Writing Production

I did not win NaNoWrimo once again this year.  This time I was actually going pretty good too.  Unfortunately I got really sick with some kind of upper respiratory thing (a very technical term, I know, but that's what happens when you avoid doctors like they are more of a plague than your actual illness).  It took me most of November just to get to feeling well again.

Even though I didn't make it to 50,000 words I did get a little over 10,000 words done and when I look back on 2013 I realized I actually did a pretty good amount of writing.  I finished a first draft of a fantasy novel I've been working on and got about 1/3 of the way through a first draft of a vampire novel.  Not only that but I've blogged more this year than in 2012.  That's not saying a whole lot but it's still a start.

Still, I want to get better in 2014.  My goal is to get my fantasy novel polished up enough people will want to buy it, get my first draft done of my vampire novel, and write a third novel.  Somewhere in there I would also like to write some short stories and be more consistent on my blog.  I'm thinking one short story a week and one blog post a week would be good.

Reflections on Self

As a new year approaches my thoughts turn towards change and improvement.  This has been a particularly reflective year for me.  Something has been missing.  My life feels like it is missing something, like I'm not living up to my potential.  I need to create a manifesto for my life and determine my focus for the coming year.

1) Focus on spiritual rewards rather than financial rewards.  This does not mean that I will ignore money but will not let it affect career or personal decisions.
2) Eat better.  This will be hard to do while trying to reduce debt but I must find a way to be healthier.
3) Meditate more.
4) Create and follow plan for financial independence.
5) Write more.  I am already doing this but need to make it more consistent, more a part of who I am.
6) Read for pleasure more.
7) Get more and better sleep.
8) Follow psychological best practices.

NaNoWrimo Eve

It's finally less than 24 hrs. until NaNoWrimo!  I'm so excited, I wish I could start right now.  But I can't :(

Instead, I'm spending this time contemplating NaNoWrimo, the vampire novel that I'm going to work on during that time, and cruising the Nano website.  Mostly that last part.  Which makes me feel a bit guilty, actually, since it's Halloween (my favorite holiday) and I should be doing Halloween things.  I don't feel as bad about it this year though, because I'll be working until midnight anyhow so I'm mostly missing Halloween this year anyway.

One thing that I will be doing during NaNoWrimo this year is posting updates on here.  I think if I put things up on the blog it will help me stay focused and give me a sense of accomplishment each day.  At least that's the idea.

As for what I'll be posting - I'll have thoughts about my progress, brainstorming ideas, and of course some excerpts from what I've written.  Think of it as a look inside the mind of someone who thinks they are a creative genius but has yet to prove it and is really starting to develop a complex about that.

Happy Halloween/NaNoWrimo Eve everyone!

Nanowrimo and My Vampire Novel

NaNoWrimo (National Novel Writing Month) will soon be upon me and my vampire novel.  I'm fairly well prepared in terms of having content waiting to be written.  In fact, I suspect I have more than 50,000 words worth of content.  Especially since I just realized this evening that I need to add in an additional character's point of view/story line which will essentially double the size of an already decently sized novel.

Along with this realization comes the smashing of all of my hopes and dreams of having my first novel done in the near future.  While my fantasy novel is essentially done I don't have any passion for it at the moment - certainly not enough to drudge through all of the continuity fixes it requires.

Ah well, such is the life of an artist I suppose.  Ultimately I am just grateful to finally be getting this kind of real work done on a real novel.  I just hope that when all is said and done I will be able to attract at least a handful of readers to my work.

Daddy Vampire

My 7 year old said the cutest thing tonight.  I was playing "Nosferatu: Run From the Sun" and she said "Daddy, is that you?"  I asked her why and she said "Be ause you're a vampire."  Awww.

Amazing Edward Scissorhands tattoo

I don't have anything nearly this extensive yet but would love to have a tattoo this cool.  I would probably choose a vampire theme but Edward Scissorhands is awesome too!

Edward Scissorhands tattoo - Jasen Workman - http://pinterest.com/pin/283726845248808827/

Vampire cosplay

For those of you with a Pinterest account, here is a beautiful vampire cosplay: http://pinterest.com/pin/314477986450958752/

App Obsession: Dark Legends

"Dark Legends" has a terribly unimaginative name that disguises a gem of a game.  Unlike most mobile games, "Dark Legends" has a lot of the features I expect out of good PC/console games. 

First of all, the gameplay is impressive.  "Dark Legends" features realtime combat along the lines of the Diablo games for PC (and now console).  While most mobile apps in the RPG genre seem to feature dice rolling that requires no real strategy, "Dark Legends" has a system of powers that can be activated real time to make or break each combat scenario.  Further, the player has the option to guide the levelling of their character as opposed to auto levelling (although auto-levelling is the default).

What really sets this game apart, however, is the setting.  The setting feels like vampires belong in it, including a persistent social area with a vampire club, complete with vampires feeding on willing clientelle.  Also in the area are a clothing shop with some really great costumes that run the gamut from dark modern to traditional.

To top it all off this game is free to play, which is completely unbelievable given the amount of effort that clearly went into it.  Highly recommended!

First Post

Every blog has to have a first post so I suppose I might as well get this under way.

First of all, welcome and thank you for reading.  Without readers a blog doesn't go very far.

Secondly, what is this blog all about?  Mostly it is about the dark, weird, and sometimes romantic things in my life.  Without these things I am hollow but to enjoy them I need an asylum, a place locked away from the mundane.

And that's about it I guess.  This blog will get a lot more interesting as it goes along, I promise.  Or at least a lot more full of stuff.