Novembeh? Where's this month gone?

No, really! Where has this month gone? Almost December? Damn it.
I haven't blogged for about 3 weeks I don't think - it's not you, it's me. Honest! Well, it is, even if you don't believe me.

What have I been doing all this time? I know that's what you were thinking, whilst weeping into a box of tissues. Well, don't fret, I'm back and should be back properly now November is almost done with - you see, I have been writing a book. Yes, it's true. A whole book. Well, almost. You see I'm 43k words in. I need to get to 50k by the end of November, which will be a piece of cake, but I have a feeling I'm going to be writing more than that. I never was good at pacing myself. I have a large chunk of the story left to tell so I'll be trying to hammer it all down in the next week. I suppose the good thing is I know I'll succeed, but I want to finish this thing so I can put it away in December, not look at it and then in the new year start to edit the hell out of it. Well, not edit the hell out of it, because I won't be changing the story in any way. I'm happy with how it's turned out. I just need to make sure my writing makes sense.

I have this problem where I write things but they don't make sense.... I don't know if you've noticed? haha.

Other things I've been doing this month is lots of Uni work. Didn't get the best grade on my first English Lit essay, but I wasn't expecting to because I fucked up and didn't have a lot of time to edit. I didn't spell check either because I forgot. What can I say? It was a panicked day when I was trying to get it sorted! Not to worry. Start with low expectations, that's my plan. I'll wow them with my next essay... or probably not. I've forgotten how to write them, which is probably quite bad... hmmm.

Today I'm looking forward to baking. I'm making cupcakes because I just bought an icecream scoop to help me with portion control of cake mix... if you bake you'll understand that this is quite a milestone for me! I am also going to practise icing, because I usually don't bother, but I have this rather adorable piping bag and I need to put it to good use. I am also booking a massage. I got a voucher for a massage on my birthday in June and have promptly forgotten to book one ever since, but apparently the voucher runs out after 6 months. Well, if it's too late I'm getting that money back. You can't keep money and not provide a service! gosh!

I have a migraine right now, and have had a mild but continuous one for a while. It's annoying, but I think it's because we have 'artificial sunlight' lights at work and I'm sure they flicker slightly. Anyway, they set my eyes off like nothing else on this planet and I'm suffering. God I  hate that place.

In another news I saw Hanson at the Academy in Manchester on Thursday - they were AMAZING. If you turn your nose up at them because all you know is MmmBop, then you're only ruining it for yourself. I have never heard anyone sing so perfectly in tune in my life. Their harmonies are insane. The crowd was good, a lot of supportive fans and it was nice to see it was only them on stage, no bass player, no additional band to fill the gaps. They really are musically amazing. They all play each others instruments too, which is something you don't often see.

I have just found I am in love with Etsy. And have spent a bit of money on their last night. Some spending was on other people for Christmas, but I did buy myself something which I'll post a picture of once it arrives. I am also going to start making cute aprons and selling them on their I think. But that's a December project.

Speaking of projects - still working on THE VORTEX - it's a slow process, but it's still fun. Drop by.

Sam
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Google... you both confuse and excite me...

So, I know I'm probably the last one to have switched to the new blogger that Google has offered us, but, well, I had a look at it a while ago, decided I didn't like change and switched back to the old viewing window.
Recently I decided that no, Sam, you will change. You won't get left behind, you'll move on with the rest of them and rejoice in the new world of Google. And that's just what I did... still not sure about it. It's nice, and neat and sure, I can see a lot of hard work has gone into making it the best it can be... but it's SO different. Still, I'm here now and there's no going back.

Talking of no going back. When I did upload the new blogger, I was prompted that my IE didn't properly support the new script, so I was prompted (very conveniently) to use Google Chrome as a browser instead. I ummed and ahhed, because I'd been contemplating changing browsers for a long time, but nothing felt right. Well, I switched and now everything feels right. Google Chrome is me. It's smart, fast, smooth looking... just like me! haha. I jest. But once I started updating I couldn't stop. I updated my Google Mail accounts and even signed up for Google Analytics for my website... there's no stopping me this week. Literally.

And talking of not stopping - I'm still fully invested in NaNoWriMo, despite my initial fears I wouldn't be able to do it. I'm currently at a word count of about 19201, and will be hitting and exceeding the 20k mark of my novel tomorrow, right on schedule. I'm loving the writing, and I think it will help me with my creative writing. It's helping me get out of myself, and learn to just write, and explore different techniques, voices, POV's and what not. I actually got my first assignment mark back for creative writing and got a 61, which to me is great! Over 50 for the 1st assignment is good in my eyes, because I will only be aiming higher and higher from now on. Got some really good constructive criticism and I'm taking it all in and rolling with it!

Speaking of rolling with it - my sister passed me the Vampire Diaries books to read the other day. This is the first time she has given ME a book to read, usually it's the other way around, but since she exhausted my book collection this year she's had to pass me something she's stolen from a friend. I always avoided VD because I watched the TV show before I read the book, and I don't like doing that, so if it happens I try not to get into the books because it usually ruins the TV show, with the book being better, but I can honestly say I prefer it this way around. VD the book is good, but I don't like the way it's written, and the verbal exchanged between the characters unbelievable. The TV show took all the good things about the show, added their own spin on it and made it 80 times better. So there you have it, the TV show CAN be better than the book!

And speaking of Tv shows - I've recently written an article on MY WEBSITE about cancelled Tv shows. Check it out - I'm looking for viewers and feedback - also contributors. So if you're interested in doing an article, or have any links you want to share to fun sites just email them to;
theswirlingvortex@gmail.com

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is what we call progressional flow. I'm good at it - I even have a t-shirt with I <3 Progressional Flow on it. Yes, I'm that cool!


Bye now!

Sam
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The Popularity Forum

It makes me giggle to see which of my posts are 'popular' at the moment.

For the past week or so it's been the one entitled 'Let's go back to the 80's, man!'

And I can only assume people click on it by mistake due to the images I have attached. But still, it's had a butt load of views recently (still, viewer count hasn't gone up so I'm not winning subscribers! Come on people, help my ego out!).

The reason I think people have been heading on over this way is because, like many of the things I like, 80's fashion and makeup is going to make a comeback. What? It's not? People are just googling for 80's makeup because it was Halloween? Damn. And I just bought a sequin jacket with shoulder pads and some denim looking bicycle shorts. Wow... that was a strange mixture of clothing. Sorry!

What was I saying? Oh yes - I'm going to be uploading some special effects make up pictures soon. I have the actual silicone pieces, I'm just waiting on my adhesive to arrive. I had to order it this week - thought I had some in the shed. I don't. Bah!
On a plus note - my new makeup brush set arrived at the best time, so now I can try out my new brushes simulating blood and gore. Yesssss!

Right, I'd best get back. I have an assignment to start and a novel to crack on with. Oh... and I need lunch. Spaghetti hoops, here I come!

Toodles!
Sam
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NaNoWriMo - week 1

Apologies to everyone, but this month will pretty much just consist of me either blogging about the wondrous NaNoWriMo or blogging about working on my new website - The Vortex.

So - lets start! :P

NaNoWriMo started this week and so far.. so good. I think... I have hit the word target each day and I think it's going ok. Today I have to get to 8000 and something words, but I'm going to starbucks with my laptop so I'll get a cheeky eggnogg latte and type away, sans internet access which should hopefully help keep the distractacons away! If you click the link up there you go to my user page, which tells you what I'm writing about and how well I'm doing, word wise.
I'm enjoying writing so far. I've never actually attempted to write a full book before, I've always started writing, to note down story ideas or scenes etc. but never actually thought to myself to expand on the story and, perhaps, try to write it. Partly from fear. So here I am. Over 6000 words in, and really enjoying it. I started up a little playlist to get me in the mood over on YouTube - if anyone is interested in listening to said playlist you can click the link :P

I'll keep you posted on how I get on with the rest of the writing though. To be fair, having the 1st 2 weeks of November off work is helpful so I dread the last 2 weeks when I have to go back to work and I'll have to try to fit writing into my every day trials. Hmmm.... we'll see what happens.

As for the website, its a slow start. Got a few articles, links and videos up so show what kind of direction we want to be heading in. I've been trying to get friends involved in looking at it and stuff, but my friends don't generally have the same internet aspirations as me, so they really couldn't give a tiny rats ass. It's fine with me, I just want to try to get it going though - so anyone who ventures past the site, please let me know what you think - what you like and don't like! I want honesty!

In the meantime - when I've not been working on such things, I've been watching New Girl, the Tv show with Zooey Deschanel. And I love it. I like her anyway, but I was worried it would be a bit too 'quirky' and play too much on the fact that she is cute etc. But it's actually so well done, and so well written it doesn't come across as OTT. In my opinion anywho!

Right I have to get going to 'bucks so I can start writing!

Sam