"The Writing Tech Blues"

               I'm beginning to see why some days I don't get any writing done.  It's not a lack of time, lack of motivation, or the most common excuses writers will give. I have a ton of ideas, all my notes gathered, and everything to do some serious writing, but I figured out my biggest issue. It's all mental with me, but I always felt the majority of writing blocks are mentally anyway. 

My biggest issue when it comes to writing is my job. I do very basic tech support for 40+ hours a week, and by the time I'm done, I don't want to see a PC at all, or any other tech. I may browse social media on my phone afterwards, but that's it. I finding it harder to sit at a PC for fun after dealing with such basic issues all day while being screamed at over such nonsense. It's at the point that if I ever became to the point I could leave IT period, I would never do tech support outside of my own equipment. 

What I need to do is go old-school, and stock up on notepads and pencils. That, or accept technology knowledge will never approve, and try to focus my frustration into a more creative outlet. Again, it's all in my mind, and I will overcome. Until then, my face is remained buried in my palms as I keep fixing computers.

"Word Processors"

I'm taking a break from my novel writing to discuss something all writers use: word processors. When I first started on PC's, you only had two real options: Word and Wordperfect. Now, there's so many free and paid options, it can be an overload of information. In fact, there's so many, that I could easily have 100+ installed on my own system. However, I'm going to discuss the few I've tried and/or used over the years. 

There is one thing I'm going to stress before I discuss the software. Regardless which one I've used, they all have this flaw: The built-in spell check / grammar check is not a true editor. Yes, spell check can be helpful, but no program will ever replace by hand editing. My example of why I don't trust them anymore is when spell check turned masacre into massacre.   Also, when I was editing a chapter by hand, I noticed I had three redundant paragraphs. Since there was no spelling errors, the software completely ignored it.

Now, I'm beginning my thoughts on the actual software. The first program I want to get out of the way is Word. Word is the word processor the majority of most editors, publishers, etc, will ask for when you submit a file. In my honest opinion, if you ever bought a program, Word is my first choice because it's the industry default. 

The main advantage of Word is when you submit a file made in Word, you know it works. I never had to fix any files when using one version of Word into another. Far as which version, since you got to buy it, always get the newest version. It's easier to find, and you know it'll be a valid copy. The downside is like a lot of word processors; it's not designed to be better at one specific writing task. 

Also, I won't deny it. I always finalize my novel files in Word. I found it easier to make sure the format is correct, insert page numbers, and other final touches in Word than any other word processor.  No matter how hard I tried to stop using Word, I will always use it at the end of my writing process.

Now, I may confuse people with this next software. The next program I prefer is Libre Office. Yes, there's always Open Office, which in very similar to Libre. However, I use Libre since it's updated more often, and they are quicker to fix any programming issues. Also, Libre is maintained by a community of programmers. 

                A very quick history of the two is Open Office came out first in 2000. When Oracle acquired Open Office in 2010, Libre Office was formed because Oracle was making it too corporate, not free and an open-source (Open source means you can actually download the codes for the program). So, most of the developers of Open Office left, and created Libre. In the end, Open Office is not longer open. If they could, they probably charge people to use it like Microsoft Office. 

Anyway, back to why I love Libre Office. The main thing about Libre besides it being free are the facts it works on any system out there, and will open Word files. You can install out on any computer out there. It runs on Windows, OSX, and Linux. The main reason I started using it more than Word is because I used to switch between Linux and Windows, and I didn't have to worry about the file messing up.

The other reason I love Libre is you can customize it. With my bad vision, the typical white background, black font of most word processors gets to me after a while. With Libre, I can change every color within the program, and customize everything. In fact, here's how my Libre looks:

Now, the biggest irks with Libre Office is some of the easiest things are a pain in the rear, and this is why all my final work gets done in Word. You have to go through six steps to insert page numbers. Also, resetting margins requires even more steps. It's a jack-of-all-trades program that buries useful tools. So, how I do my writing process is I type all my rough drafts in Libre, then finalize them in Word.

In the past few weeks, I've been messing with WPS Office. It's free, but overall, I've already uninstalled it. The nice thing is it can either look like old-school Office XP or the newest version. My problem is I had so many issues with my files while using it. Overall, I do install thins on systems where they MIGHT need to open a Word or Excel file. Bottom line, I will never use this for my novel writing.

My parting words are no matter which one you go with, choose what works best for you. There are more novel-geared word processors out there that people use, but I’m not a fan of them.  The main thing is no matter which software you run, keep on writing. The technology being used doesn’t make you a writer, but the imagination inside you do.

 

"A Week With Windows 10"

    So, it's been one week since I updated my own PC from Windows 7 to Windows 10. As promised, I'm writing my thoughts and experiences with the new Windows so far. I may be late to the party since it's been out for over 4 months, but there's a reason for it. However, I will say since using 10 for a week, I will never go back to Windows 7.

    The reason was I ran into an issue with a very obscure program when I first upgraded back in September, and with the holidays, I didn't have time to reinstall the upgrade till now. This program is for my job, and it’s so obscure that unless you work alongside me, you will never hear about it. The issue was a simple setting, but I had to get it work within one night, so I went back to 7. Again, this is a very rare issue with any Windows, so don’t read this part and think you’ll have issues. Every major program, such as any major word processor, browser, etc works with no issues. It doesn’t hurt to double check with programs you use daily are compatible before updating. It’s easier to take the extra few minutes of research to save you hours of removing Windows 10.

    Anyway, if you haven't updated, the main thing I will stress is back up any critical files you can't replace. I've done the updates five times, and never ran into an issue. However, I made sure any files that can't be replaced were backed up. You're talking about a major software change, and there's always that chance things can happen. So, again, back up anything you can't replace before you start. Did I mention to back up any file you can’t afford to lose yet? For guidance, I wrote this handy guide. It talks about novel files, but same principle:


http://athlonrhythm.blogspot.com/2015/03/novel-back-up-ideas.html


    Now, the upgrade process I did most people won’t do. What I did was once I was 100% certain all my files were safe, I did what is called a factory reset of Windows 7. What this means in very simple terms is the software wipes the machine clean, and restores it to the day you took it out of the box. I always do something like on my own machines whenever I do major updates to Windows. The main reason is to remove any junk files or errors that built up over the past year, and makes it a new PC in the software sense. Once I got 7 restored, I started the update process to Windows 10.

    Once I had 10 up and running, I quickly noticed how smoother it is compared to 7. It actually boots faster, and responds much better. I also notice how much less space it takes. My Windows 7 used about 20GB of space, or 5 DVD’s roughly before installing anything.. Once I update 10, it barely used 10GB’s. After I got everything installed, still half the space: 40GB for 7 versus 20GB for 10. The last time Windows used this little of space was XP. Also, they finally brought back the Start Menu. It’s not as good as the one they had in XP / 7,but it sure beats the Start Screen they made for Windows 8.

    The other thing about 10 I love is it uses RAM much better and more efficiently than 7. The easiest way to describe RAM is think about like a physical desk, and every program you open uses RAM. Even a program as small as Notepad uses RAM. I will stress the ideal RAM for 7/8/10 is at least 4GB, but if you do a lot of work on a PC, 8GB is the ideal amount. Anyway, with 8GB of RAM on my system, I hardly notice any lag on 10 versus 7. I can switch through programs much more smoothly. Those two things alone have me convinced I will not go back to Windows 7 at all.

    Now, there’s been a few quirks and annoyances I don’t like. The first thing that irked me is how Windows components I used daily are buried in the Start Menu. You have to scroll to the very bottom to even find Paint. You have to click on All Apps, and go down to the W’s to find Notepad, Control Panel, Paint, and even Internet Explorer. To make it easier, I pinned them to the Start Menu by right clicking on the program, and then left clicking on Pin to Start. You can also open the program, right click on the icon in the Taskbar, and hit Pin to Taskbar. Again, to each their own. Below is how my Start Menu looks like after configuring it to my use (The black squares are work programs that I blocked out on purpose):

    Speaking of buried programs and other quirks, by default, Edge is the browser that you’ll first see whenever you install 10. This is the biggest thing people are complaining about. Here’s what it looks like:

    I’m going to be dead honest. I haven’t used it at all to give a solid opinion. However, there’s been issues with some sites while using Edge, but it’s a new program. Over time, those sites will catch up with Edge. However, If you run into this issue, try another browser. Worst case, Internet Explorer 11 is installed on 10 as well, but buried in the Start Menu down in the W’s. You can also access Internet Explorer by clicking on the three dots in the right corner, and selecting Open in Internet Explorer in the menu. One of these days, I may give it a more thorough try, but at the moment,  I mostly use it to download program updates. Far as which browser overall, I use Firefox myself, but it’s personal preference.



      My thought on Windows 10 is it's the best damn Windows they launched since 7. In fact, if it wasn't for Windows 10, I was at the point that if I didn't need Windows for work, I would have gone straight Linux. I'm highly impressed with Windows 10 so far,but as time goes on, who knows? If things change, I'll write an update, but I highly doubt it. If you haven't upgraded, and still debating, do some research, and even go to a local store and mess around with 10. I highly suggest making the switch, and done so for family and friends.
   

"Fiction May Become Fact"

            So, as I'm finally getting further into book 3, I still have this nagging feeling that parts of it may end up coming reality like they did in book 2. All I keep thinking about is Mark Twain quoting, "Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn't."  After the weird turn of events during book 2, I'm scared that my writing may imitate life.

            Okay, without going into a very, very long story, this is what happened with book 2. The second book is the sequel to my first book "The Celtic Thistle". The whole point of the book is the marriage of the two main leads. As I'm doing a ton of research for a fake wedding, Fate stepped in, and all my research ended up helping the planning of my own wedding. In fact, when my wife and I started, it was fun explaining all the bookmarks I had concerning wedding planning.

            Now, as I'm laying out the groundwork for book 3, there's one part I pray never becomes truth, but there are other parts that I would love to happen in my real life. The one subplot that I hope never happens in my life is pregnancy. My wife and I already discussed this topic, and we are making sure this doesn't happen.

             The other subplot I started on that anyone would love to happen is the big house being bought by the main characters. I'm talking a five bedroom mansion with two acres of land on a waterway not far from the beach. Even thought I left South Florida, I would gladly move back if I ended up with a house like that. Oh, I forgot the massive kitchen inside this fictional house. I love to cook, and a kitchen that's as big as most garages will sell any house to me. My current kitchen is a 8' by 8' prison cell.

I might be paranoid, but after last year, I can't fault myself for being cautious. Now, what would make me stop writing if either my demonic horror story or my sci-fi werewolf (I'm calling it sci-fi because it's not based on Earth) stories creeping into my life. The sci-fi probably wouldn't be too bad, but the demonic horror might be the end of me. My final thought is this: If you see a man with glowing red eyes, run away. My horror story has come to life,and I'll be unable to complete it because of a gruesome death.

"Goodbye 2015"

            I know that I've been lazy about posting on here outside a poem here and there, but since Halloween, it's been nuttier than a fruit cake at my house. Some days, I barely have time to type out a grocery list. With the new year less than 3 days away, I find myself struggling to motivate myself to write anything outside of this blog

post. To make matters worse, I got a lot of technology I need to configure or repair, including a full restore of an old desktop sitting to me.

           

            So, this week, I'm going to finally get all the geek work out of the way so when 2106 comes in, I can finally get some goals done:

Goal #1 - Finish the total editing of my 2nd novel. I would love to put it out by 2017.

Goal #2 - Try to hit 50,000 words in 3rd novel. I'm not going to attempt finish it in one year, but if I can, even better. I've learned stressing when there's no deadline makes the words come out forced.

Goal #3 - Lose some weight. Yeah, I'm a little fluffy in the middle, and would love to lose a few...fifty....pounds or so...

Goal #4 - Write some more technology posts. I'm dying to go back to Windows 10, and write my thoughts on it. I was running it for a week, but was forced back to Windows 7 due to a major program issue.

Goal #5 - Try to post here at least weekly. This blog does make a great way to some times break a mental block, and I plan on using it more.

So, in case this is the last post of this crazy year, I hope everyone had a good holiday, and hope for the best in 2016.

           

"The Christmas Gift"

-"The Last Score"

Stumbling through the darkness
My mind a constant state of haze.
My soul filled by Hate's murkiness.
As I walk down the back alleyway.
I finally make it back to the house.
My veins are craving an injection.
I stare down a random girl's blouse
As I look over her needle collection.
The heroin flowing inside my brain
As I feel the high I've been chasing.
However, I feel very intense pain.
My body shakes; my heart is racing.
The needle shatters upon the floor
As I feel my entire body go numb.
She quickly heads to the front door.
As I fade away, she calls me scum.
My last memory is the flash of light
As I struggle to take my last breath.
Another loser overdosing overnight.
A burden of society taking by Death.

-"The Phoenix Arises"

Wake up totally confused
Lying on a cold tile floor.
As a thousand questions
Run through my head.
Where the fuck am I?
What the hell happened?
Why can't I feel anything?
Why am I cold and naked?
My mind racing for answers
As it tries to comprehend.
Looking at scars on my arm.
Wondering what happened.
I rub my hand across them,
And watch as they disappear.
A white liquid oozing out
As I stare in total disbelief.
Begin to wonder if I'm dead.
Few memories of my last hit.
Flood inside my chaotic brain.
I died on that apartment floor.
I feel more alive than ever.
A phoenix rising from ashes.
Been giving a second chance.
Praying I don't fuck this up.
I pull myself off the floor,
And find a pile of clothes.
I put them on as I see dawn.
I head over to the window.
As I watch the sun break,
I realize I been resurrected.
I look down at my left arm.
Needle marks have vanished.
Instead of destroying my life,
I vow to save the damned.
I head out of the apartment,
And rejoin this living city.

-"The Miracle"

Inside the park, shots ring out.
As the crowd flees and shouts.
A mother breaks down crying
Her young son lies there dying.
I know it's too risky to display,
But this child won't die today.
I lay my hands on his injuries.
Hoping to end this boy's misery.
My entire body begins to glow.
Gushing blood no longer flows.
The child stands up unharmed.
As I collapse, pain in my arms.
The crowd falls into total silence
Only hearing approaching sirens.
Some fall to their knees and pray.
Others are unaware of what to say.
A few manage to string these words:
A miracle in the park has occurred.
One hundred people, maybe more.
Begin to compare me to The Lord.
As I slowly pull myself to my feet.
Crowds beginning to fill the street.
The word of my actions spreading
As the mother tears keep shedding.
The sun is blocked by rain clouds,
I disappear within the large crowd.
I want them to not know my name
For I'm not doing this for the fame.
I finally escape them in the subway,
And try to enjoy the rest of my day.
Back to my apartment that evening.
Knowing a mother stopped grieving.
The news keeps replaying the story.
Tempting me with promise of glory.
An unknown savior is what they claim.
I turn off the TV as I cry out in pain.
I fall to the floor as my arm is burning.
The needle scars are slowly returning.
My eyes blinded by the flash of light
I pass out overcome with sheer fright.

-"The Stranger"

I wake up surrounded by feathers.
A strange woman cladded in leather
With a look of anger across her face.
I try to stand up; she pins me down.
With her large wings to the ground.
She states, "You are such a disgrace.
Giving these powers for evil intent,
Yet because of your act, I was sent.
To show you what they can truly do.
You were not giving this gift to heal;
A demon to make the humans kneel.
There is a test you will go through."
She finally lets me get off the floor,
Out of my mouth comes a long roar
As I watch my skin change to scales.
"We are going to this place of death
So you can repay your overdue debt.
Going to possess the souls of the frail."
A circle of fire encloses us from below.
A minute later, standing in the snow.
Outside a hospital emergency room.
"This is where your powers belong;
Not to save some child by the pond.
Bring the sinners to their eternal doom."
I try to fight back, but my body froze
She is in my mind with total control.
To the doors I march despite crying.
I enter the hallway knowing my fate.
I pray they escape before it's too late.
Refusing responsibility for them dying.
"Leave now!" I shout causing turmoil.
They flee and her blood begins to boil.
I may be going to Hell; I will go alone.
I feel my entire body begin to shake.
As her demonic powers are fully awake.
My refusal to let my powers be shown.
"Your mistake will put you in a grave.
Your soul forever will be my slave."
As I hear her voice leave from my head.
"Must unleash Hell on Earth tonight,"
She shouts. "They tremble with fright"
A voice states, "They shant be dead!"

- "Angel Versus Demon"
A man dressed in green scrubs
Is heading down the long hall.
"There will be no black magic
Within these hospital walls."
"You are a fool that will die
For being brave," she hisses.
"No one in this wretched place
Can even stop this mission."
He now stands in front of me,
And places his hand on mine.
"You are free of her control.
She is no longer in your mind.
You can use your gifts freely.
However, refrain from killing.
There is already enough blood
On the streets that is spilling.
Now, I will take care of her,
As you make the right choice.
You can either be condemned,
Or go out and find your voice.
I stress you leave while you can.
Don't want to die in the crossfire.
This battle is between her and I.
I will banish her back to the fire."
I make my way into the hospital
Realizing my last ungrateful act.
I do not care what will happen
For me there is no turning back.

- "The Gift"

Inside their ICU ward,
The children are asleep.
I look at one clipboard;
Begin to silently weep.
If I die saving them all
A sacrifice worth taken.
Towards Hell I will fall.
My soul already forsaken.
I touch every single head
My body begins to fail.
I know I'm already dead,
My skin is turning pale.
As I make to the last one,
Their only Christmas present.
The power of love has won,
I will leave without regret.
My body begins to glow;
I begin to fade from sight.
Under the moonlight snow,
They received life tonight.
I had made many mistakes.
That had doomed my soul.
Left with a heart free of ache.
These children will grow old.
The moral of my life story
Is to always use your gift
Not to gain fame or glory,
But to make a soul uplift.

"Chaotic Thoughts"

Mr. Undertaker, dig another grave.
To rest these tired, aching bones.
Doctor, please give me a jacket.
My sanity has kicked the bucket.
The older we get, the harder life is.
Aging softens us right in the middle.
The energy of youth; always broke.
Replaced by exhaustion and debt.
A man asked me for redemption
While holding a fifth of cheap rum.
Telling me of hints and allegations.
Asked me why my attention is gone.
Mr. Undertaker, dig another grave.
To rest this chaotic mindlessness
Doctor, please give me a jacket.
My sanity is fleeing this country.
Feel like life is a cartoon at times
As it begins to rain cat and dogs.
Anvils are now being delivered
The mad cows reciting poetry.
Chaotic thoughts are now frozen.
Normal is the tie-died elephant.
Sleep refuses to return any calls.
Life is about surviving complexity.
Mr. Undertaker, dig another grave.
To release this confused elder soul.
Doctor, please give me the jacket.
My sanity is returning back home.