Showing posts with label writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writing. Show all posts

Thursday, October 16, 2014

A Perspective on Black & White

I joined the HitRecord platform recently and was stunned by all the material on it. Completely driven by audio, video, images and text from anyone it powers itself. If you have time, it's worth looking through. Oh, and also, Joseph Gordon Levitt is on it. Just a thought to bear in mind.

They look for curators, writers, animators, artists, and anyone who will invest a small piece of themselves for some great collabs. One of the biggest ones are "The Tiny Book of Tiny Stories".

My latest find was "The Untitles Pattern Book" which I will be thrilled to own in the near future. Now this book isn't finished yet. They are still picking pieces. There are thousands upon thousands of photos in this category, but not as many texts. What they are looking for are collaborations, or submissions to existing photos and albums. That's where i found Dovile's album Black & White. http://www.hitrecord.org/records/1533712

This is my interpretation of the chapter, if it was to land in the book. It isn't very long, but it is a work I would be more than willing to continue working on.


Black & White; What contrasts create

As opposites, sometimes stripped of even the name colour, black & white is the original composition of contrasts. It has existed since the first photos were taken. Since then we have developed new technology. There is option. Why do we chose this style of recording still images?

Never get stuck on the concept of black or white. It is what is in between that creates scales, gradients, and life. On many photos done in this manner it captivates a stillness. It's valiant, breathless, and magical. Softened edges allows this category freedom like none other. Allowing us to reach back into the past and regain control, regain composure of the past and what can't be changed is the big allure.

If there is a reason why this style is on the way back, it lies within the individual taking the photograph. Stylistic devices allow us to create, and interpret a mood. As it has passed we cannot regain the knowledge of it. All we can do, is pretend to be back there.

Colour or not, black & white remain an artist secret, the viewers mind, and the books cover.


That's it for now! Byee

Sunday, October 12, 2014

Making an effort

Or is it putting in effort? Who knows.

Anyways, hello again, it's been a long time. Since not much else in life is going on I this Sunday decide to make an update to my blog. Not a visual one of course, since I am no good at those things, but a personal one. I will try to use a blog as it is intended. As an online journal.

I like to think that I have some interesting thoughts or if nothing else always something to say, be it good or bad.

What brought this up was when I woke up today and realized that I had no reason to get up at all. No work, and nothing I have to do. Feeling drowsy, beat down, and generally in no-good mood, I did get up, and have now watched nearly 4 hours of consecutive television drama.

I have now worked where I work since graduation. It is a good job, with plenty of benefits and perks, but it is not something I see myself doing for the rest of my life. Every day it feels like I repeat the same thing, and although you don't want to tell anyone, it does tear you down to get complaints and such every day. Mostly because you feel like they could be prevented. Yes, there are certain people who make problems where they are none, and those there is nothing to do about.

I have decided as a motivation to myself for the upcoming time to to list some of the most common questions, problems, and solutions that I hear on a day by day basis. Somewhere along the lines, this might for some reason be helpful to someone but most likely not.

SO, update numero uno will be up soon. Be prepared, be very prepared....


Or not, what do I know. Hang in there fellow people of the planet Tellus.

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Books, and their "value"

As many other internet go-ers, I stumbled over the concept of buying things over the internet.

As I was looking around, I noticed how the values of a book is graded. When you buy a book from a store you usually pay around 7 British pounds for it, or 100 Swedish crowns. After that book has been read once, if it is a pocket-book, it will re-retail for around 3 British pounds.

Isn't that crazy? We pay so much for a new book, and after one read, it is barely worth anything.

And even though it might sound a bit weird, I get a bit emotionally attached to all my books. Recently I decided to sell my Hunger Games trilogy through the Swedish Ebay "Tradera" against better judgement.

I thought it wouldn't be so bad, since I did not enjoy the series particularly much. But when it came down to it, I do not want to send them off! I read them, cried over the protagonists, and hated the antagonists. Now someone else will put them in their bookshelf. The only comfort is that the series had clashing colored covers and did not fit in well with the rest.

All that is left is to package them, and then ship them away...


So I ask you, dear reader; how do we value books? It is not so much about their story after the first read. We hand them off to a new pair of hands to grasp them, and cling to the pages, ripping their hair out over the plot twists, just like you did the first time you read that exact, same passage.

How do we know they do not just become a pretty addition on someone else's bookshelf?

And why do we care?

By Yours Truly,
ETBlogsHome 2013-12-07

Thursday, November 7, 2013

NaNo Day 7 Wrap up - It's been a week

And my story is progressing too fast. (To get to some motivational mo-jo, scroll down a bit)

We all have our problems when writing. If you don't plan ahead, you might be lost and the plot is a dead end. If you do plan ahead (which I did this year) you might rush the very first bit. This is both because I am not an avid writer, I don't sit down 365 days a year and just, write, and also because I knew where I was going.

When you have a specific goal in mind, and it is right there, so close you can actually touch it, you don't think "Oh hey well I really like this road better, it has pretty flowers next to it!" *and there is today's first failed metaphor*. So in other words, I rushed past some big parts in my character building and exposure phase. Because I want my story to say BAM! I am HERE! Read ME!

So the problem? Now my part that I had anticipated being 5000 words is a mere 2000. Well done.


So what do you do? Should you revise it?
NO!  Follow this NaNo rule when we are talking segments in the begining. The plot isn't set in stone. It is a first draft for goodness sake.
Leave. It. Alone. (for now I know it hurts trust me)

So motivation to keep going? I guess I promised that yesterday because I actually felt motivated, but them I realized it was past midnight and I was tired.

MOTIVATIONAL-THINGY-UNO;
Do you know how many words you had 7 days ago? Zero! Nothing. You had absolutely nothing. Now look at the tiny little "infant-seed-child-novel" you have started. (Do not picture what that thing would look like literally) It is your baby! It is frowned upon to dislike babies. You can only do it on others peoples, but only after they are gone and can't hear you. You can't be the parent and the mean single friend! Think about that!

MOTIVATIONAL-THINGY-DOUS; (I am so sorry I don't speak Spanish at all)
Do you know how many words there is in the first version of Romeo and Juliet? 25599!
Do you know how many words there are in A Child Called "It" by Dave Pelzer, one of the most best selling books of all time and one of my favourites? 32404!
(And you International Baccalaureate students; One Extended Essay can be maximum 4000 words. A novel of 50000 is approximately 12,5 EE's!)

MOTIVATIONAL THINGY-TREISE; (I should just stop but I can't)
Not writing one day doesn't make you a bad writer. Not writing two days in a row doesn't make you a bad writer. Not even if you don't write for three whole days, does anyone get to call you a bad writer. The only bad writer is the person who never writes. Don't be that person.


That's it. Hold on to the little facts. Think percentage wise. Punch out how many percent done you are right now. Your word count, divided by 50000. Now promise to write at least one percent today. And another tomorrow.

By Yours Truly,
ETBlogsHome 2013-11-07


Wednesday, November 6, 2013

NaNo2013 Day 6 Wrap-up - Don't worry

I am still alive.

Today I cannot help but be in a split mindset. I have been pouring my heart and mind into my novel these last days. Today I had a day off and spent every minute writing at the library. Reached 12,000 words, which is great because I will definitely fall behind this weekend when me and the boyfriend are going away. Not actually leaving my computer behind but to be honest I don't want him sitting right next to me on the train when I am writing.

So there is what I want to talk about today. Are you secretive about your NaNoWriMo participation? I know my mother would not understand why I am doing it and won't let me put time off for it, so is anyone in the same situation? The only person that I have told of my participation is my boyfriend.

To be honest I don't think I am ready to have people read my first draft. Or ask all the questions about it.

What's it about?
Do you think you can really write 50,000 words in a month?
Who are you writing about?
Can I read it now?
Can I read it when you're done?

I have no idea what it is about yet. I mean I know, but I can't formulate it until I am done. Or close.

To be scared of someone picking on something that you devout so much time and effort in is natural. That is the point of this post. What you write is worth writing. Once you have written it, you get to self critique it, but don't worry too much. Don't try to compare your first draft to finished works by published artists! They have revised that piece so many times, and had it checked by editors over and over!

That one scene that you think is too short? Add to it! Go with your gut, and don't think back too much.

That character that is a bastard to everyone? You can decide when he goes away. This is your own novel!


I've decided to share some of my motivation-tips tomorrow, so hang in there for that if nothing else. Today's goal (6th) is 10,000 words. That is one fifth of your novel. If not today, then do it tomorrow. Prioritize differently then. Split the time with watching television. Welcome back tomorrow, good night NaNo:s!

By Yours Truly,
ETBlogsHome 2013-11-06

Friday, October 18, 2013

Who ARE you?!

NaNoWriMo. Would you stop getting so close to me?!

I have found a general idea. I have a setting. Now if my main characters would just come together that would be real sweet of them. But no of course not, they gotta heave their ulterior motives, plot twists and general quirks that "make them realistic". Let me introduce you to problem person numero uno;

Meet Main character #1;

She is a mid-twenty year old, above average achiever. She is clear on the worlds politics, and understands what ambition means. Being brought up in the world where children are placed with promising young adults she was at a generally young age educated by a woman that tainted her whole life. She is genetically near perfect, with a strong bloodline. She places on the outer edges of the Prospect Triangle, ensuring her a safe life as one of the many corporations future heads. She is at peace with this and understands why the new world needed to replace the old one, the one where uneducated, barbaric people ruled "countries". She is knowledgeable, and reads much. Her preoccupation up to the age of 15 was studying basic foundation knowledge as other humans, but has since taken tests and landed a spot in a corporation working with evaluating children and placing them in households of matching adolescents. The only point on the Triangle where she is failing is the Social Adaptive Capabilities, where in casual conversation she is easily distracted and not clear in speech. She is ignorant to any conflict around her, yet is fascinated by the months Fairytales that come to her household of the time. She discusses them well with colleagues, and takes a special interest in articles with "past-progressors". These are old fairytales that have been reprinted. They feature things such as pop culture, art and other ingenuity that no longer seems to come out. She even learnt to read sheet music from a much earlier era as a passion. She also has an interest in baby things, such as shoes for tiny feet, and small mittens. She harbors a collection of them in her stow-away keep-safe. She is proud of her genetics but doesn't brag about results from the tests she has taken. Has promised herself that one day she will meet her Mother and thank her.

That is the introductory person, the person we meet before the plot has started.

The next person is Main character #2;

He is the Notor of Fairytales. Basically a journalist in our language, yet to be published for a long article, still working his way up but has since started given up on progressing past official documents. He is snide, rude, and often serious. He employs heavy sarcasm in his speech, a function often lost on the people around him. He pities the screwed up, wind-up people who strive for greatness and feels its just an imaginary carrot the corporations dangle in front of their noses. Loosely expresses this opinion in his papers but all sarcasm is lost in the readers. He was one of the most promising males in his division. This scored him an official job, and access to the function of marriage, something reserved for the very top ranking people. He and Female Antagonist are married, she will be introduced later. It is not a happy marriage because she is if possible the driest person ever. He does love her though, through all of it. They are one of the stories sub-plots. He is aware of all official things.

I can't decide completely on the perspective. I want to write it in the beginning as her story but then I am realizing that his story might have more to say. Probably going to use both in NaNo and then when I edit choose one that works best.

That's it for now. At least I have something to show for working so hard!

By Yours Truly,
ETBlogsHome 2013-10-18

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Okay, so I lied!

I didn't update as planned, but who ever does? I did however spend a lot of time thinking about my novel. It's such a long way until November, but still it's just around the corner and there is so much to do! Let's make a NaNoWriMo check list of what needs to be done (okay I just really want a good reason to postpone actually developing the idea at this point because usually that's where things get messy, untidy, and unclear)

Things a novel need:

- A title. A strong, poetic, special, non-cliché title. This does not necessarily need to be in place as writing begins.

- A setting. Work with geographical, historical and social. You can be ambiguous about one of three when writing, but choose wisely otherwise you'll end up being the bed-headboard-book-equalizer because you so uneven in yo language not even IKEA could assemble you straight.

- A main character. Or many, I mean let's be honest, isn't dual-narratives becoming a real thing lately? But be careful, or you might end up with half-naked characters (figuratively speaking).

- A plot. At least something that remotely resembles it. There are different types of novels, character based, plot based or setting based. (I made the last one up completely, it sounds awful, but the idea is there nevertheless) What did you start out with? It will be obvious to the reader what was there first; plot, character or setting.


Things I need:

- Lists. Of everything that could/would/should/might/will happen.

- A cover. I want to imagine the world and DO I wish I could draw. I have the hand-eye coordination of a one-winged seagull. Of course, they don't have hands at all... Poor things.

- Caffeine. Coffee is fine. Red Bull is better.


And what of this do I have as of this moment? Nada. Like literally nothing. I mean literally, as in there is so little substantial material written down right now we might as well not. Fret not. The day will come when ideas start coming to me again. Until then, I will blog selflessly in denial of the passing of time.

By Yours Truly,
ETBlogsHome 2013-10-06

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

NaNoWriMo 2013

I'm going to do it!!! Last time was in 2011, and I only made it about halfway, to circa 30000 words.

This time, I'm going for gold. Now I just need to find something to write about.... Plot updates coming soon

By Yours Truly
ETBlogsHome 2013-10-01

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

I guess the world doesn't actually end...

if you fail high school.

"Oh no, but without an education, you don't have anything!" I've really come to realize how boldly overstated that phrase is. Sure, things were looking, to say the least, like sh.t when I got my results. Didn't pass math or chemistry. Cried some (this on the other hand is a bold understatement), tried to snap out of it (a very lean attempt it was, but an attempt nevertheless), and then entered limbo (this is the phase where you simultaneously feel like a huge failure and want to do it over again, and being generally mad and saying things like "To -bleep- with high school, I'll just live on pasta for the rest of my life").

About a week after I'd gotten my results and some really good advise from my ex-mentor everyone in Sweden got their University application results. Turned out, I still got competence enough to get into my second choice of uni. I also landed a secondary replacement place for my primary uni; I thought that was quite an achievement (which it really was, and allow me to boast for a second *drumroll* done.)

Once August finally rolled around I had prepared myself for everything. Not really, quite the opposite. There were too many ways things could go. I'd already gotten into one university, which I could choose to enroll in. I wouldn't know until the sixth if I'd gotten in on my first choice, which would mean going there but the odds of that were so slim. Or, if I got really lucky I might get a continued contract with IKEA. That would according to me at the time, be my best choice. And then August sixth came.

I couldn't believe it when I saw that I got in to molecularbiology in Lund, with two failed IB subjects! Great, now I knew what I was going to do.

That was until the 16th. This was a Friday (just before Saturday and Sunday). Finally I was going to get turned down from IKEA. But then of course that didn't happen for God knows things shouldn't be easy! I got offered a full time contract until February. At least I had the weekend to think about what I was going to do.

That I did. You cannot count the amount of times I wanted to change my mind about everything! Work for a year, earn some money, relax a bit, and just have a general study break. Or jump right back into school. In the end, with the help of the best person in the world, I decided.

University can wait. It turns out, the world can be lenient with you as long as you manage to stick to your gut about something.

I'm not advising everyone to not go to university, but in a worlds where more people have Bachelor degrees than ever, they become interchangeable. Employers require work-life experience!

So here I am, with the first grown-up decision ever. I think it's going to be one good year.

By yours truly,
ETBlogsHome 2013-08-21

Sunday, July 28, 2013

How we assure male dominance...

is disgusting, to say the least. I'm sure most people are aware of the unfairness of this concept. Hey, I mean, I'm not judging you if you aren't. So what sparked my interest in this? Mainly watching too many hours of YouTube. It IS a source of education, and don't you dare speak against that. However uncontrolled it may be, there are people with worthy opinions on there.

I'm no feminist and never will be due to my short attention span and lack of motivation to stay on one subject for more time than it takes for a squirrel to cross the road, but, I believe in it. Not the burn-all-typically-feminine-products kinda thing, but the access to information and dismembering of taboos.

I read an article on mothers breastfeeding in public. I heard about the Texas senate banning all feminine hygiene products. God knows I've heard most everything on the rape case in the United States where the boys were let off as "victims". It disgusts me that this damn country gets away with shaming women like this!

The not so newly sparked rape-culture concept has been hot on many sites such as Tumblr for months, and even years, but is now making it to the popular blogs. The users of Tumblr are mainly people between the ages of 15-25 ish, meaning that we make up a big part of the online community. The fact that there are some people that still disregard the existence of the debate, and even politicians and media broadcasters, shows pure ignorance. It's time for a change...

The taboos around sex, menstruation, breastfeeding, abortion, and the list goes on and on, are purely ridiculous. How a spokesperson dares to humiliate half of the worlds population is beyond me. The propaganda that is shoved down children's throats called "abstinence" as an only choice.. Are we too far gone to save the next generation from making the same chauvinist society we live on today? Can we change society's values when our children aren't educated in the right of all no matter the romantic attraction to another human being? *sight*

I wish we had an answer right now. As it is though, we don't.

There needs to be less biased information available through education. There needs to be a more diverse set of representatives in boards and media. Can this change today? No. Will it change tomorrow, or even in the coming years? No.

All we can do is hope that taboos are lifted, and justice can be served in the future. I, for one, can't wait for the small things to change. If we turn the pyramid of power around, and there will be no going back to personal intrusion and ignorance of the masses.

By yours truly,
ETBlogsHome 2013-07-28