Birthday Thanks, a Question and a Poll

[faithwood]

First, I had a job interview today (this job is not gonna happen, but I didn't actually expect to find a new job a mere week after I lost the old one, so all's well). But I was very busy freaking out. (Damn it, are all job interviews this stressful!?) So in the future, if I disappear for two or three days — I'm at home, freaking out.

Thanks

A huge thank you to everyone how wished me a happy birthday (and to everyone who said lovely words to me about my job loss). And thank you to all that posted birthday greetings or sent me a message. They all meant a lot.

Thank you to heathen_ursidae for drawing me an awesome Harry/Draco pic. And leochi for drawing me a gorgeous Harry. And thank you lotus_lizzy for writing me a sexy fic: Knicker Thief.

And thank you to everyone that promised to write me something. Take your time. *takes a moment to reflect on all the fics she owes* In fact, do be late; it'll make me feel better. (LOL!)

And thank you bryoneybrynn for LJ Paid Time. And thank you romaine24, zebrui, kisa829, kcstories, cleo_jay, lotus_lizzy, byaghro, tmkline, nightlo and kaykayen for sending me VGifts. They're so pretty!

And WANTED! Um, guys, who sent me two more months of LJ paid time and an LJ gift certificate? Please to be telling me. I need to squish you!

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

To me, it looked like I was gone for months, so I thought that maybe you've forgotten me. *blush* Nice to see that's not true.

Question and a Poll

Please read, dear flisters. I need your advice.



Right. So given that my metessay is called A Beginner's Guide to Fanfiction, I thought I should include a word about posting, HTML coding, lj-cuts, using document templates and stuff like that. So I did.

Then I remembered another thing. But now I'm not sure: Is this my problem or has anyone else had trouble with this?

See, I hate the Rich Text editor, and I use the HTML one. I hate RT because it messes up my code, inserts pointless tags and then fails to recognize them, and is completely whimsical. I also don't like applications that process your HTML code, because they, too, are quirky and add a bunch of code I don't need. And godforbid I made a mistake. If I try to fix the code manually, it takes me an age to find the mistake, because the code is usually ... messy.

So I like to type my own code. Y'know, using <i></i> and <b></b> and the like. But that's annoying. And if the story/post is long, and contains lots of italics and bolds, time-consuming.

I've only solved this problem recently. I've set up my MSWord to insert more common tags such as: <a href="">, <lj user=""> and <img src="">. And, more awesomely, everything I've written like this, Word turns into text looking <i>like this</i>. And everything I've written like this, Word turns into text looking <b>like this</b>. I just type my story as I normally would if using Rich Text editor, meaning, using italics and bold, and then after one click, everything that was italicized or bolded gets appropriate tags (no matter how long the text is, it takes a couple of seconds).

For my purposes, this is very useful, but maybe I'm just odd? Maybe you are all using the Rich Text editor, or some awesome application I don't know about, or you don't have problems with messy codes?

Would you consider knowing how to do this useful, or pointless? Should I include this in the metessay?

Poll

[Poll #1338578]
Thank you!


Oh and PIMP!

Love this idea: A poll for all HP fanfic writers: New HP writers' community. Do check it out.

Comments

[bryoneybrynn.livejournal.com]

Yay! We love you! And I'm going to send good job vibes to you anyway - can't hurt! :)

[faithwood.livejournal.com]

*squish* *basks in good job vibes*

[oddnari.livejournal.com]

Many happy returns to you, and I all the best for your job. I hope you get it.

[faithwood.livejournal.com]

Thank you! ♥

[heathen-arcade.livejournal.com]

Good luck on the interview!!! :)

BBEdit (http://www.barebones.com/products/bbedit/) is amazing for coding. It has all that stuff on a palette of buttons.

[faithwood.livejournal.com]

Thank you! But seriously, I won't get it. And I don't think I'll be too sorry. :/

BBEdit looks really awesome! But it's for Mac, no?

It has all that stuff on a palette of buttons.

I have all that stuff on a palette of buttons too. *nod* But in Word. /bragging

[callistianstar.livejournal.com]

Good luck with everything on the job front. Job interviews are stress-inducing. I'm not sure how to tell whether things are going well or not until afterwards when I think about it.

The Essay seems useful. Though, just a quick question what is a metessay? (By the way, I love that 'Ticky Box' was a choice on there...and hugs) *hugs*

[callistianstar.livejournal.com]

Oh. And there is no way we could have forgotten you. You were missed. ♥

[adores-draco.livejournal.com]

Eventually you'll get a new job which you'll love. Hopefully it will be soon. I hope you've concidered freelance writing as well because your stories are simply amazing. Don't waste your talent by doing something you hate when you could be doing something you love - and be paid for it.

You might get some annoying questions at interviews, rejections from employers, having to "sell yourself" to creepy people could be horrible and getting no answer to you letters can be hurtful. But you'll know when you meet the right people and everything just clicks.

Good luck! You'll make it. :)

[faithwood.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

*blush* Oh I don't think they'll pay me for writing fluffy porn. :D I do like my chosen profession, and I'd like to do that AND write.

Thank you for your encouraging words!

[tmkline.livejournal.com]

Of course you were missed. *squishes* Don't worry about a job, someone as wonderful as you is sure to be wanted. *nods* Don't let interview stress and job stress make you crazy. Take your time and find the right fit. You have unemployment to make ends meet until you find what you want and grabbing something that's not right just for income might make you miserable. Draco and Harry want you to be happy so you write so...find the right job that keeps Faith happy.

So happy you're back. LJ is not the same without you!

[faithwood.livejournal.com]

Thank you, lovely!

You have unemployment to make ends meet until you find what you want and grabbing something that's not right just for income might make you miserable.

Yeah, that's why I said this job isn't gonna happen. It would be settling for ... not-so-good stuff.

[aki-hoshi.livejournal.com]

*squish* I really hope you find a new job soon! I know things are looking rough out there... I hope you had a good birthday!

Also, in regards to the HTML god thing, I use (when I'm at home), semagic, which is a program you download and it signs into LJ for you, and you can sync it with LJ so that you're new tags and userpics are available, and you can switch between users easily (like for me, I need to post as aki_hoshi and ass_fest_mod), and it's all HTML view. I mean, I think you can switch it, but if you type CTRL+i, it'll automatically insert an italics tag for you to type in. :D It also allows you to do things like change the displayed username. Like, when aldehyde talks about her boyfriend, Abbey, she always has a tag that says "the_bf", but that's not his username (I don't remember what it is). But you can change what name is displayed while still having it linked to that user.

And I'd avoid using things like Word for HTML stuff like the plague...because Word likes to add in it's own meta data, and it's all useless. When I'm not at home, I just use Notepad, and yes, I've got to type in the tags, but it means I have COMPLETE control over my code, because it's a basic text editor that doesn't even have the capabilities to make things bold or italic looking. :)

Anyhow, I'd TOTALLY check out semagic. Aldehyde and I swear by it. :D It's a pretty sophisticated tool, even if it's not all that pretty.

Okay, going now! *SQUISH* I love you! I'm sending well wishes to you always!

[aldehyde.livejournal.com]

HAHAH SAMEBRAIN i just mentioned semagic in my comment lol!

yea, semagic completely saved aki_hoshi and my life when were posting for the last the_ass_fest. i remember how i used ms word for one of the submission posts and it fucked everything up so bad, grrr!

anyway, /end butting in

[kaykayen.livejournal.com]

*snickers* Since I don't write my opinion would have been useless... but then there was a TICKY box and I can't resist those. And I wanted to put 60 checks in the "HUGS!" ticky box but it wouldn't work :(

Good luck on the job front! And yeah, for me, ALL interviews are stressful. I hate those things!

*SQUISHES YOU* I miss you terribly! ♥

[faithwood.livejournal.com]

*HUGS*

I love ticky boxes! I always click on the ticky box option!

Thank you!

I hate those things!

*kicks them*

[tari_sue]

Yes, please put that – I want to know how to do that!

(BTW, v late happy birthday!)

[faithwood.livejournal.com]

Thank you, lovely!

[abusing-sarcasm.livejournal.com]

:( :( :( :(

I totally forgot your birthday!!! I mean, I wasn't here, but that's clearly no excuse. Consider me shamed and belatedly happy for you. :p

And I TOTALLY do not know how to do that in Word. I type all the coding by hand in Word. So YES! Teach me wise one!

*squishes*

[faithwood.livejournal.com]

*squishes*

I mean, I wasn't here, but that's clearly no excuse.

Yes, that's a valid excuse! *nods*

Thank you!

[aldehyde.livejournal.com]

1) good luck with the job just b/c!

2) i don't know if technical instruction is necessary. i use semagic b/c i dislike the rich-text editor, and it makes my numerous lj-cuts and billions of links and html tags much easier to handle. so i think you could probably just have a section where you provide links to popular html tags and lj tools, and mention that improper formatting can be VERY annoying for readers.

[faithwood.livejournal.com]

1.) Thank you!

2.) You were almost the only one who said no! Hahaha! Gutsy! LOL! /immatureness

Seriously, thanks for the Semagic pointer, it looks awesome.

you could probably just have a section where you provide links to popular html tags and lj tools, and mention that improper formatting can be VERY annoying for readers.

I did mention that! I mentioned too much. *sigh* I'm crazy, I think.

[thisgirl-is.livejournal.com]

"I thought that maybe you've forgotten me" Silly. We have been missing you!

I use Semagic (as of about a week ago) which has buttons to insert most major tags, and also replicates posts to multiple sites, but I would really like to know how to make Word do it as well. I would say include both - different people prefer different things. It'd be useful for a newbie to know the options.

[faithwood.livejournal.com]

I would say include both - different people prefer different things. It'd be useful for a newbie to know the options.

Definitely! I didn't know about Semagic. It looks awesome.

[marguerite-26.livejournal.com]

I am going to sheepishly wish you a Happy Birthday. I wanted to much to have your fic ready and it's not and I'm very embarrased about that. :/

But Happy Birthday, my sweetness. I was so sorry to hear about your job. *hugs you tight*

I do everything in HTML. After I finish my fics, I go through and add the html code. it's a pain, but I agree that RT is made of Ev0l.

So what you said about word really interests me. Did you just change the function of ctrl-b to be add < b>< /b>? Or is it a search and replace for formating? cuase that is totally cool.

However, if it is a "Beginner's Guide" it might be too overwhelming. I think the basics like how to cut, how to warn, how to rate, how to get a beta... shit like that people need to know before they throw their stuff to the wolves.

Maybe how to do html easy could be an appendix or the next course or something.

btw - I think you are brilliant for writing this up.

[faithwood.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Oh don't be embarrassed, love. I am so late with my birthday fics. *frets*

Did you just change the function of ctrl-b to be add < b>< /b>? Or is it a search and replace for formating? cuase that is totally cool.

Search and replace formatting. Or, you can also select text and click on a toolbar and get bold tags just like you would get bold formatting.

It's really kinda awesome. :D

However, if it is a "Beginner's Guide" it might be too overwhelming. I think the basics like how to cut, how to warn, how to rate, how to get a beta... shit like that people need to know before they throw their stuff to the wolves.

See, the essay will be (is, actually) posted on Google sites, and there are several parts and subpages. So y'know, a newbie can just skip this page.

btw - I think you are brilliant for writing this up.

I think I'm crazy. You'll see why. Jesus!

[winter-june.livejournal.com]

You have been missed a gazillion, hon! *squishes you silly* Never doubt it!

And about the metessay, yes, please, include everything you can. I don't know much about HTML or coding or anything, but I'm fascinated by it. I've read the comments above, and I'm saving links and ideas for starting learning more. So yes, for all us HTML challenged it should be a godsend :)

[faithwood.livejournal.com]

*hugs* Thank you, lovely! I'll include everything then!

[aprettyeternity.livejournal.com]

So....uh. Yeah. My immense nerdage already knows how to do what you're talking about in Word...so...maybe others don't? So...yes? And I haven't used RichText editor...since I started this journal. It's so...PMS-y. >> Seriously.

*hugs* I wish you all of the luck in your job search.

...but I still do most of my coding by hand since I'm so used to it I code for fun o.O

[faithwood.livejournal.com]

Thank you! *hugs*

My immense nerdage already knows how to do what you're talking about in Word...so...maybe others don't?

But maybe your way is better! Or easier. Do share!

[joan-waterhouse.livejournal.com]

So I like to type my own code.
Me too. I never use the RT-editor for posting.
Your word-hacks sound really useful. Though I'm a plain-text kind of person through and through and love me a good text-editor (gvim ;) ). *is-weird*

Good luck on the job interviews! *fingers-crossed*

[faithwood.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

I never use the RT-editor for posting.

Man, i tried it once .. NEVER AGAIN!

[cleo-jay.livejournal.com]

You could NEVER be forgotten! You are Faith; awesome writer, Goddess, whip-owner & all-round good egg!! *HUGS*
This is an adamant hooray for your metessay, and yes to HTML etc as I am useless at such things (though by the sounds of it, you may need to rename it a metathesis at this rate)!
Also all my fingers are crossed for the interview - you never know, after all! And at least you're getting right back in the game - interviews can be horrible & stressful, but you need to think of them as great practice, regardless of the outcome!
p.s. I sent the certificate, must have ticked anonymous by accident - d'oh! ♥ you!

[faithwood.livejournal.com]

YOU WERE MY SUSPECT!

♥

Thank you so much. *SQUISH*

I happily sent a bunch of VGifts! Yay! :D

though by the sounds of it, you may need to rename it a metathesis at this rate

*weeps* So true!

[ebethfic.livejournal.com]

I hate the rich text editor, it gives me the same kinds of problems you mentioned.

You should definitely include your Word trick. I've thought about making a macro in my word processor, but I don't actually use enough italics to bother so far.

[faithwood.livejournal.com]

These are macros (thought not the ones you can record) arranged into a toolbar, and they give the options of a BASIC HTML editors.

Rich Text editor = Pure Evil.

[byaghro.livejournal.com]

You didn't have a "YES YES OMG YES YOU BEAUTIFUL GODDESS YOU" option, so I picked yes. LOL! I have the same problem - the rich text editor only does what I tell it to about half the time & any attempts at using something other than Ctrl-F & a formatting search in Word and then manually typing the HTML makes everything go crAAAAzy. I've taken to writing the story, doing the Ctrl-F song & dance, manually adding the text, then saving as an .rtf, opening in WordPad and THEN copying & pasting into LJ. MERLIN!! If you has an easier way, please to be sharing it with us!! *squishes*

P.S. You're very welcome for the v-gift! YAY!! And *happy lucky job vibes* to you!

[faithwood.livejournal.com]

I've taken to writing the story, doing the Ctrl-F song & dance, manually adding the text, then saving as an .rtf, opening in WordPad and THEN copying & pasting into LJ. MERLIN!

Uh! That's a lot of work. I hope this will work for you then!

*squish*

And thank you! ♥

[lotus-lizzy.livejournal.com]

I am scared of anything technical (and spelling too)

*runs and hides under a rock*

[faithwood.livejournal.com]

*steals your rock and runs*

[yumekutteikt.livejournal.com]

First of all, I'm just glad to hear from you. Here's wishing you the best, and good luck on your new job which I'm sure you'll be getting in near future.

Also, it's about a-week late but happy birthday for you! HERE (http://pics.livejournal.com/yumekutteikt/pic/0004d01k/)'s my birthday gift for you(your alien made me draw it anyway). And please take your suffice time to settle yourself in new RL; we all love you and so we can wait.:-)

[faithwood.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! *hugs* ♥