New Site

Hello, I know it seems like it's been a while since I posted anything...and it kind of has. However, there is a reason for that. I started using the WordPress site that I installed on my site a while back but never used. I'm thinking I'll get more versatility with WordPress than with Blogger. So, I'm going to try it out for a while and see how I feel about it.

Meanwhile, you can check it out here http://www.nadiyahak.com and let me how you feel about it. Thanks for keeping up. Cheers

First 5-Minutes in a Long Time

Alright people. I kept saying I would do another 5-minute exercise, but I never did...until now. This was actually completed on Thursday...I think. I've been dating my papers wrong all week. This could've been done on Monday for all I know.  But here it is. It's actually pretty good if I do say so myself. At least it was when I wrote it. Btw, if you have an exercise that you've done or one that you use to help you get over your writer's block, please share it in the comments below. Love ya's.

#421: "So, what do you write about?"

"So, what do you write about?" she asked him as she rummaged through his library.

He looked at her; she didn't notice. "What makes you think I write about anything?"

"Oh, you know, the pen collection, the library, your silence; I don't know. You just kind of seem like the writing type to me." She turned to him. "You can tell me if I'm wrong."

He shrugged. "Actually, you're quite right. I do enjoy writing occasionally."

"What are you writing now? If you don't mind my asking."

"I'm writing a fiction piece about a serial killer who gets away with murder by passing off his confessions as fiction."

Sooo, When I Said A Few Days...

Yeah, when I said, "See you in a few days," I meant that in Nadi time which is almost two months. I'm sorry I didn't mention that. Fail on my part. So, here's where we're at. I am in England. (YAAAAA!!!!!) After years of hard work and whatnot, I finally made it to the mother of America. I've been here all of a week, but I love it. I have made so many friends here already that it kind of blows my mind. I'm hanging with a really good group of people. Most of them from everywhere but England, but they're awesome.

In case you're wondering, I am in England for school. I'm going to Kingston University at Kingston Upon Thames. My current study is MA Creative Writing and Creative Economy. If you want to know more about that click here. I'm sure you'll find the link far more informative than anything I could ever tell you. The class so far looks like it's going to be amazing. I can't wail until it actually starts, which it's supposed to do next week...i think.  Good news. At the behest of one of my teachers, I will actually be posting things about the class (projects, ideas, problems, solutions, etc.) on my second blog Nadi 2.0. Um, I don't really know how I'm going to keep up with two blogs. This will clearly be an exercise in discipline that I am doomed to fail.

In other news, I'll be working on Blue Ships again. I'm so very excited about that. I miss it. I feel bad that I've been away for sooo long. I really enjoyed reading other's works and the artwork was just amazing. So, I'll be back on track with that. Expect a new issue in a couple of months. (Yes. A couple of months. These things don't put themselves together).

And lastly, I keep saying I'll post another five-minute exercise, but I never do. I will be getting back to that as well. I know I keep saying it. I don't mean to lie to you. Remember when we were talking about discipline. Yeah. But it's five minutes. And it's good practice. Not to mention a lot of those exercises produced some pretty interesting results.

Aaaaand that all for tonight. It's only 22:57 in England right now, early for me, but I had a long day. Which means an early night so I don't pass out in class tomorrow like I almost did today. Lataz!!!

Wow!! What A Daze

So, this past month has been crazy in how little I remember. No. It's not because of any drugs. I just have been having a really hard time focusing. My days have been kind of a blur. Even on the days I'm actually productive, I still feel like I'm just floating through time. I have a little calendar that I use to keep track of my days, what I worked on and what not. This month it's empty. And not because I haven't been doing anything, I actually have been doing a lot, I just haven't been writing it down. I've been analyzing my days, trying to figure out what's throwing off my equilibrium. So far, the best answer I have is that I've been having pen problems which has effected my ability to write because I start every project (just about) on paper. Yeah, I know it's not a very good reason, but I don't have anything else.

Meanwhile, things that I've been able to work on. I published issue three of Blue Ships on the first of this month. If you haven't had a chance to read it, check it out here Blue Ships Mag. I've been writing book three of The Demon Cleaner. It's just a skeleton now, but I like where it's going. I was hoping to have it done before I left for England, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen. I'm hoping I can at least the parts that I've written typed and saved to my computer so I don't have to drag a notebook with me. One notebook is full, so I'd really like to leave it home.

Ah, yes, England. I'm going to England. You may remember me getting accepted into Kingston University. Well, everything is all set. I've got my visa, my accommodations (on-campus flat), and my plane ticket. I am ready to go. I am presently in the process of packing my room. So far, I have one checked bag. I'm hoping to keep it that way, but I'm thinking I may need to check two bags. But that kind of depends on how much it will cost to send a box to England vs taking a second bag on the plane. More on that when I know more.

Also, the Muslim holiday Ramadan started this month. It's pretty cool that it started on the same day August started to the days are synched, makes life easier. So how do we celebrate this holy month? By starving ourselves. I know. What kind of party is that, right? We fast from sun up to sun down. No eating, drinking, or sex. I've been doing this for so long that it's not even a deal anymore. However, in the hot months (like now) it's hell. I get sooo thirsty that sometimes my throat burns a little when I swallow. But that's really the worse part of it.
Another big part of Ramadan is the reading of the Qur'an. You're supposed to read a part of it everyday then by the end of the month, you've read the whole thing. In the olden days, I had to do this by hand. Meaning I had to sit down with the Quran and read it word for word. Now, thanks to invention of the internet, FB, and really smart friends, I'm able to listen to someone else read it. The website is called Tanzil. The site is awesome because, not only can you listen to the Qur'an in the traditional Arabic, you can listen to it in English and Persian too. Yipeee!!!! (At least about the English. I don't speak Persian, so you know, whatever).Anyway, it's awesome. Save a lot of time. And I can do other things while I listen to it. So, if you're Muslim and fasting, you need to get in on this.

And lastly, I plan to start doing some vlogging once I get to the UK. I will be doing this mostly so that my family can see me and know what's going on while I'm over there, a million miles away. The blog will be called Nadiyah AK (I know you're shocked; don't pretend you're not) and will be in the A B.I.T. Life channel (which I'll be creating as soon as I'm done with this). I'll be doing them there instead on my own channel because I plan to work on other video projects as well and will be using that channel for them.

So, this update went on for longer than I thought it would. But it's been a month. I have to a lot to catch you up on. Hope you enjoyed reading and I will see y'all in a few days.

Lataz

Chapters One

I just posted the first chapters of Demons Of The Guilded and Blood Of The Hunted. Check them out here!!

Blood Of the Hunted Trailer

In case you've not been to the Youtube page here in a while, check it out! I've uploaded the new trailer for Blood Of The Hunted: The Demon Cleaner Book Two. Enjoy and as always, leave feedback. Thanks.

Demons of The Guilded: The Demon Cleaner Book One

Finally the trailer for Demons of the Guilded

After many weeks and lots of web time...editing time...planning time, man i don't even know where all my time went anymore. but i digress, after many weeks of praying for inspiration and trying to get ideas, i have finally put together the trailer for Demons Of The Guilded. Check it out here  on this blog and let me know what you think.

Book 2 Marathon is Over!!!!!!

Yippeee Skippeee!!!! As of yesterday (or really, really early this morning) Blood Of The Hunted: The Demon Cleaner Book Two is complete. I have sent it in to createspace to the wonderful peeps over there can check the formatting and make sure all's well. once i have the all clear, i can order my proof and check for any other edits that may need to be done. otherwise, i'm done. i can breathe for a few seconds. the last few weeks have been nothing but trying to get it finished asap. i have been working on it for a few years now so it's good be finally done with that. now i can catch up with other projects.

Like this blog, which has been horribly neglected.

so, updates. my main internet computer is back in the shop. it never completely recovered from when it got hit with that virus the last time. so i took it back to my guy. he decided to just go ahead and reformat the drive then reinstall the os, which is what one of my big bros said should be done. (it sucks because i forgot to copy the file i had started that had google's celebatory pics it. ah well. just gotta take that in). he's having trouble installing the os. something about xp and netbooks...there were a whole lot of words in there that amounted to he's working on it diligently. but it's not complete.

you may have noticed that i have not yet updated any of the tabs on this blog even though it's been like a month since i started working on that. i'm working on it diligently...well, i will be now that book 2 is complete. between book 3 (which i've already started) and bsm issue 3 (which i've already started) i'll be catching up on all other projects that tend to get neglected when i'm working on big writing/editing projects. in fact, if i can get them done early, that would astound even me.

expect a 5-minuter from me soon. till next time.

The Updates, They Are A-comin'

So, while I do have every intention on working primarily on The Demon Cleaner Book 2, I have found motivation (possibly because my light is off and the only source of light in my room at present is my computer) to do some restructuring of my blog. My plan is to have little bits of information about my other projects on this blog so you may also have a peak into my other worlds in case you are not yet familiar with them.

While at the moment the new pages are blank, they will be filled in gradually as i come up with what it is that I want to say about them. So stay tuned, updates are always in the works.

I've got it. I'm on a roll

Ex 221: Write an opening using, "I've got it. I'm on a roll now. On a roll."

"I've got it. I'm on a roll now. On a roll," I said to Martine as she watched me pull switch after swift and push button after button. I always told my sister that being an aviator with a minor in math was going to come in handy one day. She mocked me. All the way through college, she mocked. At our graduation party, she cracked jokes. She was going to go off and make the world greener, while I, she said, was going to go help pollute it for the man and people who wished they were birds. Well, huh, the joke's on her. her and her measly zoology degree. Ain't no zoo up here. Hell, ain't no animals period. Were it not for me, we'd be stuck in this spaceship with no one way home.

My first trailer

Hello all, wanted to let you know that my first trailer that i've ever made in my life is up on youtube. check it out here: YouTube - The Demon Cleaner: it's for the whole of the demon cleaner series. i will be working on trailers for specific books from the series. but until those arrive, please enjoy this. good day peep!!

Sometimes you just need a good ole' fashioned 5-minuter

Ex 166: Write an opening using a sofa

He threw a sofa at me. God, I do not get paid enough for this, I thought. I shot back at him with my laser gun. He grumbled and stumbled, but didn't fall. I keep telling my commaders laser guns are useless on rabid cave trolls. Their skin is just too thick and they're too stupid to know that they should be in pain.

The troll stumbled into the kitchen. This time, its weapon of choice was a stove. Even after we wiped the home owner's memory, how were we going to fix the damage done to the poor man apartment? And not to mention that neighbors...and the police report.

Ducking and dodging appliance after appliance, I finally managed to get close enough to shoot the troll's knee at point-blank range.

Pulling all projects together

This month has been full of surprises and well, lots more...surprises...  my computer caught a nasty virus a couple weeks ago. it's fixed now, i just gotta go get it from the shop. but because of this setback, there will not be a may issue of Blue Ships Mag. (i know. it hurts me too). However, this does not mean that I will not be publishing work throughout the rest of the year. so, please, don't hesitate to send those submissions.

currently, i'm editing book 2 of The Demon Cleaner series and am trying to get ideas from book 3 that were written on paper cemented digitally. so far that's going really well. I'm thinking book two should be finished around the end of may and book three around the end of July (so about comic-con time). but will keep you posted.

I haven't posted any 5-minute exercises in a while, so i will be getting back to my roots on that front. I have a whole collection that i just haven't posted yet.

Also, i would like to get into full swing with the GYE/AFS project. If you're an artists, or school, and would like to participate in any of the AFS fundraisers, hit me up. I'm currently scouting for schools to work with and programs to give people scholarships to. Suggestions are welcomed and encouraged.

Finally The Blue Ships Mag has Arrived

After a year of planning and trying to get material together, I have finally published the first issue of the creative arts magazine, Blue Ships.  Please click the link below to check out the full 36-page mag.  Also, don't forget to send a request for a free subscription to: subscribe@blueshipsmag.net. If you're an artist or writer you may send submissions for next month (or any month thereafter) to submissions@blueshipsmag.net.  You may also get more information on this new project at: www.blueshipsmag.net. Thank you and enjoy!!



Click to launch the full edition in a new window
Online Publishing from YUDU

WHOO HOO!!!! Its still March

And that means that I can get at least one post in before I can never get the month onto my blog list before it's too late and I can never have a March, 2011 post...EVER!!!

So, things that I have been up to this month that has kept me away. Hmmm, well, admittidly, when the exercises only take five minutes and it only takes about another 10-20 (I'm a slow typist) to upload the exercise, there really isn't that big of an excuse.  It kinda just comes down to neglect. I'm sorry people.  It doesn't mean that I don't love you.

Now, on to what I've been doing. First, here's the list: rebuilt Blue Ships Magazine dot Net, rebuilt The Demon Cleaner dot Net, editing Blue Ships Mag issue one (out April 1st), learning to write press releases, learning about SEO, learned more about copy-writing and how I'm qualified for the job, volunteered to teach a short course at school (World Lit...one of my personal favorites), looking for scholarships for international postgrad students to study in the UK, and still teaching Language Arts at aforementioned school, working on the finishing touches of The Demon Cleaner (Book Two): Blood of the Hunted, oh yeah, and looking for a job.

So, yeah, I've been a little busy.  I've been trying to put my time to good use.  I still feel bad about not adding any fiction to this post.  I've written some (as I do every week with at least one of my classes), I just haven't taken time to post it. As always, some of it's good, some of it's bad. But, it's still a joy to write in any case.

Plan for the day, clean up my damn house, and post a new flash story. Hopefully, we will be up and running in April. I could be just fooling myself...or you...we'll see.

Side NOTE: With Blue Ships Issue one 99% complete, I'm now taking submissions for the May issue, issue a la deux.  So, tell you kids, tell you wife, and tell your husband too, 'cause I'm taking everybody's work here.

Good day All

Testing

I'm trying to link this blog with my Amazon profile at http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B004OUHHB2.  Let's see if I did it correctly.

1 in a million

Ex 218: Write an opening using, "You're crazy.  You're all crazy and none of this is real."

"You're crazy.  You're all crazy and none of this is real," Katherine yelled.

We understood her frustration...we at least I did.  I remember the first time I was told about my alters.  It didn't make me feel good or excited.  I realized there would be about 6,000 versions of me somewhere, but to meet them, and for their likenesses to be so accurate...I didn't know what I would do.
Actually, I kind of expected to see aliens next.
"And the government's just been..."
"Using us.  Experimenting on our genomes.  Finding cures.  Creating diseases."

Six Whole Years Ago

Ex 232. Write an opening using, "Don't tell me you're still bitter about what I did to you six years ago."

Stephen look at her with his famous I-don't-care glare.  "Oh, please, Angie," he said, waving his sword in an exaggerated gesture.  "Don't tell me you're still bitter about what I did to you six years ago."

At this, Angie's skin felt flushed.  She could feel heart from her anger inflaming her cheeks.  "Stephen, you got me accused of treason!  Even after I was found innocent, I was still exiled.  I lost my home because of you.  You selfish traitor!"

He just shrugged off her ire.

She winced in frustration, then she remembered who she was dealing with.  Stephen had never cared about anyone but himself.  And as she pointed her gun at him, she didn't feel bad about what she was going to do.

Another Snow Day Wednesday

Ex. #207: You have been locked away in a max security mental hospital.  Write about it.

I can't believe this is happening to me.  They think they can keep me here forever with their drugs and their double talk, but they're wrong.  Try to save the world, blow up one little factory, and get thrown in prison.  Escape one little prison, get thrown into a mental hospital.  This is ridiculous.  If these doctors, these crazies, had seen the world the way I've seen it, they would gather an army to join me.

This Earth will be gone in a couple of years.  That is unless I stop it.  I know what's coming; I know the war that will end humanity.  And I will not let these walls keep me from doing everything I can to save this dying planet.