31 Days of Lessons Learned: SongPop is Addicting

31 Days of Lessons Learned:  Day Ten

SongPop is Addicting

If my wife were writing this blog, she would probably say that I didn’t need another reason to use my iPhone, but she introduced me to a little app called SongPop a week or so ago and I can’t stop playing it.  It’s gotten to the point that I have been deleting games with my friends because they don’t respond quick enough and start playing random users in their place.  I’ve downloaded a couple song lists and am seriously contemplating forking over the $1.99 to go premium.

What is it, you ask?  Well – it’s a mobile and Facebook game that allows you to essentially play “Name That Tune” with your friends.  I love music so much that it’s the perfect game for me.  I’m not as good with the modern categories or Indie Rock – so use those against me if you ever play me.

Personally, I think it’s more fun than Draw Something, which lost its novelty months ago for me.

I could continue to gush on and on about the game, but I won’t because my phone just chimed signalling that it’s my turn on another game.

SongPop – addictive, fun, and brings up memories of songs you may not have thought about for years.  I love it and you will too.

*I am not an employee of SongPop and they did not ask for my endorsement, but now that they have it, they’re more than welcome to give me a free premium account*

Borrowed from another blog…

Off the rails

I’ve been off Facebook for over a month and I have nothing to show for it creatively.  Sure, I’ve written a few things lately, but none of them have anything to do with my fiction writing.  In fact, I’ve even started using one aspect of Facebook again this evening – not the status updates, etc. but a Facebook group.  The group is actually a book club, which is something I’ve never done before (but I’ve always wanted to do).  I’ve been reading a lot of books since the ban as well, so if it’s not helping me write, it sure is helping with my other passions.

Initially, I was hesitant to join the book club, mainly because it was going to be through Facebook.  I’m very serious about my Facebook ban, so I didn’t want to comprise that, but my wife talked me into joining with the hopes that it might kick my writing into high gear.  We’ll see if it gives me the inspiration that I crave.

If not, I think I may have to resort to giving myself a deadline.  I work best under pressure and simply staying off Facebook just isn’t enough I suppose.

Do I have writer’s block?  I don’t think so…I think I’m just sabotaging my progress and ultimate success.

My Brother-in-Law

We live in a time where reality stars are made famous for drinking and getting in fights at the Jersey Shore or being in high school and pregnant.  Seeing these people get scooped up from obscurity is enough to get you frustrated – at least enough to get me frustrated.  I know how hard I’ve worked to get to where I am – high school, good grades, college, more good grades, blah blah blah.  I know I shouldn’t feel entitled, but where’s my piece of the pie?

It’s with that attitude that I became bitter and even a bit cynical.  It was that bitterness and cynicism that caused me to stall my writing.  Well, there are other reasons as well (which I’ll get into in future blogs), but I was pretty angry to see people like Snooki and Lauren Conrad get book deals.  It really takes a lot out of me and I just get angry.

I need to really stop thinking about what I can’t control and I can’t control the media.  What I can control is writing.  I may not ever get published, but I’ll never get published if I don’t write.

Which brings me to my brother-in-law.  I have plenty of stories about my wife to tell when it comes to the support she offers me, but this post is about my brother-in-law.  If you know me, you’ll know I spend a fair amount of time on Facebook.  One would say that the time spent on Facebook could be better served writing, and that’s exactly what my brother-in-law thought.  On April 10th, he threw the gauntlet down and I accepted.  His challenge was to stay off Facebook until I finish a first draft.  I have accepted and I haven’t been on Facebook since.

These blogs are auto-posted on my Facebook account, so that’s why you’ve seen me lately.  Since Facebook allows commenting from e-mails, if you respond to these posts, I’ll see your comments.  My brother-in-law has allowed me to respond to the comments, so that is the only way you’ll see my on Facebook until the first draft is complete.

Okay…now back to the writing (and the blogging about writing – which, at this point, I’m doing a bit more of).

Beginnings

I’ve blogged many times before.  In fact, one of my old haunts in college was livejournal.  Mostly, that blog was to rant, ramble, and entertain.  I’m sure I’ll do some of that on here, but the main purpose for this blog is to keep me on task on my quest to completing a novel (or two…or three).

My writing “career” began in third grade when I wrote science fiction stories about my two cats – Zoot and Adventure Cat.  The stories had my cats as captains of a spaceship fighting off evil dogs.  I was heavily influenced by Star Trek at the time.  From there, I took stabs at writing fake tabloids involving classmates (that had an abrupt end though when my teacher found an issue), comic books, and short stories.  I never really tried anything long form until one cold November when I succeeded in completing a NaNoWriMo novel, and just like most NaNoWriMo novels, it was complete garbage.  It was called Gutbuster, and it was about a fat guy who lived in his parent’s basement and watched B-movies and played video games all day.  It wasn’t the most interesting novel in the world, but it at least showed me that I could write a first draft.  After that, I tried my hand at short stories and even won an honorable mention for one of them.

Now, I realize I probably won’t find any sort of fame as an author, but I’m sick of not giving it the old college try.  So, here I am, trying.

I even gave up Facebook because it took away a lot of my writing time.  My last day on Facebook was April 10th.  The funny (pathetic) thing about it is that it’s now May and I’m finally working on my writing.  This blog will hold me accountable (and keep my Facebook friends who miss me entertained).

And, in case you’re interested, I currently have two projects romping around in my hopper – a horror novel (involving zombies), and a YA trilogy (because everyone is writing them these days, right).

Alright, back to writing.