stuff inside my little mind

Note that the “best” and “easiest” of the free themes and plugins are often crapola.  PLEASE just let me configure something!

I’m looking at some options. I like the current method of posting, but I also want to show off some photography. So far, I haven’t found a theme I like. The current one is nice, but only allows 5 pictures in the top, no speed, stop, or any other adjustments. Some others I’ve tried were so hard to set up I deleted them!

More to come!

Maybe it’s not a secret. Something happened this week that totally amazed me. We went to Stephanie’s “Mrs. Oklahoma” pageant (she WON!) and I took about 50 pictures. When I got home, I shrunk them a little, then threw them into a zip file. Windows zip, nothing strange. Two people who got the pictures had issues. One, with an Iphone, could not unzip the file. Iphone won’t do that. The other person couldn’t view the zip file at all, so I referred them to a winrar download.

Well, I forgot to send them to Brenda so she could have them. So, I sent the same file to Brenda’s email. Lo and behold, about a minute later she comments on the pictures – from the recliner. Apparently Blackberry will view the contents of Windows zip files with no effort at all! She’s using a 9000 with the 4. something operating system so this should not be a question for anybody with a Blackberry.

Amazed I am. It’s the little things that make the Blackberry world go ’round.

Or, 100 lessons for writing fiction. This week I ran across an article in the Guardian, titled “Ten rules for writing fiction”. This is entries from several writers, apparently British authors, but the ideas they put down are very good. It’s interesting to see how each author has differences from the others. I’m re-reading this, and will get some good, consistent ideas out of it. Very good stuff.

I sort of finished a story last month. After much thinking, I realize I’m not happy with the ending. It’s really, really hard not to steal someone else’s ideas storywise. This story is posted on Wattpad, titled “Darker Matter”. It’s a followup story to an idea I have, which, in truth, IS a different scifi subject. There aren’t many details in this story. Per some great advice by an author friend, I scratched out the background I had in there. I am in the process of getting the main story together.

OK, here’s my helping of a whineyburger and suckyfries: “WRITING IS SO HAAAAARD!!! WAAAAhaaaaa!” It really is. I have read tons of books. I was reading novels when I was 6 or 7 I think. So, in reality, I should know how to write? Right? I mean, I had straight “A’s” in english class. Seriously, the discipline to write something is hard. So far, on the main story, I have an outline and the beginning I wrote, which was crappy. Maybe it’s better to just get the ideas out and edit whack it later.

I’m thinking about changing the ending to the story I published. I really think I’ll do it after (whenever) the other story is done. Maybe I’ll flesh out something better. It’s a strong story, weak ending. To me, anyway, it just doesn’t quite meet the grade. I lean toward a comedic bent with my characters, too. So the “you need to be more serious” idea just doesn’t float too well with me.

A second story I have going is based in the same universe, but many years later; a “what if” that has gone horribly, horribly bad. I thought it would be quick, but it’s taking way too long to finish. It gets deep. And, sigh, I have to changeout one of the main characters in it, I think.

As my friend said, “editing is never finished”. Read my stuff, comment, laugh at my amateur efforts or whatever. I published two stories on Wattpad. The other was some random idea I had, but it ain’t finished. I don’t think I’ll pursue it, though. Needs some fill-in.

I won’t give up. I know I can write this. Maybe when I’m 80 or so, you’ll see my new novel.