TechnicDragon: Blog

--==( Sibling Magus )==--
I sent out about a half-dozen requests to different volunteer editors from the site. Some responded, some didn't, and I got a couple of responses from my blog. Thank you, everyone, for your support as I continue working on this series. I am enjoying this almost as much as some of you enjoy reading it. So, at this time, I'm closing my notification for my need for an editor. I've found several. I just hope that when they all read this blog, they don't all drop me. Each one found different issues with the first two chapters, and between all of their comments, I really believe the chapters are better for it. So, I hope you are all willing to work with me in your own ways. If some of your feel you don't want to, I leave that to you.

In the mean time, I have submitted the first two chapters for posting and am working out issues with chapter three. So much of this project has already been worked out in my head, I feel like I'm telling it all over again, but only so everyone else can find out what I already know. I wonder if those big published authors feel that way too? Hrms...

Anyway...

--==( Training/Work )==--
Last Wednesday night (5/15) was the webinar (siminar held over the web - for those who don't know) I mentioned previously. It was supposed to last only an hour, and I suppose it would have, if it had actually started. Lemme sum up...

I received an email stating that the instructor had to reschedule the class due to an emergency. I didn't have any problems with that. No, it was the next part that gave me grief. The email went on to state that the new schedule was being worked out and would be assertained by May 15th at 11 am.

Does anyone else see the problem with that? --- Oh, did I mention, I received this email on May 15th at 5pm.

Now?

Well, at any rate, I shot them a reply, pointing out the date mentioned regarding when the new schedule would be worked out, and asking if that had already been the case and that I might have received this notice late. I wasn't complaining, simply trying to get the info.

Their reply was another reminder that my Webinar would be held on May 15th at 7:30pm. The same reminder I got the day before.

Can anyone say... Confused???

So, 7:30 rolls around, I go to the link, and the webinar window comes up, and it says "waiting for organizer..." Other than that, nothing.

On top of this, I'm at the fire station, and a lot of the department members are there prepping for the storms heading our way. For those who live in Texas, you proabably heard about the storms on Wednesday night - or even experienced them first hand. For everyone else, there were a couple of tornados (one reported to be about a mile wide) a lot of hail and almost too much rain.

So, while my frustrations are rising because the Webinar isn't doing anything, the station is buzzing around me and different people keep asking me for help with this or that. If the webinar had been at any other time, I would have been fine - actually kinda excited, I like storms (don't ask me why), but I had to keep reminding everyone that I was taking a class. They would remember, apologize, and go off to find someone else to help.

So, 8:30 rolls around. Things have settled down because the station is ready, we're just waiting for notice that we have to roll out to watch for tornados around our town. We've got the news on, everyones cringing and commenting about the storms west of us -- and heading our way. And I'm trying to log back into the webinar session again but it says the webinar is over!

I didn't blow my top. In fact, all of the tension flowed out of me. The conflict between attending the class at the station and feeling the responsibilities of helping everyone else was gone. Don't get me wrong, I was still confused about the class, and frustrated that the link didn't seem to work. Plus, there was still no notice about that alleged rescheduling. So, I turned off my laptop, watched the storm with everyone else, and put the class out of my mind. I ended up helping with clearing broken tree branches from the roads in town, reported on downed power line, and helped with a gas leak caused by part of an abandoned store's roof having been torn off by straight-line winds and breaking the gas meter. It was a long night.

I got home at about 5:30 in the morning, got to bed at about 7:30 and woke up at around 2 in the afternoon. I checked my email on a friend's phone. At about noon (while I was asleep), the company send out an email with the new date and time for the Webinar: Thursday, May 23, at 7:30pm ====> at the same time the fire station holds it's weekly meetings! :(

Now I have a new conflict, a new frustration. I have to find out if I can take that night off from the meeting to attend the Webinar, especially if I'm going to be in this class.

--==( Internet @ Home )==--
I mentioned last blog how I am trying to get internet at home. Well, thanks to a generous donation from one of my readers, I was able to take care of a past bill and tried to get things going again, only to find out that there are several eroneous problems with my credit. Problems I did not do. For instance, I apparently bought a house --- No. I also bought a car --- No. And I apparently hold residence in another town --- No. Unfortunately, until those errors are cleared up, I cannot get internet through Verizon.

So, I went to look for other internet providers who provide services in my area. I've only found two (other than Verizon). The only reservation I have with both is the data limitations. It's not the speeds, they offer 15gbps. However, both cap off how much can be downloaded in a given month. One offers up to 40gb per month and the other, a whopping 15gb. To be honest, I don't know how much data I used with Verizon. They never kept track, or, at least, they never told me. So, I don't know if 40gb per month is even worth it. Granted, it's better than having NO internet, but I don't like the idea of having my internet suddenly turn off in the middle of the month because I've hit my limit. If anyone has any feedback on this, feel free to let me know what you think. In the mean time, I'm going to keep looking and trying to get my credit fixed.

Anyway, thought I would let everyone know what's going on.

TechnicDragon

--==( Sibling Magus )==--
Okay, I've not only finished chapter one, but chapter two as well. The issue I JUST realized I have is my editor told me a few months ago that he's having issues getting online - like I usually do. So, I'm going to be spending the next few days looking for an appropriate volunteer editor. I know I've had a few people send me short emails to let me know if I need any help in that area to let them know. Well, consider this notice.

And just so everyone understands what I'm looking for in my volunteer editor...

What I need in an editor is not only someone to spot the usual stuff (mis-used words, grammar issues, etc.) but to feel free to question characters' motives, point out continuity issues (e.g. If I said Seth's teacher was Ms. Fieldson and now I'm saying she's Mrs. Felder - though I go out of my way to keep up with names of all characters, but you get the idea), and generally make a nuisence of yourself by pointing out problems. I'm not one to cry at the first sign I've done something wrong, in fact, I expect that I will do something wrong on a regular bases and need help to spot such errors, so feel free to let me know where I've erred. Same goes with grammar issues. If you read something that simply makes no sense - especially in the context it's presented - feel free to yell at me about it. This is a no-holds-barred kind of volunteer editing gig. I don't expect you to drop every/anything else you're working on to work with me, but to feel you don't have to hold anything back when you see a problem.

If anyone is interested, shoot me an email, we'll discuss our respective schedules and such (because I'm NOT going to assume you have no life, like me ;) and we'll get to work.

--==( Training/Work )==--
This Wednesday night (5/15) is the webinar (siminar held over the web - for those who don't know) I mentioned previously. It only lasts an hour, I suppose as a sort of introduction to the training course. Hopefully, very soon, I'll start training and then working. I'm excited about this and a little scared. Lemme explain - No! Lemme sum up.

I went to DeVry to train in Computer Information Systems - or Programming, but I didn't last long. Every semester of school was costing more and more than what my student loans, Pell Grant, and GI bill would pay for. I ended up dropping out in the middle of my second year. So, while I certainly understand the concepts of programming, and have played around with Microsofts Visual Basic for over ten years, I've never written a program for anyone other than me to use. I honestly don't know how good my programming skills are.

Now, I'm about to start courses on becoming certified in Javascript programming. While I know where Java came from, the potential for its use, etc. I'm scared that I'll end up falling flat on my face when it comes down to it. It's been a long time since I've had any kind of opportunity like this (like several years), and I don't want to mess it up. I know, intellectually, that I just need to take things one step at a time, but all I keep seeing are all the things that could go wrong: attending class online while at the fire station and having to leave in the middle of class to go to a fire, missing too many classes due to such instances and failing, etc. We're trying to get internet at home so I can attend these classes without having to worry about internet use at the fire staion, but the earliest that will happen is probably in another month. I'm not currently working and the rest of our income goes to basic utilities, gas, and food. It's frustrating.

Anyway, thought I would let everyone know what's going on. :)

TechnicDragon

--==( Sibling Magus )==--
I've sent chapter one off to my editors. It turned out longer than I usually write for a single chapter, but I've read on many sites that a chapter is as long as it needs to be. So, as soon as I hear back from my editors and make any corrections needed, the start for Sibling Magus should soon be up.

I've written a lot of the first chapter. Not necessarily all of it, but a lot. That doesn't even include getting it looked over by my editors...

The reason I'm saying this is because I've just received an invitation to start night classes for Java certification, as well as two others. What nights those land on, I don't know yet. Whether I'm in as a sure thing, I don't know either. I'll post again when I know more. I'm posting this because I haven't forgotten what I've promised, but it may be delayed further while I'm in training. Not halted, but slowed down more.

The good news is that I already know how chapter two is going to go, as well as chapter three. It's getting chapter one finished the way I want it that has been hampering things.

I'll post again either tomorrow or Thursday when I know more about the classes, as well as to state where I am with chapter one.

Hope everyone is having a good spring,

TD

Additional...

I received an email confirming that I've been accepted for a webinar on May 15. That gives me time to finish as much as I can before my schedule tightens further.

I'm very close to finishing chapter one. Should have it sent off to editors by monday.

I've received a couple of emails asking when I'm going to start posting my next story. To be honest, I've been ready to start for a while, but I've let myself off the hook so-to-speak by working on drawing book covers for all of my stories. The problem I've run into is that I cannot use actual photos no matter how much I manipulate them because those photos came from the web and everything posted on the web is copywritten. I'd have to have written permission from the models and possible the photographers to use them in any capacity.

Anyway... I've also stalled in writing because of the very opening. I'm not sure where to start. I've considered starting the day after Child Magus leaves off, or give it another week in between. As ambiguous as Child Magus ended (date wise) I'm happy to start this one a week later - I even have a viable reason why (which everyone will find out once I do start writing).

The real problem is the very start - the first words. I considered starting with a dream like in Child Magus, but decided against that...

Hold on just a second. I just had a thought. Don't ask how it is I'll try to explain something like this to someone else and even in writing it I'll come up with a solution on my own.

Thanks for being my soundboard this time around! :)

TD

Oh, I should have the first chapters up in about a week, now that I have a beginning. :D