Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Public Diary

Okay, so this is more like my public diary.  Thanks to everyone who commented and thanks for dropping by just to look around too!  I am open to suggestions on how to make the best use of this online form of expression which I'm still learning so much about.  Actually, I've been wondering if I chose the wrong spot.  There are other blogs that allow visitors to comment without having an account first.  Anyone think that's a good idea?  Or is it not really a major factor in why people don't comment?  I'm just as happy with e-mail, by the way.  And thanks to those who did that too.  Should the whim take you, you can contact me quite conveniently through my website (http://members.shaw.ca/jcmlott).

So, in public diary news: I got my first reading part at Librivox.  Voice of Queen Cor in Frank Baum's Rinkitink of Oz.  I'm increasingly grateful that the Oz books are in the public domain and that Librivox hasn't recorded them all yet. It was sweet listening to other readers' finished lines calling me
"your majesty," quailing or grumbling before me as earnestly as though I were there.  Come to think of it, it's like a bluescreen; actors having to react to things that will be added in later.  I know it'll be amazing, when the book is finished, listening to my part playing off the others'.
Reading Me is very happy.  Singing Me: still feeling deprived.  I miss you, Bel Canto!  Why, why, why are all the best new opportunities in Vancouver?!  Too much travel, too much stress, too much...which brings me to money.  Money-Obsessed Me is happy because she might be getting a new job soon.
Waiting to hear back.
The waiting game goes on for me the writer, as well.  So, "hopeful."  Writing Me is hopeful.  Man, if I didn't have so many of me, I don't know what I'd do.
Practical Me's off to Canadian Tire now to buy a skipping rope.  I've decided that between that and my badminton set, I'm covered for recreational exercise.  Oh, and my friends have finally started playing badminton with me!  And helping me make fruit slushies in my vitamix.  Social Me happy:-)

Saturday, April 5, 2008

Some Quick Q & A

Here's just a little more about me.  Answers from a chain letter I took the time to fill out:

1. What is your occupation? Starving Artist.
2. What color are your socks right now? White.
3. What are you listening to right now? Shania Twain.
> oops, lost 4, seems to be a formatting error since there's no 4 in
> the original
5. Can you drive a stick shift? No.
6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Purple.
7. Last person you spoke to on the phone? ING Direct Associate.
8. What color is your car? Camouflaged. Blends in everywhere and you can even walk through it like air; no one knows I have it.
9. How old are you today? 20.
10. Favorite drink? Freckled lemonade.
11. Favorite sport to watch? The kind where they don't complain if you bring a book and use it to ignore them.
12. Have you ever dyed your hair? No.
13. Pets? Cat--not mine.
14. Favorite food? Pumpkin pie.
15. Last movie you watched? Blood and Chocolate.
16. What do you do to vent anger? Write vengeful fiction.
17. Favorite Day of the year? Day I get an agent. It will become my annually remembered national holiday.
18. What was your favorite toy as a child? Friend--green beanbag monster.
19. What is your favorite, fall or spring? Spring.
20. Hugs or kisses? Hugs.
21. Cherry or Blueberry? Blueberry.
22. Do you want your friends to mail you back? Constantly.
23. Current living arrangements? Renting house with two friends and two wer-hyenas.
24. When was the last time you cried? Three months ago--homesick.
25. What is on the floor of your closet? A scale, black shoes, my old pillow, my fancy leather handbag and my laptop backpack.
31. What inspires you? People, books and my subconscious mind.
32. What are you afraid of? Giving up.
33. Plain, cheese or spicy hamburgers? Vegetarian.
34. Favorite car? My own very special non-existent one, of course.
35. Favorite cat breed? Non-vomiting.
37. How many years at your current job? You mean pertaining to question #1? Let's see: Animorph Ending, Drescopata, one, two--about three years.
38. Favorite day of the week? Saturday.
39. How many states have you lived in? None. Ooo, that must mean I live in outer space, right?
40. How many piercing? Not even the ears.
41. How many tattoos? None.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Welcome

Welcome, welcome, one and all.  "One" being the hopes that someone shows up to greet day one of my blog!  I have no idea how popular these things really are or if there's anyone who might want to talk to me this way.  So, hailing on all frequencies...
Any writers out there?  Readers?  Dreamers?  I'll try to get us started on some discussions, some rants, whatever sparks good dialogue.
Who am I?  Well, a few people might know me as the author of a certain Alternative Animorphs Ending (http://members.shaw.ca/jcmlott/).  Or as the daughter of Lynda Williams, published author of the Okal Rel Universe (http://www.okalrel.org/index.html).  Failing that, I guess I'm your everyday starving artist.  Not literally.  Actually, I'm more of a shivering artist lately,
because our furnace broke.
I've had a wonderful week as a writer.  An agent asked to see the first three chapters of my novel, Coffee News started publishing my poetry and I unsubscribed from "Go Freelance!" Between jobs at the moment and trying to find a way to make extra cash, I started sifting through freelance job e-mails I've been saving for months.  It wasn't until I seriously considered applying for one that I realized this particular job resource is a money-sucking black hole of doom.  Checked on Preditors & Editors: "Charges Fees.  Not Recommended."  I should have checked there in the first place.  Anyway, I believe in giving people chances and I was going to use the contact form on the Freelance Work Exchange site to politely state my concerns and request reassurance.  But when I got to the bottom of the form, they wanted a password.  To get a password you have to join them.  To join them?  You guessed it: $$$!
Feeling slightly jipped that I wrote them this letter for nothing, I thought I'd post it on my blog.  Maybe someone who needs to will see it after all:

"Become a Gold Member for just $2.95," but then it goes to "Payment Options: $3.16(CAD) for 7 days (trial) then $42.77(CAD) recurring every 30 days." To the best of my knowledge, Freelance is a job resource on the internet. I haven't encountered any before that insist you pay over $500 a year for the privilege of seeing them. Moreover, I am already seeing the jobs you send me by e-mail. Every piece of information about a job except how to apply. Yeah, I know; apply by joining Freelance. Is that all you withhold until I start paying? The means to contact an employer? If they really are looking to hire freelance writers, why would they want to screen by who is and is not willing to pay you money? What about that could possibly qualify a person more or less to apply for any job?
As I assume I have made clear, I am very skeptical. I would appreciate any clarification you could offer.