Paths and Pages

This site is a mess. May it get well soon.

recent posts

  • Yet Another Rushed Post, But On The Bright Side:

    It definitely just looks better to capitalize every word instead of leaving out articles and words three letters or less.

    The actual bright side is that I’ve procrastinated writing this post as I would on any other writing project. It’s not a lack of “not wanting to”, but rather, the general idea of procrastination that has plagued me since forever that I also refuse to deal with. As long as it gets done, and gets done well, it doesn’t matter to me how it gets done. This blog will not be an example of things done well.

    I should also at some point in time quit reminding people and myself that this blog isn’t very good right now. If this is about learning because I don’t want to look up a youtube tutorial, then yeah, the growing pains will be painful. From now on, I’m gonna not do that. That’s a goal. There should only be two posts like that, and I’ve reached my limit.

    Today was more focused on the one freelance writing gig I do have right now, and then it was focused on the fact that my online presence is so minimal, I don’t know the best way to then build it up. So far, this place has been casual, which has been great for the learning goal here, but not as great for any future jobs, but it’s that casual feel that led me to stop procrastinating until 3 am, and instead do this now.

    So, that’s where I am. At a crossroads still about what this should be and how I should proceed. However, I’m also under the mindset of anything I mess up in this process can be fixed. All will be okay, and life goes on. Even if it causes issues, it’ll work out in the end. It always has.

    No longer as plagued by indecision, here’s the updated and more fleshed out goals:

    1. Do this every day. I got lots of thoughts. No problem.
      • More importantly, take in as much as I can about whatever skills I can gather. Any and every skill here, I will consume them.
    2. Grab any and every freelance job out there. I’m used to cold emails at this point. No problem.
    3. Balance this new online presence with my desire for privacy.
      • The absolute worst part about being a writer is the need for attention, something I fundamentally hate. I’ve stopped posting on my cat’s Instagram because it’s received too many likes. That will happen here. I need to not do that.
      • Furthermore, I need to chill when someone online reaches out at all. I don’t like it. I need to deal with it. This may be the best way how.

    Short and simple, all for the purpose of finding my way through this economy while also enjoying my craft. I like the tone of this blog so far, but I should still refrain from complaining too much. Complaining is my love language, but that doesn’t mean it’ll do me any favors should someone hopefully not look me up and come across this blog.

    For now, I’ve been keeping myself private, but there are things that already link back to me, and I take no chances. Like, my email is already linked because the only thing I have to link it to besides my cat’s Instagram account, and I’m not going to link that unless that somehow really, really helps me. I just don’t think it will.

    Anyway, I’m ending this ’cause I want to. And also because there’s the whole blog editor thing that I really need to figure out. That’s what I’ve been spending the majority of the time doing, and let me tell you, it’s a lot slower there.

  • A Rushed Post to Make this Worth it

    I dunno, man.

    People really do act like blogging is the definitive way to make money if you really, really try, but this thing just drained my wallet, and I’m still nowhere close to figuring anything out. I guess that’s just kind of the way it is though, right? You won’t know unless you do it. This domain is in a sad state right now, but I guess putting money into it will force me to really put my all into it (it won’t, but sometimes lying to yourself is the best way to proceed. That’s not even sarcasm. Proven to work.)

    So, okay, this blog is aimless as of now, and that’s fine. I don’t expect it to make me a million billion dollars, but rather, I intend to learn from it. As I desperately search for a job, I have the time (but not the money) to put something into this. I hope to at least learn something. Whether that be a world of freelance (I’m a writer. You may not need to be a good writer to start a blog, but I can assure you, I’m a pretty good writer when I choose to be), or a way to figure out the crazy world of seo, or something else in between.

    This first post won’t get me anywhere. That I know, and since I know, it also means I get to be a little less classy and a little more frustrated with the world. It’s obnoxious no one is willing to admit the economy is about to recess, and it’s frustrating that people laugh when you say you’ve applied for a few hundred jobs and heard nothing back, and when you do, you’re met with machines because people aren’t needed anymore. And it’s frustrating people are looking at the arts like they’re useless because machines can do them now. If this is all that’s left, what’s the point? Right?

    Since this is also meant to sell myself in a way that’s professional, I can also clearly and definitively state that I know I’ll find a way. My sheer willpower to power through and get things done no matter the cost has been rather handy. If Fate exists, it dealt a bad hand, but at this point, I know how to weigh dice well enough for them to land in my favor.

    Now, I may not be able to grab Fate by the throat and force it to comply with my demands, but at least it’s invisible. Invisible enough for me to assume that Fate may not exist, which means free will does, which means I have hope. If I’m ever unlucky enough to encounter Fate, I’ll be sure to throttle it with my little arms, but until that day, there’s hope that I can carve something out for myself. It may not be ideal, but it will be mine.

    So, all of this is to say; this is a declaration to no one now cemented on the internet until I take it down; I’ll make my way. I’ll find a career I love and live a life worth living. No economic recession or excessive amount of fake jobs will tie me down, and I will find my way to the best there possibly is for me.

    I will live alone in a nice place somewhere cold instead of oppressively hot, and I will have a hoard of animals that I like. Probably fish. I did not think I’d like fishkeeping as much as I do, but man, I love fish. And that will be all I need. Money, a place to stay, things to take care of, and it’s as simple as that. I don’t need much more than that. It won’t be much, but it will be mine, and that’s enough to be perfect.

    So, the goal of this little blog is simply to learn. Learn all I can about writing, communication, and eventually, start specializing in an industry I enjoy. Learning can be fun, and I will make it so.

    But, like, if Fate wants to make me a world-famous author one day soon, that’d be great. Thanks, babe.

    For now, the first thing I’ve learned from this blog is that anything not considered a simple sentence is too long, and I think that’s sad. The second thing I learned is that, while my title certainly sucks, the titles generated to improve seo optimization really suck. They’re just bland. Then again, I think we all know by now seo demands a certain level of sameness. There’s likely a reason these titles are bland, and anything that’s not a simple sentence is too long. As a side note, the words “optimization” and “proceed” are considered complex words. I will not think too deeply about that.