http://search.deviantart.com/?q=by:Mantisss&section=today deviantART RSS for by:Mantisss en-us Copyright 2009, deviantART.com Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:06:39 PST deviantART.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://s.deviantart.com/minish/widgets/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png http://Mantisss.deviantart.com/journal/25359422/ http://Mantisss.deviantart.com/journal/25359422/ Tue, 16 Jun 2009 18:57:43 PDT
I'm looking for a photographer in Cape Town who would be willing to take some shots of me that I can use on various online profiles etc.

I can't afford to pay for the shots, so it should probably be a new photographer who is still building up his or her portfolio and is in that phase where they do free shoots in return for free portfolio pics.

If anyone knows of anyone looking for models, then please do give me a shout. For my purposes I'll just need head shots, but I'm willing to work with the photographer so they get the type of shots they need, too. Erm... Just nothing "untoward", please.

Thanks!

V

]]> ~Mantisss http://Mantisss.deviantart.com/journal/24311909/ http://Mantisss.deviantart.com/journal/24311909/ Sat, 18 Apr 2009 17:13:07 PDT
It's hard to believe that it's been slightly over a year since I quit my job and started working for myself.

A year ago I expected blood, sweat and tears, and time has proven my expectations valid. Although I have had some good months, funds are tighter than ever before and the hours pass so slowly when all you have to look forward to is a brief sleep and then more work, work, work...

Am I thinking of taking on a fulltime work, working for someone else again? Hell no.

Has it been worth it? Hell yeah.

Despite extended working hours, the lack of a social life (offline!) and the tight purse strings, the freedom that working for myself has given me is beyond compare. As I said, if my boss is going to be a bitch, then it may as well be me. At least I'm my kinda bitch

If anyone's still watching me, I promise to be around more often in future. I know I've promised that before... But I'll try. I promise.

I'll get to comments and deviations as fast as possible, probably deviations first, so expect a bit of a wait for replies to any comments...

I hope everyone is well. Please do update me on yourself, too... I'm so far behind on "news" that it's just not funny.

So I'll leave you with my new motto. Well, two new mottos. I like mottos; they say so much more than they say...

Motto 1 - Can everyone who says it can't be done, please get out of my way so I can do it?

Motto 2 - I'm not cynical; I've just been taking notes.

]]> ~Mantisss http://Mantisss.deviantart.com/journal/17135031/ http://Mantisss.deviantart.com/journal/17135031/ Sat, 01 Mar 2008 15:27:00 PST
Except that I end up doing more web uploads and sorting out other krappy web-related issues, and barely any writing or proofing. Lovely stuff.

The drive to work is far longer and along a more dangerous road traffic-wise, the hours of work are longer... My migraines begin to grow worse (think black spots jumping around every time you open your eyes, little green men suddenly on steriods hammering away at the inside of your skull while their female counterparts stick hot needles through the back of your eyeballs).

Then the inevitable: My depression kicks in again. Downward spirals of numbness and nothingness.

I once again contemplate my life.

And my dreams.

And finally the thought springs into my head: "Screw it. Why don't I just do it?"

Do what?

Follow my dreams, of course. And not in the "safe way" that I've been doing the past two years.

In a very real way.

So last Monday I resigned my job. I'll be working fulltime from home doing freelance SEO writing, editorials for the local newspaper, copywriting, copyediting... Starting up a long-pending web design business together with a friend... Finally getting some of my own writing done... Marketing my husband's business... Basically, any work I can get my grubby paws on...

Scary shit. No set income each month. No spare cash to fall back on. No nothing. Just hard work. Blood. Sweat. Tears, no doubt (but surely no more than those that have already been shed).

I've taken the plunge.

Sink or swim.

Wish me luck.

]]> ~Mantisss http://Mantisss.deviantart.com/journal/15962713/ http://Mantisss.deviantart.com/journal/15962713/ Sun, 16 Dec 2007 17:00:21 PST
I feel the need to mention here that I'm not entirely certain what the general take is on me submitting works that technically no longer belong to me.

"Mantis" and "Dimly Lit Passageways" are still copywrited to me, however everything written for the newspapers is no longer my property. However, I don't think that there will be any problems with me posting these works, especially since I'll make mention on each piece of what I've just said.

HOWEVER, should anyone from RSA know otherwise, then PLEASE let me know... I'm not looking to step on any toes, especially those of my previous clients...

So... Now the fun starts...

These won't be posted in order of writing or publication... I'm far too lazy to sit and figure that out now!

Enjoy...

]]> ~Mantisss http://Mantisss.deviantart.com/journal/15752025/ http://Mantisss.deviantart.com/journal/15752025/ Sat, 01 Dec 2007 15:46:03 PST
Yes, it's really me.

And yes, I'm listening to Billy Idol. It's sad, I know.

I've been toying with the idea for some time now of using DA as an online portfolio of sorts.

Yes, there are plenty of other sites that are more geared towards writers and such, but I'm simply too lazy to set anything up there... And I don't really have the time, either, to be honest.

Some of you may already know this, but posting unpublished work on a website such as DA renders your work "published" by most editors. Therefore I unfortunately am unable and unwilling to post work that has not yet been published...

My published works thus far contain very few short stories, one poem that sucks so badly (and not in a good way, either) that I've vowed to NEVER show it to ANYONE, one or two editorials, as well as book reviews and commercial features that I've written for our local newspapers.

So my question is this:

As much of the work is "boring", comissioned work, would anyone still be keen to read it?

And... Would DA work as an online portfolio?

As you know, I've been away for some time now and have absolutely no idea how things work around here anymore... Although I'm sure that I should be entitled to submit published works as long as it's legal for me to do so...

Sooo...

]]> ~Mantisss http://Mantisss.deviantart.com/journal/10357297/ http://Mantisss.deviantart.com/journal/10357297/ Wed, 11 Oct 2006 10:53:24 PDT Nothing is predestined: The obstacles of your past can become the gateways that lead to new beginnings.
Ralph Blum

First say to yourself what you would be;
and then do what you have to do.
Epictetus

Any of you who know me will realize that it’s almost impossible for me to keep my neatly forked tongue inside my mouth when confronted by some menial person who is invariably half my age and expects respect from me while simultaneously being incredibly rude and condescending.

Well, I’ve had as much rudeness as I can take from the kiddies who like to call themselves “Admin” or “DA Staff” (with only one exception to this, who can not be named due to the fact that he’s already in enough “trouble” with the other staff members ….makes you wonder, that the only Staff member I have any respect for is a “bad egg” as far as the rest of that lot are concerned, doesn’t it …).

Anyway, as I was saying: I find myself spending far too much time on DA and not getting nearly enough back out of it. To top that off, I’m confronted with continuous problems with regards to submitting work on DA, commenting, etc. A few days ago my entire gallery vanished … and then reappeared a few hours later. I often can’t comment because the comment boxes have vanished. My previews disappear then reappear. I don’t receive all my friends’ new work in my message centre half the time. The list goes on. Each time I send the “bug report” to Helpesk I’m given the exact same answer (templates and “copy paste” are great, aren’t they???) – “We are aware of this problem” and then no follow-up whatsoever.

At any rate, the attitude and competence of the kiddie who replied to my Helpdesk query yesterday was the last straw. If this person had bothered to actually read my question instead of simply spotting one word and going off on her own tangent, then I’d not have had to bother her. In the end she still has not answered my question, but passed the query on to another staff member, who in turn passed it on to yet another staff member …. Bah! I don’t feel the need to be subjected to having immature individuals lording it over me and thinking that they may be rude and obnoxious (this little cow actually told me not to bother her when I noted her!!!) and get away with it because of their position here on DA. I was in no way rude to her, and I EXPECT respect until such time as I no longer deserve it. As a member of DA who is asking a simple question, there is no need to be obnoxious when replying. If she’s busy or has personal problems, then tough luck; she should take a break from DA in that case and let someone who can find their manners take care of matters. Simple solution: I leave DA (after allowing my wickedly forked tongue out from between my lips, of course). No slinking away with tail between legs for me … hell no. I’m having my say and that’s that.

I’ve been rereading my past few journals and it seems that each one of them has some gripe or another regarding DA … and quite frankly I’m sick of bitching about the same old thing all the time and having nothing come of it. Half of you most likely think that I’m just looking for attention … Well, I’m the type of person who rants when I’m upset. It’s far better than ripping some deserving sod’s head off their shoulders. There’s less jail time involved, too.

I’m not about to go into graphic detail on my personal life right now, but will add that I’ve been suffering through many a situation in the last few weeks (nothing unique to me personally; at some point we all deal with these things) and the emotional stress has taken it’s toll.

I’ll be spending more time on Something Wicked and Critters, have more time to myself for doing things other than writing. My writing is important to me, but it’s equally important to spend time doing other enjoyable things, which I’ve not had chance to do lately. So I’ll take this opportunity to bid you all adios with no regrets from my side … The Deviant Art website has become little more than a thorn in my side of late and from past experience I realize that it’s time to move on …

Anyone who I am already in contact with is most welcome to continue to e-mail me, call me and sms me, as per usual. It’s not you guys who are working on my nerves … it’s … well, I’ve already said it.

I’ve made some dear friends on DA who I hope to keep in touch with … Many thanks to all you guys (who know who you are) and especially to =mdog02 for being an absolute dear and who has not tried to make me feel the least bit guilty about leaving DA and wasting his money (for the record, when Admin decide to get to it, then that refun... ]]> ~Mantisss