Help Me Choose!

Throwback Thursday: Convertible Computers

Hey there, guys. It’s already Thursday? The week has flown by it seems like! Just yesterday I was talking to my dad about how it felt like it was still Tuesday… Well, we were looking for a Thursday show anyway. But that’s not really important right now!

Today, I want to talk about computers- but not just any kind. No, today’s post is about convertible computers. Now, if you aren’t sure what those are, you’ve probably seen them a lot lately. They’re those laptops that can turn into a tablet, which is great for when you’re trying to draw something by hand with digital art. The thing is, I have one complaint about recent versions of this computer type.

Why do more than half the ones I’ve looked at leave you with your keyboard sitting against your lap!?

It’s not like convertible computers are brand new as an idea, mind you. In fact, my laptop maybe eight to ten years ago was a convertible. The way it worked, though, was very different. The hinges weren’t on the side, but the center. You’d turn the screen around and then lay the back of the monitor on top of the keyboard instead.

Okay, so maybe that doesn’t sound the most logical, but if you’re like me and are very active while sitting (I mean tapping your feet to a beat, constantly changing poses, etc)… Well, my concern would be both comfort and the possibility of my shaking leg causing buttons to be pressed a lot. Unless you get a very flat keyboard and it has a lock so it won’t leg-type like a phone, I would worry greatly myself.

As I’m doing my shopping online, I can’t test the comfort and protection against typing with my kangaroo knee. And so, I’ve been looking at a ton of computers in my price range- many of which are convertible- and so far, I can’t find one that flips in the way I thought would be natural considering computers of old.

I know this post is a bit of a vent, but I do have a question for all of you: do you have a convertible computer? How does it change and if it’s like the above, does it have precautionary additions to avoid knee typing? What kind of computer do you have in general? I’d love to hear about what’s important in a computer to you!

Until next time- take care!

Questions, Research and 101 Challenge 12

In recent days, I’ve been doing my best working on Star of Satseiya. In this story, there are more than one language used, and I really wanted to actually try my hand at /making/ the languages and using them. So, I made a note in my project for the demonic language (that I should really call something less obvious and blah). I’ve used a sentence of it in a chapter by referring to the note…And as I think of words that might be useful to blend in, I add to it.

Still, there’s a lot I don’t know or understand about language- even as a writer or an editor. Today, I’m going to work hard on researching the use of fictional languages…And ask you, my lovely friends, for input.

1. For those of you that love to read, how do you feel when there’s a created language used at points in the story you’re reading? Is there a specific way you like it used, and a way you find it easy to understand what’s being portrayed in the verses?
2. For those of you that write with languages you’ve made on your own…What was your process in making the language? How do you separate different words used? Do you make an index/glossary for yourself? I want all the little details in your head that help you figure out the language and how it works.

I’m not only planning to make this demonic language, you see. I plan to alter current languages that exist in reality (thanks to translator programs on the internet) to adjust them into not-so-real languages to exist in my world, since I know that English isn’t the only language…And to be fair, I don’t know how they got English in the first place. It might be good to look deeper into that.

So, as usual, I’m sidetracked with research…But I’m still working hard on writing when my muse kicks me! Sometimes I make simple images for characters too. I might have to make a better page for that….Or just shove them in excerpts.

I’ve also been researching low-cost internet- this time, it’s because I just need it. My neighbors, who have been graciously letting me use their wifi for the past year with a guest account, are moving in the next week or so (I just found out yesterday). I’m able to use the internet if I’m at my grandmothers, but that won’t help when I finally get to go back to my apartment. That said, I think I’ve found a solution- but we have to ask her help to afford it, because it’s about a hundred bucks as a downpayment for a year. That said, even if it’ll be weaker than I’m used to…I’d have portable internet with it, and at least at my house, this service has pretty good reception. It uses a cellular modem- and I live right near a cell tower!

Anyway…That’s my main blabbering for today. Just wanted to give you some insight into my recent projects, as usual. I also can’t wait to show off some pictures of a new character showing up, Saye. I can’t remember if I posted about this, but I recently found legal papers that showed me the name I’d always heard my great-grandmother referred to as WASN’T her legal name. My guess is it was her Hebrew name…But anyway. I LOVE her real name just as much if not more. Sure, I thought Abraham and Sarah as a couple was stupidly cute, but I really love her real name, Saye, so much. I don’t really know much about her aside from that, but…I love her anyway. And so, I made a character named after her. And already, Saye has a big role in my brain. I couldn’t find what the name means, however…But I’ll figure it out!

Since her role is an Angel, like Takumi, I need to figure out her human form still…Oh well.

Anywho…

Time for today’s challenge: What novelists can learn from screenplays?

I’ve met a screenwriter or two in my day, and I took a class in it when I was in high school (er, before being expelled and whatnot). I once took part in what was called “Script Frenzy” (now basically a part of CampNaNo) and was shocked at how beautifully I felt the particular writing method fit one story I was working on. Screenwriting may look simple if you look at a play’s script for school or such, but it’s actually really hard to write. There are a lot of little things you need to keep in mind, whether it be what’s available for the play to be made, whether it’s even for a play (it’s often used to plot out comics!) and the like. There’s also the way you really have to figure out how to show expressions and such through the words in dialogue more. I had a lot of fun learning how to write one as a kid…And one of my role models as a writer, my local ML for NaNo, is a published screenwriter of some great plays!

As for what writers learn? Well, I think that depends on the novelist or writer in general. Like a reader may take different things out of a book compared to their friend who read the same one, learning how screenwriting works can be great for outlining a scene for some or better for making you think about how dialogue flows further than usual. What I learned? The fact that there are many ways to write…I think what it teaches, overall, is just how many different kinds of people there can be, don’t you think?

Getting In The Habit + 101 Challenge 1

I have lots of habits to get into, both as a person and a writer…But at least for now, this is meant to be a writing blog. So, I’m going to share some of my habits I’m trying to make in my writing life.

I want to get into the habit of posting in this regularly. As such, I’ve looking at a list of 101 posts for writers to blog that a new friend shared with me. You can see what to expect in upcoming posts here.
I’ve been researching different methods of outlining, as you may recall! I’ve officially started outlining for Camp NaNo today…and I plan to work on outlining every story I can from now on, so that I don’t hit my constant ruts I seem to find myself in because of characters forgetting what the task was. I usually give them nearly full free-reign, but not anymore! Or so is the plan, at least.
I hope to use my new vocabulary (I get a new word a day in my email) more often! Some words I can’t necessarily find a use for, but if nothing else, I’ll start writing poems using them to try to get in the habit of using them and not just forgetting about them.

I have other artistic goals and such, but these are the primary writing habits I plan on working on. I’ll share more about my goals every so often as they come up.

Now, as I noted in the title…Today’s post will also mark my first entry as part of the 101 things to blog challenge of sorts I’m going to push on myself (I admit, ‘every day’ may be difficult if I don’t get to my computer…But at least four or five a week? We’ll see! At least I won’t run out to soon!).

TODAY’S PROMPT: What is your favorite quote and why?

I think my favorite quote, from my personal life at least, is “Everyone is born for a reason, and for someone.” It’s something my parents instilled in me heavily as a child, and it can be very useful in writing too if I remember why even a minor character was created. They really have a reason after all! “That character walking down the street is a witness to the main character doing something weird at a storefront, for example.” Even a small part that won’t get named has a purpose. Just like I’m sure I do.

SITE UPDATES:

I got input about my site by a fellow blogger recently, and they noted a few things that might help the site. One such thing is to rename the contact page to the more common “Contact” as opposed to what I have it as: “On the Web”. I was also told it would be better to put social links on every page, not just that page.

However, that leaves me with a dilemma. If you take a look at my contact page, you’ll see some links for where I’m published that aren’t exactly social media. Would those make sense as Sites to See related? But that’s meant for sites of others that I think would interest people, not really self-centric. If my lovely readers could give me input on the following, it’d be great help! You can react in the comments or contact me otherwise through the “On the Web” page:

What should I call my contact page? (should I keep it as “On the Web”? “Contact Jaluna”? Or should I make it something unique but not part of that list? Share your thoughts!)
If I were to put social links on every page as part of a menu, what should I do with the sites I’m published on? Include them in the social links menu? And should I make the links have buttons I made, or not?
I just want your general thoughts on themed days. Today’s Thursday, for example. A lot of people use it as a ‘throwback’ day (not that I have anything to do for that anyway). Do you like themed days on blogs? If so, any ideas? I have some concepts I thought of, but I’m not sure the general idea serves enough purpose.

Here’s wishing you a great day!