Writing is, without a doubt, a very skilled craft that requires many thousands of hours of practice. One must hone their ability to write over years of doing it non-stop, nurturing their ability to form sentences from jumbles of words. It takes concentration to collect your thoughts, organize them and chew it over, spit it out and organize it again, repeat ad nauseum until your brain hurts, and then because you have to be a little bit crazy to be a writer you push a tiny bit further.
Here's my problem. Collecting thoughts before writing. I don't know what it is, but sometimes I just like to sit down and let my thoughts formulate in front of me. It's a bad practice for anyone who has serious intentions of being a writer. It really is something I need to learn to overcome.
Stream of consciousness, that's what they call it, does have a place in the literary world. The works from many of the writers and poets during the Beat generation could easily fall in this category. It's like a ride through a thought process, small connections being made in real time, only to be fleshed out in the written word. I'm no Kerouac, I'm no Ginsberg, but I still find myself stuck writing with no direction.
I could easily place blame on teachers, or even the lack thereof considering I was only able to afford a single semester of college, but I'm not going to. The only person I can blame for my half rambles is myself. The inner workings of my mind are a hard thing to deal with, but I know with sheer willpower I could manage to sort myself out. For the next few weeks, I want to focus on a specific thought or experience I have had, really find the words with what I want to say and begin trying to hone myself into becoming a better writer.
I will start with offering up my first topic. Sound. The attention I somehow manage to provide to the way things sound. The focus that I am able to place on them. And maybe, someway that I can correlate that same focus to writing as well.
Friday, August 23, 2013
Sunday, July 21, 2013
A Plea to the Gods that Be
Once in a while I get this urge. An urge so overpowering that I start to go just a little mad. The urge to move forward, pack up all the loose ends in my life, and hit the high trail never looking back.
That urge has struck me again recently. Perhaps it's a symptom of the general unrest with the company at which I am currently employed. Seriously, the place I'm at now is like poison for management. I have been working here for just over two years, and starting tomorrow will be on my fifth general manager. It's not a horrible place to work, I like the work I do, I like the people I work with but for whatever reason it's just unable to get a good grip to push itself out of the mess it's in.
I don't know much about corporate politics and the red-tape that follows it, but I do know that it obviously is having nothing but detrimental effects on my office. Each successive manager I have worked with has been an increasingly better fit for the role (don't know much about the newbie yet) and yet they still keep dropping like flies. I've had great relationships with many of my bosses too. The last two that have come and gone I could have seen as mentors should they have stuck around long enough to be such.
Though I have been fortunate enough in my careers to have had many great people lead me along the way, teaching me their ways, showing me how business really works. It's been tremendous to work with such great people, and I have learned a great deal from them all. I think the greatest thing I have ever been taught though is this, "you either shit, or get off the can."
The one thing that has been a recurring factor in my learnings is that if you aren't happy with your current position you either learn to deal with it, maybe finding a way to better suit it for yourself, or you find something else to do.
That's where I sit today. It's time for a reinvention. I need to regenerate, this Doctor's body is all used up. Sure my new body may come with a goofball attitude and an affinity for bow-ties and fezzes but is that such a bad thing? I don't think so, change is an inevitable function of life and it's best to learn to embrace it with open arms so as not to get slipped up in a moment and finding yourself lost with no idea of where to go or what to do.
I've begun a journey in search of finding my new Doctor, I've found something highly promising and exciting, and now I wait. I wait with the bated breath of a dancer about to perform his first solo act shrouded in the intense white stage light. I wait with the patience of a younger me the night before Christmas. I wait sitting here typing these words as a plea to the gods that be, hear my prayer, hear my cries, help me to move forward once more. One more step closer to the other end of the board, to the checkmate, to the dreams that inhabit my mind.
Oh, and thank you.
That urge has struck me again recently. Perhaps it's a symptom of the general unrest with the company at which I am currently employed. Seriously, the place I'm at now is like poison for management. I have been working here for just over two years, and starting tomorrow will be on my fifth general manager. It's not a horrible place to work, I like the work I do, I like the people I work with but for whatever reason it's just unable to get a good grip to push itself out of the mess it's in.
I don't know much about corporate politics and the red-tape that follows it, but I do know that it obviously is having nothing but detrimental effects on my office. Each successive manager I have worked with has been an increasingly better fit for the role (don't know much about the newbie yet) and yet they still keep dropping like flies. I've had great relationships with many of my bosses too. The last two that have come and gone I could have seen as mentors should they have stuck around long enough to be such.
Though I have been fortunate enough in my careers to have had many great people lead me along the way, teaching me their ways, showing me how business really works. It's been tremendous to work with such great people, and I have learned a great deal from them all. I think the greatest thing I have ever been taught though is this, "you either shit, or get off the can."
The one thing that has been a recurring factor in my learnings is that if you aren't happy with your current position you either learn to deal with it, maybe finding a way to better suit it for yourself, or you find something else to do.
That's where I sit today. It's time for a reinvention. I need to regenerate, this Doctor's body is all used up. Sure my new body may come with a goofball attitude and an affinity for bow-ties and fezzes but is that such a bad thing? I don't think so, change is an inevitable function of life and it's best to learn to embrace it with open arms so as not to get slipped up in a moment and finding yourself lost with no idea of where to go or what to do.
I've begun a journey in search of finding my new Doctor, I've found something highly promising and exciting, and now I wait. I wait with the bated breath of a dancer about to perform his first solo act shrouded in the intense white stage light. I wait with the patience of a younger me the night before Christmas. I wait sitting here typing these words as a plea to the gods that be, hear my prayer, hear my cries, help me to move forward once more. One more step closer to the other end of the board, to the checkmate, to the dreams that inhabit my mind.
Oh, and thank you.
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Man oh man, I need a nap.
Man oh man.
Talk about neglect again.
It's partially my fault for not having had any updates. Does it matter? Not so much I guess, but I do link to the blog from my about.me page. Who knows, maybe someone has stumbled upon it from there. I don't really have followers though and not much motivation for full blown blogging. I stay pretty active on Twitter and Google+ with micro-blogs but really I should be doing more here.
Other than myself though, my current job has had me swamped for the past year. There's been management change left and right, my work load jumped astronomically as the economy started to pick back up, and then my core work duties have been increased at least three-fold if not more.
I need to get back in a better habit of keeping this thing up to date though. Work on BumStar projects has basically come to a halt. I did devote a lot of time in to building resources, purchasing the necessary equipment, and coming up with ideas. Though there are still a few pieces of tech I still need before some things can really get underway.
Initially I had dreams of BumStar being some sort of new media enterprise, I realize now that my ambitions far outweigh any practicality of it becoming such. One does not simple create an empire. Instead, BumStar, is really sort of an experiment. A means of flexing my creative muscles and focusing my energies and attentions on actually creating something.
I had been (and will continue again) working on creating a web-comic detailing the humorously exaggerated adventures of my wife and myself. This is actually pretty simple to work on. I've got a pretty significant amount of comics written, though illustrating and formatting them takes more time. This helps me to focus on my writing in smaller chunks while still trying to form an overall narrative arc. It's also been helping me to develop deeper characters and their dialogues with one another. Having worked on this gave me the motivation to start working on something more long form that's definitely years down the road.
Also in the works, a podcast of some sort. This, I really don't know what to do with yet. I've mulled around some ideas, made a test recording (which was utter shit), and mulled ideas around again. Also, trying to find the time to sit down and record has been a hassle.
My third piece is a secret. I need to keep it internalized so as not to allow myself to feel accomplishment for it until it's actually ready. I think it's going to be great, utterly fun to make, and I really think people will enjoy it once it's done. Unfortunately, it also requires the most equipment to really get started, but the thought of making it excites me more than anything else and I continue everyday to work towards getting it out in to the world.
I need a nap.
Talk about neglect again.
It's partially my fault for not having had any updates. Does it matter? Not so much I guess, but I do link to the blog from my about.me page. Who knows, maybe someone has stumbled upon it from there. I don't really have followers though and not much motivation for full blown blogging. I stay pretty active on Twitter and Google+ with micro-blogs but really I should be doing more here.
Other than myself though, my current job has had me swamped for the past year. There's been management change left and right, my work load jumped astronomically as the economy started to pick back up, and then my core work duties have been increased at least three-fold if not more.
I need to get back in a better habit of keeping this thing up to date though. Work on BumStar projects has basically come to a halt. I did devote a lot of time in to building resources, purchasing the necessary equipment, and coming up with ideas. Though there are still a few pieces of tech I still need before some things can really get underway.
Initially I had dreams of BumStar being some sort of new media enterprise, I realize now that my ambitions far outweigh any practicality of it becoming such. One does not simple create an empire. Instead, BumStar, is really sort of an experiment. A means of flexing my creative muscles and focusing my energies and attentions on actually creating something.
I had been (and will continue again) working on creating a web-comic detailing the humorously exaggerated adventures of my wife and myself. This is actually pretty simple to work on. I've got a pretty significant amount of comics written, though illustrating and formatting them takes more time. This helps me to focus on my writing in smaller chunks while still trying to form an overall narrative arc. It's also been helping me to develop deeper characters and their dialogues with one another. Having worked on this gave me the motivation to start working on something more long form that's definitely years down the road.
Also in the works, a podcast of some sort. This, I really don't know what to do with yet. I've mulled around some ideas, made a test recording (which was utter shit), and mulled ideas around again. Also, trying to find the time to sit down and record has been a hassle.
My third piece is a secret. I need to keep it internalized so as not to allow myself to feel accomplishment for it until it's actually ready. I think it's going to be great, utterly fun to make, and I really think people will enjoy it once it's done. Unfortunately, it also requires the most equipment to really get started, but the thought of making it excites me more than anything else and I continue everyday to work towards getting it out in to the world.
I need a nap.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Changes
Yah, it's the same old story. Been away, haven't had time, blah blah blah
It's not really true though. I just haven't had the motivation to keep up a blog of any sort. It has been awhile though and I've decided to start working on it again. I've also started up a third blog (I'm an idiot, clearly) to chronicle any updates with a new little project/company I'm starting.
Bum/Star, or Bum and Star Productions, is something I have had rolling around in my head for a long time now and am really just starting to get put it in motion. In any case, things will be getting updated a bit more periodically now.
Keep an eye out here, Bum/Star, to see what's going on with that stuff. Just put up a small post detailing what it's going to involve. It's really everything I've said I was going to do with Reality Grounded but I'm rebranding it basically to keep it more uniform and in line with some other stuff. Reality Grounded will probably remain a small part of the Bum/Star brand but, more or less anything involving new or creative media such as podcasts and videos will be Bum/Star branded. Reality Grounded is sort of a floater for now.
Same goes for AZ Rogue Travels.....haven't really had the energy to focus much on that lately either. I have been travelling a lot more recently but have sort of giving up on travel blogging. It was sort of a pointless endeavor on my behalf. I will keep the site up just for the hell of it but I'm not going to be pursuing keeping it active any longer. Maybe just make it into a sort of vacation picture blog or something. I dunno...
[edit] I just wanted to point out that I did also update the photography page on this blog. I now have a small little slideshow up for your enjoyment!
Anyway, thanks
It's not really true though. I just haven't had the motivation to keep up a blog of any sort. It has been awhile though and I've decided to start working on it again. I've also started up a third blog (I'm an idiot, clearly) to chronicle any updates with a new little project/company I'm starting.
Bum/Star, or Bum and Star Productions, is something I have had rolling around in my head for a long time now and am really just starting to get put it in motion. In any case, things will be getting updated a bit more periodically now.
Keep an eye out here, Bum/Star, to see what's going on with that stuff. Just put up a small post detailing what it's going to involve. It's really everything I've said I was going to do with Reality Grounded but I'm rebranding it basically to keep it more uniform and in line with some other stuff. Reality Grounded will probably remain a small part of the Bum/Star brand but, more or less anything involving new or creative media such as podcasts and videos will be Bum/Star branded. Reality Grounded is sort of a floater for now.
Same goes for AZ Rogue Travels.....haven't really had the energy to focus much on that lately either. I have been travelling a lot more recently but have sort of giving up on travel blogging. It was sort of a pointless endeavor on my behalf. I will keep the site up just for the hell of it but I'm not going to be pursuing keeping it active any longer. Maybe just make it into a sort of vacation picture blog or something. I dunno...
[edit] I just wanted to point out that I did also update the photography page on this blog. I now have a small little slideshow up for your enjoyment!
Anyway, thanks
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Neglect is Such a Dirty Habit
I write these types of posts pretty often, I leave blogging alone for awhile as I become more acquainted with other aspects of my life but I inevitably come back to it for one reason or another. Mostly, I like to try and post something occasionally just so that the blog doesn't seem stale.
Anyway, much of what I have planned for the future of Reality Grounded is still in planning stages or ready to go but I just don't quite have the time to focus on it all yet.
See, I'm getting married in less than three months and if you've ever been married you know what sort of stresses that can bring about. Thankfully most of what needs to be done is done at this point, there still are some things for the wedding that need a little work here and there but not much.
I started a new quick blog on Tumblr that you can check out though in the meantime while Reality Grounded is slow, http://fucknodubstep.tumblr.com - it's something I just started, I really just post videos from YouTube of dubstep songs and then the Top YouTube Comment below the video. It's really just for fun and is extremely easy to manage (note: not so damn time consuming) so check it out.
Cacao for now
Anyway, much of what I have planned for the future of Reality Grounded is still in planning stages or ready to go but I just don't quite have the time to focus on it all yet.
See, I'm getting married in less than three months and if you've ever been married you know what sort of stresses that can bring about. Thankfully most of what needs to be done is done at this point, there still are some things for the wedding that need a little work here and there but not much.
I started a new quick blog on Tumblr that you can check out though in the meantime while Reality Grounded is slow, http://fucknodubstep.tumblr.com - it's something I just started, I really just post videos from YouTube of dubstep songs and then the Top YouTube Comment below the video. It's really just for fun and is extremely easy to manage (note: not so damn time consuming) so check it out.
Cacao for now
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Serial Stories
I often have a difficult time just sitting down and writing, specifically when it comes to writing any sort of short story, it truly baffles me. Stories float around in my head, bending and warping, and they just sort of sit there. I don't really touch them. Occasionally I may pick one out and start to write it but once I've started the act of writing, the story goes away and I can no longer think on it.
This poses a real big problem for me. I want to write novels that people cherish and enjoy reading but I am wholly unable to focus on something quite so lengthy. This blog is really a place for me to experiment with my writing style and try to find things that work for me. I'm quite able to write personal thoughts down without any effort and on occasion I can write down small editorial-esque type pieces. I am proud of my writing, I feel that it is strong, well written and concise, but I need more practice with fiction.
I've devised a plan that will hopefully alleviate the issue of forcing stories out of my head by working on them more slowly and over a long period of time. Very much the same thing that Charles Dickens did with many of his novels. Though I don't have a particular public outlet, other than here, for any sort of exposure. I am hoping though, that regardless of whether anyone reads my stories, this method will allow me to work on a singular piece until it's completion.
Depending on how my day turns out I may kick things off tonight with a fresh story that started brewing in my head this morning. It's a bit of a departure for me in terms of subject, but then again I do like to float around with different ideas until one makes sense to me.
This poses a real big problem for me. I want to write novels that people cherish and enjoy reading but I am wholly unable to focus on something quite so lengthy. This blog is really a place for me to experiment with my writing style and try to find things that work for me. I'm quite able to write personal thoughts down without any effort and on occasion I can write down small editorial-esque type pieces. I am proud of my writing, I feel that it is strong, well written and concise, but I need more practice with fiction.
I've devised a plan that will hopefully alleviate the issue of forcing stories out of my head by working on them more slowly and over a long period of time. Very much the same thing that Charles Dickens did with many of his novels. Though I don't have a particular public outlet, other than here, for any sort of exposure. I am hoping though, that regardless of whether anyone reads my stories, this method will allow me to work on a singular piece until it's completion.
Depending on how my day turns out I may kick things off tonight with a fresh story that started brewing in my head this morning. It's a bit of a departure for me in terms of subject, but then again I do like to float around with different ideas until one makes sense to me.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Today in Google
Today Google announced their newest tool in an already vast arsenal, Google Wallet has made it's debut. The rumors of such a service have been floating around for a few weeks now after it had been revealed that the big G was looking to secure a new form of checkout scanner in select stores across the country. Also not to mention the fact that they had released the Google Nexus S phone with a new form of wireless communication known as NFC or, Near Field Communication, as it were.
The big news today though isn't necessarily that they have announced the new service in of itself but who they have already partnered up and ready to roll with it. The first big contender is MasterCard and their PayPass system. If you happen to have a capable phone, it will now essentially act as a it's own PayPass MasterCard virtually anywhere that PayPass is accepted. This could mean in many places around the world even, negating the hassle of exchange rates of currency and the like. Very cool stuff.
Next up we also have Citi Bank MasterCards being officially supported. Then we also have Sprint which there doesn't seem to be a lot of concrete details on yet. With the way Sprint has cozied up with Google Voice recently though, I expect some really tight integration of Sprint services (payments, etc) into the Android OS on their handsets.
As far as retailers go we have so far: Macy's, Subway, Walgreens, Toys 'R Us and Noah's Bagels with 'many more in the coming months'.
The service itself will begin with some trials in New York and San Francisco before spreading around the states, again in the 'coming months' which could or could not happen at this point. Things seem very beta-like to me as it stands now.
Finally Google has announced Google Offers, a new service which will provide discounts to consumers from the various retail partners that have signed up. I'm guessing there will be tighter integration with this and Google Latitude as things start to get rolling full-steam. Latitude has had similar offers for about a month now when you check in to various locations frequently, very much the same way 4Square works.
There's a lot more in store with this and if anyone will really be able to bring the fire, it's Google. This really seems like a natural progression for them being as heavily monetized by ads as they are. Anyway, that's all I really have to say about things now, may write a small followup later on as more information is brought forth.
The big news today though isn't necessarily that they have announced the new service in of itself but who they have already partnered up and ready to roll with it. The first big contender is MasterCard and their PayPass system. If you happen to have a capable phone, it will now essentially act as a it's own PayPass MasterCard virtually anywhere that PayPass is accepted. This could mean in many places around the world even, negating the hassle of exchange rates of currency and the like. Very cool stuff.
Next up we also have Citi Bank MasterCards being officially supported. Then we also have Sprint which there doesn't seem to be a lot of concrete details on yet. With the way Sprint has cozied up with Google Voice recently though, I expect some really tight integration of Sprint services (payments, etc) into the Android OS on their handsets.
As far as retailers go we have so far: Macy's, Subway, Walgreens, Toys 'R Us and Noah's Bagels with 'many more in the coming months'.
The service itself will begin with some trials in New York and San Francisco before spreading around the states, again in the 'coming months' which could or could not happen at this point. Things seem very beta-like to me as it stands now.
Finally Google has announced Google Offers, a new service which will provide discounts to consumers from the various retail partners that have signed up. I'm guessing there will be tighter integration with this and Google Latitude as things start to get rolling full-steam. Latitude has had similar offers for about a month now when you check in to various locations frequently, very much the same way 4Square works.
There's a lot more in store with this and if anyone will really be able to bring the fire, it's Google. This really seems like a natural progression for them being as heavily monetized by ads as they are. Anyway, that's all I really have to say about things now, may write a small followup later on as more information is brought forth.
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