There are some thoughts I would love to share... I just finished a wonderful month in my literary career, since I enjoyed so much my favorite activity (writing), the very first time I have a professional writing month. It is not that I have been irresponsible with my passion. I always have been serious about my writing plans and my wishes of being a professional writer someday. It is just I had not achieved so many individual projects of writings in such little time before. Eight different plots becoming real and me being able to send four of them to three different literary contests was really a hit for me.
This incoming month I will continue with my work. I hope to have finished another short story I've been writing for this week and I plan to review the other four short stories I haven't checked so far. I intend to write another short story after finishing my present work and the six stories will go to different literary contests before october is gone.
Then, I will rest... for some time. Then, to review my novel (Through the Portal III).
A lot of work is waiting for me, but it is the kind I really like. :)
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Work according to your passion...
How can I describe a passion? Is it a inner feeling? A dramatic movement of our heart? Or just a intimate desire? I cannot say what it might be, but I do know it's the best source of strenght to achieve any goal.
Many people use to declare there is no better job than something you do because you love it and not because you think is a good way to earn some money. But it is always easy to recommend someone to dedicate to his or her passions, and at the same time, to think in the future. If this person does not have any passion? What will he/she do?
Maybe it is easier not to have a passion for anything. Maybe it is simpler to study something practical -like business or Law- and to be a responsible worker all your life. But it is boring, too.
Fortunately for me, I do have a passion and I think someday will be my full time job as well. :)
Many people use to declare there is no better job than something you do because you love it and not because you think is a good way to earn some money. But it is always easy to recommend someone to dedicate to his or her passions, and at the same time, to think in the future. If this person does not have any passion? What will he/she do?
Maybe it is easier not to have a passion for anything. Maybe it is simpler to study something practical -like business or Law- and to be a responsible worker all your life. But it is boring, too.
Fortunately for me, I do have a passion and I think someday will be my full time job as well. :)
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Earth Hour
I am in the American continent. Then, three hours are left to turn off all my lights for one hour.
We can set a new record: ¡1000 millions of people turning off their lights for the sake of the planet! To send a powerful message of hope and courage.
Please, join us tonight with this special idea...
We can set a new record: ¡1000 millions of people turning off their lights for the sake of the planet! To send a powerful message of hope and courage.
Please, join us tonight with this special idea...
Friday, March 13, 2009
Supersticions
Today was a normal day for me. When I woke up this morning, I just thought on my duties and plans and didn't consider if I would have an unlucky day or something like that. When I checked my e-mail, though, I realized that was Friday 13 th. Should I have been scared?
A black cat crossing in front of me. Passing under a ladder. Spilling salt over a surface. Just supersticions, brought from past, with no rational explanation to consider them as facts. Friday 13th is one of the kind.
In Roman culture, the "bad" day was simply Tuesday. In Spanish language, I know an old adage which says: "Do not marry nor go onboard on Tuesday" It is just a bad day to undertake a journey or to begin a new project. Later, Tuesday became Friday because, according to Christian scripture and tradition, Jesus was crucified on Friday. Other suggested other reasons to consider Friday an unlucky day.
On the other hand, 13 is a number of imperfection, no completion, opposed to the perfect 12. In Christian tradition, there were 12 apostles. In other traditions, there were 12 tribes of Israel, 12 gods of Olympus, etc. In a North myth, if thirteen people is seated to dinner, this will result in the death of one of the diners.
The practical problem of these beliefs is that many people really paralized their normal lives to avoid the bad luck. They really think that something obscure, evil, will ocurr to them if they simply move.
Well, the day is over and nothing special happened. Not good nor bad. It is just another normal day with no more damage than yesterday.
Enjoy this moment, then. :)
A black cat crossing in front of me. Passing under a ladder. Spilling salt over a surface. Just supersticions, brought from past, with no rational explanation to consider them as facts. Friday 13th is one of the kind.
In Roman culture, the "bad" day was simply Tuesday. In Spanish language, I know an old adage which says: "Do not marry nor go onboard on Tuesday" It is just a bad day to undertake a journey or to begin a new project. Later, Tuesday became Friday because, according to Christian scripture and tradition, Jesus was crucified on Friday. Other suggested other reasons to consider Friday an unlucky day.
On the other hand, 13 is a number of imperfection, no completion, opposed to the perfect 12. In Christian tradition, there were 12 apostles. In other traditions, there were 12 tribes of Israel, 12 gods of Olympus, etc. In a North myth, if thirteen people is seated to dinner, this will result in the death of one of the diners.
The practical problem of these beliefs is that many people really paralized their normal lives to avoid the bad luck. They really think that something obscure, evil, will ocurr to them if they simply move.
Well, the day is over and nothing special happened. Not good nor bad. It is just another normal day with no more damage than yesterday.
Enjoy this moment, then. :)
Sunday, February 22, 2009
The best way to read a novel
Amazon will launch its Kindle's second version. It is called the "Thindle", because is thinner and lighter. It is supposed to be more practical. Its battery will work for longer periods. In brief, it will be better.
Some people think that Amazon won't be as succesful with this gadget as it wishes, because people don't read anymore. However, Amazon sold about half million of units since it launched the Kindle. That has to mean something. People still read as always: not much, but in a stable way. And now, Amazon -and other e-readers makers- wants to reach a broader audience. Kindle's users would be able to download blogs and other popular sites from the Internet, not just newspapers, magazines and books. If Amazon can obtain this kind of readers, it can sell millions of units.
Which is the best way to read, anyway? I think it is a matter of tastes. Most readers (actual readers) prefer the traditional book when they want to get into a novel. Novels are long readings, which need time and space to be enjoyed. Readers usually choose a special spot, select a time, surrounder to the experience. That is why they don't read this kind of reading material in a computer. Screens are very unconfortable. And a laptop's battery does not last enough for a book to be read. Instead, a book is the perfect techonology for its purpose. You don't have to plug it, don't have to buy batteries, your eyes will be confortable with the pages, especially if they are made of good material.
But, you only can carry one or two books at the same time. If they are too thick, maybe just can't take anyone with you. In that case, a good e-reader, with soft screens and sharp images, long-term batteries and light to carry, is the best choice for the reader, even if he or she wants to read a long book.
What is your choice? Do you have to choose? I do not think so. I like to believe that these e-readers are a perfect solution for compulsive readers who need to travel. Sooner or later, the traditional support will desappear, but the book will never.
Some people think that Amazon won't be as succesful with this gadget as it wishes, because people don't read anymore. However, Amazon sold about half million of units since it launched the Kindle. That has to mean something. People still read as always: not much, but in a stable way. And now, Amazon -and other e-readers makers- wants to reach a broader audience. Kindle's users would be able to download blogs and other popular sites from the Internet, not just newspapers, magazines and books. If Amazon can obtain this kind of readers, it can sell millions of units.
Which is the best way to read, anyway? I think it is a matter of tastes. Most readers (actual readers) prefer the traditional book when they want to get into a novel. Novels are long readings, which need time and space to be enjoyed. Readers usually choose a special spot, select a time, surrounder to the experience. That is why they don't read this kind of reading material in a computer. Screens are very unconfortable. And a laptop's battery does not last enough for a book to be read. Instead, a book is the perfect techonology for its purpose. You don't have to plug it, don't have to buy batteries, your eyes will be confortable with the pages, especially if they are made of good material.
But, you only can carry one or two books at the same time. If they are too thick, maybe just can't take anyone with you. In that case, a good e-reader, with soft screens and sharp images, long-term batteries and light to carry, is the best choice for the reader, even if he or she wants to read a long book.
What is your choice? Do you have to choose? I do not think so. I like to believe that these e-readers are a perfect solution for compulsive readers who need to travel. Sooner or later, the traditional support will desappear, but the book will never.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
What am I reading now?
Two books at the same time. For me, it's the only way to read any book at all. Maybe it doesn't seem very logical, but there is a simple reason. If I do not read two books, I would read only one... at the same pace. Then, if I can manage two stories, at least I will finish them in a while at the same time too.
Why do I need to read? Well, it is a simple necesity for me. I cannot allow myself to be without any reading material at hand. Articles or pieces of news do not count. I need stories.
At the present time, I am reading two best sellers. One of them is relatively new: The Broker, by John Grisham. The other one is almost 20 years old: The Pillars of the Earth, by Ken Follet. The first one is a classic thriller in a political environment, where a lawyer (of course!) is pursued by an uncertain number of terrible enemies, who are determined to kill him at any cost, because the poor man knows too much. The protagonist is a man in his fifties, who was very powerful but no more. The reading is entairtaining, but I found it dull in some ways. I have not been able to connect with him or with any other of the characters I already met. Maybe Grisham writes in a cold way that I don't fully appreciate. Or maybe I just need to give the book more time.
The Pillars of the Earth has a similar problem. Most characters are cold for me. I do not like Tom Builder much, nor Ellen. She is too mysterious, too special, but at the same time, to rude. Aliena is too grumpy and William Hamleigh too bad, bad guy. The only character who pleases me is the prior, Philip. I do not know why, but he is the most real for me til now. Maybe the other ones will be more interesting as I continue reading, so I will give them more time too.
Anyway, I will finish reading both books. Then, I will know if they will be convincent enough to be read a second time in the future.
Why do I need to read? Well, it is a simple necesity for me. I cannot allow myself to be without any reading material at hand. Articles or pieces of news do not count. I need stories.
At the present time, I am reading two best sellers. One of them is relatively new: The Broker, by John Grisham. The other one is almost 20 years old: The Pillars of the Earth, by Ken Follet. The first one is a classic thriller in a political environment, where a lawyer (of course!) is pursued by an uncertain number of terrible enemies, who are determined to kill him at any cost, because the poor man knows too much. The protagonist is a man in his fifties, who was very powerful but no more. The reading is entairtaining, but I found it dull in some ways. I have not been able to connect with him or with any other of the characters I already met. Maybe Grisham writes in a cold way that I don't fully appreciate. Or maybe I just need to give the book more time.
The Pillars of the Earth has a similar problem. Most characters are cold for me. I do not like Tom Builder much, nor Ellen. She is too mysterious, too special, but at the same time, to rude. Aliena is too grumpy and William Hamleigh too bad, bad guy. The only character who pleases me is the prior, Philip. I do not know why, but he is the most real for me til now. Maybe the other ones will be more interesting as I continue reading, so I will give them more time too.
Anyway, I will finish reading both books. Then, I will know if they will be convincent enough to be read a second time in the future.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Every year
Today is my birthday. Another one. Every year my life closes a new cycle, which is meaningless for everyone but me. I feel well, because I like to be in my birthday. I reminds me every single year I already lived before and every single moment I still have to live.
Some people hate their birthdays because they feel older. Other people seem to get anxious as they approch to a certain age without accomplishing some goals they have set before, just as we all had duties with every year we live: at 20's, we have to end professional studies and get our first job, at 30's we need to have a partner and better if we already have a child, at 40's we have to be successful in our profesional careers, etc.
I think that kind of planning is too strict and not according to reality. I prefer not to have many plans of that kind, just one: to be able to accomplish the specific goals I have now. If I cannot meet them, well, I will have to turn to plan B.
Now, my birthday is a day of tranquility. A day of joy. I am not old, nor young. I am still in early phases of my life. Another year will come, another moment of reflection will succeed. Meanwhile, I feel well.
:)
Some people hate their birthdays because they feel older. Other people seem to get anxious as they approch to a certain age without accomplishing some goals they have set before, just as we all had duties with every year we live: at 20's, we have to end professional studies and get our first job, at 30's we need to have a partner and better if we already have a child, at 40's we have to be successful in our profesional careers, etc.
I think that kind of planning is too strict and not according to reality. I prefer not to have many plans of that kind, just one: to be able to accomplish the specific goals I have now. If I cannot meet them, well, I will have to turn to plan B.
Now, my birthday is a day of tranquility. A day of joy. I am not old, nor young. I am still in early phases of my life. Another year will come, another moment of reflection will succeed. Meanwhile, I feel well.
:)
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