It's Labor Day... let's talk about work (and a few other notes) · 10:32pm Sep 7th, 2015

So I’d like to start by apologizing for how, well, inconsistent I’ve been. I disappear for a while, then claim I’m back, publish one story, then disappear again. I’m sorry if I’ve been ignoring comments or anything people have sent me over the past few months, but my mind has been elsewhere. I figure that this is a safe enough place to reveal my current plans, given that I’m almost certain that nobody who this will affect knows that I compose The Horse Words.

As many of you know, last year I was on a 6 month unemployed streak. It was rough, but at the same time, I never really felt… I don’t know, I never felt uncomfortable. Sure, I was frustrated, but I had a good chunk of savings that I have amassed over the years (my friends know that I am incredibly careful with money). It’s a conundrum; I want to be able to set my own hours and do my own thing, but if I did that I’d run out of money, obviously. And so I took time off from writing to look for, and find, a job. And find one I did, last December.

I’ve been working full-time since then, and while I like the company, and like the people I work with… I’m not happy there. I drive 35 minutes to get there in the morning, and anywhere from 50 to an hour and a half to get back. I do the same thing, day in and day out, where I have no influence on anything—while that’s work I certainly don’t mind, I’m left wanting more. My coworkers are all 20+ years older than me. I feel completely on my own there, even though I’m mere steps away from coworkers.

It’s been weighing on my mind for a while, how I can find this balance that I’ve been looking for. And a few months ago, it finally clicked with me, and that’s what my time has gone to lately.

I’m becoming a freelancer.

It’s a big jump for me, but I’m putting all the work in to get things up and running. I already have a company name, logo, and mission statement put together, and everything to become a legit operation. I’m even typing this from my brand new computer, which I’ll be using to work from home (when jobs call for it, anyway).

It’s a lot of work, but man I’m excited for it. That said, it also means that fimfiction really hasn’t been a huge priority. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still working on a story, but it’s taking longer than anticipated because of what I’m setting up. I think I’m gonna end up breaking the story up into chapters rather than post the whole thing at once; it will give me some breathing room, while still letting me get content out.

So anyway, that’s an update on where I’ve been. I promise, I’m not gone. I’m just busy, haha.

Now then, let’s get to a few things that have happened while I was gone.

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FAN WORKS!

I honestly feel bad I didn’t highlight these earlier, but two excellent pieces of fan works, both regarding Exit Through Canterlot, were sent to me. The first is a piece of art by PokeKid963, of Flanksy painting a rather… unsettling… picture of Prince Blueblood. The second is actually a musical piece, a chiptune-style song inspired by the overall flow of ETC, called "The Ballad of Flanksy" and created by Phonic Boom. These are both really awesome, please show them some love!

PAX!

Awwww yeah, PAX happened! I’m working on a full recap of it, but let me very quickly give you guys the rundown: Super Mario Maker for WIi U is amazing, but the people at PAX who played it were idiots. Just Cause 3 could end up being better than 2, if they do it right. Battleborn appears to be Borderlands: The Even More Borderlands edition. YIIK is a game I didn’t know I wanted in my life until PAX. Minecraft Story Mode has potential to be Telltale’s most ambitious game yet. Dreadnaught was disappointing. Gigantic is good, although it very clearly is still in alpha due to a bunch of little issues. I really should buy a PS4.

ENTERTAINING BLOG THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN!

There is someone who I talk to on Steam, have talked to him for years, since even before I started writing. And one thing about him, he is EXTREMELY anti-brony. He’s one of the guys who despises the show, the fandom, and anyone associated with it in any way, shape, or form. Even when I outright told him I watched the show, he steadfastly claimed “You are not a brony, you’re just a casual fan.”

All this time, he had no idea about my fanfic writing. And I have seriously been looking forward to the inevitable day he discovered it, because I was planning on copying the ensuing explosion of hatred and post here on my blog.

Well a few days ago, he was trying to find a post that I made on reddit, and accidentally googled my username, and discovered everything. And… well, the reaction wasn’t what I was expecting. It was rather subdued. Don’t get me wrong I’m glad he didn’t blow up, but at the same time, it meant it was far, far less entertaining than I was expecting it to be. He basically said “Eh, I found it more amusing than anything” and moved on. So, sorry, but there will be no hilarious blog with pictures of a steam conversation with the other guy’s name blacked out. There was nothing really to show (Except for him calling the fact that I have fanart “disgusting”).

So, that’s about it from me for now. I will try to update more steadily, I’m still planning on doing a big review of that thing, and that story I mentioned earlier is still in the pipeline, but the next few weeks are looking to be pretty critical for the setting up of my business, so that’s gonna take priority. That said, with the new season starting next weekend, I’ll be going back to the weekly reviews of episodes, so you’ll be hearing from me a bit more as they happen.

See you soon, I promise! Cero Miedo.

-Brian J
PS: In case it isn’t obvious I’ve been watching a lot of Lucha Underground.

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