I’m Back From Camp!

[sz-youtube url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebYgE97-kwg” /]

Hi All, 

Sorry for the downtime, AGAIN.

 

I was having one of those “Tech Happens” periods.

As such, I needed to move the site to a new sever (Landlord Maintenance for websites 

for you non-techies) among other things…

 

I also had to take a break from blogging last week because I was at camp-

 

7736437820_f55cd78a55_o CAMPING 1

 

No, not Summer Camp.  

 

4583505380_0871677cde_o CAMPING 2

 

Definitely NOT a family camp-out!

 

(It’s hard enough to engage with my more emotionally reserved

relatives with the comforts of home,never mind in untamed

wilderness)

 

Besides, Pepper (My canine alter-ego) is in no shape to protect

me from a bear in his golden years.

(12 human years = Older than 70 in dog years, I think…)

 

 

 

 -My  Sweet Pepper, Photo by Me-

(Doesn’t look “Geriatric” does he?)

That said, he snores now, but I’ve adjusted easier

than the relatives I live with to that development this

year.

 

 

Anyway, the embedded video at top of this blog post is my new welcome video for

T.A.A.

 

If any long time T.A.A. readers ever doubted what my site was about after

three years, now you know for sure. (LOL!)

 

Seriously though, this video is what I learned to do at “camp.”

 

But I didn’t have to head to some shoddy cabin hideaway in the mountains,

where the breeze has to be just right to get a strong internet connection or

cell phone signal, and lots of luck to avoid unwanted guests-

 

316240_364169667028049_1160620348_n - WILD BEAR

Hey, Hey, Hey! Yogi, that’s not…

 

 

This camp I could do at home and where I learned to create my welcome

video for T.A.A. I’m talking about “Video Idiot Boot Camp.” An online, on-

demand training course that teaches even the most tech phobic souls how

to create videos.

 

Whether you’re a writer like myself, or another type of entrepreneur, you

NEED video as much VITAL as having a  professional (But NOT sterile)

website.

 

That said, for those of you  who find just moving your site from Blogger or

some other more kitschy blog or site platform to WordPress (Whether that’s the curated, less customizable WordPress.com, or self-hosting your WordPress site like I am) is/was a battle all by itself, the idea of making video sounds like yet another task that asks WAY to much of you.

I get that, and while I’m more tech savvy than some of my relatives, I

couldn’t, for example tell you how to “Master HTML 5.”

 

Or ANY form of HTML period.

 

I don’t know HTML or CSS as intimately as I do a book I

love reading (and RE-reading…) or preaching my gospel on the variety

and depth animal fantasy offers beyond picture book land.

(Much as I love and respect picture books as a reader, even if the writer in

me can’t yet give the skill and brevity those books demand…)

 

But let me tell you, folks, with Katie as you guide, all you have to do is show up

and do your best.

 

You WILL get a decent video at the end of this 8 lesson

course. But don’t just take my word for it, let Katie give you the lowdown,

in her own words below-

 

[sz-youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9gsAE-IkS4″ userdata=”Taury” /]

You’ll also find out how to take the first lesson of V.I.B.C. FREE before you decide to buy! (Take advantage of that sample, it hooked me enough to slap my money down) and I’m glad I did.

 

While there’s always more to learn in life, you CAN reach a level of competency that works for you, I FINALLY believe that for real, after a decade of trying to get my writing career off the ground, and while I’ve sold my first book, that’s not where I can, and most importantly, WANT to stop. Keeping in mind I‘m also trying to get my new novel drafted, on top of running T.A.A.

 Making sure my blog reasonably up to date, launching my e-mail newsletter (Which I hope you’ll subscribe to for fun and exclusive content you won’t get elsewhere), and learn how to make videos, which put a lot of other things I need/wanted to do this month on hold, often looking overly flaky to my family, but that’s what I had to do. But keeping busy was important, so I could patiently wait to hear back on edits for my upcoming middle grade novel, GABRIEL (Title subject to change), and I did that and still doing it.

 

Well, that’s all for me today, and I’m taking yet another hiatus, this time it’s onMY terms (As opposed to outside interference, like my site giving me headaches every other week this month!)

 

As long as “Tech DOESN’T happen again” I will be back Monday.

 

Until then, please subscribe to “Bites From the Cheese Shop” the official newsletter from T.A.A. (Talking Animal Addicts) Also, by subscribing, you’ll also be the first the learn when my novel is set to release, and have a chance to win a personalized, signed copy, by your lovingly frazzled literary rat, trying to hold me dreams, responsibilities, and sanity together, one day, one blog post at a time, among the other writer-centric things I do.

 

Your frazzled literary rat (and 1st gen VIBC graduate)

Taurean (Taury) 

 

 

P.S. Please comment on my welcome video when you can. I’ll be revising it s

on and I may use your suggestions. Be honest, but kind. That said, for my

first serious attempt at video, it’s okay.

 

Revisions aside, I EARNED this badge-

VIBC_Badge-Genius

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

P.P.S. (I’ll share my diploma picture later…)

 

 

New Blog Schedule!

After much thought and care, I can announce the new schedule for T.A.A. starting next week-

Each day will a special feature unique to that day, as well as posts dealing with a particular aspect of books and writing. This will keep my eclectic interests in check, and still have some sense of order, but in a more flexible way.


Monday

Musical Musings
I review music, profile new artists (at least new to me), and share my passions and frustrations of what’s become my second art form/passion. 


Tuesday


Take A Chance Tuesday

A weekly writing challenge to get out of our comfort zone and unleash our inner-Avant Garde vigilante.



Wednesday


Random Wednesday
Thoughts and musings of anything intriguing in my world.

The World Building Wars
An ongoing series about ways to take some of the “Crazy!!” out of crafting our fantasy worlds.


Thursday

Get VersedThursday
If you’re ready to take the pain out of poetry, whether you read it, write it, or both, stop by and learn along with me.


Friday


Face Your Fear Friday
Writers don’t just need to “Write outside the comfort zone” but also must “Read” outside it, too. Every week a new prompt will get you, and me, to embrace worlds and ideas we may NEVER want to live, but are fun to read!

I know many writers who thankfully don’t have this problem, but I’m sure I’m not the only one who goes through this, and I invite those of you like me in this regard to take the leap of faith along with me, we need to show writers who deal with this they are not alone, even if we are not the majority. 

T.A.A. Top 5

A weekly list of anything and everything I love, and why, in as short a way as I can say it. (That in and of itself is a fear worth facing)


Saturday (Check Back Tomorrow!)


Sunday


Shout-Out Sundays 

Every week I’ll highlight any blog, book, writer or publishing tips that I want to spotlight.

The T.A.A. Sunday Gazette 
(Info to come 3/3/2012)


More tomorrow,
Taurean

Blog Changes

Today I have both good news and bad news.

Let’s get the bad news out of the way, T.A.A. will be sparse on updates for the rest of the month. Don’t worry, I’m not going dark again, but things are picking up slowly on the non-blog writing front, and I don’t want to jinx it.

Also, I’m reworking how I update on the blog so daily posts will be shorter, and longer content will be features, so no matter how much or little time you have, they’ll be something worth reading around here, and as early followers of T.A.A. know, brevity’s not my best thing at the best of times, but it’s important to me I get better at this, and for those of you time-starved folks out there, I take you seriously, maybe to a fault sometimes, but I do, and I think T.A.A. will be grow and be better for it.

The good news, is that I’ve got my first interview for you, as part of a new feature on T.A.A. that I call, “Critter Chat.”

Stand by for the next post,
Taurean

New Poll, Future Headlines Convey the Future Again, But No Regular Post Until Tomorrow

Evening All,

I’m still getting back to my intended routine, and spent much of the day editing my new WIP and sharpening my query writing skills, which have been beyond dull for far too long. So I wasn’t able to get a craft post out today, sorry about that. But there are some other big updates I’ve put off no longer!

I FINALLY updated the Future Headlines section, so check it out to see what’s coming up in the coming days.

Also, I at last came up with a new poll, which I plan to do on a weekly basis from now on, so please cast you votes before March 15th, at 7:00 AM sharp.

Here are the final results of January’s Poll-

WHICH OF THESE ANIMALS DO YOU THINK IS THE MOST MISUNDERSTOOD?

1st: Crow 42%

2nd: Weasel – 28% (My pick)

3rd: Fox – 14%

Tied at 4th with 0 Votes
Cheetah

Crocodile

Rat

Wolf



There were no polls in February due to bad burnout, but there will be a new poll every week now.
I’ll have a regular post tomorrow, promise.

Until then,
May the fantastic fauna be with you.

Taurean