Re-Link for "My Mother"

Trying again here, I hope this is the right link...

My Mother

Yahoo Voices

I've been working on a couple of pieces for Yahoo Voices today.  Let me know what you think!

Sarah S. Ray at Yahoo Voices

Skyrocketing Ranking: Dancing at Number 3!

Here it is!  NUMBER 3!  (Wrong genre, but who cares?)

• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #537 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)
  • #3 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Romance > Paranormal > Ghosts

For my novel:




Yaaaaaaay!!!!! Love those promo days! Best Sellers!  Best Sellers!  Best Sellers!  Go, Zanalon!!!!

Review: In the Arms of the Dark Elf by Willow Nonea Rae

Three Stars

As a long-time fan of Drizzt Do'Urden and all of the R.A. Salvatore books, I was drawn to the concept of the dark elf romance, but this novel needs a little work. I found it hard to keep reading and I had to keep putting it down. It just didn't draw me in and make me care about the characters.

I do editing professionally so it's work for me to go into detail, just suffice it to say that it's probably a level three edit at the very least. (With 1 being proofreading and 4 being developmental editing). I don't want to discourage this writer; the story has great potential, and I'd love to see her develop it.

Legends, Lies, and the Harsh Truth

I recently found a story making the rounds that purported to show why socialism doesn't work, so I tracked it back to Snopes, where it was found to be simply a legend, not fact:

College Socialism Experiment

Now, I'd like to recreate the second story...

A young woman was about to finish her first year of college. Like so many others her age, she considered herself to be a very conservative Republican, on her way up the social ladder and beholden to no one.

She was deeply ashamed that her father was a rather staunch Democrat, a feeling she openly expressed. Based on the lectures that she had participated in, and the occasional chat with a professor, she felt that her father was foolishly allowing himself to be taken advantage of by lazy people, usually, but of course not always (God forbid anyone would call her racist!) people of color.

One day she was challenging her father on his support of higher taxes on the rich and the addition of more government welfare programs. The self-professed objectivity proclaimed by her professors had to be the truth and she indicated so to her father. He responded by asking how she was doing in school.

Taken aback, she answered rather haughtily that she had a 4.0 GPA, and let him know that it was tough to maintain, insisting that she was taking a very difficult course load and was constantly studying, which left her no time to go out and party like some of the other students who had wealthier families and careers guaranteed to be waiting for them. She didn't even have time for her boyfriend, Tory, and didn't really have many college friends because she spent all her time studying.

Her father listened and then asked, "How is your boyfriend, Tory, doing?" She frowned and replied, "I haven't seen Tory much this semester. I think he's going to have to drop out. His family is burdened by medical bills because, you know, one of his brothers is severely autistic and the other was born with cerebral palsy because his umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck.  The doctor should have done a Caesarian, but he put the decision on the mother without telling her how critical the baby was, so he was born with severe brain damage. They never were able to prove that the doctor was completely at fault, and... well, it's been really hard on his family. His father got turned down for financial aid, after the banks stopped loaning money, and can't co-sign for him. He's got three years of student loans hanging over him... He's really smart, but he's suffering from some depression because of all this and his grade point is suffering. It's down to 2.0… He won't be able to keep his scholarship. It doesn't look good for him..."

Her wise father asked his daughter, "Why don't you go to the Dean's office and ask him to deduct a 1.0 off your GPA and give it to Tory? Then he can keep his scholarship and stay in school, too. You'll both have a 3.0 GPA. That's not so bad, is it, considering how much you love him?"

His daughter bit her lip and bowed her head. "I worked so hard for that 4.0..." Then she looked up at her father and her eyes shone with love. "... but, you know, it would be worth it to see Tory's smile! I wish I really could do that. I probably should spend more time with him and make some friends, actually. Life isn't just about money and career, after all..."

Her father slowly smiled, winked and said gently, "I don't think I've ever been more proud to see your grade point drop. Welcome to the Democratic party."

The part of this story that is true is the description of Tory. That's his real name. He's my son. Unfortunately, the happy ending is a fiction.  We can't share GPAs, even if he had someone in his life who loved him enough to help that way, and had the resources. He did have to drop out, and now he's stuck with three years of student loans, no degree, and no job.

This happened to him in January, 2009 -- remember the banks stopped loaning money in October, 2008, under Bush's watch?

Sorry to be a kill joy. This is the truth, in corporate America, where money rules and love …

Love? What's that, again?

A young woman was about to finish her first year of college. Like so many others her age, she considered herself to be a very liberal Democrat, and was very much in favor of the redistribution of wealth.

She was deeply ashamed that her father was a rather staunch Republican, a feeling she openly expressed. Based on the lectures that she had participated in, and the occasional chat with a professor, she felt that her father had for years harbored an evil, selfish desire to keep what he thought should be his.

One day she was challenging her father on his opposition to higher taxes on the rich and the addition of more government welfare programs. The self-professed objectivity proclaimed by her professors had to be the truth and she indicated so to her father. He responded by asking how she was doing in school.

Taken aback, she answered rather haughtily that she had a 4.0 GPA, and let him know that it was tough to maintain, insisting that she was
taking a very difficult course load and was constantly studying, which left her no time to go out and party like other people she knew. She didn't even have time for a boyfriend, and didn't really have many college friends because she spent all her time studying.

Her father listened and then asked, "How is your friend Audrey doing ?" She replied, "Audrey is barely getting by. All she takes are easy classes, she never studies, and she barely has a 2.0 GPA. She is so popular on campus; college for her is a blast. She's always invited to all the parties, and lots of times she doesn't even show up for classes because she's too hung over."

Her wise father asked his daughter, "Why don't you go to the Dean's office and ask him to deduct a 1.0 off your GPA and give it to your friend who only has a 2.0. That way you will both have a 3.0 GPA and certainly that would be a fair and equal distribution of GPA." The daughter, visibly shocked by her father's suggestion, angrily fired back, "That wouldn't be fair! I have worked really hard for my grades! I've invested a lot of time, and a lot of hard work! Audrey has done next to nothing toward her degree. She played while I worked my tail off!"

The father slowly smiled, winked and said gently, " Welcome to the Republican party."
Read more at http://www.snopes.com/college/exam/socialism.asp#wh3GbtJIcaOZV6p9.99

A young woman was about to finish her first year of college. Like so many others her age, she considered herself to be a very liberal Democrat, and was very much in favor of the redistribution of wealth.

She was deeply ashamed that her father was a rather staunch Republican, a feeling she openly expressed. Based on the lectures that she had participated in, and the occasional chat with a professor, she felt that her father had for years harbored an evil, selfish desire to keep what he thought should be his.

One day she was challenging her father on his opposition to higher taxes on the rich and the addition of more government welfare programs. The self-professed objectivity proclaimed by her professors had to be the truth and she indicated so to her father. He responded by asking how she was doing in school.

Taken aback, she answered rather haughtily that she had a 4.0 GPA, and let him know that it was tough to maintain, insisting that she was
taking a very difficult course load and was constantly studying, which left her no time to go out and party like other people she knew. She didn't even have time for a boyfriend, and didn't really have many college friends because she spent all her time studying.

Her father listened and then asked, "How is your friend Audrey doing ?" She replied, "Audrey is barely getting by. All she takes are easy classes, she never studies, and she barely has a 2.0 GPA. She is so popular on campus; college for her is a blast. She's always invited to all the parties, and lots of times she doesn't even show up for classes because she's too hung over."

Her wise father asked his daughter, "Why don't you go to the Dean's office and ask him to deduct a 1.0 off your GPA and give it to your friend who only has a 2.0. That way you will both have a 3.0 GPA and certainly that would be a fair and equal distribution of GPA." The daughter, visibly shocked by her father's suggestion, angrily fired back, "That wouldn't be fair! I have worked really hard for my grades! I've invested a lot of time, and a lot of hard work! Audrey has done next to nothing toward her degree. She played while I worked my tail off!"

The father slowly smiled, winked and said gently, " Welcome to the Republican party."
Read more at http://www.snopes.com/college/exam/socialism.asp#wh3GbtJIcaOZV6p9.99

CLASSROOM SOCIALISM

Is this man truly a genius?

An economics professor at a local college made a statement that he had never failed a single student before but had recently failed an entire class. That class had insisted that Obama's socialism worked and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer.

The professor then said, "OK, we will have an experiment in this class on Obama's plan". All grades will be averaged and everyone will receive the same grade so no one will fail and no one will receive an “A”.... (substituting grades for dollars - something closer to home and more readily understood by all).

After the first test, the grades were averaged and everyone got a “B”. The students who studied hard were upset and the students who studied little were happy.

As the second test rolled around, the students who studied little had studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too so they studied little. The second test average was a “D”! No one was happy.

When the 3rd test rolled around, the new average was an “F”.

As the tests proceeded, the scores never increased as bickering, blame and name-calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else.

To their great surprise, ALL FAILED and the professor told them that socialism would also ultimately fail because when the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great, but when government takes all the reward away, no one will try or want to succeed.

Human nature will always cause socialism's style of government to fail because the world has producers and non-producers (makers and takers).

It could not be any simpler than that.
Read more at http://www.snopes.com/college/exam/socialism.asp#zcqWQWRTT6KicIjg.99

CLASSROOM SOCIALISM

Is this man truly a genius?

An economics professor at a local college made a statement that he had never failed a single student before but had recently failed an entire class. That class had insisted that Obama's socialism worked and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer.

The professor then said, "OK, we will have an experiment in this class on Obama's plan". All grades will be averaged and everyone will receive the same grade so no one will fail and no one will receive an “A”.... (substituting grades for dollars - something closer to home and more readily understood by all).

After the first test, the grades were averaged and everyone got a “B”. The students who studied hard were upset and the students who studied little were happy.

As the second test rolled around, the students who studied little had studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too so they studied little. The second test average was a “D”! No one was happy.

When the 3rd test rolled around, the new average was an “F”.

As the tests proceeded, the scores never increased as bickering, blame and name-calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else.

To their great surprise, ALL FAILED and the professor told them that socialism would also ultimately fail because when the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great, but when government takes all the reward away, no one will try or want to succeed.

Human nature will always cause socialism's style of government to fail because the world has producers and non-producers (makers and takers).

It could not be any simpler than that.
Read more at http://www.snopes.com/college/exam/socialism.asp#zcqWQWRTT6KicIjg.99

Testing, testing... Oh, FU!

7:39 a.m. and I'm going to sit down and write an article about writing for Freelancer sites and bidding on them. I need to know how long it takes to write an article about a subject I am familiar with, and what I would actually be getting paid per hour to write 500 word articles for $1 to $3, which seems to be the going rate. So, this is basically a test as well as an information article. This is... let's see … 82 words so far.

So, the problem I'm having with the freelancer sites is that, as I've told many people, talented, English-speaking writers are being forced to bid against ESL (English Second Language) writers who run into the room and yell, "I'll do that for $2 and a scrap of bread!" on a $2,000 project. Not good.

I feel for these people, usually from third world countries where they are practically starving, but this is bringing everyone down to the level of pay of the most desperate. I've been thinking about starting a global writer's guild. That's the only way to get the rates up for everyone.

OK, this is now, let's see...196 words.

So, I've worked on Freelancer dot com and I've made a total of $660 after fees. I think that was after fees? Anyway, that was doing work at a tenth of the recommended fee schedule of the Editorial Association of America. I've checked out other writing sites, like DoNanza and Elance, and they seem to be pretty much the same – projects are going out on budgets of $250 tops which should be paying $2500. Sad, but there it is.

I really wonder if there is a way to correct this situation. I see people with degrees from Universities and years of experience bidding on these pitifully paid projects. Say that three times fast. No, don't.

So, here I am writing on a subject that I am knowledgeable about – writing. And it's taken me, let's see, until 7:50 am to get this far. This far is: 342 words.

My son refuses to work on these sites because of the low bidder factor. He has no experience, so he'd be working for pennies just to build his reputation. I'm trying to get him some projects, but I really have to push. I even put up a work project especially for him. And he wouldn't take it, at the time. So, what next?

How do I start a writer's union? I was thinking of starting one, a little tongue-in-cheek, called Freelancer's Union (note the acronym FU) Yes, I meant that. FU. Something for those people who want to make writers into slaves to think about.

And this is, what...? 453 words, 7:56 am.

So, fifty words to go... Let's see, what else can I throw in here, just to fill the page and get my timing test done? See, normally, writing an article would include some research, so this is an optimistic estimate of my work value. I can't normally write this fast, off the top of my head.

And this is... 516 words. 7:58 am.

58

-39

19 minutes

Which means, if I slam three articles off an hour (really?) I'd make from $3 to $9 an hour. Yes, we need an FU. A rousing FU!

Reaching

I haven't done a blog here in a while, but I feel like I should get some things out of my heart and off my chest. Maybe it will help me get past this dry streak.

I've been fighting some depression, isolating. I like to call it a "chrysalis time" when I'm giving myself a break, but it doesn't really feel like it this time. I'm not sure I'm going to come out of this a butterfly.

My favorite DJ, on my favorite radio station, is Brant Hanson. Whenever I feel down, I can always count on him and Sherry to make me laugh, or just get my mind off my problems and on to caring for others. He is so incredibly honest about his perceived shortcomings – I say "perceived" because he always manages to give them to God, and God makes them a strength. And he can make fun of himself.

The down side of going to Brant for a lift, is then I compare myself to him. He has a beautiful, supportive wife, a great job fulfilling a wonderful purpose, helping millions of people. I've managed to help a few people here and there, but …

But...

I'm just feeling like I have a long way to go, and I'm going to have to do it alone. I know God is with me, but I want Him with me in form. I'm tired of being alone. All the "successful" people seem to have a mate standing by them, supporting them, encouraging them. I'm tired. And I know saying this makes me even less attractive as a mate. My sister mentioned recently that a lot of men "don't think about what they're bringing to the table," in a relationship. So I guess I'm realizing that I don't have much to offer when I'm in this place, emotionally, physically, spiritually.

I've already given everything I have to help others. What I didn't give, was taken from me.

Do I have anything to offer? I think I'm a talented writer, but... I've been watching Supernatural, and The Vampire Diaries, and Arrow, and Revolution... I would LOVE to be on one of those writing teams.

I ask myself: could I come up with stories like that? Not by myself, probably. But that's the point: they have a writing TEAM.

I don't even want to think about what this next year is going to hold for me. I've actually found myself holding back from getting too involved in story lines for my characters because I don't want to let my roleplay partners down AGAIN when I lose... if I lose... I can't even say it.

So, I want to be like Brant, here. I want to be honest. I'm having a hard time. I can't do this alone. I'm tired. I can't help anyone when I'm needing help myself.

Brant is a DJ on a Christian station, so he always leads everything back to the love of God. I know that love, but there are times when I feel so far from Him. So tired I can't even reach up to Him. Today is one of those days. Or maybe, it was, because I guess I'm reaching now.