Another Change
Posted by: Chibi on: May 26, 2009
For anyone who still has their link leading here, please change it to:
http://chibidoucet.blogspot.com/
because that is where I have now moved to (hopefully for a while). Thanks!
IMPORTANT LINK CHANGE
Posted by: Chibi on: May 15, 2009
I have decided to move blogs, so please update your links if WordPress doesn’t do so automatically (I am unsure if it does). The reason for this is that I wanted to have my pen name in the URL (which is what I should have done originally) as opposed to what it currently is. Because I do not have the money to create a site of my own, I’m going to be working hard to make my new blog into the next best thing. I won’t be posting in this blog anymore and in a short while it may be deleted.
NEW URL: http://chibidoucet.wordpress.com/
Short Story Collection
Posted by: Chibi on: May 14, 2009
Ah, sblogging. It’s been completely pushed out of my mind lately (I should know better by now – a new amv takes way more priority than it should!). But I put some thought into it tonight when Sadey and I were looking at different free blogging sites, and I think I’ve finally settled on a way that’s going to make me happy. I think, nothing is set in stone until I do some experimentation. I’m going to try to record something tomorrow (maybe when I take my mom’s puppy to the park).
In other news, I’m going to be doing a short story anthologycollection. For the Genre Challenge, I wrote this sci fi story that takes place like seven hundred years or so in the future. It came out surprisingly well, and Cassie mentioned she wanted to know more about the world. Then I wrote another story for a different month, and I really liked it. The worlds weren’t quite the same, but they were fairly similar, and I realized that if I did collection of stories from the same time but from different cultures, it would be pretty darn cool. Once it’s complete, it’s going to be offered in .pdf form both for free and for a small fee (for anyone who, by some miracle, might like it enough to buy it). I’m actually pretty excited about it. I never thought I’d be even contemplating a collection, much less going forward with it!
After the re-write of RPC is done, I think I’m going to go back to TEC. Part of me wants something different, but I can’t stop thinking about Azaelia and how her story isn’t complete yet. I’ve even had some ideas for the third book which I think will prove to be pretty interesting (of course, I’ve got to finish the second book, first). I doubt that I’ll edit them right away, but I’m looking forward to having them done. Like I’ve said many times, I’ve always wanted to write a series, ever since I considered becoming a writer, so being able to say I’ve done one will be sweet. And then it will definitely be time for something new! Although what, I’m not really sure. I haven’t been trying to think of anything because I need to get RPC done.
And the other most interesting thing that happened today? During aquasize, I accidentally left my key inside my locker. I had to get a girl from the front desk to help me use bolt cutters on the lock. It took both of us pushing with all of our strength to get the stupid thing off. At least I know my stuff was definitely safe during the time I used it! I guess this means I need a new one, though.
First Attempt At SBlog: Failed
Posted by: Chibi on: May 10, 2009
I’d been putting off doing a sound blog for a few days now. Why? I guess it’s pretty nerve-wracking to put yourself out there in any new way, even if it’s just your voice. Well, I finally sat down and tried to do one tonight. The result wasn’t quite as good as I’d hoped, and I’m not going to post it. I spoke too quickly, and it doesn’t sound quite right because I actually ended up with ten clips to splice together instead of one long clip.
I’m going to try again tomorrow, I think. First, I’ll jot down some ideas. That was my biggest issue. My mind kept blanking on me, which is why I ended up with so many clips. It’s a lot harder than it seems. I just can’t help but think that I sound silly or stupid when I’m doing it. There’s a reason why I was never one for performing (besides stage fright, that is). And for anyone who might be curious, the first sblog was about mother’s day. It was nothing special, believe me.
The quality from my cell phone isn’t the greatest (although it’s certainly not the worst I’ve ever heard), but I might download an audio editor tomorrow and see what I can do about that. I’ve heard that Audacity or that something Sound Wave are both really good. Right now, all I’ve got is Sony Vegas… which is supposed to be able to edit audio, but I’ve got a pirated copy and for whatever reason, I appear to be missing said audio editor. Oh, well. It’s not like you can’t find free ones out there.
And by the way, Cassie told me that if I posted an sblog tomorrow, she’d do a vblog and posted it to HER blog. So make sure to look out for that!
Solution to QCP Sound from an LG Dare
Posted by: Chibi on: May 8, 2009
This is a different kind of post than I’ve ever had. Recently, I became interested in doing sound blogging (hereafter known as sblogging). I don’t have a microphone, but I do have a cellphone which allows me to record sound and then transfer it onto my computer via USB cable. I thought that I would be able to use that without too much problem, until I realized that my cell phone saves the file in QCP format using an EVRC codec, which appears to be pretty much impossible to find.
When I looked for help, the only options seemed to be a) sending the files to myself via e-mail, which costs money, or b) accessing my LG Dare’s hidden menu and changing things…. which I am extremely reluctant to do. At first, I thought that the Purevoice converter would work, but because of the codec, it couldn’t recognize my files. Finally, I brought the problem to Spirit, who is a tech extraordinaire, and she took it to with a vengeance. Finally, we discovered something that will work.
The following link: CLICK HERE will take you to a list of Purevoice programs to download. I downloaded the very first one, which reads “v2.4.0 for Windows 2000/XP/Vista* (README)”. After downloading this program, I installed it and then opened it. I opened one of my QCP files in it, which allows it to play. Next, I went to File and then Convert, which converts the file into a .wav file. Then you go to File, Save As, and save the file* (the quality will suffer slightly). Since you’ve now got a .wav file, you can then convert it or edit it.
*I was unable to rename the file when I used ’save as’. The program required me to leave the title the same. But I was able to change the name afterwards with no problems.
I made this post because, believe it or not, we could NOT find a solution ANYWHERE. I tagged it with every relevant tag I could think of, and hope that it will help someone.
Whew
Posted by: Chibi on: May 8, 2009
What a night! It feels like Spirit and I just spent the last seven hours chasing each other in circles. I’m really tired now but I’m also happy, because I think that we (she) found everything I needed. Seriously, at one point she had her whole family working on converting stuff! I was so glad to leave it in her hands because after an hour I was fully ready to just give up. I get frustrated so easily.
I didn’t get any writing done tonight, and I feel a bit guilty about it, but not too much since the weekend is coming up. I know I’ll have lots of time for it since when you’re broke, there ain’t much to do but sit at home on the computer. Luckily, I rather enjoy being here. I’d enjoy it more if my arm would stop aching. I’ve been right abusive to it lately… first I walked into a clothes rack (left a bruise), then I whacked it on the roof getting into the car (also left a bruise), and then today I think I pulled a muscle in it.
I found out I didn’t get a job yesterday. That was kind of disappointing, but after a week of no word from them, I kind of expected it. Still, I’d been aiming for it since February (I worked for them during the school year), so it was still a powerful jolt of disappointment. I actually ended up going in to see them to get the final verdict, and I’m proud that I kept it together when it was face-to-face. I didn’t cry, not even afterwards, and I even managed to keep my voice relatively steady. Still, I’m a little mad at them for a) making me think I had a good chance, and b) not bothering to tell me I didn’t get hired afterwards.
My blog has a new look! A simpler design, true, but I like the white and soft colors and the occasional bright cherry pink (my most favorite color ever, did you know?) I think I’ll be able to keep this one for a while. It’s one of the things I dislike about WordPress; I wish they had more themes to choose from.
Concepts, yes?
Posted by: Chibi on: May 7, 2009
So I’m sitting here frantically trying to push myself to work on the re-write of Redeeming Pandora’s Curse when I got a comment from Spirit that kind of made me think. I don’t typically think of myself as putting a lot of pressure on myself. I’m not a perfectionist in -any- way of the word. It’s occured to me that I don’t like having expectations put on me. I’ve always said that if you ask me for a favor and I have the ability to say no, then chances are, I’ll do it. The same seems to go for expectations.
So, I guess I don’t know what I put them on myself. Probably because everyone else does. Go to university. Make sure you have a plan. Be there as a listener, comforter, sympathiser. Don’t get moody or angry. Get a job and don’t get fired. No wonder I love writing so much. It’s the only place where no one gets to try to dictate about what I do. Cass, you’re right, I need to lay off on my own expectations of myself (and you need to, too). I get it enough from everyone else without putting it on myself.
See, I am the absolute first person to tell people to whole-heartedly fuck off when it comes to growing up. Oho~, yes I am. I’ve never felt conflicted about, well, I dunno how to say this. I realize that there comes a point where you have to responsible, but I don’t want to be someone who doesn’t look out the window. Ah, such maturity from one who still has the Care Bears DVDs – and loves to watch them regularly. I fully explained this concept to a girl my age a couple years ago. It boggled her mind that she could be the adult while still being her. Concepts, yes?
Ah. I feel happier now. Even if I have to tell my parents I’m dropping out, I don’t care. Life sucks but oho~ I do not. Spirit, you must have flipped a switch inside of me! Thanks. 
EDIT: 100 posts FTW.
No Title
Posted by: Chibi on: April 9, 2009
God, I look at this blog and it makes me want to cover my eyes in shame. For a little while there, I was so good about blogging every day, and now it’s been… almost a month and a half. Too many days for me to want to count! I guess maybe I’m just not the blogging kind of girl. I’m used to keeping everything inside, where I can’t hurt anyone. That’s probably why I could never keep up with a personal journal when I was a kid. I did want to. I can’t count how many times I started one! But each one never went anywhere.
See, it dawned on me that this is the problem with a writing blog. It’s pretty much only interesting if I’m writing, and right now, I am, but it’s sporadic at best. I’m kind of all over the place about everything right now. And even when I was writing, I don’t think this blog was all that fascinating. I mean, what is there to say about what I was doing?? The same thing over and over, I’m not sure who got more bored of it faster, me or the one or two people who were reading this. So I’m going to have to have a long think about what to do with this thing.
Critters RFDR Done!
Posted by: Chibi on: February 20, 2009
So I’ve recently (as in, like yesterday) completed the Critters RFDR I was working on. For those who don’t remember what that was, Critters is a critique writing group, and a RFDR stands for “Request For Dedicated Readers”, which is when you critique a novel instead of a short story. I took one on back in December. It took me a while to do it, mostly because of Christmas and back to school and getting sick. In other words, life snuck up on me. But I got it done!
I think it was a good experience, actually. I liked seeing other “drafts in the making” and realizing that they’re actually not very different from mine. I noticed a lot of the same problems we run into – a good example is when you get close to the end and realize that you are, so you unconsciously start going faster. It ends up making the ending feel a little rushed, and sometimes means you leave things out. It was good to KNOW other people have those kinds of troubles too. I mean, I always knew it, but now I know.
I think I’d do it again, if I found a story I thought would suit me. I told the girl whose story I did – her name is Katee – that I’d crit the sequel if she ever decided to send it through Critters, and then she offered to crit RPC if I ever sent it through Critters, so that was really nice. It is time consuming, but at the same time, I think it made me more aware of what’s happening on a more editorial level instead of just on a writers level.
Feb Story
Posted by: Chibi on: February 16, 2009
So I didn’t get my January challenge story completed. My harddrive needed to be replaced (o hai thar blue screen of death) and I only realized afterwards that I’d saved my half finished story to the desktop of that harddrive, instead of saving it to the file I put on my external harddrive. And I don’t have access to it yet. Therefore, no January story for me. Oh, well. It’s not the end of the world. I might just write an extra story some month to make up for it.
I did, however, start my February story this weekend. This month is chick lit. My story’s not exactly in the chick lit genre. It’s about a girl who works under her ex-boyfriend. There’s really no romance in it, but I like it. It originally began in a different direction, and I had totally different thoughts for the ending, but then some of my “I deserve a job that doesn’t make me absolutely dread going in” beliefs started to creep in. Imagine that. It’s about 1.5k done so far. I should complete it some time this week.
RPC is going pretty well. I’m not as far as I’d like to be, but it’s a start. This past week was really busy – two essays and a midterm in one week, thank you teachers – so I got nothing at all done. I’m crossing my fingers for a more productive week this week. I’m still using present tense in it, and it’s… interesting. Makes it more slow sometimes.
Gosh, I’ve just realized I have a really busy writing week ahead of me. Thank goodness March Break is only ten (school) days away.
