Month: July 2008

Writing, writing writing

by Stefani

Waning Moon
Pluto Retrograde
Jupiter Retrograde
Neptune Retrograde

Even though the waning moon has made starting anything new a bit tougher, I manage to push through over the last few days and busted out several new articles on Helium.  I’ll link you to them in a bit.  I was ever so pleased to find that the article I wrote regarding the pentacle was ranking second out of nine articles within a handful of hours!  That is fantastic, and I hardly expected it.  I am nearly at the minimum requirement for the writing portion of the Summer Reward-A-Thon.    At least 75% percent of my articles needs to be ranked in the top quarter, and so far I’m running at 66%.  But I have no doubt that will be up in no time…and then I just need to rate, rate, rate and I will be in the running.  Which is great as I haven’t been eligible for any of their competitions before.

I also just started writing for a new e-federation.  The old show was merged with this new one.  It will be interesting as the characters I have to work with are not the best.  But with a little creativity I think I can manage, and I have an excellent co-writer which always helps.  Another bonus is I am writing for my boyfriend, Steve.  He and I work well in every other aspect and have similar views and opinions regarding the fed, so I have no doubt we will be a great team on this as well.  I also have added yet another idea to the every-growing list of ideas for fanfics.  I know, I know, the list is extraordinarily long and will probably never get done.  But it is my goal to have all these ideas on paper someday. 

And yet one more shock as I log onto Helium to get you these links.  My short story on there (The Muse) is now ranked at 18 out of 219.  I am stunned and flattered.  Anyway, on to links for my newest articles:

Books Review: Blood Noir by Laurell K Hamilton http://www.helium.com/items/1128922-laurell-k-hamilton-booke-review-blood-noir-anita-blake

Common misconceptions surrounding the pentacle.  http://www.helium.com/items/1129266-paganism-pentacle-satanism-inverted-pentacle

Testomonies: Why I am Pagan.  http://www.helium.com/items/1129031-paganism-pagan-egyptian-paganism

I hope that gives you something to keep you occupied until next time.  Enjoy!  ~Stef

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And they say the bees are busy….

by Stefani

Waning Moon
Pluto Retrograde
Neptune Retrograde
Jupiter Retrograde

The above stats will be a regular addition to all my blogs.  As my spirituality is important to me, and a lot of how I feel and work is based on the moon cycle or the planet retrogrades, it only makes sense to include it.  But today it is especially fitting as it perfectly explains why I am having such a hard time professionally and personally.  I never get anything done and generally get a bit down during the waning moon.  And with Pluto in retrograde, it tends to cause friction anyway.  On the plus side Neptune being also retrograde increases intuition and interest in one’s hobbies and goals.  This is only slightly offset by Jupiter, where the main goal is to focus on one’s self instead of the outside world.

But enough of the pagan speech, onward and upward to the real purpose of this blog, the writing.  Its been so incredibly busy, yet I just can’t seem to get myself moving on anything.  I am struggling desperately on the Reward-a-Thon for Helium, I have yet to come close to achieving the requirements.  I have until September 22 however and I am confident I can get things in order by then.   On a fantastic note there, the short story I published on Helium (The Muse) is current ranked at 36 of 215 stories.  Which is fantastic.  You can read it here if you should feel so inclined: http://www.helium.com/items/1112851-short-stories-muse-writers-block

I am also still writing the wrestling e-federation.  Which I do truly enjoy, no matter how much time it takes.  I’m posting yet another show this evening, and I have a feeling the fireworks will go off.  There is a HUGE twist at the end that absolutely no one will see coming.  I cannot wait to see the reactions I get when people figure out the implications of that twist, it will be fantastic.

I have been putting off the editing of my novel this week as I’ve had a rather confusing and serious personal problem I’ve been trying to work out.  Huge apologies to my beta, Justin, as he has been left hanging with nothing new to read for almost a week now.  I will get back on it soon, as soon as I am not physically exhausting by thinking about this personal situation.  But it definitely has to be done before November, as I am planning on participating in NaNo again this year.  And writing a 50,000 word novel in a month really can’t be interrupted by other writing commitments.

So that really about wraps up everything I have been up to the past week.  I will try to be on here more as well.  Until next time, stay happy and don’t let your inner editor get the better of you.  ~Stef

Hello world!

by Stefani

This is a new idea for me, so anyone who stumbles upon this page or who is given the link, welcome.  I plan on detailing my writing journeys for all the world to read.  As I write often and hope to be published one day soon, this seems like a great way to keep my friends, family and readers up to date.  With that said, let’s begin this nonsense.

Currently, I have so many writing projects going on that its hard to keep track of them all.  I write for an online wrestling e-federation.  That is just for fun, and I enjoy it most of the time.  I have been working very hard writing on helium.com.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with the site, you really should check it out.  They currently have their Summer Reward-a-Thon going on, and I am trying very hard to qualify.  It is not going to be easy.  I currently have around 22 articles and or stories on there, and I have to have at least 65 to qualify…and they all have to be very highly rated.  In addition, I have to rate at least 600 articles before the end of the competition.   I will work very hard on it, and hopefully qualify before the end of the reward period.

In addition to that I am in the process of revising the novel I wrote for National Novel Writing Month (hereafter known as NaNo.  or NaNo Wrimo).  I wrote it for the competition in November 2007, but haven’t taken the time to edit it.  So I have my wonderful beta (Hi Justin!) reading it and providing an opinion and proof-reading as I get it edited.  It is proving to be much more daunting than I expected.  I find myself adding about three times as much to the story as I am taking out.  But I guess that’s just part of the process.

And as if all that weren’t enough, I am being hassled to write more fanfics for the best tv show ever, Supernatural.  I have several ideas that I’d like to flesh out when I get the time.  Including a story that takes place directly after the season 3, season finale.  I have some theories about the cliffhanger that I’d like to see realized.  At this moment in time, I don’t have the energy or time to write it.  Rest assured however, it is on my to-do list.   I am also still working on my writing course through Long Ridge, that is going very well and I couldn’t be happier with my instructor and the class in general.

One last thing before I sign off this evening.  Be sure to go read my latest articles on Helium.  You can find them from my profile, Stefani Andrews.  Search for me and it’ll come up.   Anyway, check out The Muse (its a great short story) and my article on the “Who’s your favorite character from Bold and the Beautiful and why?”  Let me know what you think and what you think I could improve on.  Til next time!   ~Stef