mirror imyaj

Administra
Tarot Article Word Count: 2642

Current Works
Tarot Article: Finished draft one yesterday and sent it out to my "trusted editors". Got some good feedback. Ended up revisioning and redoing most of it based on one person's feedback. Sent that draft to the other editor and got his input today. Read that over and will totally be fleshing things out tonight and tomorrow. Goal is to submit it tomorrow on the night of the lunar eclipse and full moon.

Dayjob: Cleaned up a few things on the current revision manuals and exported them to final PDF format. I'll be going in tomorrow for my last time to upload everything to the server and then send out my good bye message. I may also spend time with SM telling her where everything is just so she knows and has access.

Mundania
Had a pretty even day today. Got my ankle worked on by my chiropractic's massage therapist. He and I have never talked and he's got some really interesting stories on where he came from and his goals. Sounds like he's just as determined as I am in making dreams become realities. Just need to keep my eye on the end goal and focus on my projects.

The weather up here has been spring-time gorgeous. It's almost 6 p.m. and I've got the back patio open and the air is cool but feels so good. It's nice to get some fresh air in the Perch finally.

To Do List
-- massage appt.
-- work on tarot article
-- email Elizabeth
-- read review book
-- work out at gym

Ye Olde Linkfest
Perspective on the State of the Publishing Industry Interesting but long article on one writer's ideas on where the publishing industry's going and how it integrates with all this Web 2.0 stuff.

Posted by innowen at 19 February 2008 | Permalink

Administra
President's Day

Current Works
Tarot Article: going to finish the tarot article draft today and send it to Taylor.

Research: 2 DIYP article ideas (read book and play with review software)

Mundania
Had a whirlwind weekend. Ed came and kicked ass in his interview, and will be moving out here within a month. He'll stay with us until he finds his own place. Kender's rents drove their RV up and we had a good time. Got to play Apples to Apples with them and introduced them to the Rock Band experience. His dad loved it.

Today's my last day before I go back into the part-time grind at Jenkon. So even though I KNOW I have writing to do, I want to slack off so bad and enjoy the silence. Must finish article... first. I do enjoy having visitors; but man do they seem to stress me out a lot.

To Do List
-- chiro
-- maybe shots (if I'm feeling industrious)
-- laundry
-- finish tarot article
-- read books
-- play Patapon more (addicting demo! must get the game when it comes out)
-- RELAX!

Ye Olde Linkfest
Article on scheduling writing This article is mostly geared towards college students but I found it interesting. Of course, for me, I tend to find my most productive writing periods between 10am and 2pm, but who knows... maybe I should shift my writing times to earlier?

Posted by innowen at 18 February 2008 | Permalink

This review was originally written for DIYPlanner.com in 2006. I'm reposting it here to generate more interest.

Written by Sam Harrison
Published by How Books
ISBN 1581808003
Review by jaymi elford

Lately I've been trying to find new ways to push my mind into generating lots of creative content. Tried and true ways of brainstorming seem old and stale to me now. Don't get me wrong... they generate lots of great ideas, many of which become topics for my articles here at D*I*Y Planner. Even so, lately I've felt like I've been in a rut and I needed something new, something odd enough to jolt me out of habit and onto a new, funkier thought path. My something arrived in the form of a book called IdeaSpotting, by Sam Harrison.

Harrison starts out simple, by defining his goal of how the book can train you into finding your next idea. The rest of the 256-page tome of insight and inspiration is jam packed with ideas and quotes; suggestions and exercies to get any brain rebooted into thinking new ideas.

Stylish layouts and simple prose draw you immediately into the book providing instant design inspiration. Each chapter, then, teaches you that inspiration and ideas are everywhere, you just need to look, listen and attune yourself to them. Some may come in the form of images, while others come from listening to others. Collaboration, nature, trash, listening, getting new perspectives are all thrown in together as means for us to gain new ideas to help any project. Harrison uses stories, interviews and worksheet-esque pages to get you thinking and seeing how full of ideas the world really is.

Harrison sets out and does exactly what he intends to do with IdeaSpotting. He skillfully shows you new ways of seeing the world and gaining ideas. He also associates these techniques by weaving stories and interviews in with each technique. These poignant snippets all aide in showing how effective these techniques can be in gaining new ideas and injecting creativity into all aspects of your life.

If you're looking for new inspiration or want to learn more about expanding your own idea generating skill-set, then stop reading this article. Stop being a "trainspotter", and get into your car and go get IdeaSpotting. You'll never find yourself lacking in ideas or seeing the world without discovering something new and inspiring again.

Posted by innowen at 15 February 2008 | Permalink

Administra
Happy Valentine's and Single Awareness Day everyone!

Current Works
Dayjob:
Websurfed. I went in with the expectation that I'd have some edits to make and got nothing in the 2 hours i was there. A bit of a waste. If I don't have work in my inbox by Tuesday I may just go in and wrap the manuals up at that point and leave. Use the last week before I start the new contract to have a vacation.

Personal:
Journalling: Wrote in my journal. I'm happy cos I finished the book. It's the first blank paper journal i've completed in a long time. I'm now deciding whether I should use the journal I bought last night to continue writing in, or an older and slimmer journal that I have not used yet.

DIY Planner: Answered comments regarding my column for the week on writing about love and how the two go hand in hand.

Tarot Article: Re-read the article and added some more thoughts down to it. Will focus on this mostly tomorrow and Monday.

Mundania
Other than the snafu at work, I'm glad I got to go home early. Nabbed an early lunch of garden burger and chocolate milkshake as well. Currently, drying towels for the guest bedroom and just finished up getting the bed ready for Ed. I'm excited for the visit. It's going to surprise the hell outta kender's parents who are driving up as I type. They have no idea. That and we haven't seen him for about two years.

He's interviewing tomorrow at kender's new company. I hope they hire him as it'd be nice to have more of kender's friends up here with us too. Muhahaha... the plan... it's working! Now only if I could get Keli to move up here... i'd be set.

To Do List
-- make edits to work manuals, if any
-- respond to any DIYP comments on article.
-- finish cleaning house. make guest room comfy.
-- write response email regarding more web writing contract work.
-- read books
-- continue reading Touched
-- exercise at 24/Fitness

Ye Olde Linkfest
-- Interview with Tony diTerlizzi and Holly Black on Spiderwick Chronicles Borders sent out their newsletter today with this wonderful and insightful interview with diTerlizzi and Black. I'm a big fan of the Spiderwick Chronicles as well as both of the author's solo projects so I got a kick out of watching the two discuss their working relationship and the various books that inspired them to write and be creators.
-- if Journal Another possible spiritual writing outlet for me. Going to have to read thru their free copy and then see if this would be an outlet I would enjoy submitting to.

Posted by innowen at 14 February 2008 | Permalink

Administra
Happy bday to my friends Jon Nutting and Bryan Crump!

Current Works
Dayjob:
Today I took a replacement screenshot for one of the portal applications. Edited it down in GIMP and placed it into Flare and MS Word. Whee. Took all of about an hour to do. No other edits or suggestions from the review team.

Personal:
DIY Planner: Wrote Thursday's article for DIYPlanner.com. This week's topic: writing about love and how the two go hand in hand. I hope people enjoy it.

Journalling: Wrote in my journal as well. Getting close to the end of that book. Can't wait to completely fill it up and then work on a new one. Go me.

Tarot Article: Didn't actually work on this. I opened the file up and looked at it briefly. I need to finish this and get it out. Seeing I don't work again until Tuesday, I think I shall make this my goal for tomorrow and monday.

Mundania
Started the day off at the dentist's. Route cleanup that turned into a bit more due to the spot they found on the last right molar. I braved it out with no drugs but felt the pain of the aftereffect at work where the area they packed with cord flared up. Four Advil and a cup of noodles later and I felt fine again. Mouth pain definitely sucks.

This weekend's going to be very busy and hectic for me with family and now friends in town. The friend has never been to the perch before so I feel a bit obligated to do some really good cleaning. Thankfully kender's offered to help so we'll be able to get this place picked up in no time. We also got in a bit of a pre-valentine's celebration seeing that we're not going to have the place to ourselves. Dinner was magnificent and being able to spend some time in New Ren Bookshop was also treasured. I love my hubby.

Feeling accomplished today. Got the DIY Planner article done without any hassles. Seeing that tomorrow is Valentine's, I decided to do a theme article. Hope everyone enjoys the ideas and thoughts about writing on love. I tried very hard to make it more general and not as sappy as it could've. It does tie into a bit more with some of the tarot and relationships readings i've been doing, but darnit... can't get that into the article.

To Do List
-- dental appt
-- make edits to work manuals, if any
-- clean house for impending guests' arrival (in addition to kender's parents, his old buddy Ed's arriving tomorrow night)
-- write DIY column for tomorrow
-- read books
-- continue reading Touched

Ye Olde Linkfest
-- For Advice to New Writers About Money Scalzi's well written article on how writer's should treat money and the writing career.

Posted by innowen at 13 February 2008 | Permalink

Administra
Nothing to report. No bdays, no anniversaries.

Current Works
Dayjob:
-- edited content to manual 1. Received request to share with clients (not in any form to do this yet)

Personal Writing:
--wrote journal entry for today
--worked on Popculture Tarot Article
--worked on Tarot Journal
--started reading Touched

Mundania
This is the first entry in what I hope will be the new daily first post here. I'm nervous and not sure if I'll be able to build up my writing blog practice or if this is the best format. But I figure I gotta start somewhere. Currently I'm feeling tired... seeing that I did not sleep at ALL last nite. Seriously. I will need to get sleep tonight.

Not sure why I didn't sleep... guess my mind's finally woken up and has a backlog of projects that it needs to get out. Therefore, a lot will start going on these sites soon.

To Do List
--develop writerly habit by coming here
--1pm Journalling and "Play" date with Ember at the Perch
--exercise
--read tarot book and magazine

Ye Olde Linkfest
--Rules for Writers An oldie but a goodie, I made this into a poster to put on my cube walls (when I have a cube) to remind me of writing and editing practices.
--Failing Your Way to Success What a great little article on how failure can be a good thing! i like this.

Posted by innowen at 12 February 2008 | Permalink