Oh, Hello There

Hey peeps.

Yeah I know, don't yell at me. (But Britt, you promised you'd blog more!) So I suck the big one at blogging, you could look at it that way. OR you could look at and say "But THREE posts in 2012 is better than ZERO posts in 2011. Over 300% better." (hey I was told there'd be no math!)

But the reason I am blogging is I have some NEWS. Newy news. (I'm channeling my inner Suess) So yesterday morning I sneaked into the bathroom at work and used my lightning fast clicking fingers (actually tapping fingers as I was on my iPhone) and refreshed the page roughly eleventy-million times, but I got all registered for the Writing Excuses podcast's workshop/retreat "Out of Excuses." The reason I had to use my fast fingers as opposed to my usual regular speed ones is because I knew there was a lot of interest in this and there were only THIRTY SPOTS AVAILABLE! And it's a good thing I did because they sold out in 9 minutes. 9. That's 540 seconds. Pretty quick. It sounds like a lot of fun and a great opportunity to learn from and network with uber-successful writers.

Probably you're thinking, "WOW that's amazing. I know EXACTLY what you're talking about and I'm super jealous and excited for you." But just on the tiniest chance that you haven't the foggiest what Writing Excuses is or what a writer's retreat is or where in the hell I got the phrase eleventy-million I'll explain. AHEM.

If you've spent time around me recently, especially if you're in my writing group (Heather and Reese I'm looking at you) you know that I'm obsessed mildly addicted to loving the Writing Excuses Podcast. If you want to be a writer, or if you like Sci-Fi and Fantasy, or if you like hilarious and awesome, nerdy people you should listen to this podcast. It is done by the wonderful and nice Brandon Sanderson, the clever and slightly creepy Dan Wells, the comical (literally, he has an amazingly successful web comic) and possibly pants-less Howard Tayler, and, ever since season 6, the amazing and super multi-talented Mary Robinette Kowal. In 15 minute snippets (because we're in a hurry and they're not that smart) they talk about all things relating to writing, be it craft, pointers, business, ideas, general or specific etc.

So then, this workshop that I'm attending is put on by all these cool people. All of them are full-time authors, ranging from a NYT bestseller to a hugely successful, self-publisher. This will be for six days next June. The first three will be an intensive workshop (I'm anticipating something like a creative writing class mashed with a panel at [insert any name] convention/conference). The last three will be a retreat. That means for three days I get to write full time with 30 other (well 34 counting the pros) writers. Did I mention the location? No, no I didn't. As half of the podcasters are based in Utah, I anticipated it being somewhere here. But it's in Chattanooga, TN. Mary has a gorgeous ancestral mansion that we are lucky to be visiting.

CHECK OUT THE HOUSE AND YARD AND OH MY GOSH CAN I LIVE HERE PLEASE!!

Now look. LOOK! I have a shiny new badge.

That's write. (ha get it!) It's just about that time of year again. NaNoWriMo is just around the corner, slightly over two weeks away. This year I'm going in with *gasp* an outline. I usually just "pants" my way through. (as by the seat of your pants style writing) but the past two years I haven't won. (winning means you write 50,000 words of original fiction between 12:01 am Nov. 1st and 11:59 pm Nov. 30th) I intend to win this year. And I also feel like I have more of an incentive. *cough*ACTUAL AUTHORS ARE GOING TO SEE MY WORK IN JUST 8 MONTHS*cough*

Also in the news category, I get to go to Alaska next May. My family usually does cruises when someone graduates from High School and my brother Riley is a senior this year. So we're doing Alaska. I am way excited because it looks so beautiful. The downside is I get home from the cruise on June 1st, 2013 and leave for my "Out of Excuses" workshop/retreat on June 9th, 2013. Bye-bye money. But all-in-all 2013 looks like it's going to be an amazing year. And to make it even better, one of my BFFs is coming home from the Philippines at the end of 2013. So let's just get this 2012 business out of the way.

And, finally, I'll leave you with a laugh. (+20 nerd points if you know where this quote came from!)

See, I am that bad a Blogging

The title says it all. I am that bad at blogging. I hope you'll forgive me.

I do have excuses. I'm moving, (which sucks the big one) and working 2 jobs and trying to have something that passes as a social life. Also I'm hungry and my legs hurt. And, uh, I have, um...

Anywho I just though I'd update this a little. And now to leave you with a much needed laugh.



You couldn't help but laugh, could you?

Holy Guacamole!

What the what? I haven't blogged in like 2 years! I suppose this means I am not a good blogger. I'm not really surprised seeing as how I was never a good journaler either. (maybe it should be journalist, but that sort of sounds like a profession that I have never done so it would follow that I wouldn't be very good. Plus I like making up words. Sort of. Also I ramble.) But this year I am going to *try* to blog regularly. (note: I'm am not promising an everyday type of thing. Maybe more once a week, or a few times a month. Baby steps.)

So, as is the trend at this time of year, I made some goals that I would like to work on. The first being, write. Write, write, write. More writing. I want this.

Second: submit. Grow a pair and finish something and send it away.

The third, attend conventions, conferences, and the like. Not only to meet people, but to enjoy myself and get some inspiration for goal the first. NOTE: I am already on my way to making this happen. LTUE 2012 here I come! That's Life, the Universe and Everything, or Brittney's Nerd Conference as my family refers to it. Yeah it's nerdy. But so am I. I am extremely excited. (it may appear that all my goals are writing related. They mostly are. This is important to me this year.)

My fourth goal is lose some poundage. I have let myself get out of hand. Also my little sister is getting married in June. I am going to be the thing I never wanted to be: the Spinster Sister. I do not want to be the Fat Spinster Sister. Also I want to get healthier. Also I would like to take up running a little bit. Also I think that exercise helps me develop some ideas for writing, at least the few times that I've sat down to write after exercising I have had some success with word flowage. Also...just kidding, I have no more alsos.

The fifth goal is to get out of debt, at least as much as possible. I am on track to pay off my car by July and then it will be Stupid Credit Card of Evil. A goal I've already made for 2013 is to move out of the parentals house. I will not be the Fat Spinster Sister Who Lives With Her Parents. I just won't.
Ok now the all important resolutions are out in the open, now I am accountable.

On a slightly less serious note, I have started watching the TV show Firefly. Um, dear internets, why did you never tell me this show was epicly amazing, fully of great wit, amazing characters, and slightly steampunky awesomeness! I am incredibly sad there are only 14 episodes. Please Mr. Whedon, for the love of all that is shiny, make some more!

And now a picture for your viewing pleasure



See, I am nerd. Also I love Alan Rickman. And Harry Potter.