Well hello again, ladies and gents. It's been a while. Perhaps too long, maybe not long enough. Either way, I'm back around these parts, at least for the moment, to go back to roots. You may already be aware, but if not, National Novel Writing Month is upon us again, and I'm throwing my hat into the ring once again. A few years ago, when I made my last blog post, I mentioned that I was going to participate that year, but unfortunately, things just didn't pan out. Life got in the way, and I haven't really been able to get back into the swing of things until now, and I'm ready to rip through another month of wordsmithing.
As ready as I am, however, this year, things have changed. Some changes for the better, some for the worse, and some that I'm not entirely sure on. I've got less time to write, less energy, and by far less writing stamina. I'm finding an unfamiliar difficulty in staying focused, keeping my eyes on the ball, another unnecessary metaphor; and that, friends, is what brings me back here. I'm hoping that by revisiting old haunts, reconnecting to resources I stopped caring about long ago, that I can recapture that fighting spirit, the will to write, and the drive to succeed in this mad month.
So, in an effort to start back on the right foot here, let me tell you a little bit about my novel for the event.
Showing posts with label Random Thoughts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Random Thoughts. Show all posts
11/03/2015
2/03/2011
Early Post is Early
I realize that this post is a bit early, according to my last update, but I wanted to talk about Dungeons and Dragons again. It's been a long time since I've mentioned it, and in that time, our group has gone their separate ways for now, having other obligations that needed tending to. But let me start by saying that I really miss playing D and D.
The main reason I loved to play was first and foremost, the friendships that I was able to forge amongst the other players. We all had common interests, similar senses of humor, and a deep love for rich, in-depth storytelling in our gaming experiences. The fact that I was able to meet these people at all, much less around the table of an awesome D and D campaign is something that I'm not likely to play off as coincidence.
I'll openly admit that I am what many would call a nerd. In fact, I'm so comfortable with it, that I don't even take offense to it anymore. It is who I am, and I'm perfectly fine with that. I find high fantasy and science fiction to be among the coolest genres out there. I find dragons immensely fascinating. Hell, I even played World of Warcraft for the longest time. But I'm going off on a tangent. What I'm really trying to say here is that I miss meeting with these people on a weekly basis. That interaction was most often the highlight of my week, and not having it there anymore is honestly a very depressing... hole, for lack of better terms.
Secondly, I loved both the game itself, and its mechanics. Prior to last year, I hadn't actually ever played Dungeons and Dragons, or any other table top role-playing game for that matter. I'd played games using similar mechanics, but under the shiny interface of some kind of video game system. It was the first time that I'd gotten really down into the dirt that is the math beneath the flash. In fact, the game that I've been playing for the past few days, Knights of the Old Republic, happens to use almost the exact D and D system that I had learned during the past year. So, going back and playing it again gave me a new appreciation and understanding about the mechanics behind all of the fancy lightsaber swinging and blaster shots, thereby enriching my time playing the game.
And if all of that wasn't enough, the game was FUN. Ask just about anyone what the most important part of gaming is, and many of them will tell you it's all about having some fun. Between the amazing people and the interesting gameplay, and adding in some very adaptable storyline, Dungeons and Dragons happens to be one of the most fun games I've played, and trust me, I've played more than enough to know what I like. Besides, in what other game would you be able to slay the dragon using nothing but a tin can and some string?
Anyway, I think I've rambled on long enough. I'll still be updating next Sunday with something or other, so if you're interested in whatever I'll have to say, please, feel free to stick around.
The main reason I loved to play was first and foremost, the friendships that I was able to forge amongst the other players. We all had common interests, similar senses of humor, and a deep love for rich, in-depth storytelling in our gaming experiences. The fact that I was able to meet these people at all, much less around the table of an awesome D and D campaign is something that I'm not likely to play off as coincidence.
I'll openly admit that I am what many would call a nerd. In fact, I'm so comfortable with it, that I don't even take offense to it anymore. It is who I am, and I'm perfectly fine with that. I find high fantasy and science fiction to be among the coolest genres out there. I find dragons immensely fascinating. Hell, I even played World of Warcraft for the longest time. But I'm going off on a tangent. What I'm really trying to say here is that I miss meeting with these people on a weekly basis. That interaction was most often the highlight of my week, and not having it there anymore is honestly a very depressing... hole, for lack of better terms.
Secondly, I loved both the game itself, and its mechanics. Prior to last year, I hadn't actually ever played Dungeons and Dragons, or any other table top role-playing game for that matter. I'd played games using similar mechanics, but under the shiny interface of some kind of video game system. It was the first time that I'd gotten really down into the dirt that is the math beneath the flash. In fact, the game that I've been playing for the past few days, Knights of the Old Republic, happens to use almost the exact D and D system that I had learned during the past year. So, going back and playing it again gave me a new appreciation and understanding about the mechanics behind all of the fancy lightsaber swinging and blaster shots, thereby enriching my time playing the game.
And if all of that wasn't enough, the game was FUN. Ask just about anyone what the most important part of gaming is, and many of them will tell you it's all about having some fun. Between the amazing people and the interesting gameplay, and adding in some very adaptable storyline, Dungeons and Dragons happens to be one of the most fun games I've played, and trust me, I've played more than enough to know what I like. Besides, in what other game would you be able to slay the dragon using nothing but a tin can and some string?
Anyway, I think I've rambled on long enough. I'll still be updating next Sunday with something or other, so if you're interested in whatever I'll have to say, please, feel free to stick around.
1/05/2011
Social Networking
If you haven't noticed by now, I have created a Twitter account that I'll promptly ignore for a long time, and you can see anything that I may find important enough to 'tweet' down and to the left, or at twitter.com/python862. What does this mean? Well, should I actually find myself using it, I'll be giving more up-to-date information on what I happen to be doing at the time. This means along the lines of "Hey guys, new blog post," or "Hey guys, new YouTube video," or, "Hey guys, I'm writing/playing something," and not "Hey guys, I made lunch."
While I'm at it, let me wax poetic about Twitter, or rather, social networking on the internet. If you would have asked me two years ago about what I thought of it, I would have probably either laughed in your face, or told you something along the lines of "it's the devil and deserves to reside in the lowest circle of Hell itself." Now? Well, my opinions so far haven't much changed, but I suppose that Twitter's a good enough way to send and receive information in a short and concise manner, and I recognize and appreciate its purpose. It should probably still sit firmly in Hell, though.
You see, social networking websites have never quite sat well with me. When Myspace was new and fresh in everyone's minds, I was perhaps the only person on Earth to shun and turn my back on it. I never felt any remorse for that decision. Then Facebook came along and took the throne of 'flavor of the month' networking site. At first, I turned my back on that, too. But then I came to realize that perhaps I was being a little closed-minded about it all. I never really had an issue with the form or function of these websites, I just unreasonably and unequivocally despised the idea. My thinking at the time was that if you weren't able to keep track of all of your friends out in the real world, then why would you bother trying at all? But then again, I always was the one with the smaller groups of friends. One of the black sheep, if you will.
So recently, I tried Facebook out and found that it's incredibly easy to keep tabs on what people are doing. Even that long-lost uncle that seems to be missing more than a few screws. The one thing I really don't like about the service? All those damn apps and the message spam you're liable to receive if one of your friends uses them. I don't mean to be rude, but I really don't care about the wood on your farmstead, or who you just served in your little café. At least there's the option to ignore all of those updates.
Anyway, what're your thoughts about Facebook and its ilk?
While I'm at it, let me wax poetic about Twitter, or rather, social networking on the internet. If you would have asked me two years ago about what I thought of it, I would have probably either laughed in your face, or told you something along the lines of "it's the devil and deserves to reside in the lowest circle of Hell itself." Now? Well, my opinions so far haven't much changed, but I suppose that Twitter's a good enough way to send and receive information in a short and concise manner, and I recognize and appreciate its purpose. It should probably still sit firmly in Hell, though.
You see, social networking websites have never quite sat well with me. When Myspace was new and fresh in everyone's minds, I was perhaps the only person on Earth to shun and turn my back on it. I never felt any remorse for that decision. Then Facebook came along and took the throne of 'flavor of the month' networking site. At first, I turned my back on that, too. But then I came to realize that perhaps I was being a little closed-minded about it all. I never really had an issue with the form or function of these websites, I just unreasonably and unequivocally despised the idea. My thinking at the time was that if you weren't able to keep track of all of your friends out in the real world, then why would you bother trying at all? But then again, I always was the one with the smaller groups of friends. One of the black sheep, if you will.
So recently, I tried Facebook out and found that it's incredibly easy to keep tabs on what people are doing. Even that long-lost uncle that seems to be missing more than a few screws. The one thing I really don't like about the service? All those damn apps and the message spam you're liable to receive if one of your friends uses them. I don't mean to be rude, but I really don't care about the wood on your farmstead, or who you just served in your little café. At least there's the option to ignore all of those updates.
Anyway, what're your thoughts about Facebook and its ilk?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)