I haven't been very good at updating you since I got my website up and running. Here's an update:
Last week I only wrote 592 works on Ice Debt. I've been distracted with our new puppy (who requires lots of attention, but is otherwise a happy guy) and the hope of starting work on my Graphic Novel Project.
This project may not be a go. Unfortunately, the artist I was supposed to meet with hasn't gotten back to me in three weeks. That's normally a sign of either a) he's too busy, so how much time would he really have to work on this project? or b) he's not really interested.
Oh well. I have other contacts I haven't bugged to see if they know of any graphic artists, maybe I should go back to doing that?
On a happier note, I picked up a beautiful desk the other day and we set it up last night. I've cleared a bunch of junk out of the spare bedroom and it's starting to look like a real office. It's strange how psychological writing can be. Now that I have a space almost ready for me to work in, I feel like I could write more and better.
Perhaps this is the beginning of a boost in my productivity?
Showing posts with label comics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label comics. Show all posts
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008
Puppy Mommy
It official... I'm a puppy mommy.
River is a wonderful addition to our family, even if he is incredibly timid and shy.
River is a Border Collie cross, although he looks like a larger version of a pure bred Collie. He was found at the Westlock Vet clinic as a stray and they took him in, feed him, and waited for someone to claim him. No one did. The vet clinic can only keep dogs for so long before they have to put them down. Luckily, Second Chance Animal Rescue (SCARS) picked him up and took him to a foster home while they waited for someone to adopt him. This was July12. One week later, on July 19, D and I went to a meet and greet with some of the animals up for adoption with SCARS. River (formerly Mario) was quiet, hanging back from everyone else. He didn't even catch our attention until one of the ladies pointed him out.
We walked him around the store, pet him, and generally hung out. River just let us do what we wanted. He listened to our commands, even if he only understood half of them, and was very well behaved. When other dogs were aggressive against him, he just turned and walked away as if he was no longer interested in where he was sitting. We think he may have been abused before he became a stray. One of the ladies was feeding him treats raised her hand too quickly and River dropped to the floor and shook like a leaf for a few moments until we all reassured him that everything was fine. He was an interesting dog.
We put in an application and slept on it. It is a big decision. By morning, we both knew that we needed to give this dog a forever home. We picked River up from the foster home on July 20 at 6:30pm. He is just as timid and shy as we saw at the meet and greet, but I'm confident that he will open up when he realizes that this is his house and that no one will hurt him here.
I may give you updates as things go on but I'm thinking of starting a second blog just for my adventures with River. I'll let you know.
PS: I haven't got the contact information for the graphic artist yet, he was on vacation last week but is coming in tonight. I'll try and book a meeting this week or next, and I'll let you know how it all turns out.
River is a wonderful addition to our family, even if he is incredibly timid and shy.
River is a Border Collie cross, although he looks like a larger version of a pure bred Collie. He was found at the Westlock Vet clinic as a stray and they took him in, feed him, and waited for someone to claim him. No one did. The vet clinic can only keep dogs for so long before they have to put them down. Luckily, Second Chance Animal Rescue (SCARS) picked him up and took him to a foster home while they waited for someone to adopt him. This was July12. One week later, on July 19, D and I went to a meet and greet with some of the animals up for adoption with SCARS. River (formerly Mario) was quiet, hanging back from everyone else. He didn't even catch our attention until one of the ladies pointed him out.
We walked him around the store, pet him, and generally hung out. River just let us do what we wanted. He listened to our commands, even if he only understood half of them, and was very well behaved. When other dogs were aggressive against him, he just turned and walked away as if he was no longer interested in where he was sitting. We think he may have been abused before he became a stray. One of the ladies was feeding him treats raised her hand too quickly and River dropped to the floor and shook like a leaf for a few moments until we all reassured him that everything was fine. He was an interesting dog.
We put in an application and slept on it. It is a big decision. By morning, we both knew that we needed to give this dog a forever home. We picked River up from the foster home on July 20 at 6:30pm. He is just as timid and shy as we saw at the meet and greet, but I'm confident that he will open up when he realizes that this is his house and that no one will hurt him here.
I may give you updates as things go on but I'm thinking of starting a second blog just for my adventures with River. I'll let you know.
PS: I haven't got the contact information for the graphic artist yet, he was on vacation last week but is coming in tonight. I'll try and book a meeting this week or next, and I'll let you know how it all turns out.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Connections
You never know when the people you meet, in the most normal circumstances, will aid you in something you want.
There is a new gentleman who started on my floor, Mike. He doesn't work in my area, or with us at all. In most cases, we would never have spoken. But he is a very outgoing person who likes to laugh with people, chat and say hi. I liked him right away.
After a couple weeks he asked me a question. "So what are your career goals, or do you really like where you are?". I told him the truth. The end goal was to quit my day job and become a writer full time. He didn't laugh.
It took a week (the week before I left) but we finally meet up in the lunch room at the same time, and he asked me all about my writing, what I was doing, how it was going. He was genuinely interested. I was impressed.
I got back from vacation, and poked my head into his office today to say hello. He told me that after our conversation about my writing he had to share it with someone, someone who might understand. He told his friend who just happens to be a graphic artist. I had told Mike that one of my stories, "Beloved Child", I wanted to turn into a graphic novel. His friend is interested, and mentioned that if it was something he couldn't do he has two graphic artist friends ( one already in the comic book industry) who might be interested.
You never know who someone is, or who they know, until it has already worked for or against you.
Moral of the Story: Everyone is valuable. Treat them that way.
There is a new gentleman who started on my floor, Mike. He doesn't work in my area, or with us at all. In most cases, we would never have spoken. But he is a very outgoing person who likes to laugh with people, chat and say hi. I liked him right away.
After a couple weeks he asked me a question. "So what are your career goals, or do you really like where you are?". I told him the truth. The end goal was to quit my day job and become a writer full time. He didn't laugh.
It took a week (the week before I left) but we finally meet up in the lunch room at the same time, and he asked me all about my writing, what I was doing, how it was going. He was genuinely interested. I was impressed.
I got back from vacation, and poked my head into his office today to say hello. He told me that after our conversation about my writing he had to share it with someone, someone who might understand. He told his friend who just happens to be a graphic artist. I had told Mike that one of my stories, "Beloved Child", I wanted to turn into a graphic novel. His friend is interested, and mentioned that if it was something he couldn't do he has two graphic artist friends ( one already in the comic book industry) who might be interested.
You never know who someone is, or who they know, until it has already worked for or against you.
Moral of the Story: Everyone is valuable. Treat them that way.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Mondays
Did I mention that I hate Mondays?
I know today is Tuesday, but I have news from yesterday.
Got home from work and there was a form rejection letter from Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, waiting for me in the mail. I guess they didn't like "Broadcasting Live" (that's the short story that was once called "Pain and Blood"). This is its second rejection so I think I will have a few of my writer friends look at it and tell me what they think. I had a few people read through it before, but maybe it needs a little more work before I send it out a third time.
After reading the paper mail, I checked my email. There was a lovely email from the 3 Day Novel contest, announcing the winners. I wasn't one of them. I didn't even make the short list, or get an honorable mention. Oh well. I was thinking about turning my submission "Beloved Child" into a comic book script to see what happens. Now, I can go ahead and give it a try.
I had dinner after checking my emails, and then locked myself in my office (aka the spare bedroom) to write. It was one of my new writing days, so I tried to forget all the other stuff and just wrote.
Word Count:
Monday - 1,329 words
Not bad for 1.5 hours on a Monday night. It's actually really good.
Ok, so it wasn't the best Monday in the world but at least I got a good bit of writing done and I know what I'm going to do with the rejected stories that have come home.
Tuesday should be better.
Tina
I know today is Tuesday, but I have news from yesterday.
Got home from work and there was a form rejection letter from Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, waiting for me in the mail. I guess they didn't like "Broadcasting Live" (that's the short story that was once called "Pain and Blood"). This is its second rejection so I think I will have a few of my writer friends look at it and tell me what they think. I had a few people read through it before, but maybe it needs a little more work before I send it out a third time.
After reading the paper mail, I checked my email. There was a lovely email from the 3 Day Novel contest, announcing the winners. I wasn't one of them. I didn't even make the short list, or get an honorable mention. Oh well. I was thinking about turning my submission "Beloved Child" into a comic book script to see what happens. Now, I can go ahead and give it a try.
I had dinner after checking my emails, and then locked myself in my office (aka the spare bedroom) to write. It was one of my new writing days, so I tried to forget all the other stuff and just wrote.
Word Count:
Monday - 1,329 words
Not bad for 1.5 hours on a Monday night. It's actually really good.
Ok, so it wasn't the best Monday in the world but at least I got a good bit of writing done and I know what I'm going to do with the rejected stories that have come home.
Tuesday should be better.
Tina
Friday, January 04, 2008
New Year, New Way of Thinking
I haven't written since October 2nd. Sorry to leave you all hanging.
The PureSpec conference was fun. Got to meet up with a publisher friend from Calgary again, and got to see a whole new side of the writing world. Comic books have made an impression on me.
I've basically stopped writing since the conference.... so that means I'm still only halfway through chapter two of my novel. I have still been meeting up with my friend Rox at the library to write, but I haven't been producing very much. Mostly, the reason has been stress at work. I had a break down in November and had to go home that day because I was so upset. The stress and political pressure got to me.
I never did contact my tutor about the change in direction. I will have to call and thank them all for helping me out for the last year. I bought the course three years ago and my 3 year extension runs out at the end of this month. I don't think getting my novel done in less than 30 days is going to work, and I'm done trying to force myself to do something. It has to come naturally.
December my support group held our 3rd annual Christmas dinner and didn't stop talking about books and writing until 1:30am. Our Publisher friend from Calgary came up to celebrate with us, and seemed to enjoy himself. It was a great night, but I don't know many people who could handle talking about writing all night long.
The Christmas season was busy, and now that it's the new year it's time to clean up the apartment and re-assess my life.
My job has gotten better since the break down. Some of the pressure has been taking off. I do like being able to say that I make a difference doing my job, but the stress level is something I will be monitoring closely. Also, my course is over. Even though I have a month left, there is no way I will be able to get anything done in time. I think it's time to say thank you and goodbye.
And what of my writing? Well, like I mentioned before comic books have made an impression on me, and I've had a couple people tell me that my writing would translate well into the form. I already have a completed story that I am converting into a graphic novel (non-serial comic book) script and I'm looking for an artist to help me make it real. I still don't know a lot about the industry but I've got my fingers crossed.
I also have to figure out how I write best. Thus far I've always planned out my stories in such detail that it should take nothing to finish them. Yet, I'm finding that the more the story is planned out, the more I get bored with it and it ends up getting pushed aside. My latest assignment for myself is to try and write something I only have a general idea of and see what happens. I don't know if this little project is a short story, novella, or a novel but I guess that's part of it, right?
I just really want to write again. I'm tired of having life get in the way of what I want to do. I told D last night that I was planning on writing on Saturday (something I haven't done in months) and he almost started clapping saying "Good, it's about time".
And it is about time. Time that I start believing in myself. Not that I'll get published or get famous because, while it would be great, that's not success for me. Success is have a story finished so that other people can read it, whatever the form. I just want to tell my stories. To get them out of my head, and maybe make people think about things a little different. Success is me being happy.
One last thing. It has been discussed, thought about and finally decided that C. M. Hunt is an old pen name that needs to be retired. So, I will be writing under my real name from now on. No more hiding behind a pen name. I write dark stories. I'm ok with that. It just means that I have a really interesting imagination, and I'm not ashamed to write under my own name anymore. I'll be changing my website soon to reflect the name change to Tina Hunter.
So.... Here's to 2008! Hopefully a year of Success!
Tina
The PureSpec conference was fun. Got to meet up with a publisher friend from Calgary again, and got to see a whole new side of the writing world. Comic books have made an impression on me.
I've basically stopped writing since the conference.... so that means I'm still only halfway through chapter two of my novel. I have still been meeting up with my friend Rox at the library to write, but I haven't been producing very much. Mostly, the reason has been stress at work. I had a break down in November and had to go home that day because I was so upset. The stress and political pressure got to me.
I never did contact my tutor about the change in direction. I will have to call and thank them all for helping me out for the last year. I bought the course three years ago and my 3 year extension runs out at the end of this month. I don't think getting my novel done in less than 30 days is going to work, and I'm done trying to force myself to do something. It has to come naturally.
December my support group held our 3rd annual Christmas dinner and didn't stop talking about books and writing until 1:30am. Our Publisher friend from Calgary came up to celebrate with us, and seemed to enjoy himself. It was a great night, but I don't know many people who could handle talking about writing all night long.
The Christmas season was busy, and now that it's the new year it's time to clean up the apartment and re-assess my life.
My job has gotten better since the break down. Some of the pressure has been taking off. I do like being able to say that I make a difference doing my job, but the stress level is something I will be monitoring closely. Also, my course is over. Even though I have a month left, there is no way I will be able to get anything done in time. I think it's time to say thank you and goodbye.
And what of my writing? Well, like I mentioned before comic books have made an impression on me, and I've had a couple people tell me that my writing would translate well into the form. I already have a completed story that I am converting into a graphic novel (non-serial comic book) script and I'm looking for an artist to help me make it real. I still don't know a lot about the industry but I've got my fingers crossed.
I also have to figure out how I write best. Thus far I've always planned out my stories in such detail that it should take nothing to finish them. Yet, I'm finding that the more the story is planned out, the more I get bored with it and it ends up getting pushed aside. My latest assignment for myself is to try and write something I only have a general idea of and see what happens. I don't know if this little project is a short story, novella, or a novel but I guess that's part of it, right?
I just really want to write again. I'm tired of having life get in the way of what I want to do. I told D last night that I was planning on writing on Saturday (something I haven't done in months) and he almost started clapping saying "Good, it's about time".
And it is about time. Time that I start believing in myself. Not that I'll get published or get famous because, while it would be great, that's not success for me. Success is have a story finished so that other people can read it, whatever the form. I just want to tell my stories. To get them out of my head, and maybe make people think about things a little different. Success is me being happy.
One last thing. It has been discussed, thought about and finally decided that C. M. Hunt is an old pen name that needs to be retired. So, I will be writing under my real name from now on. No more hiding behind a pen name. I write dark stories. I'm ok with that. It just means that I have a really interesting imagination, and I'm not ashamed to write under my own name anymore. I'll be changing my website soon to reflect the name change to Tina Hunter.
So.... Here's to 2008! Hopefully a year of Success!
Tina
Monday, August 27, 2007
3-Day Count Down
5 more sleeps until it's time to play the 'lets-write-a-novel-in-3-days' game.
I'm excited... and nervous... and wondering what I was thinking when I signed up for this, but I'll be fine. This is a great experience, and have a great idea, and all I have to do now is sit down and write.
So way does it seem so hard?
Update: In the past week, I have created an entire species history for the Vinlue (my alien race in 'White Cats and Suicide'). I have also plotted out the first 7 chapters of 'Love Light Rising', but the rest of it will have to wait until after the weekend. For the rest of this week, I plan on plotting out my 3-day fantasy novel idea 'Beloved Child', and preparing for the 3-day. Busy, Busy, Busy.
On a side note, check out this website http://live.zeros2heroes.com/. This Canadian site lets people vote on comic book ideas that they would like to see developed. I'm not normally a comic book fan, but this looks like a pretty cool interactive site.
Have a great writing day,
C
I'm excited... and nervous... and wondering what I was thinking when I signed up for this, but I'll be fine. This is a great experience, and have a great idea, and all I have to do now is sit down and write.
So way does it seem so hard?
Update: In the past week, I have created an entire species history for the Vinlue (my alien race in 'White Cats and Suicide'). I have also plotted out the first 7 chapters of 'Love Light Rising', but the rest of it will have to wait until after the weekend. For the rest of this week, I plan on plotting out my 3-day fantasy novel idea 'Beloved Child', and preparing for the 3-day. Busy, Busy, Busy.
On a side note, check out this website http://live.zeros2heroes.com/. This Canadian site lets people vote on comic book ideas that they would like to see developed. I'm not normally a comic book fan, but this looks like a pretty cool interactive site.
Have a great writing day,
C
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