Lucid Waking

Archive for the ‘Updates’ Category

Lucid Waking Turns 5

Five years ago today, I sat down at my shiny, new web-address and wrote an introductory post describing my creative writing blog endeavors. At that point, this website was going to replace my former blog that I had continued alongside my own stationary site called Brianna’s World. In the next half a decade, Lucid Waking would become the corner for my musings and creativity. It kept me practicing my writing and motivated me to continue my drawing. It showcased both of my self-hidden talents. For what it’s worth, I am glad to have this space where I can let people to see what I can do while hiding behind the anonymity of a computer screen.

Despite my daily struggles, this personal project of mine has kept going-at some times speeding along and others puttering to exhaustion-and I intend to keep it going, even at a snail’s pace if need be. I’ve always had somewhat unrealistic goals for myself and sometimes they keep me motivated to be better while sometimes they make me feel guilty and accomplish nothing. I have been writing recently, and I have two stories somewhat in the works as both are in the difficult planning stage. And, in honor of five years still going, I’m working on a new theme. For the next 5 years, I’ll rotate through all the old ones, but for now, a sneak preview of designs that didn’t quite make it towards the final banner.

Thank you for reading and waiting for posts for the last 5 years. Enjoy the day and have a little piece of cake on me!

Numbering Discrepancy

Another update for y’all : ) As you probably don’t know, I take various records on the number of posts I do in a month and how many in a year. I keep track of these numbers and compare them to previous months and years. Why? I don’t know, but there is some interesting data. However, when I added up how many posts I had written so far according to my monthly numbers data bank and compared it to my numbering system per post, I came up short. My calculator said I had 396 and my post numbering said 399. So, I went to work combing the archives and recounting how many posts I had. There were some mistakes made in my counting and now that I unarguably have all the numbers right, I added it up again and got…402. The problem was at the beginning; when I started counting I started at post 338 when it should have been post 341. I can’t go back in time and add a 400 post special where it should have been so I will just let bygones be bygones, start the numbering for next year’s post at 403 and add the interlude after I finish “Secrets of the Blue House.” So, I missed the opportunity, but it isn’t such a great loss and I’ll just fix it and keep writing. Hopefully I’ll catch post 500 : )

House Cleaning, Reminders, and Harpist

I’m not going to lament time passed, so I’ve been fixing and updating things.  There will be no posts (except maybe the 400th) until the new year because you need to vote on the Best of the Blog 2010! There isn’t much there, so no excuses! Voting will be from now until midnight on Dec. 31. I’ll publish the results on Jan. 1.

In other news: I’ve updated “Secrets of the Blue House” completely. You can read everything I’ve published on the page on the sidebar. Sorry, it will be finished next year, but the ending is in progress.

Third:

I finished this a while ago but didn’t publish it, so I decided now was as good a time as any. To see more information/larger version–>click on the picture. For information on prints and the like–> click here.

Don’t forget to vote: Best of the Blog 2010

To an Empty Room

Hello? Anyone there?

Despite the title, I do hope that no one abandoned me and my site. I will make this short because I don’t really have time: I am writing, just not publishing. I have a million ideas in my head and most of them don’t get put down on paper. I really do want to come back but I can’t say when right now. And I’m very sorry I haven’t written anything since August. Extremely sorry; I feel so guilty about it. To say I’ve been busy would be an understatement, but it shouldn’t be an excuse. Well, wish me luck in getting through my to-do list and back into publishing.

Happy Birthday, Lucid Waking

It’s hard to imagine that I started writing my first post on LucidWaking.com 4 years ago. The very next post was a republished one from my first Lucid Waking blog that was hosted on blog.com. Since then, I have published 386 poetry and prose works. Some were long, others short, some took several days to write and many newer ones only ten minutes, but I have learned a lot along the way and continue to hone my craft.

Those of you who have been paying attention will notice that I did something different for LW’s birthday this year. Usually I have worked on a different template for my blog (for you luddites, this means its appearance, including pictures and colors) and unveiled it on June 17. This year, I felt uninspired. I had no other ideas for the layout than what had been done. So, I made a banner and plan on keeping the current template for another year. Next year will be year 5, so I should have something special for that occasion.

For now, let’s celebrate another fruitful year of writing and reading.

Updates and Reassessments

I decided to practice drawing by doing a sketch every other day, which means:

1. There is a new page specifically for sketches since they won’t be finished enough to be put up in “Paintings and Drawings” page.
2. These will be given their own posts when I can get to it.

Also, I’ve been practicing my writing on the days I am not drawing. Unfortunately, sometimes the work I write is unfinished or not of sufficient quality (in my opinion) to be published. That’s why it has been quiet around here. I hope to have something up this week, but I might just succeed in getting the sketches posted.

Thank you for your patience. I wore out my muse in March by doing different stories every day and I’m trying my best. Hopefully the artwork will tide you over until I get a written post done.

Reorganizing a Bit

I just thought I would draw your attention to some changes I’m administering to make Lucid Waking more visitor-friendly. Expect some organization issues to be fixed and some content to be edited.

Or, just focus on the fiction and don’t worry about what’s happening on the sidebar.

‘Tis the Season

First order of business, please start reviewing the Best of the Blog so that we can get a modest voter turn out in December. Compared to other years, there aren’t many posts, so don’t be afraid to read and vote. I will be posting more between now and December 26, when I will take a break for final votes and maybe making a small buffer. Based on my schedule, this won’t be often, but keep in mind there will be a little more.

Second, I’ve been working on my print shop. Check it out, spread the word, and buy something! I’m still taking commissions, if you’re interested. Again, any art information can be found here. Any money I raise through this will most likely go towards a trip to the UK that my orchestra is planning on going on, so any help would be appreciated.

That’s it for now. Thanks for hanging in there during my busy months. I’m working hard, rest assured.

A Little Art Information

Since I’ve been getting questions and comments about prints, I thought I’d mention my policy pertaining to them and how you can buy some.

1. You can buy prints by following this link or by going to the main page and click the tab at the top that says "Prints."
2. If you do not see a print of your favorite picture, email me and I will make it happen. I will notify you when your print is available for purchase.
3. Click on the picture you want, the size (which will be located at the right), and then "Add to cart"
4. If you want more prints, click "Continue shopping" at the top of the page. But if you’re done,
5. Fill out the form and then click "Place your order."

Note: Commissions will not be made into prints unless I have permission from the costumer.

Basic information on commissions and prints can be found on the "My Art" page as well as a link on the bottom to ask me questions.

A Lot Going On with Nothing to Show

Just thought I’d share a little of what’s going on. I haven’t been neglecting my blog, but a lot’s happening both artistically and not, so here’s the scoop:

1. I have a total of 5 story ideas floating around in my head. While I’d love to start writing all of them, I’ve forced myself to plan my stories out first before writing, so that I don’t get stuck and end up with a lot of loose ends. This means that I have spent less time writing and more time planning, so I don’t have anything to publish as I am busy mapping out these ideas.
2. I might be turning House of Animalia into a graphic novel so on top of planning it, I will be creating a script and working on character designs. It probably will never get on the web as I won’t publish it until I’m finished with the whole thing to prevent having to go back and redraw the beginning or not having pages done on time for a bi- or tri- weekly deadline. But, I’m brewing over that as well.
3. Since I’ve been trying to promote print buying (even in this recession) I’ve been working on taking new picture of my paintings so that you get a high quality print. Which leads to…
4. DeviantArt is having a print sale, so there probably isn’t a better time to buy prints. Email me and let me know what you want, browse what I have, and please buy something. I’m going to be a poor college student soon and it’s always good to have something colorful on your walls that pretty much no one else will have.
5. Yes, I’m going to college which is draining in more ways than one. I’m trying to take advantage of the diminishing time I’ll have with my family as well as shopping, working, and generally having a fantastic summer. Unfortunately, everything I mentioned in this list takes time, and so does spontaneous trips getting me prepped to live elsewhere.
6. However, I’m in the process of writing a prose story, but it takes a while and I’m hoping to finish it before I publish it. My goal is to get it up before the end of July.

Quite. Well, then, I’m off to keep working and editing and sewing and drawing and whatever else it is that I need to be doing. I’ve been quite a busy body this summer, even though I don’t have much to show for it.