Anna Aden Writes

Another update, yay! I hope everyone is keeping well. Novel In Progress It seems I write an average of 10,000 words a month so I'm estimating another 40,000 words. This means I'm looking at an October finish. Let's make that November. It's going okay and a bit slow because I'm also doing some research so that slows down the pace. Saying this, I'm glad I'm past the midpoint and heading to the first crisis point.  Photography and Photoshop I had no real time for this.  Books I'm doing a YA Fantasy reading tour and up to now have read about five. They all tend to have the same baseline story and characters. I have plenty of books-in-the-pipeline and it is only after finishing the current one will I review the others.  A lot time ago, I did a children writing course so maybe this might be something I could do.  The curious case of Mister Big Man This is messy it is what it is. Mister Big Man knows everything but really knows nothing and opines at lot about s

So far behind as it is the end of May and I'm just doing a review.  This picture was from Photoshop composite made up of three different pictures.  Changes to the Blog Google blogger has informed us bloggers that readers will no longer be receiving alerts so I'm tempted to move the blog to WordPress because this is nonsense. It's very poor service so I shall be changing at some point. Not now. I've been with blogger for years but in the time when communication is important, I think this is a very poor show so I shall be moving my blog to wordpress. Writing update This is going slowly as usual, and I'm now past the midpoint - half way - and working to one of the major events. Work is busy so this has been very slow.   Time management concept of Maybe List At the time, I was thinking about writing this blog, I discovered the concept of 'Maybe List' and this is where you have all your good ideas and things that might divert your attention. This is where I shall

  This is one of the composites, I created in one of the courses. This was based on graphic design and I feel like an island floating in a new landscape. It is a composite of three images with a bit of blending.  This was from a boo Photoshop Composting I'm still finding my way with this, so I have the technical skills which I realise it a matter of masks and blending modes however the next thing is to keep on doing it until I learn the principles of graphic design. It's complicated to explain and I'm still finding my way but basically at some point I need to start doing my own stuff, and right now those images look a bit awkward until I get the design aspect right. It can be fun but also some aspects can be tedious and boring. And I guess it's a matter of keep on practice,  and I also want to get to the point, I can use my own pictures.  Writing  Going well and steady, nothing significant to report on that front. But I'm looking at a soft deadline of completing the

All's good. Ma and I have lost some weight but still soldiering on with this. Mainly because of underlying health issues especially during this of the pandemic. It is hard but  after a while it becomes habit though I've had about three burgers. One from Burger King - the Whopper and another from Leon, a vegan once called Sweet Carolina - some barbeque concoction and a final from a local cafe which was more bacon and avocado. However it' still managing with the calorie allocation, keeping a food dairy and weighing once a week. Shopping days are the worst because I buy more snacks on special order. Also boredom days since I haven't gone further than a couple of miles from home scene the pandemic started.  Novel-in-progress up date It's still slow or should I say I'm a slow writer so more or less in progress.  Time Management I've discovered the term gathering point. That's like stuff just hanging around waiting to be processed or put back. I guess from my

Photographing for Compositing in Photoshop by  Seán Duggan This is a linkedIn learning course, I've just completed with an instructor called Seán Duggan who is very popular and good. This is the second one of his courses I've taken, and I've found it's best just to keep on going until something sinks in. This is just my version of his exercise. In the first course, I was taking notes, but then I realised it was a matter of practice, which meant doing one course after another.   In the original exercise the model was standing on the rocks. I've just added a crypt, from a local part, then I've added more rocks to the picture.  This picture is from the same course but I decided to use a toy model which I took using my lighting cardboard studio, and then I just applied the techniques  in the class. As it can get boring just doing those exercises.  Eating Plan  My mother and I are on a meal plan, it's going to be a long term thing but so far she's lost 4lb or

Card box light Studio I finally made one with a panettone box, or Marks and Spencers veganettone box. It seemed straightforward on the youtube videos but as often the case was it wasn't. Unfortunately there is a problem with google blogger and my browser image upload so I can't show you my card board box studio but this is the box. And yes, I thought it tasted nice. I bought three of them, one for me, my mother and my sister. I sister wasn't impress, saying it was too sweet but I thought it was delicious. However there was a slight honey after taste, saying that it may be because I was judging it, rather than just eating. However its a winner for next year. Anyway, not to digress, after deciding to experiment using a smaller box. At first, I couldn't find my paper cutter and then after going to Ryanmans for essential items (as you do), they had sold out. Then I needed to get the lightening. I have one desk lamp but the bulb had gone, so since desk lamps bulbs  are essen