Geography

Almost every day, I log on to FictionPress, just to check how many readers I have for each story, from each country, things like that. I'm always excited when my numbers go up, even a little bit, but I find it extra-thrilling to learn I have readers in a country where I haven't before.



Even better than that, though, is finding out I have a new reader in a country I didn't even know existed (I blame our crappy educational system for my complete lack of knowledge in the field of global geography).

I've learnt about four new countries this year: The United Arab Emirates, The Commonweath of the Northern Mariana Islands (which I'm not 100% certain is technically its own country), Slovenia and Moldova.

As ridiculous as it is that I hadn't heard of these places, I'm kind of glad I hadn't. It gives a little bit of wonder back to the world.

Little Grey Rabbit

I've just spent the better part of forever trying to locate a picture from Grey Rabbit and the Circus, one of my all-time favourite books as a child (I failed, but found a picture from another of Grey Rabbit's adventures). When I was little, I didn't realize there was a whole series of Little Grey Rabbit books; I thought that Grey Rabbit and Hare and Hedgehog and Fuzzypeg and the others were one-time characters, who had one little adventure involving a circus, and that was it. And yet, the image of Fuzzypeg standing in his bright yellow kitchen were burned in my mind forever.

Here's to the books that stay with us.

I Have Writer's Block

It sucks.

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog

I just watched all of this on YouTube, and I must say, it's nothing short of amazing.

I recognized Neil Patrick Harris as soon as I saw him, but only in a vague kind of isn't he that guy from that thing? kind of way. Now I feel oddly compelled to find and watch everything he's ever been in.

I found out about Dr. Horrible from Vicky, 'cause I've been on a Nathan Fillion kick for the past couple of days (his new show, Castle, is great), and she told me there was something with him singing in it, so I went digging. I'm so glad I did.

I don't know what it is about Joss Whedon's stuff, but whenever I see something of his, I have this horrible urge to copy it, and pretend the idea was mine. I don't, of course, because not only would it be obvious that I stole it, but that's also kind of a shit thing to do to someone, even if they never found out about it. I think it's that his ideas are so good, I just really, really wish I'd thought of them first.

I suppose I should try to go to sleep now. I made myself go to bed at quarter to four, and ended up tossing and turning until twenty five to five. Now it's five thirty, and I'm still not tired. Nonetheless, sleep is kind of important and I don't want to spend all day tomorrow unconscious and/or crazy tired. So, I guess now is the time to say goodnight. Goodnight.

My Official Website

Is still non-existant. Now, apart from my usual problems with sucking at html, I'm also not sure what I want it to look like... at all.

My problem, I think, is that I'm too many different people. Or, rather, I don't fit in a box. I don't have one set style or one set of colours that best represents me, and I want my website to represent me - or at least my writing.

I know I want something that will appeal to both children and adults, that is creepy, but not Tim Burton creepy, because I also write stuff that is humerous social comentary, and trying to advertise that on a site that's all big moons and gnarly trees and glowing eyes might not work out so well. I want something that is easy to look at, easy to read and easy to navigate - and at least kind of goes with this blog, so I don't have to redo this, as soon as I'm done with that.

I've been restless lately, and that doesn't help. I guess what I have to do is come up with an idea and stick to it, regardless of the fact that I'll probably change my mind before I'm finished the layout.

My Incision is Too Deformed

Rhiannon and I were going to watch the X-files. Rhiannon went off to get the dvd and came back with seasons 2, 3, 5 and six, so I could "make an informed decision". Then I noticed she had the new movie and then said, "Oh, now my incision is too deformed." I'm great like that.

Goals

So my February goal of getting more readers on FictionPress each day than I had on the one previous didn't work out so well. Don't get me wrong - I'm still very pleased with my February numbers, but I could have done better.

My March goal, which I hadn't got around to posting yet, was to get over a hundred hits in a single day, which, apparently, I did on Wednesday, so go me.

Also, I'm kind of wondering why I have more readers in Singapore, the UK and Norway than I do in Canada. I'm not complaining, I just find it a little odd. Also, it's 5:30 in the morning and I already have one hit for today. It just makes me so happy ♥~♥

I also put up a new chapter of Aigaion Girl today, which makes me happy. I'd been having trouble getting motivated for that one, so it's nice to finally have it done, and I'm pleased with the way it turned out.

Unless they have an IQ, women should write Bodice Rippers

So, I came up with my new story - or at least a character from it. I decided I wanted it to be a mystery, so, as a true product of the 20th century, I typed how to write a mystery novel into a Google search. One of the first things that came up was this:

Well, an offshoot of it. This guy (the site uses a lot of "we"s, but I highly doubt there is more than one person running this thing) is an unprofessional tool, who probably (here's hoping) hasn't been published in anything, ever. The page I actually came to is a guide for aspiring mystery novelists, and it stopped me in my tracks. It starts like this:

Want to make a million fast? Write a mystery thriller and but in order be able to do that, first, study the work of the best writers. Take you a week or two. NOTE: Women don't need to read this article unless you have an IQ of 180 like Sue Grafton.

Honestly, I don't know why things like this bother me; you don't need an IQ of 180 to realize that the man writing this article is a moron who nobody in their right mind would take seriously. But really, come on.

The article goes on to say that "unless they have an IQ, women should write Bodice Rippers or Historical novels from a woman's P.O.V." Um, it could just be me (I am only a woman after all), but I was under the impression that all people have an IQ. Even Mr. Chauvinist "Writer" has an IQ, although I would be very surprised to learn that it was within even twenty points of mine.

Anywhom, that's my angry rant for today. I feel like I should say more, but really, what else is there? The guy is an idiot, but barely worth the words I've already wasted on him. Here's hoping he steps on a rusty nail and gets tetanus.