To Each Thine Own Creativity

The Tick Weapons Lab Avatar

Since I’ve been diving into art and music again, my ideas have been free-flowing — it feels amazing. In my office, I have many art pieces up ranging from comic book characters to gothic elements. Transformers, Hack/Slash, He-Man, Thor, Star Wars, The Uniques, Final Fantasy, Domo, Miyazaki — and a dozen more waiting to be framed in my closet. My shelves are littered with color and characters like the Tokidoki figurines.

Beside me, are two watercolor pads and a set of paints. YouTube! tutorials abound and brush hits paper. Beads strung on wire and bits of thread. My moleskine notebook is filling up with concepts for new stories and plot-related tweaks for tales in various draft modes. I have several story-telling aids as well, like Rory’s Story Cubes, and various Doctor Who paraphenalia (as it is no secret I would love to write an episode some day).

And I need this creative clutter. You know, I really need it and have to play and use every bit of it. I opted not to pursue a career in art when I was much younger, although I love the field so, in part because I had even less support for that than I did my own writing. [Insert long story about how yes, having a network of people who support you for who you are is crucial to your future. If you don’t have one, make one — I know you can! I did!] I am such a tactile person I can’t “just” write; I need to create art, to be surrounded by it in order to unlock my creative energy. It doesn’t matter if I suck or not. It doesn’t matter if I sell those pieces or not. All that does, however, is that this method activates my creativity. You may be totally different.

What I’ve been learning and honing, more and more, is the concept of artistic resilience. So much crappy news about publishing, about women in publishing (depressing), about what to do/what not to do — distractions. Tumbleweeds. Plastic bags floating across the highway. I want to read about art and listen to new music and… Oh, hell. Han Solo?

NEVER TELL ME THE ODDS.

More than that, though? I don’t feel there is a single way to find inspiration. I hope you find whatever works for you. There is nothing more freeing to me than knowing what best services the work, because that allows me to block out the b.s. and focus on what’s most important — writing.

    Mood: There’s a frog in my throat. Wondering what its legs look like.
    Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: Managed again! Huzzah!
    Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: I went to the gym and worshiped a machine.
    In My Ears: Clubbed to Death (Kurayamino Version) by Rob Dougan
    Game Last Played: Sonic All Star Racing Transformed
    Book Last Read: Lovecraft’s Monsters anthology
    Movie Last Viewed: Dark City Director’s Cut
    Latest Artistic Project: National Craft Month
    Latest Fiction/Comic Release: Last Man Zombie Standing
    Latest Game Release: Freedom Flyer
    What I’m Working On: Primarily tie-in games work and novels.


March 4, 2014
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National Craft Month! First Three Pieces

Yuna Final Fantasy X-2

March did its best to roar like a Lannister on Saturday. Here’s hoping it’ll whimper on its way out like a House that the Targaryens toasted a few hundred years ago. This weekend, I kicked off National Craft Month with a pledge to create a new art piece every day. My only stipulation was that I focus on something new that I haven’t done before. As I have trouble disciplining my cats, Rimmon kept a watchful eye waiting for the needle and thread to come out — so I opted for wirework instead and took inspiration from my writing.

I have a ton of these little dice beads so I picked out three colors that made me think of Firefly. This is what I came up with, an ear cuff modified off of this design.

Firefly RPG-themed Dice Cuff

Since I already had steampunk on the brain, I created a pendant. This one is a little more Alice in Wonderland than what I had written and submitted, but you know? For being a completely freeform piece, I like the way it turned out.

Steampunk Pendant

This pair of earrings is inspired by the story I submitted in the blind. Though the plot was set in modern day times, I wrote the piece in a Victorian style. Which, if you’ve read my work, means that’s also part of the plot. We shall see! I’ll keep you posted.

Steampunk Earrings

You can see how the earring hangs, here. I wish I could say I tried to make good use of negative space, but in all honesty this design was a total accident. I had a silver gear that was perfect to go with the other one, but I lost it as I was working on it. Yep, I’m that talented. It has gone into the abyss, where lost socks wander aimlessly, leaving behind a trail of yarn. Or tears. Whatever.

Steampunk Earring

    Mood: I refuse to be defeated. Winter will end!
    Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: Managed!
    Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: I should have gone to the gym. Instead, I hang my head in shame.
    In My Ears: Monday morning shuffle.
    Game Last Played: Sonic All Star Racing Transformed
    Book Last Read: Lovecraft’s Monsters anthology
    Movie Last Viewed: THOR: A Dark World
    Latest Artistic Project: You’re looking at it.
    Latest Fiction/Comic Release: Last Man Zombie Standing
    Latest Game Release: Freedom Flyer
    What I’m Working On: Primarily tie-in games work and novels.


March 3, 2014
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Google Scholar is Shiny!

The Grinch Avatar

When I write science fiction, I need to have solid research materials at my disposal. Have to. I’ve been disillusioned with the power of the Google because of it’s over-reliance on what my social network is saying, so searching takes me quite a while to parse out the rumor mill from fact.

Yesterday, I was looking up a health-related item, and in pops Google Scholar right into the search results.

Google Scholar provides a simple way to broadly search for scholarly literature. From one place, you can search across many disciplines and sources: articles, theses, books, abstracts and court opinions, from academic publishers, professional societies, online repositories, universities and other web sites. Google Scholar helps you find relevant work across the world of scholarly research. — SOURCE: Google Scholar

You mean… I can search for factual information on Google Scholar… Scientific research and academic papers?!?!! THE DEVIL YOU SAY?!?!!

Is it Christmas

    Mood: WOOO!
    Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: WOOO! WOOO!
    Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Huh. I forgot what I did. *face plant*
    In My Ears: Lots of thoughts.
    Game Last Played: Sonic All Star Racing Transformed
    Book Last Read: Lovecraft’s Monsters anthology
    Movie Last Viewed: THOR: A Dark World
    Latest Artistic Project: *Still* *still* *still* need to take pictures… It’s on the list!
    Latest Fiction/Comic Release: Last Man Zombie Standing
    Latest Game Release: Freedom Flyer
    What I’m Working On: Primarily tie-in games work and novels.


February 28, 2014
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On SDD and Classical Music

You're An Idiot, Starscream

This morning I read a report that we’ve had more below zero days than above this winter. I’ve mentioned how the cold was getting to me and have been trying some solutions to boost my mood ever since. (I even wrote some flash fiction about this winter called “If I Had A Snow Day“. Hee.)

So what’s been helping? I’ve been focusing on my diet and have been taking a B-Vitamin complex supplement combined with St. John’s Wort. The supplement has worked miracles for me; I definitely can tell a difference and am actively getting more veg into my diet. I think I’m all growed up now. Scary.

The other thing I’ve been doing is discharging those extra thoughts that circulate in my head by writing them down in a notebook. It’s not journaling (I don’t want to go back and read the garbage, mind you) it’s simply scrubbing out the folds in my brain by connecting pen to paper. I don’t think. I just write either in total silence or to classical music. Mendelssohn, Bach, Beethoven, Mozart mostly. Listz is not on my list. (I have always wanted to say that.) Neither is Debussy, though I do love his compositions.

So why classical? Music is math, but it’s also art. Center-brain. (Like me!) There is some science behind classical music and stress reduction. (YAY, SCIENCE!) Smithsonian Magazine has an article written by Galina Mindlin about Music Playlists to Sooth Your Mind. The idea that music reduces stress isn’t new, but for me it’s a specific kind of music–especially since I’m so sound-sensitive. Every sound is a note to me. It’s one of the reasons why it’s easy for me to translate accents into words when I write and why I don’t like noisy crowds. There’s too many noises and sensations for me to parse out unless there’s a unifying theme like folks singing a song or chanting.

Anyway, so SDD (e.g. Seasonal Depressive Disorder)? Managed. YAY! We’ve got more snow coming this weekend and supposedly it’ll be above twenty later next week. I think even the forecasters are optimistic on that front. *rim crash* Plus, with National Craft Month on the horizon… This winter is coming to an end. Spring is coming. (Hear that! NOT SECOND WINTER!!)

P.S. I’m a firm believer that this is why animated films can also be very relaxing; there’s the logic portion of it where bodies move and characters talk in a specific manner, mimicking our world. Well, usually. And then there’s the artistic part. The lines, the colors, the style. Art forms that activate both sides of your brain force you to focus on the experience. Ergo, you relax because you’re immersed in what you’re watching and seeing.

    Mood: One day at a time
    Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: I didn’t overdo it.
    Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Recovery day.
    In My Ears: An annoying side-effect from a shaky box of Girl Scout Cookies. Guess I have to clean my desk!
    Game Last Played: Sonic All Star Racing Transformed
    Book Last Read: Lovecraft’s Monsters anthology
    Movie Last Viewed: THOR: A Dark World
    Latest Artistic Project: *Still* *still* *still* need to take pictures… It’s on the list!
    Latest Fiction/Comic Release: Last Man Zombie Standing
    Latest Game Release: Freedom Flyer
    What I’m Working On: Primarily tie-in games work and novels.


February 27, 2014
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Moleskine Pen Wars

Jack The Pumpkin King Avatar

I love my Moleskine notebook. I hate my Moleskine notebook. Well, the paper that is. I like using gel pens and the Prismacolor graphic design pens to write with, but unfortunately I found many of the writing utensils I favor bleeds right through or worse — doesn’t dry fast enough. The only exception to this, is that I do favor Japanese pens, but I don’t know the brand and sadly can’t read the language. I picked a handful up at an import store and I love them so, so much. Just worried the ink’ll run out.

Since these notebooks aren’t cheap, I’d much rather use both sides of the page than abandon half the book. Pencils and ballpoint pens won’t do for me. I did try out the Pentel Wow! series, which comes in a variety of colors, and the ink doesn’t bleed, however it’s not as smooth and quick as a gel pen and the words leave a slight impression on the paper. The Bic Z4 0.5mm bled right through. So, I turned to the hive mind (a.k.a. Twitter) and asked them for advice.

I picked out three contenders from JetPens.com, all of which are pictured below. The Uniball Vision Elite 0.7mm in blue-black (I LOVE THIS COLOR!), the Pilot G2 0.5mm in black, and the “official” Moleskine pen in black ink which clips to the front of my notebook. Love that feature given I’m prone to pen loss. (It’s a disorder.)

The Pens

And now for the pen death match! Er… Writing test. You can see the Moleskine pen has a heavier weight than the other two. Annnnnnnd fight!

Sample Pen Test

The results of the missile test are?

The back

All three dried quickly; no worries there. Slight bleed at certain points, but manageable. I found the Pilot G2 tends to skip (this is likely do more to my handwriting than anything else) and the Moleskine pen feels like more of a novelty item. Big, bulky — I’m happy with it, but it’s not an everyday pen. The winner is definitely the Uniball Vision Elite.

Phew! That was a close battle! I think I shall celebrate with more writing.

    Mood: FEAR MY PEN
    Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: I was falling asleep at my keyboard, so I had coffee and then switched to Jim Beam and Diet Pepsi later on in the evening. So tired today.
    Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: W00T! Interval training on the AMT Open Stride
    In My Ears: Meh. Fans and all that white noise crap.
    Game Last Played: Sonic All Star Racing Transformed
    Book Last Read: Lovecraft’s Monsters anthology
    Movie Last Viewed: THOR: A Dark World
    Latest Artistic Project: *Still* *still* *still* need to take pictures… It’s on the list!
    Latest Fiction/Comic Release: Last Man Zombie Standing
    Latest Game Release: Freedom Flyer
    What I’m Working On: Primarily tie-in games work and novels.


February 26, 2014
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