Post-Whenever-I-Think-Of-It” which… doesn’t really bode well for Nano this year. Unless I can come up with an idea that turns me on enough to HAVE to write it… which hasn’t happened in years, unfortunately.

Wow, what is it with me and ellipses today…?

Um... I don't even know. It's the 'victim' dog that sort of weirds me out.

I’m just too beat to have much else on my mind. My health is really suffering lately. I’m exhausted all the time, and I can’t seem to sleep enough. I suspect my diet may need a bit of an overhaul. Might. Because I think I’ve been celebrating my manic upswing with lots of fat and salt, and now I’m crashing mood-wise and food-wise. Should care. Don’t. Time for a nap.

More perky discussion tomorrow! Maybe I’ll talk a little about my grody horror story plans!

 

Another… couple of days, another post.

Oy. Can't I just go back to bed?

I am just not in the mood to write lately. I love fall so much, but it makes me mostly want to nap and loaf. Which makes the self-employment thing so handy! I just have to fulfill the contract jobs with deadlines, and the endless list of things I “kinda wanna” write can be set aside for the time being.

The truth is, when I first started doing this kind of writing, I signed up or applied to every possible content mill and contract site I stumbled across. I only write regularly for two or three now. I guess that’s what experience is for, right? One place, for example, you write articles that require hours of research, post what you’ve written — which goes into a pile with a bunch of other people writing the same article. There’s not contracting or reserving topics. Then you have to go through an incredibly picky editorial process (I’m talking having an entire piece sent back for ONE LETTER — they can’t just fix it, you have to re-submit the entire thing.) I’ve had pieces come back four or five times for small edits… they couldn’t find them all the first time? Anyway, under normal circumstances, I have no issues with editing — I’m a fiction writer, after all, and a customer has the right to get the product they’re paying for. But this gets frustrating when you do all that work, go through those nitpicky edits, and then the piece can sit there forever, to be sold or not be sold.

Why should I waste all that time one a single piece that may come to naught, when there are other contract sites where I actually write a piece and submit it directly to the client? They still have the ability to make comments, ask for changes, and reject the piece if it just doesn’t work, but things can almost always be fixed to everybody’s satisfaction. The pieces for these other sites are usually less complicated and require less time, as well. So, even if I write one of the topics down on my schedule to write, if something I’m more likely to get paid for comes up or I just don’t feel like doing anything? Buh bye.

Then there are content mills. You may notice my writing for some sites have gone down substantially. I don’t have anything against those, necessarily. I think they have their place (and I really enjoy some of the topics a lot more than stuff I write for other projects), and it’s nice for writers to have a chance to cut their teeth, be part of a writing community, and maybe make a little change on the side, BUT… again, it’s a matter of not just money (writing an article that requires research time and writing time, and getting $2-3 for it? Um… no.) but that some sites require you to take part in site related activities in order to get paid residuals on things you DID write.

What was my point again? Oh, right. I’m lazy, and I only write for things that pay fairly well or that I enjoy a lot (when I feel like it). This job was totally made for me.

On the other hand… I get to write about puppies and kitties sometimes too! *G* Those are my favorite. (Yeah, that’s how I roll. Crazy pet lady, not ashamed.)

Anyway, back to work… I have to gather some pictures of pets in cute costumes. I so love my job!