Lots of things
Feb. 22nd, 2008 10:57 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sabremeisterIt's been a busy week or two for me. Let's see...
First, I signed off in disgust at the operating practices and blatant hypocrisy at the Job Centre. Yeah, yeah, I know, it was probably stupid and so on, but they were making increasing demands on me when what was previously enough was sufficient, they weren't paying the blindest bit of attention to my notes or my stated jobsearch criteria, and they were treating me like a moron and a malingerer. Well, screw that! "It's your funeral," you might say, but I say, "at least I won't be forced into a job that will result in exactly that." (Seriously - one of the reason I quit my last job was because my health was suffering, quite apart from the 2-years-with-no-payrise thing). Anyway - I now feel noticeably more relaxed, and somewhat cheerier as well. Of course, I now have a whole load of other things to worry about, but I've taken steps already, and it'll be a few weeks before things start to bite.
Next - I'm preparing for the release of my second book. For the past week I've been looking at leaflet-printing companies, copyright issues, Use Licences (incidentally, does anyone have legal training? There's a document I'd like your thoughts on, please), possible advertising locations, and created a whole new section on my website. These books, if not a source of steady income (which I don't really expect them to be), are definitely going to be a long-term thing. But whether they prove successful enough to pay for a trip round Europe, or just a trip to London Zoo, largely depends on how much exposure they get. Hence, the more exposure, the better. Hence leaflets to leave lying around in likely places, advertising and derivative materials. The action of the books is derived from die-rolls in an RPG, right? So, given all the background info I have, that will be on my website, what could be a more logical conclusion than to allow its' use as a setting for other RPGs? That's what I mean by derivative materials, and is why I've been grubbing around with Licences and copyright material. Anyway - the 2nd Edition of Please Kill the Neighbours will be released on the same day as the sequel Finish the Job So We Don't Have To, and the updates to the website come into effect, namely Friday the 4th of April 2008. (Shall I? Hmm, why not...) Pre-order either book now by EMailing me, and I'll sign it for you (I'll need to know your name, address, and how many copies of which books you want), and you'll almost certainly get it cheaper than buying from lulu. (This offer expires on the 4th of March, payment by cheque or postal order only).
My OU courses have crept up on me again. I've got a bit behind with them, so the next few days are going to be spent poring over densely-worded .pdfs and simplistic javascript tutorials so I know enough to get through the tests that are due in by the middle of next week. The .pdfs send my brain to sleep through info-grind, the tutorials do the same because they're the programming equivalent of reciting the times tables. Urgh!
Still not got my bag back. I'll let them know that if I don't have it by 5pm Monday, I'm going to the police.
BeerMonster. Sorry the update schedule's not been too good recently, but, y'know, other things on my mind an' all. The penultimate episode of "Robin Hood - Prinz of Feeves" will be appearing this Sunday, and to make up for it, the final episode will be on Wednesday, not the Sunday after.
Well, that's about it for now.
First, I signed off in disgust at the operating practices and blatant hypocrisy at the Job Centre. Yeah, yeah, I know, it was probably stupid and so on, but they were making increasing demands on me when what was previously enough was sufficient, they weren't paying the blindest bit of attention to my notes or my stated jobsearch criteria, and they were treating me like a moron and a malingerer. Well, screw that! "It's your funeral," you might say, but I say, "at least I won't be forced into a job that will result in exactly that." (Seriously - one of the reason I quit my last job was because my health was suffering, quite apart from the 2-years-with-no-payrise thing). Anyway - I now feel noticeably more relaxed, and somewhat cheerier as well. Of course, I now have a whole load of other things to worry about, but I've taken steps already, and it'll be a few weeks before things start to bite.
Next - I'm preparing for the release of my second book. For the past week I've been looking at leaflet-printing companies, copyright issues, Use Licences (incidentally, does anyone have legal training? There's a document I'd like your thoughts on, please), possible advertising locations, and created a whole new section on my website. These books, if not a source of steady income (which I don't really expect them to be), are definitely going to be a long-term thing. But whether they prove successful enough to pay for a trip round Europe, or just a trip to London Zoo, largely depends on how much exposure they get. Hence, the more exposure, the better. Hence leaflets to leave lying around in likely places, advertising and derivative materials. The action of the books is derived from die-rolls in an RPG, right? So, given all the background info I have, that will be on my website, what could be a more logical conclusion than to allow its' use as a setting for other RPGs? That's what I mean by derivative materials, and is why I've been grubbing around with Licences and copyright material. Anyway - the 2nd Edition of Please Kill the Neighbours will be released on the same day as the sequel Finish the Job So We Don't Have To, and the updates to the website come into effect, namely Friday the 4th of April 2008. (Shall I? Hmm, why not...) Pre-order either book now by EMailing me, and I'll sign it for you (I'll need to know your name, address, and how many copies of which books you want), and you'll almost certainly get it cheaper than buying from lulu. (This offer expires on the 4th of March, payment by cheque or postal order only).
My OU courses have crept up on me again. I've got a bit behind with them, so the next few days are going to be spent poring over densely-worded .pdfs and simplistic javascript tutorials so I know enough to get through the tests that are due in by the middle of next week. The .pdfs send my brain to sleep through info-grind, the tutorials do the same because they're the programming equivalent of reciting the times tables. Urgh!
Still not got my bag back. I'll let them know that if I don't have it by 5pm Monday, I'm going to the police.
BeerMonster. Sorry the update schedule's not been too good recently, but, y'know, other things on my mind an' all. The penultimate episode of "Robin Hood - Prinz of Feeves" will be appearing this Sunday, and to make up for it, the final episode will be on Wednesday, not the Sunday after.
Well, that's about it for now.
