So Laura's going to be gone for a week or two.
I don't know how much she'll want me to say at this point, but suffice it to say that, at least for a while, it's just me and you.
Meheheheh.
Suffice it to say that she's doing alright, and is unfortunately in a place where the Internet is rather crappy.
So this post is just to give you that little update, and to give me yet another break.
Love you all,
-Mark
Tuesday, 22 September 2015
Monday, 21 September 2015
What I Would Do if I was Published
So I'm going to be a published writer in a month or two.
Awhile back, I made a post about me submitting a story to a Canadian writing competition, called "Polar Expressions." This particular competition suited me perfectly, because I was right at the top of the age group, they accept an usually large number of submissions (something like at least 25%), and most importantly it was free to enter. The odds were stacked in my favour.
So I sent the story off early last summer, and just today I heard back from them. They've accepted the story for publication in their annual collection of short stories by young authors, so in just a few months I should have a book with my name in it. There's a chance I might even win a prize,
It's the weirdest thing though; upon hearing the news, I was genuinely excited. Just ten minutes later, though, that excitement seemed to fade, I'm not nearly as thrilled about being published as I thought I was going to be.
Maybe I feel that it doesn't really count, considering the amount of work they accept. Heck, only the top 3 and 10 honourable mentions even get the book for free- everyone else has to pay, which I suppose is how they manage to make money while keeping submission free.
When it boils down to it, I'm glad to be able to say "I'm published," and yet at the same time I can't help but hope that I move on to bigger and better things in the future. Until then, thanks for reading.
-Mark
Awhile back, I made a post about me submitting a story to a Canadian writing competition, called "Polar Expressions." This particular competition suited me perfectly, because I was right at the top of the age group, they accept an usually large number of submissions (something like at least 25%), and most importantly it was free to enter. The odds were stacked in my favour.
So I sent the story off early last summer, and just today I heard back from them. They've accepted the story for publication in their annual collection of short stories by young authors, so in just a few months I should have a book with my name in it. There's a chance I might even win a prize,
It's the weirdest thing though; upon hearing the news, I was genuinely excited. Just ten minutes later, though, that excitement seemed to fade, I'm not nearly as thrilled about being published as I thought I was going to be.
Maybe I feel that it doesn't really count, considering the amount of work they accept. Heck, only the top 3 and 10 honourable mentions even get the book for free- everyone else has to pay, which I suppose is how they manage to make money while keeping submission free.
When it boils down to it, I'm glad to be able to say "I'm published," and yet at the same time I can't help but hope that I move on to bigger and better things in the future. Until then, thanks for reading.
-Mark
Friday, 18 September 2015
What I Would Do if I Had Less Free Time
Damn it, summer's over! That brief period of time in which I had absolutely no responsibilities already seems a distant concept. Oh, those days when I could sleep in, when I could read, when I could write long blog posts... They've passed like rain on the mountains, as our good friend Théoden would say.
High school has started, and I'm starting to feel the pressure. Now, I find myself doing more and more things which eat up my free time. It's a bit of a slap in the face, if I'm being honest with you.
Just this week, I had more stuff going on then I could actually do. This past Wednesday, I had three dentist appointments and voice to worry about. This coming Monday will see me not going to running club because I'll be at the school play callback. All of this is being done in an atmosphere ever thickening with homework.
All of this has got me worrying about the year ahead, what with all of the clubs I've dined up for. In the next few months, this is an example of what could very possibly happen on any given week...
The school play- three times a week
Improv Club- at least once a week
Soccer- at least twice a week
Voice- once per week
Archery- Once per week
Cappies, which is a school play review sort of thing- once in this doomsday week
Citadel club, where you see plays as a group- once in this doomsday week
Running for my upcoming half marathon- hopefully three times a week
Yeah. 11 events almost guaranteed, with the possibility of two more being tacked on. Not even including homework. Oh yeah, I'm excited!
What I'm trying to say is, I'll be doing significantly more things this year then I was doing last year. That means that I might struggle to post as much content as I did last year, but I'll do my very best.
Now, I'm literally fighting to keep my eyes open. They're clouding over. That's how I know it's time to catch up on some much-needed sleep.
Thank you so much for reading. Goodnight, and I'll see you later.
-Mark
High school has started, and I'm starting to feel the pressure. Now, I find myself doing more and more things which eat up my free time. It's a bit of a slap in the face, if I'm being honest with you.
Just this week, I had more stuff going on then I could actually do. This past Wednesday, I had three dentist appointments and voice to worry about. This coming Monday will see me not going to running club because I'll be at the school play callback. All of this is being done in an atmosphere ever thickening with homework.
All of this has got me worrying about the year ahead, what with all of the clubs I've dined up for. In the next few months, this is an example of what could very possibly happen on any given week...
The school play- three times a week
Improv Club- at least once a week
Soccer- at least twice a week
Voice- once per week
Archery- Once per week
Cappies, which is a school play review sort of thing- once in this doomsday week
Citadel club, where you see plays as a group- once in this doomsday week
Running for my upcoming half marathon- hopefully three times a week
Yeah. 11 events almost guaranteed, with the possibility of two more being tacked on. Not even including homework. Oh yeah, I'm excited!
What I'm trying to say is, I'll be doing significantly more things this year then I was doing last year. That means that I might struggle to post as much content as I did last year, but I'll do my very best.
Now, I'm literally fighting to keep my eyes open. They're clouding over. That's how I know it's time to catch up on some much-needed sleep.
Thank you so much for reading. Goodnight, and I'll see you later.
-Mark
Wednesday, 16 September 2015
What I Would do if I Discussed One Pathetically Incorrect Life Philosophy
I had trouble titling this one. There are many pathetically incorrect life philosophies, such as believing yourself better than someone else due to race, sexual orientation, amount of possessions, etc. or perhaps believing that one can survive solely on sunlight like a plant (yes, this philosophy exists - newsflash: people are incapable of photosynthesis). Perhaps I can discuss these another time.
For now, the philosophy on the chopping block is...
That you can "choose" to be happy.
Don't get me wrong; attitude is important. However, as someone who struggles with severe depression, this idea on so many self-help articles makes my blood boil. Because, frankly, happiness isn't a choice. If it was, do you think I'd be stuffing pills down my throat to keep myself from offing myself? I don't choose depression. No one chooses depression.
Saying that you can choose to be happy or unhappy is yet another idea that fuels this stigma against mental health. It promotes the idea that depressed people are lazy, attention-seeking, or inherently flawed.
When I open my mind, I can see what they're trying to say: "Fake it 'til you make it". Positivity will improve situations! And sure, I agree with that, but phrase it a different way. Say to stay open to new experiences and avoid self-fulfilling prophecies. However, frankly, saying you need to "choose to be happy" is pretty insulting. I don't know if it works that way for those of you who don't have depression, but I can think happy thoughts until the cows come home and it's not going to fix my problems. I can say "I'm going to be happy today!", and it will do squat.
Imagine that you're in this trapped in a dark cave. We'll call this cave "depression". Now, let's choose an object for happy thoughts: bubbles! Bubbles are happy! So, every time you think a happy thought, or "decide" to be happy, it sends off a bubble. Does it destroy the stone cave? Hell, no. It just makes you discouraged. That's a pretty obvious metaphor, so I'm hoping even people who have never experienced depression can understand this. And please, don't say that they're different situations. I'm giving you the information of an insider. Blowing bubbles to burst open a rock cave is as pointless as "choosing" to be happy when you have depression.
No, I can't choose to be happy. Stop telling me that I can! It makes me - and I'm sure other depressed people - feel as though I'm even more deficient in some way. However, do try to be positive if you can.
-Laura
Imagine that you're in this trapped in a dark cave. We'll call this cave "depression". Now, let's choose an object for happy thoughts: bubbles! Bubbles are happy! So, every time you think a happy thought, or "decide" to be happy, it sends off a bubble. Does it destroy the stone cave? Hell, no. It just makes you discouraged. That's a pretty obvious metaphor, so I'm hoping even people who have never experienced depression can understand this. And please, don't say that they're different situations. I'm giving you the information of an insider. Blowing bubbles to burst open a rock cave is as pointless as "choosing" to be happy when you have depression.
No, I can't choose to be happy. Stop telling me that I can! It makes me - and I'm sure other depressed people - feel as though I'm even more deficient in some way. However, do try to be positive if you can.
-Laura
Tuesday, 15 September 2015
Monday, 14 September 2015
What I Would Do if There was a Swirling Vortex of Fatigue and Work Surrounding me
High school has officially started.
Presently, I'm in the transitional phase between school and vacation. Just now am I starting to realize that now, I'm expected to work again. To do homework. To not have boundless free time.
Let me give you a quick example, which I swear, once again, will be better fleshed out in a coming post. Tomorrow, I have a project in animation due, as well as a math test. The day after, I have no less then three dentist appointments in one day as well as a drama audition. The day after, voice. Only Friday might be free. Factor in all the homework, voice practice, running club, and various other things and you find me pretty busy.
The main change I've noticed so far in high school is that your given a lot more independence. For example, there aren't any announcements at school; you have to figure out when all these meetings are yourself. And it's great in a way, but it's also stressful.
Long story short, I'm worried and exhausted. More then that, I know that Laura's probably doing a lot worse then I am while she's still getting kick-ass posts out. The one tomorrow looks great, as well. Yeah, you heard me. She's actually writing these posts in advance, which blows my mind.
So... yup. I'll do my best to get something worth reading to you Wednesday!
Thanks for struggling through this with me,
-Mark
Presently, I'm in the transitional phase between school and vacation. Just now am I starting to realize that now, I'm expected to work again. To do homework. To not have boundless free time.
Let me give you a quick example, which I swear, once again, will be better fleshed out in a coming post. Tomorrow, I have a project in animation due, as well as a math test. The day after, I have no less then three dentist appointments in one day as well as a drama audition. The day after, voice. Only Friday might be free. Factor in all the homework, voice practice, running club, and various other things and you find me pretty busy.
The main change I've noticed so far in high school is that your given a lot more independence. For example, there aren't any announcements at school; you have to figure out when all these meetings are yourself. And it's great in a way, but it's also stressful.
Long story short, I'm worried and exhausted. More then that, I know that Laura's probably doing a lot worse then I am while she's still getting kick-ass posts out. The one tomorrow looks great, as well. Yeah, you heard me. She's actually writing these posts in advance, which blows my mind.
So... yup. I'll do my best to get something worth reading to you Wednesday!
Thanks for struggling through this with me,
-Mark
Thursday, 10 September 2015
What I Would Do if I Shamelessly Advertised
Perhaps it's a good thing that I don't plug my own content much, as I'm sure it's incredibly annoying to you just passing by. That said, I might have advertised my other blog once before on What I Would Do, and I feel that if you like my work you should know how to find more of it.
Marks Book Blog is a frankly titled book review site that's incidentally my first and longest-running work. Started in January 2014, I post there exceedingly rarely nowadays. When I do, however, I usually spend at least a few days of unproductive work on a post before sending it out, which hopefully makes it better quality then the majority of items here.
My most recent review is of The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, by Douglas Adams. I'm rather proud of that post, and I'd love to hear what you think of it.
Thanks!
-Mark
Marks Book Blog is a frankly titled book review site that's incidentally my first and longest-running work. Started in January 2014, I post there exceedingly rarely nowadays. When I do, however, I usually spend at least a few days of unproductive work on a post before sending it out, which hopefully makes it better quality then the majority of items here.
My most recent review is of The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, by Douglas Adams. I'm rather proud of that post, and I'd love to hear what you think of it.
Thanks!
-Mark
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