Daily Writing Exercise #1
So I found this website, 750words.com (based on a book which I want to read, but cannot recall the name of at this moment), where the idea is to write 3 pages a day, which works out to 750 words apparently. It can be about anything, your life, your opinions, nonfiction, fiction, whatever, it's just a writing exercise to cleanse the creative palate.
I was excited about the idea and I thought the website was pretty nifty. It had badges for different things, like streaks of writing daily, and every month there was a challenge to write every day. They'd send you emails in the morning to remind you to write that day and had what looked like a nice little community.
There were all kinds of stats-down to minute by minute typing speed, so you could see peaks and valleys-and analysis of your writing for themes, moods, etc. The geek in me was THRILLED!
And then they committed a grave website sin.
The second day I logged in and this teeny, tiny microscopic banner pops up at the top of the page:
29 days left in free trial. Learn more about membership.
Whoa, wait, what?
Membership? Free trial? At no point and in no way was it ever even hinted that there might be a mandatory cost involved. In fact, I'm pretty sure it was said to be free. It was at least implied by the fact that “patrons” who donated could have some little extra privileges, like being able to post messages for everyone to see, testimonials and the like.
I click on the message and it explains how the site USED to be free-as of, like, a month ago. Now it's a small $5/mo fee after the first month.
Let me make it clear at this point that I am not against charging for use of a website. I know it's expensive to keep things running and it often takes away from other employment, so a little monetary compensation helps and ads are annoying-and distracting when the point is to write. Hell, I pay for my account here, so, yeah, I get it.
My problem is the way this all was handled. Forewarning counts for a LOT in my book. There's nothing wrong with saying up front this is a free trial and explaining the cost and reasoning and all.
Being ambushed on the other hand, is no fun at all and, in my case, enough to put me off using that particular website.
My other problem is the price. $5/mo doesn't seem like a lot, but when you do the math that's $60/year. That's three times what I pay for this site and I get to customize my layout and look and have, what? Like fifty icons? The cost just wasn't worth the product for me.
As a special bonus, when I tried to leave feedback to this effect, I was directed to a website where I would have to create another account and it was basically a message board where you posted issues and the admin would get back to you-or not, in many cases that I saw.
That's... not good website administration. At all.
So, yeah, I like the idea, but the execution was poorly handled. And, frankly? That's a pet peeve of mine. Especially when the idea is so very simple and easily done.
But the idea is, as I said, solid. So I'm going to try and stop wasting my money here and write/post every day. Maybe not public posts everyday, or even friends-locked posts, since some of the stuff I write may be more private than that, but goals are good and I like this one. Maybe it will help me get out of this non-writing rut I've been in lately.
Damn. That's only 630 words. Well, okay.
Uh.
I'm an Aries. I like sitting on the beach between the hours of sunset and dawn, watching movies and TV shows (pretty much anything that isn't reality TV, actionless dramas/comedies), and reading. My favorite flavors of yogurt are blueberry and key lime pie, and I would shank a baby goat before eating a raw tomato. Eugh. *shudder*
Goddammit, 695? Seriously? UGH. FINE.
A mini-fic then for Danny Phantom. Because WHY NOT?
Danny sat on the ceiling of the cafeteria, legs crossed, elbow propped on chin and chin resting on his hand. His hair hung down, pulled by gravity, and if anyone could see him they'd snicker at the least, but, well, that was the nice thing about being a half-ghost with many of the powers of a full ghost: No one could see him because he was currently invisible. And floating, which, you know, was how he was sitting upside down the ceiling.
But that wasn't the point.
The point was that he was supposed to be home sick right now, but he'd gotten bored laying in bed when his head hurt too much to sleep, and there was nothing on TV but soap operas and game shows.
So he'd opted for some people watching instead. Or, well, person watching.
Rolling onto his stomach and stretching out, he rested his chin on his folded arms and half smiled as Sam said something he couldn't quite hear over the low, steady thunder that was conversation in a high school cafeteria. Whatever it was it made Tucker laugh so hard milk came out of his nose.
Sam slapped his shoulder, but he could see the smirk of triumph on her face.
The bell rang and everyone started packing up and headed out, on to more classes and endless droning lectures.
Danny watched Sam and Tucker carry their trays to the trash and dump them, then disappear into the hallway amidst the crush of students.
With a sigh and a fond smile he pushed to an upright position and then floated up through the ceiling and turned toward home.
Maybe he would go back tomorrow. He did feel better than he had all week and, as nice as it was not to have to listen to the lectures, there were definite compensations in the companionship.
~fin~
1020 words! PEACE. I'M OUT.