I cannot wait for “Fangs and Formaldehyde” to debut in the New Hero anthology. No word yet on the street date, but the conversation in my head went something like this:

READER: What’s so different about your vampires?

ME: Well, you know how some vampires sparkle?

READER: Yeah…

ME: Mine blow up!

READER: They blow up? *confused look*

ME: Yep! *grins like an idiot* If a vampire gets too emotional in my setting, they explode into little pieces! It’s very messy.

Mood: Philosophical crossed with excitement.
Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: Two.
Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Half an hour walk
Yesterday’s Projects: RPG, Novel, short story
In My Ears: Computer fan. About to put some tunes in, though.
Game Last Played: PicCross 3D
Movie Last Viewed: Return of the King
Book Last Read: The Encyclopedia of 500 Spells
Latest Artistic Project: Crystal Medallion pendant in silver and red
Latest Release: Strange, Dead Love for Vampire: the Requiem

There is something to be said for martial arts movies. There is also something to be said for old adages about idle hands being the devil’s workshop, which supposed (if you believe a quick count of the tubes comprising the internet) dates back to Chaucer’s time.

And there is also something to be said for The Last Samurai. Yes, I realize it’s Tom Cruise. Yes, I know it’s about the white man rushing in to rescuing a native culture on their own land. (*coughs* Avatar *coughs*) I like this movie because I’m a sucker for historicals and there are nuggets of awesome here. I mean, it’s Ken Watanabe. COME ON! And, despite what I think about his personal life, Tom Cruise can act. Phooey.

But I digress. There’s a moment in the film where Captain Algren isn’t *getting* the moves he’s being taught. Nobutada turns to him and explains he has too many mind.

That, my dear readers, is what gets in the way of what we want to do. For me, there’s been many things pressing on my mind as of late. I have the tendency, when I’m in the midst of projects or work, to fall deeply and head over heels into the zone and forget everything else. Then LOOK, SQUIRREL! something happens and I’m like: Do I need to worry about that?

In no uncertain order, the things that I fretted over in the past couple of weeks were: writer’s “platform,” online popularity, publisher perceptions, etc. And, to be blunt, it’s all bullsh*t. It is. All of that rah-rah-rah is secondary to the work. There are different forms of marketing, some of which are about creating an illusion, and I sometimes get sucked up into this. Mind you, I have friends who graciously provided a reality check in this regard, because I need that sometimes. I am far from perfect.

I think (Hah, hah… See what I did there?) it’s too easy to look to online popularity as a validation of self. As a way to say, hey… AWESOME! I have X number of fans pushing me forward. Every writer I’ve ever met needs a cheerleading squad that is NOT comprised of our cats. Every. Single. One. This is why there’s competition and snarky comments and bullsh*t. This is why some authors scout out bad reviews and comment on them. This is why we’re neurotic. And yes, I include myself in that category. I don’t write to hear myself speak. I write for my readers. And, for many authors, other authors are *also* readers, too.

Strip away the minds, and if you’re not telling the damn story, then you aren’t. There are those who can juggle all things and not be neurotic, and I admire them. I’m still growing and writing and reading and growing. Let’s hope I never stop learning, sharing, and being positive, too.

Mood: No mind! Empty head!
Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: Two.
Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: None, and I’m feeling it.
Yesterday’s Projects: RPG, Novel, short story
In My Ears: Tron. (<3 this soundtrack) Game Last Played: PicCross 3D
Movie Last Viewed: Return of the King
Book Last Read: The Encyclopedia of 500 Spells
Latest Artistic Project: Crystal Medallion pendant in silver and red
Latest Release: Strange, Dead Love for Vampire: the Requiem

Yesterday, I was plowing through words and e-mails and stumbled across this article from Vanessa Fox, who penned “Learning How to Say No Isn’t the Answer.” This phrase really got to me:

The ability to do that — to say no to things you’re not super excited about — that’s a luxury. Most of us who have that luxury now haven’t always had it. In fact, many of us who now have that luxury likely only have it because of our tendency to do just the opposite — not only say yes to everything but to seek out new things to say yes to. — SOURCE: Vanessa Fox on Learning How to Say No Isn’t the Answer.

That is exactly where I am in my career right now. It’s not just financial concerns for me, mind you, it’s also creative goals and career aspirations. It’s about committing to further those aims and to recognize opportunity when it comes my way because I am planning a year or two out. My work, specifically my storytelling and game design projects, are not a guarantee for success. For any creative, there are no guarantees. I have to balance paid vs. non-paid, tie-in vs. original, and marketing vs. productivity. I do this not because my work is an obligation, but because I love, love, love doing it!

There’s this impression that people who work a lot of hours are slaves to the machine. That we don’t have fun or that we’re boring people. Yesterday, I felt like that stereotype because after reviewing my goals for 2012, I have to focus more on production time than marketing or people interaction time — especially online. My new job has changed my schedule in a good way! The time I spend on the computer has to be valuable and the time I spend offline doubly so. Do I have any regrets? No, not a one.

Yes, writing is work. Yes, marketing for Steve Jackson Games and managing John Kovalic’s business is work. Yes, designing games or ripping them apart is also work. But? It does not feel like the traditional definition of work. I feel like I’m my accomplishments are valuable and I’m working with some amazing people. There’s a lot of teamwork here and that, coupled with being able to connect with other gamers, creative pros, and readers, is what makes the day job and these projects so enjoyable.

I guess, in the end, appearances are everything — or are they? Just because an author isn’t Tweeting jokes or interactive with readers doesn’t mean they’re not engaging. Just because a game designer isn’t talking about every individual piece of their process doesn’t mean they’re not busy working. And just because someone isn’t being social or they’re not talking about every aspect of their personal lives or they’ve had “a” bad day, that they’re miserable or overworked or stressed beyond belief.

I’m having the time of my life both professional and personally. How about you?

Mood: Bubbly
Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: Two!
Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Half an hour of yoga.
Yesterday’s Projects: RPG, Novel
In My Ears: Enya
Game Last Played: PicCross 3D
Movie Last Viewed: The Two Towers
Book Last Read: The Encyclopedia of 500 Spells
Latest Artistic Project: Crystal Medallion pendant in silver and red
Latest Release: Strange, Dead Love for Vampire: the Requiem

Today’s New Year wishes are courtesy of Dork Tower. May your day be merry and bright and may you enjoy a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2012!

The other day I got frustrated because I didn’t balance my schedule changes appropriately. So? I turned to my trusty friend the timer, opened up a document, and started to write. I had three interruptions in the first five minutes (all of which were my fault) but the numbers blaring on my screen reminded me that I had to stick to it.

I wrote 1,000 words in a half an hour without even realizing it. Had to stop because I was typing so fast I kept sticking on the Ctrl+ key which made my keyboard go all kinds of wonky — twice — but hopefully that’s all sorted out now. I think I’d have a meltdown if my new keyboard was batty after I spent three days setting it up, but after some investigation, I think this was a case of user error. Sigh, where’s Tron when you need him. Eh?

This free Countdown Timer works really well and there’s a full screen option available for those of you who have a second monitor. Combined with a Task Timer app from Chrome, these two items will help me break out my day into smaller chunks, even when I’m working on larger projects.

Although word count is important, you will notice a change to my status updates at the bottom of the blog screen. Due to the new 100 day announcement I posted earlier, I’m going to list the type of projects I’m working on. Mind you, I’m under NDA for some and others I don’t want to tell you about for professional reasons. I know other authors are comfortable talking about what they submit for open calls, but I’m not. I’d rather focus on the work at hand then think about publications like little notches on a computer screen.

For me, once I get past the research phase, I worry less about word count because I track progress by date moreso than the number of words. Deadlines are my goals and with some projects, like short stories, there really isn’t a set word count. It’s done when it’s done. Sometimes that means I have to go through several revisions; sometimes I’m good after the first draft.

Like any other working writer out there, this job (part time, any time, full time or hobby time) requires balancing more than one plate. Some gigs work out; some don’t. The trick is to keep at it and the timer is one tool to help me to just that. 🙂

Mood: This grasshopper is focused.
Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: It’s kind of hazy…
Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Half an hour walk.
Yesterday’s Projects: RPG, blogging
In My Ears: Movie Soundtrack Playlist (Currently Listening to Battlestar Galactica)
Game Last Played: PicCross 3D
Movie Last Viewed: Limitless
Book Last Read: The Encyclopedia of 500 Spells
Latest Artistic Project: Crystal Medallion pendant in gold
Latest Release: Strange, Dead Love for Vampire: the Requiem