A Fun DST Gameplay Video

If you've ever wondered what I'm like when I'm not talking your ear off about writing, today will be a fun treat for you. I decided it was time to do a fun little gameplay video. If that isn't to your liking, you can check out my Hunter's Gambit read-along video that I released earier this week. 

Either way, have a great weekend!

Creating Worlds with Words

Welcome (belatedly) to Goblinization Day

Sorry Everyone, I tried to get this in before April 30th was over... but between editing issues, rendering times and simply how the video itself is, it took me a bit longer than I hoped to get out. That said, it was Goblinization day when I recorded this so I hope you'll join me in saying that it still counts Chummers. I hope you all stayed inside!

All joking and Shadowrun references aside, I put together an interesting and educational video for you about the differences between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation. It's a bit of a long discussion but it was wonderful to take part in and I hope you'll like it, too!

Joining me today are: - Maxine, a yoga teacher from Wales, UK - Carrie Besko Garn a tarot reader and teacher from BC, Canada - Sheena, a yoga teacher from Colorado Springs, USA Sometimes, the hardest thing to do can be to stop talking and listen to those in the cultures you may be appropriating while trying to appreciate them. Come and watch the whole thing on the new channel.

I've got a YouTube channel now

Well, guys, I'm sorry that this is coming in so very late, but I finally got it all working the way I wanted it to. Which means that I finally have a YouTube channel!!! Woot! 

My first video will be going up at midnight tonight (MDT -06 hours, I believe). I will update this page with the video link once it goes live, but until then, if you're interested in subscribing here's the link to the page!

I can't wait to hear what you guys think of it!

https://bit.ly/3dMAUSl

And here's the link to my video! Please, don't forget to like, share and subscribe!

https://youtu.be/SqaOQVz7yqY

When Moving Ahead Doesn't Feel Like It

 Well, my first editing program was a bust, but I do have editing programs that I'm trying to learn. The first one I tried has a killer learning curve, but fortunately, I have other programs I'm working with. In addition to that, I've bought myself a few new toys to help record. Mainly, a new light, which is surprisingly important, even if you're never showing your face on the video, and a new microphone. Honestly, while the light is snazzy, I am much more excited by the microphone. I've never owned a real one that wasn't found at a garage sale and broken within days of getting it. 

In addition, I've been accepted into a beta program for Animaze using my character which is the thing I am super excited about! Why, you ask? Well, I originally wanted to use Animaze to put out these videos. I had used them in the past under the name Facerig and knew that they were adding the ability to add your characters into it with the upgrade, which was originally what I was planning to use. Unfortunately, when they came out, while you could add characters to the system, you couldn't do it with a character from VRoid, where I'd made created my character. What does this mean for you guys? Well, it means that I am definitely planning on having a video up on Monday, even if its just a quick one using their system. It may end up just being me playing with the system and introducing myself. 

Essentially, I do have an introduction to the channel recorded on a different program, but if the Animaze works, then I will be using that one. The most difficult thing right now has actually been the editing programs. I was hoping for an easy introduction since what I'm really looking for is a simple cut and paste program that I can add pictures onto. Not a very difficult list you'd think, but it still means that I have to go through the programs I can afford, spending hours trying to learn how to use the programs, to see if I can use them at all or if they're just far beyond my skill level. I'm not afraid of hard work, but at this point, I really want to get stuff out to you and I'll do what I need to get that going. 

Of course, I'm still working on my novel. I'm about 75% of the way through this edit, which means that as soon as I can spend all my time on it again, I should have it finished soon. I'm hoping that at this point, I don't have a lot that's going to need to be rewritten from scratch again. 

And that's what's been keeping me busy this week. It doesn't feel like I've done a lot of work, even if I can look back and defend every choice with reasons it was important. Meh. Sometimes, you just have to keep moving, trusting that you are making headway, even if it doesn't feel that way. 

Oh! Also, I'm not going to talk about it here, but if you haven't already seen WandaVision on Disney+, my quick review is "Amazing, 5 stars, go see it." For more, keep your eyes peeled. I'm planning on writing a longer, more in-depth review later. 

"Excuse my rudeness, but please RIP"

Hello! First, for this week, I'm having a bit of a week over here. I still can not figure out why computer audio isn't working... Hopefully fixed next week. 

Instead of dwelling on all of that, I'm going to introduce you to one of the Hololive stars that I follow. What is Hololive, you ask? Hololive is one of the main VTuber enterprises. A Japanese business, they're basically in the business of making virtual idols. Some are just really fun to watch while they're gaming or hanging out, some are great singers or they have a great character theme. They all have individual "history" and character stories that they stick to completely. Essentially, when they are performing, that is who they are. And its wonderful. 

The one I particularly want to introduce you to is one of the latest batch. She speaks mostly English, though she does flip into Japanese every once in a while. Her name is Calliope Mori. Her schtick is that she's a reaper of death on vacation in the mortal world. A fun enough premise regardless, but the reason I really like her, aside from her kickass tsundere personality and her on-screen "romance" (as far as any tsundere has a romance storyline) with one of the other characters (a phoenix named Kiara, one of my other favorites to check out), is her music. I tend to enjoy pop music, but this girl raps, mixed with a bubblegum sound and I love it. Here's my favorite song of hers below, though I wholly suggest you listen to all five of her current songs. 

Now, aside from the fun of watching fun people having a great time (let's face it, you watch Vtubers for the same reason you watch any of these people, because they have fun personalities), one fringe benefit I'm noticing is that you will get more used to hearing Japanese spoken more easily, so long as you're listening for it and trying not to rely on the subtitles you can put up. It's fun to be listening and realize that I was able to translate a sentence with my minor knowledge of the language. 

Do you watch any Vtubers? Which ones? Let me know, as always, in the comments below or on Facebook. 

Resolutions... and a surprise!

So... 2021 didn't explode in its first week? I'm willing to call that a win.

So, what am I hoping to talk about today? Well, I think I'll talk about my resolutions for one more week. 

Normally, I would have a general idea of what I want to do for my resolutions by the first of January, even if I haven't set anything in stone. This year... it almost felt like I didn't want to jinx it by planning too far ahead. And while I think I still won't be planning the entire year with any exactness, I do like having an idea of where I'm going. 

First, while I love staying home and writing, I think I need to get back out in the world. Last year I stopped looking for a job around February... a mix of pandemic and no jobs miring me at home. Now, it looks as though some of the job market might be returning, so I'm going to go back to setting one day a week and doing nothing but sending out dozens of resumes and looking over the job market in general.  Personally, I'd love to see some sort of universal basic income but I'm not holding my breath for one. 

Second, I will still be writing, even if I get a job. So, my writing goals for the first quarter are to finish editing Fox's Facade and send the book on to my editor and betas. I want to publish Fox's Facade tentatively during the summer, so I'll play with that and see where it goes with an update at the end of the first quarter. 

Third, I am moving the "get healthier" option from last year to this year. Most of it will be a mix of RingFit and the Switch boxing game. Maybe not every day, but almost every day. I will be looking for healthier food options as well, but changing everything all at once doesn't work, so it will be little bits at a time, hopefully leading to a healthier me at the end of the year. 

Finally, I will be starting a Youtube channel and maybe a Twitch channel... though I'm not sure about Twitch just yet. I am going to be reading my novel, Hunter's Gambit, chapter by chapter for you guys, hopefully, one chapter each week. And because I've always wanted an online avatar, I've created one to use! I will definitely be posting my novel reading to Youtube, but let me know if you would like me to start a Twitch channel, as well. I could easily read the novel out and then have a question and answer period, if that would interest anyone, and then put out better-edited audio on Youtube later. Then again, I think Youtube has a live function as well, so really just let me know. I'm not sure exactly what week it will begin, but it will be soon! I'm just testing out programs right now and seeing whether my current equipment will work for this purpose before I put it out. I should have pictures to show you of my character by next week!

Let me know what you think about the Youtube vs Twitch debate and I'll keep you all informed.