Wednesdaily

[ellenmillion]

Business as Usual

Nothing really to report here. I worked a little on the EMG-Zine anthology, and painted some more, watched 4 episodes of Avatar, and thought about writing my article.

Some deadlines of note:

EMG-Zine. Our theme is Moon. The deadline is tomorrow. Seeking: short fiction, poetry and artwork. We're always looking for walkthroughs and tutorials, too, as well as nonfiction! (These don't need to be themed)

Torn World. Our fauna contest ends tonight!

Steampunk coloring book. I've extended the deadline to the end of October because I STILL only have two entries. This could kick serious ass, my darling artists; please take some time and sit down and work on some pieces to include. Steampunk is big NOW, not some mysterious time in the future, and we're already running into possibly not enough to print before Christmas. Hop to, artist-people. Let's make this happen!

Art and Authoring


I got an extension. Too much left to do to get it in tonight. (I am continuing to update this post if you want to see all the steps together.

Home and Health

Media disgusts me. I was listening to the radio. Okay, news about Iraq, that's okay. Some local news, sure. A report on... Dancing with the Stars? WTF? A serious discussion about an episode of reality TV is NEWS? It wasn't even, you know, Celebrity X fell down and broke their neck in front of a live audience! No, it was just who did well and who sucked. I changed the channel.

(Siding still not finished)

Planning

MUST WRITE ARTICLE. Workout tonight, an episode of Avatar, and finish EMG-Zine for release tomorrow.

Kind words about EMG-Zine and how much you appreciate the work that goes into it would not be remiss about now, and would greatly spur my efforts. I'd also like to have that to share with the other hard working staff that makes the zine happen Every Single Month, because they really deserve a lot of encouragement and love. Did you realize we'll be at 46 issues in October? 46 issues, without a single break or excuse. There was one late issue - because I was without power the night before and it went up one day late (this was back when I was hand-coding each issue). Take a trip with our search page - you'll be amazed at some of the treasures in our back-issues. I know that people aren't using this resource because Project Wonderful automatically yanked down my ad boxes because no one was viewing them... and that seems like a huge shame to me. In case of confusion - our back issues are completely free, with no registration required. You just have to click a link through a page with (now disabled) ads to view the full article content. (And yes, the fact that no one is using them frustrates me beyond belief.)

Did I mention that kind words would be timely? I'm trying to write an upbeat article and having problems on that front. Cute dog photos get more support than the stuff I put real honest effort into.

I will not be bitter. I will not be bitter. I will not be &^*#@! bitter.

(I think I need chocolate)

Linking

In case you needed something more positive than my morning ranting: a Things That Are True (and the Secret of Drawing) from coppervale.

Comments

[valdary.livejournal.com]

Well I do use the archives because with being ill and moving house I've missed a few and its a handy way to catch up.
Cute dog pictures don't require more than "awww", Your put up interesting and intelligent content.

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

That's a very good point... and thanks! It's good to know they're being used! :)

[wyld-dandelyon.livejournal.com]

Bittersweet chocolate? Does that sound like an appropriate good thought?

I know how much work putting together any kind of magazine is. Your track record is impressive!

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

*craves bittersweet chocolate desperately now...*

Thanks!

[fatfred.livejournal.com]

There are several Steam Communities here on LJ... have you solicited artwork there?

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

Good thought!!

[fatfred.livejournal.com]

Try this one: http://community.livejournal.com/gears_and_steam/profile

[valdary.livejournal.com]

The main story in the media here seems to be typhoon Ketsana/Ondoy and the terrible flooding in the Philippines, together with speculation as to whether two further tropical storms will hit the Philippines and Vietnam.
Then about the Sun newspaper supporting David Cameron the Conservative Party leader,
Then some Rugby player faking an injury

[marina-bonomi.livejournal.com]

Big hugs from here, when I was a columnist lack of feedback was drawing me crazy , as you well know.
Although I'm not a regular writer anymore I sit down and read the whole 'zine cover to cover as soon as I have the time to do so, the first day of each month.

My heart-felt compliments to you and to each and every member of the team for the dedication and the level and quality of content.

And... drat! I realized a few days ago that I totally missed the deadline for the Fairy Court issue, I had meant to submit 'On the Run'... :-(

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

It's seriously nuts-making... I feel like people are very enthusiastic about the idea of things, but when I actually go through the work to make it happen... no feedback. Or very little. It makes me scratch my head and wonder if I did it wrong.

And, thank you!

[pixiewildflower.livejournal.com]

That art is looking great Ellen!

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[kelkyag]

I've used the archives! Not often, but that's where I learned about paper clay.

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

Yay! They are useful! :)

[shellstar-art.livejournal.com]

EMG-zine rocks :D I submitted some moon themed art, and I keep track of themes with plans to do something for them....

I am keen to do something for the colouring book, how do I go about that (ie is there a webpage with requirements and submission)?

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

I checked, and you're all set up to submit. Just log into the lilypad: http://lilypad.ellenmilliongraphics.com and click on Fantasy Art Shop, then submit to group projects on the left hand side. The only requirement is that you have an EMG Contract on file, and I have one for you already! :)

[metasilk.livejournal.com]

Very quick, in case I"m burning dinner:

I have 2 b&W things I can submit for moon (they are a pair) IF I can stay awake; the paintings aren't done (still) will try

Encouraging words: I don't always have time to read each ish as it comes out but I LOVE to browse back issues every now and then and I am still very happy with the anthologies of consequence!

What about making a Fan Page for them on FB?

[metasilk.livejournal.com]

p.s. **wishing you chocolate** since I can't get it there Right Now.

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

You can get an extension for it, no problem!

I'm SO glad to hear you've liked the back issues, and particularly the anthologies! People have said they're excited to get them, and praised the covers when I post them, but I've gotten little to nothing in terms of how people liked them after they've received them. It makes me chew on my fingernails and wonder if they were disappointing. Stupid and insecure of me, probably, but pretty understandable, I think.

A fan page, eh? I'll have to look into that. How much upkeep does it take to run such a thing?

[metasilk.livejournal.com]

So I went and looked at the Moon pair pics... and in B&W they just aren't enough to submit. (The trees work, one moon works; the skies are too damn boring...) I'm sorry have accidentally teased you. *sigh!*

Silence post-receipt & fret: yup, understandable!

Fan page: Depends on what you want to do with it. Like any feed, you would want to post there regularly (weekly? in your case) but you mostly already have material for that. It could provide a venue for less personal EMG-related stuff. More later, maybe, when the 4-year-old is feeling less needy!

Jenny Heidewald

[(Anonymous)]

Ursula's column always cracks me up! I forgot that the back issues were free now, I missed last months issue some how! Now I need to figure out how to get there when I have more time.

I am trying to figure out how I can do the feature you asked me to with illustrations instead of photos ( can't really do it that well without illustrating the thing). I am not good at drawing frames, and I was moved out of the custom framing section at work. Dunno how well they would have taken me taking photos, even if I didn't take any of the front/art. Now I am The Frame Leg Inspector. :p

BTW, thank you sooo much for the mail a few months ago, really cheered me up when I was having a particularly bad day ( and I have a lot of those these days).

I wrote myself a reminder for the steam punk coloring book. Lord knows how my scanner will deal with it, but since it will be B&W the lines should not appear. I always hate how grainy the lines appear in B&W though.