Christmas cheers and pop filters

I wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas! I hope each one of you have something special planned for you and your friends and family. I know it's pretty easy to get caught up in the business of the holidays. For those of you with finals, or the ones who have to work, don't push yourself too hard. It's your holiday too, take some time to do something you enjoy. It seems we sometimes never have time to do the things we love. This Christmas, take the time to do what you really appreciate. Weather it be writing, painting, spending time with people, or just taking a breather and sleeping. Remember what's important in your life. What ever you enjoy doing, take the time to do it. You'll be so happy once you do I hope your Christmas is a very special one.

Along with the Christmas wishes, I wanted to share something really cool with you. I was emailing a new friend that I made, and they're giving me some good advice for my videos. I'm not sure if any of you have heard of pop filters, but I just learned about them. They're very very useful when making videos. 

I'm sure we've all heard the videos that have people talking in them, like in the ones I post. Sometimes in the videos the person gets close to the mic so they can be heard. The affects of being close to the mic is hearing random popping noises, or different noises from their mouth. For instance if someone was to say "paste", you'd hear the P pop. 

This friend of mine taught me a way to be closer to the mic without getting those affects. They're called pop filters. It's sort of like a thin screen that's between your mouth and the mic. This screen filters out the extra noise. You can buy them online for about $12 (depending on the style). But if you're tight on money you can make them yourself. All you need is a hanger and some panty hose. I found a website that gives you a play-by-play of how to make them. http://thetechpub.org/?p=100 Check it out and tell me what you think! I'd love to hear how it worked for you. I'll be making one myself, this weekend, and I'll try it out on my next video.

I really hope you each have a special Christmas, and a wonderful New Year.

Talk to you soon!

Pre- edits of next story (At home sick still)

For the past few days I've been working on my next story. It's is still in rough draft form, but fairly soon I'll be into the final edits. Due to the fact that I've been sick the past two weeks, I've been a bit held back on my writing. I really hate it when I get behind.  I like to try and post my videos at least once a month. I wanted to let you all know that I'm still here, still posting, and I'm definitely still writing. I'll keep you all updated on how my story is going, and I look forward to having my next video posted! I can't wait to hear what you all think.
Feel free to send me an email! I love hearing from my readers. You can always reach me on here, youtube, facebook, or twitter. I have links to the right of my blog page for each of them. If your wanting to send me a direct email, I answer to that as well. You can always reach me at danausclarus@gmail.com I always respond back, and do my best to as soon as possible. I'd love to hear from you!

"Wishes in the Sand" now uploaded to Youtube

I'm sorry it took me so long to get my next story uploaded. Normally it wont take that long for me to post my videos online. The past two weeks I've been pretty sick, so I've been back and forth from the doctor a lot.
I have my "Wishes in the Sand" story uploaded now to youtube. I'm really excited to hear what everyone has to say about it. The story is 4 videos long, so its bit longer than "The Artist and His Canvas". But this story is one of my favorites that I've written, so I really hope you all enjoy it.
I love getting feedback from you all, I'd really love it if you posted some feedback on my youtube. It really helps my stuff get out there more.
Tell me what you all think!

Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEoQ6SeiWpA
Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IajWaJFWDA
Part 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8o1pS9WoHwU
Part 4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XCzw_hVIt8

My story's Update, Our Writer's Block

I just wanted to let everyone know that I'm still keeping you all posted. I've about finished up my final edits on my second short story, "Wishes in the Sand".  I should have it posted up at the end of this weekend. Like I said in my last post, I've been reading some books that contain a lot of dialogue; this will help me with making my dialogue flow a lot better my stories. Anyways, I was practicing around a little bit, and I got the most amazing idea for a novel! I've made my final decision on things. I'm going to continue to post my short stories on youtube, like I have been, but on the side I'm going to be working on a novel. I'll definitely be keeping you all posted on this. I'm very excited to share this with you guys. I've already written a lot on it. I've also found a nice tip, and I thought I would share it with you.

A lot of writers say, that at times, they hit something called 'writer's block'. I know a lot of you know what this is, but for those of you who don't: Writer's block is when you write for a long period of time, and you basically hit a a point where you can't write anymore. You're imagination sort of just shuts off. This usually happens when you've worked your brain to death. It wears off, of course, but it can be upsetting-especially if your working on a project. I found that a nice way to fix this, is to work on multiple writing projects. Please don't overwhelm yourself! I'd say keep it to about 2-3 projects at a time. It's also a good idea if you have one bigger project, and two smaller. That way you can work on your main huge writing piece, and when your brain is tuckered out, you can work on one of your smaller pieces. This way, you can continue to make great progress, while also letting your brain take a rest. Another good thing to remember, when writing, is to not write on an empty stomach. Not only will your brain not get as good ideas, you'll also want to rush your work. So keeping a full stomach, and also getting a good night's sleep, are great ways to help fight that writer's block.

Keep those imaginations flowing, and never talk yourself out of free thinking. Your imagination is unique, just like you are; Never suppress that.

My Next Story and Some Good Ideas to Consider

Lately, I've been focusing a lot more on my short stories. I recently posted one of my first short stories to youtube, and I was really happy to hear what several of you thought. I was a bit nervous at first, but I think I'm really going to enjoy this. I have another short story that I've worked on, recently, and I'm planning to post it up soon. I still have a few edits to add, before I post it. This next short story is called "Wishes in the Sand". It's one of my favorites, so I plan on making it into a book. I just have a few things I need to work on, first. I have difficulty making dialogue flow well in my stories, so I stick with short stories. I've been reading several books, that focus a lot on dialogue, to help me out more. It never hurts to read other author's work to help critique yourself. You can always improve your work, and it never hurts to do so. Reading a wide range of books, and asking others for their input, is always something you want to consider.
I look forward to hearing your inputs on my next short story.
I would also enjoy to hear what you all have. I know several of you are pretty talented authors. Since I'm asking you all to read my work, I'd love to hear some of yours in return.
Leave me a comment if you have something you'd like me to read. I love hearing what people have within their imagination.

Short Stories to Youtube

Today I don't have the regular discussion topics going on. Actually, I wanted to tell you all that I've opened up my youtube now. I've been writing short stories for some time, and I've been wanting to share them. I thought, rather than posting them on here and taking up a ton of space, I figured that reading them would be a lot easier. For the people who aren't much on reading, I thought it may be nice to hear a story read to them for a change. I have a link to my youtube on the right of my page. I also have a section thats, below that, where you can watch/listen to my stories, directly from youtube, on my site. I would really enjoy hearing what you all think about my work. All my stories are kept to the copyright laws, so they're each stories that I have written myself. I really look forward to hearing what you all think.

Here's a direct link to the video  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5r9Hod9Wbg

And Those Who Matter Don't Mind

I had something come to mind today. I remember my Psychology teacher saying how humans are social creatures. When you honestly think about it as more than a nice phrase, you can realize how deep it really is. Humans are social creatures. We want to be accepted, and we want to be liked. There isn’t a person out there that doesn’t genuinely want friends. But when you think about that, you wonder how far a person will go to be accepted. What things are a person willing to do in order to be liked? It’s sad if you think about it. Some truly wonderful people can easily be thrown into this situation and easily come out in worse shape then where they started.

Peer pressure is all around us. It’s not always as blunt as “sleep with me and you’ll be cool.” Sometimes there’s minuet things that can slowly change person, just because they have a desire to be accepted. Each person has their own beliefs, and each person has their own boundaries. We have lines that we don’t want to cross. When I mean ‘peer pressure’ I’m talking about everything. Not just someone asking you to do drugs, alcohol, and have sex. I’m meaning what’s inside you as well. How many people are willing to change their insides to fit in? Are you one of those people who doesn’t draw their boundary lines in permanent ink? If the people around you want you to change your inner thoughts, or your inner being, would you? Would you erase that boundary line, and draw it further, just to fit in? 

Nowhere is it written that you have to conform anyone to be accepted. You are your own person. When you change to fit in, you are giving up your identity inside. If whatever makes you YOU isn't good enough for someone, then that someone isn't worth it. The very famous, Dr. Seuss, once said said, "Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." It means not to change yourself. If the people around you don't like you for who you are, that's their loss. You'll find, that in the world, there are millions of people out there. The ones that you find, who like you for you, can definitely replace the holes left by the ones who tried to change you.

Don't ever change yourself, and your boundaries, just to fit in.

Be your own person. Only change when YOU want to change something, and only when that something isn't because you want to fit in.

Using Fear

The reason for me to starting this, is the fear that often comes up in high-schooler’s minds though out school. One thing, that always got to me, was that creeping thought of college. While many of us are worry free, the rest of us are worry central. College is something that’s different than what we’re use to, and It’s common to be afraid of the unknown.
“We all have a fear of the unknown, what one does with that fear will make all the difference in the world.”; a quote from Lillian Russell. When you fear something, you have two roads that will concrete before you. One road will let that fear completely scare you out of your opportunities. But the other road is even more dangerous. Why is that? Because that road is so powerful. If you can take your fear and use it as a motivation to overcome, your dreams will have that fear smashed behind you at the end. Don’t let the fear make something of you, use that fear to make something of it. 

In high-school you’re always told to keep your grades up. You’re told how your grades will determine your future, and your security. ‘Colleges look at these report cards.’ as parents say. As much as I wish life was easy, I’m sad to say it’s not. Grades do determine your job future, and colleges will look at your grades. The good grades are what get you those awesome scholarships, too.  But don’t let that stress you out. Use that fear. Don’t just sit, stressing, until the due date of a huge project. Realize it will take time, and do it in little segments. Procrastination is word we all enjoy, but an action that can screw us up bad. Late nights cramming for a test will only exhaust you the next day. In the long run, that information won’t stick in your head that way. Take your time, and don’t stress. Even if you get an F, that can be overcome. One F isn’t the end of the world; you can make it up. Just don’t make 50 F’s and try to make it up the last day of school. Pace yourself, relax, and realize that this is high-school and not a death house. You really are capable of anything you set your mind to. You just have to be willing. 

When the time comes to decide on a college, look at your options; there are 4,146 colleges in the United states. One of them will stand out to you; you just have to look. Consider what field you want to go into and start your search. Look online, listen when teachers have speakers from other schools come in, ask your teachers, and ask your parents. Your parents know more about college than you may think. Research the schools and know what you want. Never let money be the reason you don't go to school. You can always get a student loan. Just remember, you will have to pay them back. But that won't be so bad, just get a job and pay it off as you go.

Please, my friends, pick a profession that you will enjoy. I can't express how many Americans are unhappy with their jobs. Last January, a CBS News survey of employed men and women in the US determined that only 45 percent of Americans were satisfied with their jobs, only 43 percent felt secure in their job. This survey indicates a significant drop in job satisfaction/security since the 1980's when 65 percent of Americans were
satisfied with their jobs. How sad is that? We might not think about it, but we really do need a profession that we enjoy. We all have talents and things that make us unique. You should put those abilities to use. The world is at your fingertips. Do what relates to you, something you enjoy.

College isn't as scary as it seems. Plan your course and know what you want. Make sure you keep cool and focused on your grades; its not really as hard as it seems. You don't have to skip out on college because your afraid of what's out there. You can be whatever you chose to be, so never let the fear of college make you settle for less. You're worth so much more than that. Make the most of you.

Sources: http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/detacenter/   http://www.cbsnew.com/