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EmmaMaree.com

Scottish Writer of Fantasy & Sci-Fi

Miscelleny

Previously…October

previouslytreesbook

This was another month of gentle goals, which was great because whoa boy, did I need the break. My goals were:

  • Be kind to yourself.
  • Finish a video game
  • Read some books.
  • Write some words
  • Keep up the healthy eating and exercise

I met most of these goals, getting plenty of walking and spinning class done though my healthy eating suffered a bit of a loss towards Halloween (…sweeties, though). I only managed to finish a game demo this month (Pokemon Sun/Moon, woo!), not a full game, but I’ll take the victory.

This wasn’t a conscious goal, but I also spent a lot of time getting on top of the TV watching list with my partner. If you want to hear me babble about the new Doctor Who spin-off CLASS, all the comic book TV shows, or a ton of cartoon shows like Voltron, stop by my Twitter and geek out with me.

Dave and I also got some cute Halloween Twitter avatars drawn by Britt Sabo  to celebrate the season:

Previously in Writing

This month I spent a good bit of time and energy on taking part in Pitch2Pub, a fun contest that made me think a lot about my submission packages and editing tastes. I was grateful to make it pretty far in the contest, though I didn’t make it to the end.

(Unfortunately, sitting around in P2P-limbo until 6pm on Halloween is the reason this blog is super late. As much as I had fun, it was rough hanging around until Halloween evening before I knew if I’d be editing with the contest or doing NaNoWriMo as normal.)

Now that I’ve finished going through that, I’m looking forward to focusing on NaNoWriMo and getting some massive amounts of words racked up. My profile is here.

nanowrimo_2016_webbanner_participant

Previous in Reading

It’s another bust month for reading more than I’m buying. But ah well, just need to try harder next month (in between all the NaNo madness, yikes).

Books Added this Month:
TOTAL: 9

Furiously Happy [Hardback]
Stiletto (The Checquy Files, #2) [eBook]
The Mirror Empire (The Worldbreaker Saga, #1) [eBook]
Nina is Not Okay [eBook]
Justice Calling (The Twenty-Sided Sorceress, #1) [eBook]
Days of Blood and Starlight (DOSAB, #2) [eBook]
Alexander Hamilton (Great Lives) [eBook]
Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #1) [eBook]
Covet (Fallen Angels, #1) [eBook]

Books Finished & Removed:
TOTAL:  5

Lair of Dreams (The Diviners, #2) [Audiobook]
Shadow and Bone (The Grisha, #1) [Audiobook/eBook]
53k Beta Read
Furiously Happy [Hardback]
Victory of Eagles (Temeraire, #5) [Library Book]

Next Time In Goals

Next month, all priorities shift towards NANOWRIMOOOO.

  • Write 50,000 words!
  • Get back on the healthy eating bandwagon. (*shakes fist at Halloween treats*)
  • Keep on spinning and walking.
  • Finish the first Game of Thrones book.
  • Try and catch up with my NetGalley reads.

It’s going to be a month of low calories and high wordcounts. Let’s do this.

A Word of Advice

I really like podcasts and audiobooks, both of which keep me going through long dog walks through the rain and dreich darkness. My new favourite is The Creative Penn, and it’s all about writing industry news, business advice & tactics to beat self-doubt. I started listening to it because it was the cream of the crop for writing business talk, and I was hankering for something with a bit more industry news and shop talk than my other favourite, the craft-focused Writing Excuses podcast. It was an added delight to find that it has a very similar tone to Tea & Jeopardy (a writing interview podcast) as both presenters come from near Bath in England.

And if you like to study structure and foreshadowing, this 9-minute analysis of BACK TO THE FUTURE is a great look at how to craft a story.

Signing off with a puppy picture,

~ Emma <3

cvidbyoxgaay6ie

Time For Some Techy-Speak

We’re back in business!

That feels like a lot longer than it was.

“E.Maree On Writing” disappeared for a little while there in one very messy weekend. While struck down by some demon hybrid flu bug that turned my stomach into corrosive acid, I clicked onto Twitter (to tweet about how I was dying horribly, probably) and saw a trending (popular) topic about a security issue with WordPress.

I dash over to check my blog is on the newest version of WordPress (as it were, it was on 2.8.2 instead of 2.8.4, which isn’t a huge difference) and get greeted with a lovely fatal error letting me know the blog was dead.

I stared stunned, quivering and whispering dramatically “I…I think my blog’s been hacked” to anyone nearby. This was Dave, who was horrified at the loss of the swine flu pig image, and his little brother – who decided I had gained all my knowledge of FTP usage and website making in Computing class, and asked if I was having fun.

I’m gonna cut this short because what happened after was complicated – I realised my blog database was missing, was confused at to how hackers managed to do that, got an e-mail from my host saying ‘Hi there! We moved your site!’, sent off an e-mail to Support and got a lovely and prompt reply saying the server had been lost in the move and was now back where it belonged.

They also gave some advice to fix WordPress, which was still looking fishy – but after looking into it I think this is to due with new version changes, which has some oddly named directories – a ‘pomo’ directy looks mighty odd when there have been hackers loose.

Thanks also go to MyNairn’s Brian Turner, who offered some help sorting the site out. I managed to get things back up with a little help from Google, but it was nice to have help offered (especially when no one else understood what my distraught ranting was about :P).

Oh, while all this was going on, Nairn also flooded:

Pic from A Gurn From Nairn - click for more!
Pic from A Gurn From Nairn - click for more!

…Lovely.

So in short: we’re back, I learn far too much via Twitter, and Dreamhost support are lovely. <3

Just getting back into gear after all that chaos – I haven’t done any proper writing in long enough for it to bother me, and I’ve still got plenty of freelance website work to keep me busy. =)

Until then,

E.Maree
xoxo

Heaven is a Top Ten Rock Song

In my day-to-day browsing of the news, I chance across interesting articles once a while.
Today, I found a good article about how book covers can be misleading or inaccurate.
A great article, though it did have the hilarious lines:

“I still remember the shock I got at the age of seven, when my largely second-hand book collection gained a new copy of one of Enid Blyton’s much-loved Famous Five series. Dick, incredibly, seemed to be sporting an earring, and tomboy George was wearing copious amounts of hair gel. Even Timmy the dog looked faintly
disreputable.

“The design was presumably attempting to appeal to a more modern audience, but children aren’t stupid, and I could never quite trust the Five again after that. They looked more likely to mug me than invite me to share their ginger beer.”

I also found a not-so-good article on how emo kids believe they will go to the Black Parade when they die. Pushing aside the cult thing and hilarious phrasing (sweatbands are called ’emo bracelets’), it turns the overplayed My Chemical Romance single “Welcome to the Black Parade” into a religion.

“She had secretly chatted to “emo” followers online all over the world, talking about death and the glamorisation of hanging and speaking about “the black parade” – a place where “emos” believe they go after they die. ”
“In a tribute book dedicated to Hannah at her school, one of her friends wrote, “I hope you enjoy the black parade””

I dunno about you guys, but if I was choosing any song for my religious aftermath, I’d go for OPM’s ‘Heaven is a Halfpipe’. ‘Cos they got no gates at all, yo.

This mish-mash conversation ensued:

MacArthur, David [12:06]:
I’LL NEVER TRUST THE FAMOUS FIVE AGAIN!!!!
Urquhart, Emma [12:06]:
THEY CHANGED
Urquhart, Emma [12:06]:
GOT A FRIGGIN EARRING
Urquhart, Emma [12:06]:
GONNA MUG ME
MacArthur, David [12:07]:
THERE GOING TO JOIN THE BLACK PARADE
Urquhart, Emma [12:07]:
WHEN I WAS
Urquhart, Emma [12:07]:
A YOUNG BOY
Urquhart, Emma [12:07]:
MY FATHER
MacArthur, David [12:07]:
I WAS IN THE FAMOUS FIVE
Urquhart, Emma [12:07]:
FAIL AT SPEED
MacArthur, David [12:07]:
FAIL AT WINNING
Urquhart, Emma [12:07]:
YOU CAN’T 4CHAN IF YOU’RE SLOCHAN

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-04-26

  • you are whatever a moon has always meant
    and whatever a sun will always sing is you #
  • Morning from hell. I want to say ‘never again’ but it’s not over till I find my key. On the bright side… bathroom window. #
  • My bowl is back, though. That’s pretty cool. Guessing someone put it in the dishwasher. WE SHALL NEVER PART AGAIN, MY CERAMIC LOVE. <3 #
  • I just confused RSP and ISP. RSP is Rail Service Plan, ISP is Internet Service Provider. SUDDENLY, RETAIL SERVICE PROVIDER IS BORN. =O #
  • Om nom nom carrots. Cutting down on the chocolate and upping the excercise to shed some podge gained over the ever-so-sugary Easter season. #
  • I remember now, @Falken1 lives near Shoebox Zoo town! Place of awesome accents & school uniforms. Edinburgh can be a kink if I want it to be #
  • Fighting to resist the allure of the chocolate in the vending machine. What’s really going to be hell is when I get home, though. D= #
  • Dan and I made pizza & chips/fish & chips respectively and talked about zombie invasions. House is quiet now… Might go shopping. #
  • Tried out the pen tool. I understand it a lot more, but it’s still such a pain remembering all the shortcuts and fiddling, for a _line_ #
  • Dim firelight, a cup of tea, and some time to spend writing. …Wish Dave was here, but he’ll be home soon. =] #
  • Wrists hurting so much atm. I’m getting wrist pains so much more often now… #
  • Talked with Cat on the phone for 30mins, 1st time in ages, met Dave for a drink in the cafe. Great lunch, tho my sammich feels neglected. #
  • My phone died a death while I was discussing the news with Dave. The news about dead polo ponies. 21 of them work £69k each, oh my! #
  • Some guys in Forres have come up with a sweet idea that lets you draw light over a partner’s body from far away. http://tinyurl.com/c2xte4 #
  • EMaree@markinscotland @Falken1 Pervs. =P @Falken1 I think it’s creeping up on me. Think it has been for a while. But I can be neurotic. #
  • Dan showed me the secrets behind “Titch’s Special”. It involved something white and creamy so I wasn’t too interested. #
  • Muffins are ridiculously difficult to make and my attempts can only end horribly. #
  • Fantastic morning, sunshine galore. =D Woke up at varying points in the mornignwhich means I felt like I’ve had a lie in, and that’s awesome #
  • EA are making a video game adaption of Dante’s Inferno. I sort of wish it was just the name for the next Devil May Cry… #
  • RT @mashable Was The Pirate Bay Judge Biased? – http://bit.ly/WdYdl #
  • Oh my god…. Stationcat. D= http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1176144 R.I.P. Diesel. #
  • Myself and @Daveface have plans for the gym after work. I’m a little worn out, but it’s still kind of exciting. =D #
  • Seems like @Daveface is still asleep. I hope he’s recovering okay. Might get an empire biscuit on the way home. =D #
  • I think I’m going to have to lecture Dan on how a mixing bowl is not what you eat microwave meals out of. It’s all stained, bleh. =P #
  • GET WITH THE PROGRAM GUYS. We have more than one shiny black hard drive. #
  • COOKIE DOUGH. <3 Oh man, Ben & Jerrys’ Cookie Dough ice cream is paradise. I am so hyper off the DELICIOUS TASTE. =D #

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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-04-19

  • Writing/Scripting/Drinking tea. Boys are playing the XBox. Making up lost time on #Scriptfrenzy. #
  • While the Doc Who love is running high, take a look at this adorable piece of art: http://tinyurl.com/cj95ss #
  • A hilariously literal version of “Take On Me” (the music vid with 80s comic-book styling): http://tinyurl.com/d5upvm #
  • Just realising how badly my Scriptfrenzy page count has been hit by the writing I lost. Graaaaaahhh. #
  • Took a break from writing, watched Skins. s01e06 is a slash fan’s heaven. Tony creeps me out a lot. #
  • Fitful, messed-up dreams. Was woken from them by Dave bringing me breakfast. =] Bacon omnomnomlette. I’m lucky. #
  • Something crawled out at me last night. Was scared it was a spider, but it was a beetle. I called it Jeremy and everything was OK. #
  • I am an astronaut. GROUUUUUND CONTROL. *pokes Dave* GROUUUND CONTROL. *pokepokepoke* #
  • Dave got a work trial! Eeeeeeeeeee! =D #
  • Dreading returning to work, simply because i will miss Dave like whoa. I’MMA MAKE COOKIES. =D THEY WILL BE SHAPED LIKE BUNNIES. #
  • The cookie making got… very out of hand. There shall be blogs. Blogs with pictures. #
  • When I had my lunch (Dave made it <3) the Creame Egg he packed me rolled across this floor. Somehow, this was hillarious. Stifling laughs. #
  • Guess who just got us an iMac? =D Is it @daveface? Spoiler: YES IT IS. And yes he is amazing. <333333 I am so tired but so happy. #
  • Heading into Inverness after work (finished 3.30. GUYS DON’T GET IT WRONG. I WOULD.) with Falken ‘n Dave (‘n Alex?). Excited. =D #
  • starbucks. #
  • MORNINGS ARE COLD. D= It was weird having Dave leave for work. Miss him, but I know he’ll do great. #
  • Really going to miss things when @Falken1 leaves. Adventures, alcohol, music & an open road – I love it. *angsts* I really need to get a car #
  • Dave not having his mobile with him is a pain. I want to know how work is doing. Waiting to find out? It’s like living in the stone age! :P #
  • Finally rediscovered the greatest My Chemical Romance fanfic ever – “The Scene Is Dead”. Nostalgia… http://tinyurl.com/czc4y6 #
  • Lulz. RT @petewentz Patrick “u see fat is like reverb. Its real easy to add but once its there its hard to take off.” #
  • I feel all jittery I feel all jittery and caffineated, like I should be nervous and jumpy – but my hands are steady & I’ve only had tea. #
  • Think I’m just happy after talking to @Daveface (and @Falken1). It has clearly been too long. Withdrawal symptoms! #
  • Sleeping soon. Did some ballpoint pen inking practice, went well. Drive save, @Falken1 #
  • Can not be bothered with my boring sandwiches. SUDDENLY, A CAN OF SOUP APPEARS. #
  • Been listening to hold music far too much today. One had ned dance beats going on. I was all YEAH RAVE in my office chair. #
  • What is this rubbish? http://twitshirt.com/ It steals peoples tweets, then asks for passwords of those who choose to opt out? D: #
  • My spoon and bowl has dissapeared during the night. D: I want cereal! And that bowl was part of a matching set! D’= #
  • Phone has started acting up spectacularly. Doesn’t look like I’ll be able to phone @daveface and that makes me a sad panda. #
  • Sandwiches taste weird. Got some random cereal bar instead. Phone still broke. D= #
  • The Pirate Bay were found guilty. A year in jail each and $3.6 mill. D= Things might change, but still… Sucks. #
  • Eaten junk today. Might see if Dave and/or Dan are up for a gym trip tonight. #
  • Herbal tea! I usually stick to breakfast tea, but had a ginger and lemon infusion that was quite nice. Need to get used to infusions, tho. #
  • Dave’s been accepted onto the rota for his job. =D I <3 how concerned he was about needing to cut his hair, because I prefer long hair. xD #
  • Dan’s also just up. Guess watching Pokemon: Mewtwo Strikes Back (in Japanese subbed, no less) with me took a lot out of him. =P #

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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-04-12

  • Drawing some St. Sui character art instead of writing the #scriptfrenzy script. Fail, but it’s a fun fail. #
  • There is a bed in the kitchen. This makes that plan for a cup of tea a tad more difficult. #
  • Woks were bashed, spoons were scavenged and eventually, Dan’s mattress was conquered. Thanks for watching ‘This House Keeps Changing, WTF’! #
  • Twitter’s not lying when they call Twistori hypnotic. Wow. http://twistori.com/ #
  • Designing ‘buy now’ buttons is a pain. Going against a site’s colour scheme drives me mad. #
  • Dave was licking me and Dan decided to join in. After the amount of bare flesh this morning, my personal space is now thoroughly invaded. #
  • I’ve been using PCs for almost 10 years, and I’m only just finding zip files remotely useful now. xD Sleep soon, omgyay. <3 #
  • Feeling really uninspired for #scriptfrenzy atm. I’d just rather be writing prose than script. #
  • I am discovering the ‘Johnny the Homicidal Maniac’ fanfic scene and it’s pretty amazing. http://ashido.com/igtky/ (Falken, leave me be =P) #
  • Picked up my sandwiches for work, on the bag is ‘Emma’s Lunch (I Got Hungry)’. There’s a bite out of one of them. xD lol, dave. <3 #
  • Beautifully sunny day in Nairn, think @Falken1 will like that. =D No doubt Dave will drag him into gardening. And cookie making? =O #
  • I’ve decided the world would be a better place if they brought back the old presenters and made The Crystal Maze mainstream TV again. #
  • It disgusts me that things like this can happen to honest designers: http://www.jonengle.com/2009/04/accused/ (#SaveJon) #
  • Dave & Gordon came to visit me at lunch. =] Dave looked gorgeous in his leather jacket and Gord was cute ‘n fluffy. Had a great time. <3 #
  • Going home in ten mins. Hoping @Falken1’s journey is going okay, thinking he’s been caught in traffic. Can’t wait to be home with my Dave.<3 #
  • Almost time! =O *suspense!* #
  • Twitter is being a twat… showing my profile as blank. Bad Twitter. #
  • My updates have all been wiped. Anyone else experiencing this issue? #
  • A philosophy student, for his final exam, was asked to define courage in an essay. He wrote three words – ‘This is courage.’ Got an A. #
  • I am very quickly getting _very_ sick of this bull. #
  • Dave’s been away all night. D= Missing him. But Titch made me a roast chicken dinner! =D Gonna watch ‘Taken’ with him. #
  • Wishing I could just shut down for a while. #
  • OH GOD. I CAN’T TELL WHAT’S SARCASM ANYMORE. srsly wtf you two. xD #
  • Treated myself to a Boost bar. Never had one before, and haven’t had much glucose in a long time. I may die, but I will die hyper. #
  • Page 18/100 for #Scriptfrenzy. Behind, but back on my feet – and roughly achieved the standard ‘plot twist by Page 15’, once it’s edited. #
  • Word decided to bury my last page of ScriptFrenzy out to sea. Grr. I have the prose though so it’s k. #
  • Off in four minutes. Viva La Easter! It’s the Zombie Jesus season again and I’m on hol ’till Tues. =D #
  • Worried things are gonna get broke. @Daveface – teh MSNz don’t work. If you keep FB open I can use their IM. =D #
  • Fantastic night and day with all the guys – @Falken1, @daveface, @alexnessie, @StarShineNess, Neezy, Titch ‘N Doug. Booze, beach, and swans? #
  • Watched Doctor Who (cheers @nopolymerchains for mentioning BBC iPlayer). Spin off series, Michelle Ryan’s Magical Mystery Bus? #doctorwho #
  • Doing some work in Alias Sketchbook. I don’t know why I love this program so much more than photoshop, it’s weird of me. #
  • Been cleaning the house with the guys. Falken is now dishwashing, Titch is making cookies. I am exhausted. x_X;; #
  • It’s Zombie Jesus Day! Go eat chocolate, it gives your brains more flavor. #

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