2008-08-28T18:44:14Z http://packingheat.net/comments/atom.aspx Quick Blog tag:packingheat.net,2008-07-02:1165300 Jordan Castillo Price 2008-07-02T14:20:04Z 2008-07-02T14:20:04Z
I just got a new Asus eee computer running Linux, and Open Office looks really great on it. I haven't done more than a test page but it ran really smooth, looks good, works quickly. The keyboard will take some getting used to, but even after just having it a day and dinking around with it intermittently, I can see that I will adjust.

Thanks for the tip on keeping the flash drive small. (Which I do anyway just because I'm cheap. Quill.com has a 1GB for about $6 right now on clearance. I get one every time I order office supplies for the day job.)
]]> tag:packingheat.net,2008-07-02:1164489 Jeremy 2008-07-02T09:01:42Z 2008-07-02T09:01:42Z
In regards to the flash drive, I am also backing up my work on a regular basis. What I do is this: First, I've named my working folder to today's date, like "Writing 2008-07-02" or whatever. Then next I copy into my "Documents" folder on my Mac. In my Documents folder I now have several copies of my writing, backed up at different intervals on different dates. I bought my current flash drive from Target (of all places) for $17. My recommendation would be to keep it at 2 GB, because I've noticed that my work machine won't recognize any drive above 4 GB.]]> tag:packingheat.net,2008-06-26:1151925 Jeremy http://sukobiru.wordpress.com 2008-06-26T22:45:51Z 2008-06-26T22:45:51Z
2. I signed up for the newsletter

3. I set up my blog space. Actually, I reopened a blog space that I created a long time ago but left dormant. Time to get back into it

REWARDS:
Another good discussion. For me, a reward would be playing my Wii for purely selfish reasons. I cannot play until I hit my wordcount goal. AND if I go over and go crazy and do another 3k day, this doesn't mean I can slack for the next two days.]]> tag:packingheat.net,2008-06-26:1151877 Jeremy 2008-06-26T22:28:15Z 2008-06-26T22:28:15Z
1) Establish a blog, with updates every two days for three weeks

2) Work on story "Point of the Sword" on Mon, Wed, and Fri, 1000 words a day.

3) Work on story "Random Sanctum" (working title) on Tues and Thurs, 1000 words a day

4) Have fun on weekends -- write one-offs, short stories wherever my mind goes.]]> tag:packingheat.net,2008-06-25:1147805 Jordan Castillo Price 2008-06-25T10:57:59Z 2008-06-25T10:57:59Z
I think it's pretty common for writers to have day jobs that don't require continual, undivided attention. It leaves them fresh to work on their writing, or to at least think about their writing during the day--I'm thinking of Harvey Pekar and Charles Bukowski. I'm sure there are many more.

I have a high-intensity day job but I cut my hours down to half time to prevent burnout. I'm glad I had the flexibility to choose the number of hours I want to work. I'd rather live as cheaply as possible and have less of my time go to someone else.

A question about Open Office: do you run it from your flash drive on both Windows and Mac, or is it running from Windows on your flash drive, and then you have it installed for Mac at home and you run it off your computer? Sorry if that's a ridiculous question. Cross-platform performance makes my brain hurt. (Also, when my mom calls me and asks me what's wrong with her PC when 1. I can't see it and 2. I know next to nothing about PCs.)
]]> tag:packingheat.net,2008-06-25:1147769 Jordan Castillo Price 2008-06-25T10:44:39Z 2008-06-25T10:44:39Z
I'll bet you would really have a blast writing your poet, because she'd come with so much voice. She could be somber, or playful, or precognitive, all with her poetic styling. I'm not saying she'd be easy--in fact, I think she'd be hard to do well. But she'd be so worth it that I'll bet readers would be itching for her to make her appearance.

I haven't played on Seventh Sanctum in a long time. I'm developing a new story world and I need to write some practice scenes so I can see who my characters are. Maybe a little randomness is just the ticket for me to use in my sketches.
]]> tag:packingheat.net,2008-06-24:1146546 Jeremy 2008-06-24T22:34:29Z 2008-06-24T22:34:29Z tag:packingheat.net,2008-06-24:1146536 Jeremy 2008-06-24T22:27:23Z 2008-06-24T22:27:23Z
I am thinking this is like a Flash Gordon type of story. Yes, Flash has been done to death, reinvented at least 3 times since the 30's, and is little more than a comic book that never really could break past Batman and Superman and the X-Men. He could be this fabled hero guy who in real life is just the poster-boy for a revolution who isn't all he is billed. In real life, he is challenged and constantly is trying to compensate for a poor self-image. His nervous habits: he smokes (a lot), he must always walk and even number of steps and will be upset if he loses his count, everything he does must have an even number to it (chews his food 4 or 6 times before swallowing, never 5). In the rebel camp where he lives, all of the plans must have an even number of steps, and the people making those plans get frustrated that they have to make up an extra step at times just to satisfy their figurehead.
The poet is a woman who speaks in rhymes whenever she can. This appeals to the football figurehead as it is a very even speech pattern. She is completely self-less and is incapable of telling a lie. Brilliant, she sees patterns in things and events and will often reveal the future, but because she speaks in rhymes and metaphors this is often lost to those listening.
The traveler is the story, as it begins with him and ends with him. He is a roaming samurai (because I've always wanted to do a samurai story) who is an expert in warfare who has no master because he seeks the truth about conflict and the source of human desire to wage war. He fights only worthy causes in conflict. He's been roaming for two years now, and heard of the rebellion from the poet in a seedy bar – he saved her life, they had a one night stand, and then he searched her out for six months when she left. The “2 years” appeals to the footballer, but it is the beautiful truth spoken by the poet that captured the warrior's heart.]]> tag:packingheat.net,2008-06-18:1129375 Jordan Castillo Price 2008-06-18T11:42:40Z 2008-06-18T11:42:40Z
I'm totally jealous of you building up steam and getting up to 3k. That's a fantasy writing day for me! (I'm at 700 so far today and I'm hoping for 3k. My guy's going out to catch a band later, so who knows, maybe I can hit my goal if I work into the night.)
]]> tag:packingheat.net,2008-06-17:1127924 Jeremy 2008-06-17T23:36:56Z 2008-06-17T23:36:56Z