Making a change is DAP

So, I did it. I broke out of the bin-there-done-dat-isms and finally made the changes in my book to publish it with Create-a-space. I discovered that Amazon can be quite ruthless with anyone that they believe has product coming from a brick and mortar store.

The changes I made was quite small but I feel satisfied with the corrections.

On a roll DAP Tales

So, I did it! I remembered my promise to myself about blogging once a month. Hmmm. Let's see if I can do it 2 times a month.

Anyway.... things have been quite eventful for me when it comes to my writing and marketing. Understanding the ins and outs of publishing and promotion has be quite eye-opening and has proven to me the world of local writers really do need the RGN. On the surface it industry seems open and available to everyone but once you get closer, you begin to realize that there are costs and other factors to keep people and organizations within their own niches. Developing the working structure of the RGN is taking a lot of time but I am devoted to the process.

In my writing news... I am pumped! My characters seem to love me at the moment and each one of them seem to be fighting to get their story told first. Since I am attempting to get an agent for my children's stories, I've decided to hurry up and finish those first.

My game... LSS is on the move. We begin bata testing in two weeks but we will not film it until later this year. Exciting times! Can't wait to see my progress by the end of the month.

DAP, are you all the way in?

 Free thought drawing using a circle

OK... so I started blogging again, with 'again' being the operative word in that statement. The drawing above, is one of the drawing exercises that I gave myself. Today's exercises: Draw a circle and from that circle, create a drawing without pre-thought or planning. This is a creativity exercise but creativity isn't my problem. I don't get writer's block. My problem is consistency and procrastination. I realize that I procrastinate when I haven't solidified or sold an idea to myself. Getting started on an in depth project would mean that I may have to abandon it when it doesn't work. Yes, lack of money and life intrusions can be persuasive excuses, but I actually know people who do not let those excuses distance them from their main focus. #YvonneWalker

Earlier today I was channel surfing and came upon a T. D. Jakes message. He sounded compelling, so I continued to listen. Pastor Jakes told a story about a boy who was upset because he kept falling out of his bed and asked his mother why it kept happening. His mother's answer was illuminating.
     "Because you never get all the way in."

So that's it! That's the answer, that boldly ends with a preposition. Despite being consistent and diligent with my research and planning, I don't always execute my ideas. After some heavy soul searching for what I really want from myself and my ideas. I have learned to edit my projects to realistic bite sizes. so I can believe that I will be able to eat my elephant size goals. I thought I was editing before, but my ego kept preventing me from seeing what I need to see. The most important realization of them all; to appreciate timing and time. Timing: When to choose promotion, development and maintenance. Time: Carving out a realistic time for myself to write and to draw AND TO STICK WITH IT! I'm interested to see the results of my enlightenment. The proof will be in the pudding. Like any good desert, I shall endeavor to deserve it.

Since I am always creating, I have decided to share with yawl one of my silly sketches. I call it "Sketches from the bathroom floor." The GNG created a written exercise once on pareidolia images. I don't remember if the work is in our book 'In a Nuttshell' but if your interested in our writing you can check it out. You can also read the results of our GNG meetings at ReadGeorgiaNutts.com 

DAP Works

I never want to start writing a story until I have it worked out in my head. My thinking process could take years, but today... I've done it. I finally have all of the stories worked out. Now on to the hard part... writing it down and the illustrations. Sometimes I think that I enjoy the stories too much in my head and it is my ego that wants to write it down. Now that I am getting older, I suddenly have a new reason to write it all down. I was working on my fairy tale story book and started telling the tales to my daughter at bedtime and then I realized that I was forgetting details and was ummmming too much. Yup. I need to get this stuff down. I drew the sketch below in 1991. It is one of my inspirations for my new fairy tale book.

Finding DAP's inner YoYo

As analogies go... Am I Hiao-Tsiun Ma or his dad? Who is Hiao-Tsiun Ma? He was a Chinese violinist and professor of music at Nanjing National Central University. One would say that he was accomplished, but not famous. Hiao-Tsiun Ma is the father of the famous cellist, Yo Yo Ma, who was a child  prodigy and most famous performance to date was at the inauguration of President Obama. Ironically, that performance was mimed because it was so cold. I didn't think you could mime a cello. Anyway, I digressed... So am I Hiao or Yo Yo? Neither, I am Hiao's grandfather who was still sweating it out in China with the daily struggle and dreaming of the big someday. Yo Yo's grandfather always said that success usually takes 3 generations. So in the long term perspective, do I have the potential to be Hiao-Tsium or Yo Yo Ma? This analogy was brought on by my personal reflection as well as a review of the work I have actually accomplished. 

Looking back at this very blog, I realize that the last posting to this blog as several years ago. In my mind, however, it felt like I last posted some time during Christmas. 

I was however, working on my dreams a lot off line and I feel pretty positive about my artistic future. But do I want to become as famous as Yo Yo? I believe the jury is out on that one.
Here are some of the pics of my GNG friends play testing my game.

Update: Check out what happened at the public debut of my game Land Sea and Sky.

It's all coming together, DAP Tales

It's funny how it all suddenly happens. I have been working on this game for over 8 years and the execution only took me a couple of hours. My husband didn't know I could do 3D work. I looked at him and asked if he knew that I'm a AIA grad. He just laughed and stared at the 3D sword illustrations. I have been also working on several books... So far... 16 of them. Reviewing what I have so far is somewhat daunting. When will I ever finish?

Lately I've been quite excited about the future. I'm in the bubble of creativity at the moment and I'm riding the air as I avoid pricks. Man! There are a lot of pricks! One prick in particular -- getting over being a starving artist. There is so much that I want to accomplish but the lack of money gets in the way, so I'm going to take Aziz Ansari's advice and keep working and perfecting my skill. Doors of opportunity are meaningless when you aren't ready to go through them.

Happy Back to School Day, DAP Tales!