I'm still alive! Things have been eventful though.
Can-Con 2015
When I last posted, Can-Con had just begun. The rest of it went by in a blur.
On Day 2 I attended a panel called, "Ask a Doctor Anything." I asked questions about amputation for my 2015 NaNoWriMo novel Scion, which I'm trying to finish this year.
I can't recall what I did next, but I think it was change into my hakama and keiko gi to get ready for the panel I was part of. Or maybe that's when I went to the one on villains.
I'm not going to lie, it felt damned cool to be a panelist. I enjoyed demonstrating some moves and the attendees got a chuckle when I did. They learned size doesn't matter as technique will prevail. I feel like we could have used 2 hours rather than one. One hour to talk and take questions and the other to demonstrate techniques and scenarios. I didn't get to talk much, but as it was my first panel, I'm all right with that.
Almost immediately after that, I pitched my novel and they requested the manuscript, which I spent the rest of Sunday, all of Monday, and some of Tuesday fixing up. I hope they like it. They said I would know by January. I think there might be some parts written too passively, but hopefully there's enough good that they see potential in it. I don't mind rewriting parts as that'll make it better.
Next, I cared for our table in the vendor's area then had food and attended some panels. I caught some of the blood spatter panel where I learned that amputation of a live limb will create arterial spurt.
There was an interesting panel on Eco-Fiction, but I didn't get as much as I thought I might from it. My friend enjoyed it though.
There was the paper airplane contest as well. I managed to sing in front of people this year. It's odd. I was once part of a choir and had no issue singing as part of a group in front of other people. I can sing decently alone or around a small group of trusted friends. Each time I tried to sing for an audition in high school, I nearly became Willow Rosenburg in that nightmares come true episode. Last year, I had a visceral reaction to the idea and nearly went into a fetal position. This year I managed many brown notes from the opening to Supernatural. Progress.
The Hallowe'en party had several people taking pictures of my Hit Girl costume. I'm petite, so it's fairly easy to pull off this character.
Sunday I opened the table, had my second pitch, and another Blue Pencil. My book wasn't what they were looking for. A friend got that response from them too. At the Blue Pencil, I got tips on my opening chapter, which I incorporated in my edits before submitting my manuscript.
I have a lot to learn about selling books. I sold one the entire weekend, but that's better than zero. I also way overestimated how many chapbooks to make. Oops.
Scion
I began writing Scion in May 2010, a month after graduating with a Business degree in Technology Management. I also began shotokan karate shortly thereafter.
As my first novel attempt, I knew how to write, but not how to get passed the 32,000 word wall. That's a common place for stories to get stuck for some reason.
I also didn't know enough about things like The Hero's Journey. I'm unsure if there are other forms for novels beyond the hero's journey...
I've returned to this project with more experience and at least one clue of what to do to finish it.
I'm starting with the lead up to the amputation scene... Fun stuff.
Well I'm starting later than I hoped to, but I think 450 words is an okay start.
Politics
Today made me proud to be Canadian and hopeful for the future. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was sworn in today with his cabinet. He stayed true to his word and selected a diverse cabinet filled with women, minorities, and even someone confined to a wheelchair. He created a new position: Minister of Science. A woman holds that seat. This cabinet reflects the diversity in Canada. It's a cabinet for and of the people.
I never thought I'd be writing about politics, but Justin makes me care. It's like we finally have a real leader in this country who's also a human being.
I tuned into the brief Google Hangout he had with school children after the swearing in ceremony. The chat screen was annoying. There were several people yelling for legalization to happen.
I'm pro legalization, but there are vastly more important things to handle first. Syria and the refugees. The missing and murdered Aboriginal women. Bill C-51. Also, Trudeau has stated that it must be implemented in a way that ensures it's not accessible to youth. He's likely talking to Colorado about what problems they ran into, so we don't have problems here. It's more important that those in need of medicinal marijuana get access first. It's more important that the textiles and other goods can be created. Those will give people jobs. Recreational use will come, but give the man a chance to do it right and stop screaming for it in inappropriate places like the chat room for elementary schools.
Ciao,
R~
Can-Con 2015
When I last posted, Can-Con had just begun. The rest of it went by in a blur.
On Day 2 I attended a panel called, "Ask a Doctor Anything." I asked questions about amputation for my 2015 NaNoWriMo novel Scion, which I'm trying to finish this year.
I can't recall what I did next, but I think it was change into my hakama and keiko gi to get ready for the panel I was part of. Or maybe that's when I went to the one on villains.
I'm not going to lie, it felt damned cool to be a panelist. I enjoyed demonstrating some moves and the attendees got a chuckle when I did. They learned size doesn't matter as technique will prevail. I feel like we could have used 2 hours rather than one. One hour to talk and take questions and the other to demonstrate techniques and scenarios. I didn't get to talk much, but as it was my first panel, I'm all right with that.
Almost immediately after that, I pitched my novel and they requested the manuscript, which I spent the rest of Sunday, all of Monday, and some of Tuesday fixing up. I hope they like it. They said I would know by January. I think there might be some parts written too passively, but hopefully there's enough good that they see potential in it. I don't mind rewriting parts as that'll make it better.
Next, I cared for our table in the vendor's area then had food and attended some panels. I caught some of the blood spatter panel where I learned that amputation of a live limb will create arterial spurt.
There was an interesting panel on Eco-Fiction, but I didn't get as much as I thought I might from it. My friend enjoyed it though.
There was the paper airplane contest as well. I managed to sing in front of people this year. It's odd. I was once part of a choir and had no issue singing as part of a group in front of other people. I can sing decently alone or around a small group of trusted friends. Each time I tried to sing for an audition in high school, I nearly became Willow Rosenburg in that nightmares come true episode. Last year, I had a visceral reaction to the idea and nearly went into a fetal position. This year I managed many brown notes from the opening to Supernatural. Progress.
The Hallowe'en party had several people taking pictures of my Hit Girl costume. I'm petite, so it's fairly easy to pull off this character.
Sunday I opened the table, had my second pitch, and another Blue Pencil. My book wasn't what they were looking for. A friend got that response from them too. At the Blue Pencil, I got tips on my opening chapter, which I incorporated in my edits before submitting my manuscript.
I have a lot to learn about selling books. I sold one the entire weekend, but that's better than zero. I also way overestimated how many chapbooks to make. Oops.
Scion
I began writing Scion in May 2010, a month after graduating with a Business degree in Technology Management. I also began shotokan karate shortly thereafter.
As my first novel attempt, I knew how to write, but not how to get passed the 32,000 word wall. That's a common place for stories to get stuck for some reason.
I also didn't know enough about things like The Hero's Journey. I'm unsure if there are other forms for novels beyond the hero's journey...
I've returned to this project with more experience and at least one clue of what to do to finish it.
I'm starting with the lead up to the amputation scene... Fun stuff.
Well I'm starting later than I hoped to, but I think 450 words is an okay start.
Politics
Today made me proud to be Canadian and hopeful for the future. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was sworn in today with his cabinet. He stayed true to his word and selected a diverse cabinet filled with women, minorities, and even someone confined to a wheelchair. He created a new position: Minister of Science. A woman holds that seat. This cabinet reflects the diversity in Canada. It's a cabinet for and of the people.
I never thought I'd be writing about politics, but Justin makes me care. It's like we finally have a real leader in this country who's also a human being.
I tuned into the brief Google Hangout he had with school children after the swearing in ceremony. The chat screen was annoying. There were several people yelling for legalization to happen.
I'm pro legalization, but there are vastly more important things to handle first. Syria and the refugees. The missing and murdered Aboriginal women. Bill C-51. Also, Trudeau has stated that it must be implemented in a way that ensures it's not accessible to youth. He's likely talking to Colorado about what problems they ran into, so we don't have problems here. It's more important that those in need of medicinal marijuana get access first. It's more important that the textiles and other goods can be created. Those will give people jobs. Recreational use will come, but give the man a chance to do it right and stop screaming for it in inappropriate places like the chat room for elementary schools.
Ciao,
R~