So uh, followup to the above: I got the job!

I got the job and they said they were very impressed by me on Monday and had no hesitation in wanting to extend the offer.

'Thank you so much for considering Gehenna & Hinnom for your story, "Tempest." We would love to have this fascinating tale in our anthology! I am attaching the release form for the story.'

It took me about 15 minutes to actually open the email; I was so terrified it was gonna be a rejection.

Literally crying right now. Needed some good news today so bad.

Holy shit, guys. They're gonna pay me for my story. I don't gotta put 'aspiring' before 'author' anymore.

I got the job.

But.

I got the 2nd slot and (due to budget) cannot start until January.

So it's a good news / bad news. Yay I got a job I really wanted! Boo I have to strugglebus another 2 months.

But I can do it. Knowing there's a light at the end of the tunnel makes it much easier.

Good news!

He got back to me. Last year was really rough on him and he shut down pretty much across the board. Said he was glad I reached out. We've been catching up.

I wish he hadn't shut me out or maybe that I'd been more insistent on trying to get in touch. But what's past is past and things moving forward will be better.

Finally - finally - got the official offer for the job.
This is real. It's happening.
I still have to make it through December, but come Jan 4th I'll be employed again. Doing the sort of work I love. Working from home (possibly permanently as opposed to just during covid; during the interview they said it was going well enough for the team they were looking at making it a permanent transition). Making more than I did at my last job.

I just got asked if I'd be willing to be a 'lead' for the project and here at the office. On the project it'd just make me a go-to for assisting people and certain escalations... basically things I'm already doing.
In the office, it'd mean I'd be able to open/close the office (alarm codes).

But above all: it comes with a goddamn raise.

Got a call back on interview I had yesterday.

'Just wanted to give you feedback and it was all positive....'

I started to tune out because I was just going into my mode of yup. Prepare yourself for the '....but we are moving ahead with other candidates who fit better...'

Apparently no. They want to bring me in for another interview next week.

This wouldn't be a full-time job. Just a contract that would be like...6-9 months. But. It'd be writing. It'd pay well. And those two things are really all I need. Esp as I'm working on something right now that should have me set not too far down the road. I just need something to carry me through until I get there.

I flee my two days in San Antonio to return to my routine of hiding in my apartment when not at work with my two catfaces today.

Ike:

AJ (Action Jackson):

That is the record for quickest turnaround from interview to job offer.

Video interview at 11:30am.
Assessment test completed by about 1pm.
Job offer at 2:30pm.

Start date will be March 2nd. So I still have a few weeks of super tight finances to navigate, but I'm still breathing a little easier nonetheless!

I'm putting this in Mildly Constructive vs. Tastes Less Gamey because it can be used to better one's roleplay.

The purpose of this thread is to share links relating to writing that you think people might enjoy or that you've found personally helpful in the pursuit of such.

Here's a few to start. These are all ones I've personally saved for reference.

• 50 of the Best Screenplays to Read and Download in Every Genre
• John August's site (useful for writing in general, but especially screenwriting)
• How to Develop + Test a Story Idea
• Nuts and Bolts: “Thought” Verbs
• When to Make a New Paragraph
• Punctuation in Dialogue
• Using Semicolons
• Screenwriting Format Mistakes
• Writing the Shots
• The 10 Types of Writers' Block (and How to Overcome Them)
• 13 Famous Writers on Overcoming Writer’s Block
• Writing With Color (they have an entire post on skintones that's fantastic for bio data / desc writing)
• Writing With Color: Stereotypes & Tropes

Part of why I include (and recommend!) screenwriting tips is because MU*ing is a very 'visual' format as well. We try to eschew metaposing and especially thoughtposing. Some of us use it to comedic effect or to help expand on what would be knowable, but certainly not to the extent one would find in a novel. You almost have to approach posing as you approach screenwriting: by focusing on what can be seen.

I'll happily expand here as I find (and find merit in) more.

@tinuviel said in RL things I love:

@auspice said in RL things I love:

I hate snow. I hate it so much. 26F in Austin is just wrong.

Trade you. It's 97 here.

Gladly.
I like it hot.

@darren said in RL things I love:

@auspice said in RL things I love:

I hate snow. I hate it so much. 26F in Austin is just wrong.

That said.
I love adaptive all wheel drive.
And seeing kids making snowmen and throwing snowballs was p damn heartwarming.

Meanwhile it's 57 and sunny here in Southern Maryland. It's as if our weather is reversed.

@macha said in RL things I love:

@auspice And here I am, in what is usually one of the snowiest places in the country... and there's nothing. We've had practically no snow.

I've been hearing this sort of stuff from so many people today.

@Darren as someone who grew up in Rockville and Laurel (former as a kid, latter as a teen): this is exactly like some MD winter bs. Freezing rain all night, snow all day so far. It's gross out there.

Unfortunately, this is a southern state. We have no salt trucks, no plows, etc. So it's just all that much worse. The only reason I went out to begin with is my power went out for a while and I didn't want to sit in a cold, dark apartment.

I hate snow. I hate it so much. 26F in Austin is just wrong.

That said.
I love adaptive all wheel drive.
And seeing kids making snowmen and throwing snowballs was p damn heartwarming.

@tinuviel said in Real World Peeves, Disgruntlement, and Irks.:

As a former child

lies.
you entered this world a crochety old man.

@wizz said in Real World Peeves, Disgruntlement, and Irks.:

My third-grade kiddo's principal just called and said he drew a bunch of naked women in his math book.

I am completely at a loss. He is really into art, draws all sorts of things, but I have been really careful as to what he's exposed to in terms of age-appropriate content in shows and movies and I have no idea where this would come from. (Just curiosity, I guess?)

I also have no idea where to go for guidance on this stuff...I know my super conservative fam would go the shame route and I really, really don't like that and won't do it.

Just sucks feeling like I am fumbling around in the dark on this one...this is a subject that seems very easy to fuck up.

One option:
Museum (I know covid, but many many museums have virtual visits and collections digitally) trip showing classical art. There's nudity in equal measures presented tastefully. Make it educational, make it 'hey I'm embracing your hobby, but there's a right way and a wrong way so we're going to discuss and learn which is which'

Today I'm grateful for:

Season 2 of Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist has begun.

Batman TAS is on HBOMax.

I appreciate that I found a free clinic that's helping me take care of stuff (and can give me my meds free).

I don't appreciate hearing that the reason I never heard back on the x-ray for my knee (that I DID have to pay for, out of pocket) was because 'everything was normal.'

This is the problem with everything being telehealth right now.
One look at my knee and you'd know it's not normal.
It's swollen to the size of a grapefruit.
I struggle to walk.
The pain keeps me up at night.
I have been doing the elevation, ice, etc. since APRIL.

Something is, in fact, very wrong with my knee and I guess I just have to wait until insurance for my new job kicks in.

It's not often a scene makes me crack up, but having my bounty hunter on Cresh chatting with the guy he's putting in restraints about how damn weird another PC is.

It's a small thing. It's two poses of banter. But it has me giggling madly because I can so easily visualize it and it's perfect.

@too-old-for-this said in Critters!:

@auspice Yours look almost exactly like mine! XD One big fat white/tabby and one skinny black (well dark brown in my case). And yes, the 20 lb asshole wants me to hold and cuddle and scritch his butt all day long. And if I do not, he will go loudly complain to my housemate.

Both my cats want cuddles almost 24/7 but the boy will settle for screaming at me until I let him go out on the balcony.

@badger said in Critters!:

@auspice

WHOA YOU'RE RIGHT.

That explains why our grey boyo is turning orangey.

Hey if human hair can sun-bleach so can cat fur and they spend hella time lying in the sun if they can get away with it

@badger said in Critters!:

My black cat is turning into a striped tabby. I don't even know.

( Yes. I have tried turning the cat off - and then back on again. Cycling this way just makes the cat more HONGRY - which then follows the chorus of chirps, wheezes, and mimed meows. )

I will get a picture of this when I get better light.

Black cats can rust.
I mean, it sounds funny, but

The more time a black cat spends in the sun, it basically bleaches their fur and they start to turn brown. So black cats 'rust.'