Man, I’m suffering from a food coma right now…
…but that’s not the point. Yes, I did update the layout. I kind of haven’t had the energy or inspiration to custom make a layout like I usually do for Wynderlon, so for now I hope this suits. 
I’ve been busy with job applications, lots and lots of job applications. It’s surprising how long each job application takes for my job field, but I average about 2 a day. I haven’t heard much back, and I’m beginning to get worried about my murky-looking future. 
On the writing front, I’ve been editing The Blood Queen, my title for “Tayce.” I was so happy about the S.O.’s handy job as a graphic designer. Since he works at a print shop, I can print out my manuscript and edit it by hand (printing it out at home would cost an ink cartridge, there’s 350-some pages, after all 
). I tried to edit on the computer for 2 weeks and I didn’t get much done. It’s so easy to get distracted on the computer…there’s Solitaire and the Internet whispering their sweet siren calls to me. Not only that, but I get eye strain and I’m always scrolling hither and thither wondering out loud, “Where did I put that damn section of the story? I know I mentioned it before! Where is it?”
With the manuscript printed out, I can steadily go at it with a nice marker pen (my current favorites* are the Sharpie fine point pens that don’t bleed through the paper, in orange or red), highlight things I need to pay attention to (my favorite highlighters being the Sharpie Accent Retractables…hmm, another Sharpie brand. This was not pre-planned by me at all), and put post-it notes to make changes. I can also put labeled post-it flags where important information in the story has been expounded already, so I know where I repeat info and where to flip back to check something.
In today’s day and age of ebook readers, iPads, netbooks, and computers, there’s something to say about going old school (then again, who knows what the future will hold? I’m already drooling over some of the capabilities Microsoft Courier will supposedly have). And the S.O. was kind enough to plastic spiral bind my manuscript so I can’t lose pages as easily. As I was telling my writer friend, “Is it wrong that I find it sitting there, in all its printed-out glory, kinda sexy?” She assured me that it was not. 
* I love pens, to the point where I’ve told myself I will not buy anymore until I finish up some of the ones I have. I love fountain pens and gel ink pens most of all. I’ve almost completely cut out working with pencils, although that sometimes makes me sad because I have some awesome erasers. A month or two back, I broke my “no more pens!” rule and bought the Sharpie felt tips, which turned out to be a stroke of luck since they don’t catch paper fibers and give a nice, clean line. Very easy on the hand for editing, and crisp colors make it easy to see. I wanted to get a few more colors, so I was talking to the S.O. about stopping off at Staples to get my “brand.” I’ve been with the S.O. long enough now that he knows when I mention an office supply store and say I’m picking up my brand, it means pens. He dryly asked me, “What ‘brand’ is it this time?” “Sharpie felt tips. They’re really smooth.” When I got off the cell phone, my friend (who I was having coffee with at the time) turned to me and asked, “Do you smoke? I didn’t know that.” LOL, I guess she only heard part of the conversation, like “brand” and “smooth.” 
(I explained I was talking about pens, and she laughed then said, “Well, then, my brand is Uni-ball.” Yes, I have geeky friends. So? 
)
