I think one of the most interesting things about any type of art, whether it's drawing, writing, music, or anything else, is why the artist/writer/etc. does what he or she does. Some people are truly driven by a cause or some inspiration.
As for me, I can't really say it's anything like that, but mostly just a desire to tell stories. At first, I didn't even realize that I wanted to do that. In 6th grade, our English teacher would devote a part of the school year to creative writing. Back then I just went along with whatever was happening (although I did enjoy it very much). It wasn't until years later that I realized how awesome that was. At that age,of course, I had no idea what a little push could do - what a little nudge to do something creative could turn into. Looking back on it now (I was twelve then), I can see how impressionable the mind of a child that age is, and what some creative influence can do years down the road.
I really didn't do much with what I'd learned at first. In fact, it was probably about two years after the little stories I worked on in 6th grade until I started making outlines for my own comics. I would draw the covers (although I'm definitely not much of an artist), and have detailed outlines for what my super-powered crime fighters would get into. That was pretty much it for my high school years.
It wasn't until 2 years after I was out of high school that I had the first ideas for what would eventually become Feralia. I outlined those ideas for about 2 more years before starting the first draft. Finally, after 4 years of writing whenever I could, the novel was finished. ...And then, of course, it was about 4 more years to finally get all the loose ends together and get it published.
Wow... all together that ends up being a quick story that takes place over 19 years! If you count the earliest ideas and outlines, Feralia has been a big part of my life for 10 years, even though the book hasn't even been out for a year yet!
Any writers, artists, musicians, etc. reading? Leave a comment and tell me what your inspiration is!
- Clint
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
more fun with electronics!
So, it seems that my luck with electronics hasn't been the best as of late. In my previous blog I mentioned my bad experience(s) with my X-Box 360. My friend Becky thinks that Microsoft may secretly hate me. ;)
Unfortunately, this brings me to my next device failure, the Garmin Nuvi 350:
First off, I have to say that I do love this GPS. I get lost terribly easily, especially in cities. The Nuvi has never failed to get me where I need to go, even when I make wrong turns. ...I don't know how I functioned for so long without it. :) This model also features Text-to-Speech (directions in real street names), which makes it nice since you don't have to take your eyes off of the road to find out where "turn right" means. I won't get into any more features, since I'm not really reviewing the item, just rambling like usual, but in short - it's been an awesome device.
That is, until it stopped working. For some reason, the GPS would not locate any satellites. After trying everything I could think of, and after a bunch of research online, I still couldn't get it to work.
A little more research revealed that this is a problem that many folks have with this model. Most who've had problems seemed to have owned their GPS's for around a year. I had owned mine for about 4 months - just outside both the allowed reutrn period for Amazon (where I purchased it), and the 90 day warranty through Garmin. Frustrating. Even more so was the fact that Garmin's flat rate to fix it would have been more than what I originally payed for the item. (I could really begin to vent here... even Microsoft's warranty is a year. But we'll just let it go.)
Just when I was about to give up, a came across a company called SHARCNET-USA. Based in Pittsburgh (which just so happens to be a short distance from where I grew up and the home of the six time NFL Champion Steelers :D ), Sharcnet-USA specializes in fixing these things. My experience with them was a great one, and I would highly recommend checking them out to anyone who runs into this kind of problem. Their service was unbeleivably fast & efficient, and the problem was fixed at a fraction of the cost that Garmin charges. Not only that, their site provides a ton of trouble-shooting methods, so you can fix the problems yourself unless the item needs a pro to fix it. Check them out!
So why all the electronic failures? Hopefully it ends here, but my friend Aaron suggests having my body scanned for some type of magnetic interference that it destroying the gadgets around me. I'm thinking about it.
Other Stuff...
Bleach
Alicia and I have been continuing our enjoyment of the wonderful non-filler goodness of the new Bleach episodes. It finally seems to be creeping up to the excitement level of the Soul Society story arc. We're up to Episode 202. Great stuff!
360 Update
I should have my system back today or tomorrow, and will hopefully be picking up my special edition of Street Fighter IV later on today! :D
Katsucon
Katsucon was a lot of fun again this year. Thankfully Alicia didn't fall down on the sidewalk this year, and, as usual, the attendees and staff were awesome. We're already looking forward to next year. Next up for us will be Tekkoshocon!
- Clint
Up Next: A blog about writing for once!
Unfortunately, this brings me to my next device failure, the Garmin Nuvi 350:
First off, I have to say that I do love this GPS. I get lost terribly easily, especially in cities. The Nuvi has never failed to get me where I need to go, even when I make wrong turns. ...I don't know how I functioned for so long without it. :) This model also features Text-to-Speech (directions in real street names), which makes it nice since you don't have to take your eyes off of the road to find out where "turn right" means. I won't get into any more features, since I'm not really reviewing the item, just rambling like usual, but in short - it's been an awesome device.
That is, until it stopped working. For some reason, the GPS would not locate any satellites. After trying everything I could think of, and after a bunch of research online, I still couldn't get it to work.
A little more research revealed that this is a problem that many folks have with this model. Most who've had problems seemed to have owned their GPS's for around a year. I had owned mine for about 4 months - just outside both the allowed reutrn period for Amazon (where I purchased it), and the 90 day warranty through Garmin. Frustrating. Even more so was the fact that Garmin's flat rate to fix it would have been more than what I originally payed for the item. (I could really begin to vent here... even Microsoft's warranty is a year. But we'll just let it go.)
Just when I was about to give up, a came across a company called SHARCNET-USA. Based in Pittsburgh (which just so happens to be a short distance from where I grew up and the home of the six time NFL Champion Steelers :D ), Sharcnet-USA specializes in fixing these things. My experience with them was a great one, and I would highly recommend checking them out to anyone who runs into this kind of problem. Their service was unbeleivably fast & efficient, and the problem was fixed at a fraction of the cost that Garmin charges. Not only that, their site provides a ton of trouble-shooting methods, so you can fix the problems yourself unless the item needs a pro to fix it. Check them out!
So why all the electronic failures? Hopefully it ends here, but my friend Aaron suggests having my body scanned for some type of magnetic interference that it destroying the gadgets around me. I'm thinking about it.
Other Stuff...
Bleach
Alicia and I have been continuing our enjoyment of the wonderful non-filler goodness of the new Bleach episodes. It finally seems to be creeping up to the excitement level of the Soul Society story arc. We're up to Episode 202. Great stuff!
360 Update
I should have my system back today or tomorrow, and will hopefully be picking up my special edition of Street Fighter IV later on today! :D
Katsucon
Katsucon was a lot of fun again this year. Thankfully Alicia didn't fall down on the sidewalk this year, and, as usual, the attendees and staff were awesome. We're already looking forward to next year. Next up for us will be Tekkoshocon!
- Clint
Up Next: A blog about writing for once!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Broken 360 - Round 3!!!
So, I'm still counting down, of course. Street Fighter IV will be here soon. Unfortunately, however, I may not be playing it the day it comes out. Why? Because my X-Box 360 was last seen in this condition:
...for the third time. ...Yup. I'm now among those whose stories you've heard about their 360's breaking on them multiple times. While it's frustrating, it's not nearly as bad as it has been for others - if you follow gaming news, I'm sure you've heard of cases of people having to send their 360 systems in five, six, or even more times.
There seem to be varying estimates on the percentage of 360 systems that fail. 1Up.com has a really good article that shows some differing numbers from different sources. Nevertheless, it's a lot. The amount of systems that go through the shipping store I run is really surprising, and that's just one store.
So anyway, if my last two instances are any indication (they each took around a week and a half), I should have my system back shortly after SFIV's release date of Ferbruary 17th.
That's not entirely a bad thing. Fallout 3 has been stealing time away from my reading, and we'll be busy all this week preparing for and attending Katsucon anyway.
Up next: the other broken electronic item which I just sent in for repair. :(
<3 Clint
...for the third time. ...Yup. I'm now among those whose stories you've heard about their 360's breaking on them multiple times. While it's frustrating, it's not nearly as bad as it has been for others - if you follow gaming news, I'm sure you've heard of cases of people having to send their 360 systems in five, six, or even more times.
There seem to be varying estimates on the percentage of 360 systems that fail. 1Up.com has a really good article that shows some differing numbers from different sources. Nevertheless, it's a lot. The amount of systems that go through the shipping store I run is really surprising, and that's just one store.
So anyway, if my last two instances are any indication (they each took around a week and a half), I should have my system back shortly after SFIV's release date of Ferbruary 17th.
That's not entirely a bad thing. Fallout 3 has been stealing time away from my reading, and we'll be busy all this week preparing for and attending Katsucon anyway.
Up next: the other broken electronic item which I just sent in for repair. :(
<3 Clint
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