http://search.deviantart.com/?q=by:findmeastorm&section=today deviantART RSS for by:findmeastorm en-us Copyright 2010, deviantART.com Fri, 01 Jan 2010 08:47:07 PST deviantART.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://s.deviantart.com/minish/widgets/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png http://findmeastorm.deviantart.com/journal/29294730/ http://findmeastorm.deviantart.com/journal/29294730/ Wed, 30 Dec 2009 01:42:31 PST
Otherwise I've been editing and writing. I have two short stories on the go; one is hopefully good enough to put up here, the other is pure self-indulgence and will probably go in scraps for the enjoyment of the people whose characters are mentioned in it (VI writers, I'm talking to you). Editing-wise I've got a few more assignments to finish off in January before I can move to the next interesting topic in my course. The really good thing, though, is that I think I've got over the 'I hate this book and want to destroy it' phase of editing on one of my books. Yay.

Also I finally got a new laptop after my old Dell monstrosity suffered a long, slow painful death. I'm still getting used to the keyboard and I'm a lot happier with Windows 7 than I thought I'd be. Yay again.

And with that, I'm going to crawl under the sheets again and sulk until the swine has moved on.

]]> ~findmeastorm http://findmeastorm.deviantart.com/journal/28778776/ http://findmeastorm.deviantart.com/journal/28778776/ Sun, 06 Dec 2009 02:33:23 PST
It's a little difficult to explain that all I really want to do is write one good book that will become a best seller. The royalties from that book will buy me a small house close to the sea with enough land for my horses. I'll then become a reclusive writer with ponies and the sea. I will never go near a city, I'll not drive more than an hour away, but I will travel regularly overseas.

I like my life goals. Who wants a career, anyway?

]]> ~findmeastorm http://findmeastorm.deviantart.com/journal/28515549/ http://findmeastorm.deviantart.com/journal/28515549/ Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:08:57 PST
Otherwise, I'm reading a lot, training horses as always, watching out for bushfires and finally knuckling down to edit. I'm a third of the way through editing my 'main' novel, and in January I'm going to restart one of my others - last year's NaNo, actually. I've got some good ideas for that and I'd like to see what comes of it.

So this means my brief foray into writing short stories is probably going to slow down in the coming months - my brain has returned to noveling endurance rather than short story endurance. Or it's getting there, at least. Something like that. I am really looking forward to getting these novels into shape, though. They're a mess and they've been a mess too long. Onward! Concentrate! Etc.

And now, more coffee.

]]> ~findmeastorm http://findmeastorm.deviantart.com/journal/28054691/ http://findmeastorm.deviantart.com/journal/28054691/ Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:46:37 PDT
And, quite possibly, I'll start writing something else too. Because I'm stupid like that.

In other news, tomorrow I'll be launching the November issue of Terrouge. This is my last issue as Editor in Chief and it'll be nice to have it done. I'm looking forward to plans and ideas that are slowly forming for next year's literary adventure. Once November is over and I'm back to some kind of life, I'll get down to business on that lot.

And now, back to a large cup of coffee and a second draft. Got to get back into practice for NaNo.

]]> ~findmeastorm http://findmeastorm.deviantart.com/journal/27946241/ http://findmeastorm.deviantart.com/journal/27946241/ Sat, 24 Oct 2009 17:49:16 PDT
Since then I've been reading the most wonderful comments I've ever received on dA. I'm honestly surprised people have taken the time to read my short story, which isn't all that short, and moreover to comment so thoughtfully. Back in June I recieved a DD for a photo on my previous account; the number of comments and favourites I received then was extremely humbling and I'm still working through the favourites.

However today, somehow this DD is all the more special because literature has been a part of me for years, and I've been striving to strengthen my skills and learn as much as I can about crafting a good story. Thank you very much to apocathary, SparrowSong and to everyone who has taken the time to read, visit my gallery and leave such delightful comments and favourites.

I'm off to read through and reply to them all now!

Cheers,

Findmeastorm

]]> ~findmeastorm http://findmeastorm.deviantart.com/journal/26887905/ http://findmeastorm.deviantart.com/journal/26887905/ Sat, 29 Aug 2009 02:27:55 PDT
Hello world.

Who are you, how did you find my page, and what do you do with your time?

I don't want to live in a bubble any more.

]]> ~findmeastorm http://findmeastorm.deviantart.com/journal/25137147/ http://findmeastorm.deviantart.com/journal/25137147/ Fri, 05 Jun 2009 04:31:26 PDT
Much to my surprise, I found several comments congratulating me for the DD. suggested one of my photos for a DD and, far more surprising, I got one. I was ... floored. And I now have around 800 messages to go through.

Just when I was about to delete my entire photography gallery. Now what do I do?!

On the up side, I consider it a huge honour to be given a DD, particularly in photography when I hadn't updated my old account - - since January. And hadn't intended to update it due to a lack of visual inspiration and a good camera. Maybe I should take some more photos, though. I don't know. I hit a plateau with photography that was caused by no teaching, an old camera and no money to upgrade or study. Writing I feel like I'm already ahead, somehow. Looking through this gallery, though, and comparing it to my photography gallery, I can't see as strong a progression of skills - but hey, I haven't written anything for several months either due to exhaustion, work, work and study. Oh, and work.

I think I need a holiday. And then to decide whether to actually do any more photography or just thank everyone for the favourites on my silverdryad account and move on to concentrate entirely on writing. I don't know.

Either way, deserves a DD far more than I did. Go and poke her to upload the Terrouge cover she drew. It's amazing.

]]> ~findmeastorm http://findmeastorm.deviantart.com/journal/24294390/ http://findmeastorm.deviantart.com/journal/24294390/ Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:39:06 PDT
Other than that, things are quiet. My computer has been a nightmare to deal with, but it's finally being sorted out. I think. Bah, Vista.

And now, I'm off for the day. Thank you for reading another pointless journal entry. Hey, at least it got the two-month-old pointless one off.

]]> ~findmeastorm http://findmeastorm.deviantart.com/journal/23401396/ http://findmeastorm.deviantart.com/journal/23401396/ Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:28:46 PST
First off, Project Positivity is challenging, fascinating and a very, very powerful thing to join in. Even if you don't want to submit anything to the actual project, give this place a watch and see what happens. There are some fascinating entries already.

Secondly, has a fascinating competition on Magical Realism running. I'm planning on entering once I get some energy into my writing fingers and think of something to write for it. It's a fascinating subject and not one I've heard a lot about - definitely worth a look even just to read the entries.

I'm really enjoying having a chance to become more active in the literature community on dA. I've found it more welcoming and easier to become a part of than the photography community. Maybe that's just because I have a closer interest in literature compared to photography; despite the fact I spent three years as a photographer alone on dA before finally working up the courage to post some literature here.

I am thinking of running a contest of sorts as well. Not entirely sure about prizes as I have no money at the moment, but hey. I'll work on it. Literature contests are always interesting.

]]> ~findmeastorm http://findmeastorm.deviantart.com/journal/23282321/ http://findmeastorm.deviantart.com/journal/23282321/ Thu, 19 Feb 2009 02:32:53 PST
I am most comfortable writing novels, full-length stories with plotlines as complex as a stone wall and as long as my arm. I'm used to developing characters over pages upon pages, not in short stories. But I'm wary of posting my novels or parts thereof on dA; I'm not arrogant enough to think people would rip my work but I don't want to run into a possible future difficulty of publishing/already been 'ublished' on dA.

Oh well. I'll get over it.

]]> ~findmeastorm http://findmeastorm.deviantart.com/journal/23186845/ http://findmeastorm.deviantart.com/journal/23186845/ Sat, 14 Feb 2009 02:42:22 PST
It's more than a little frustrating, for me and I'm sure a lot of other artists. I really, really love receiving comments and I'll always reply as quickly as possible. Favourites, I'll thank the favouriter but I don't really appreciate them as much.

Even if someone doesn't have the time to really study a piece and comment carefully, the least they can do if they insist on favouriting straight away, is to leave a short comment saying, 'I don't have time to expand at the moment, but I really like this and will come back with my thoughts later'. I, for one, would appreciate that immensely; even if they forget or never have the time to come back. It shows they're not just gathering random favourites, or collecting pageviews when I go to thank them.

And I do like to thank people for every comment and favourite received. I show art or literature, people view and if they take the time to let me know they like it, I take the time to thank them. Common courtesy. I just find it very frustrating that so many artists seem to be getting almost no feedback and giant stacks of favourites. What's the point? Are favourites becoming the new pageviews?


Ugh. I would really, really like there to be an option of turning favourites off as you can disable comments. That would make me very happy. And please, when can we disable pageviews?

]]> ~findmeastorm http://findmeastorm.deviantart.com/journal/23161107/ http://findmeastorm.deviantart.com/journal/23161107/ Thu, 12 Feb 2009 17:31:56 PST
So here I am, and strangely I'm quickly finding this account belongs to me than I thought it would. I feel like I can do more here than on my previous one. Which is great!

I'm really here on dA to get critique and give back. I am not going to sulk or shout or stomp if someone says 'I don't like this', but I would love to know why someone doesn't like it. I really, really need a good solid lot of critique to help me get to the next level of writing. So, if you feel like it, please, leave me a comment. I value them more than favourites and a lot more than pageviews.

Off to eat sausages and write ...

- Rain

]]> ~findmeastorm