Hiatus Over

For those who are reading my blog, thank you for waiting.

Hiatus

While I've been gone, life has gotten a little crazy with anything from debt collectors and loans people












to my attempts to get scholarships to further schooling while trying to convince people that I know what I'm doing and yes, a second Bachelor's degree is necessary to my path and no, it doesn't take 4 years, but 2.





I've fought for jobs, credibility, time for writing/portfolios while simultaneously trying to keep my anxiety at bay.

The fight isn't over yet, but I'm coming back anyways. Life goes on and so will this blog.


Current

Now that you're all up to date, we can continue on with this blog.


Normally, for those with social media and business promotion strategies, a goal and context plan is set for their blog and, in the real world, that's what works best to bring readers in. But for this blog, I have no business strategy and, instead, I am laying out my life and figuring out how this blog is going to work as I go along.



So because of time constraints and pressures, I am probably not going to be trying every little thing like this blog says. That doesn't change the fact that I enjoy everything from archaeology to business to farming and beyond, all centered around my passions for visual and literary stories.

As a result, I am guessing the way this blog is going is to be a source for tips I find on writing, art, comics, and the like while information from other interests seeps through into the works, giving this blog a bit of variety.

But all I can do is guess, and time will tell. If there's anything you want to learn or see me write about on here, let me know. This blog is just as much a blank canvas for me as it is for you.


My Work Updates


Someone I admire was extremely kind enough to give me a great rundown on what I need to work on for my visual portfolio. I completely agree with her 100%, so in the next few months or so, I will be working on completely making over my website with a brand new foundation of works that I can build on for my professional career.


In addition, I will be attempting a written portfolio (I've never done a written portfolio before). Included will be samples of comic, screen, and stage scripts; short stories and longer pieces; articles; movie reviews; and whatever else I can think of that would be a good fit.

If you'd like to see my research images and articles along with information about what I'm passionate about, follow me on Pinterest at: http://www.pinterest.com/sarahrsteele/. If you'd like to friend me on Camp NanoWrimo as I try and finish the last 20,000 words of my first draft next month, go to: http://campnanowrimo.org/campers/rosered91. My Twitter is on the right side of this page and feel free to subscribe to my blog as well.

 

Closing

Cheers everybody and have a wonderful day!

The Big and Small Picture

It's ok to idolize and follow in someone's footsteps who has accomplished the world, just make sure to break down your path into steps in order to not get overwhelmed.

In other words, it's ok to have high hopes and see the big picture, but don't forget to keep in mind the small picture too.

(http://www.pinterest.com/pin/534521049495370684/)

Many times I become overwhelmed because I want to change the world the way Walt Disney did. But if I think about all of the things he did and then look at where I am and what I've done, I become incredibly overwhelmed. I constantly have to remind myself that he started from scratch too. It's scary though and I still get overwhelmed all the time.

If my man wasn't here, I'd forget to live in the present and forget to see the smaller part of the picture. Thank goodness he's here.

Bottom line: Big AND Small Pictures are both important to keep in sight.

(http://www.someecards.com/usercards/viewcard/MjAxMi1hODg2ZDYwMzkyZjg5NDFm)


Night all.

Short and Sweet Advice

Shoot for your dreams, but whatever they are, never hope for them more than you work for them. Some advice I'm trying to take...

Web Comic Updates

In between my massive job searches, designs for my web comic are coming slow and steady. For constant updates, check my new instagram at http://instagram.com/rosered901. I've been trying to update it with art and web comic things regularly now.

A fun movie find I discovered over the week was:

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfQjc2hs34Y).


That's all for this week. For updates to this blog, check Saturdays or slightly after. That's when I do my best to update.

Thanks for following!

-S

Bank Expressions

Bank

Just a general rule of thumb, banks WILL try to charge you hidden fees and will not tell you (ie: getting a cashier's check and later finding out that your bank has put a $12/month charge on your account because you "decided to go paperless" or, a.k.a., used their teller).

(http://thecondoshowroom.com/blog/i-want-to-buy-a-condo-but-im-afraid-of-the-hidden-costs).


Keep an eye on your account. Check it at least a couple times a week, even if you have an accountant, always know what you have in your account and what is being charged to it.

If you can't get your money back from the bank, keep fighting until you get to their supervisor. If they're a jerk and say "we told you about this in your opening paperwork (when you signed up 3 YEARS ago), be sure to be prepared for this beforehand and find the lovely loopholes and fine print that is there for us, their prey.



(http://thefluffysheep.tumblr.com/post/30852884258/the-loopholes-of-all-loopholes).


I'm usually pretty good about this, but every once in a while I get a little too comfortable. Lesson learned for both myself and you guys.

Also, if you can avoid Bank of America, PLEASE DO. They are the KING of hidden fees and have screwed over myself and countless others many times.
 
(https://occupyreno.wordpress.com/2012/03/ ).


Just a heads up.



Expressions 

I was just thinking about this the other day. Why do people online use GIFs?

It was so simple and I can't believe I didn't realize this til today.

Because they're EXPRESSIVE. 



  







 
 (http://giphy.com/gifs/qQI16x8tgp7nW).


My fiancé uses them all the time for his online goings-ons, and he finds the BEST expressions that communicate quickly and effectively. So I started using them and was instantly hooked, which got me thinking.

SO many times I have had to hunt far and wide for great ideas of expressions to draw. Why not search GIFs? Below I'll list a few different feelings and put some GIFs below that express those feelings PERFECTLY. This is what visual storytellers STRIVE for... perfect communication!

     

  Not Amused














(http://giphy.com/gifs/eY1GeofQUbuFO).


  Seriously?
















(http://giphy.com/gifs/75RQ0mkhDv5HG).


    Look at All the Fucks I Give

But take note, just because a GIF SAYS that it's a certain expression, doesn't mean the expression would necessarily read on it's own. Sometimes the GIF makes fun of something out of context, like this:



(http://giphy.com/gifs/7XazwfEJSvni).

Just so you know, I found that GIF tagged under this very expression. So be careful. The expression needs to come across with or without the words. The expression needs to READ in their face and body language.

In visual stories, many times, artists and creators lean too much on words (ie:comics and word balloons) or symbols (ie:anime and exclamation points above people's heads when panicked and/or alerted) or anything else they can as a crutch. But since the stories are VISUAL, they need to be able to be read VISUALLY.  I mean, REALLY read... WITHOUT crutches.

The characters need to PUSH the stories, not the other way around. You can have a great plot, but that plot with those events shouldn't be the only reason characters exist. So breathe life into your characters.

Take Liz Lemon below...



(http://giphy.com/gifs/VXeQXlfKjacXC).

Notice how her head tips up, her face scrunches around the mouth area, her eyes widen, she has that "What are you lookin' at?" look, and the hunched shoulders and raised hands to go with it that really shout, "Look at all the fucks I give!" This is what you're looking for.

*Remember, the top goal of the visual storyteller is "Does it READ well?" The clearer, the better!     




So use GIFs in your references, artists. You may be... (http://giphy.com/gifs/9JtL6oA3LsmsM).


P.S.--If you guys want to know how to upload GIFs to blogspot, I learned how from this blogpost: http://fuschiabysd.blogspot.com/2012/11/nerdy-chick-how-to-upload-gif-to-blogger.html

Night all!