Tag: arizona

Posted on

Embracing New Challenges


For the last few weeks I’ve been grappling with the woes of unemployment.  This is the first time in my life that I have ever had to apply for unemployment and it’s both painful and humbling.  On the plus side, this newly available free time has helped me finish some writing and do more of the blogging and things.  I’ve even been more active on social media.  With more finished writing, I’ve also been submitting to online magazines.  Some have rejected me and others I’m still awaiting a reply.  It’s been a rocky few weeks.

With publishing and things, I have several short stories that will likely be rejected soon.  I say likely rejected because I feel I need to be rejected 10,000 times before someone will publish my work.  We shall see.  Also, June 16, will be a free eBook download day for Dollar Tales from the Morbid Museum: The Ghosts Inside.  Download on your kindle or kindle app for free the entire day.  On June 30, I have a new eBook coming to your kindle and kindle app titled Dollar Tales from the Morbid Museum: Flash Fiction.  This one will include four short stories and a little introduction to the Morbid Museum.

As far as promotion is concerned, I have recently started a Patreon page.  This is a social platform to help artists, creators, and the like to gain financial assistance for the creative endeavors.  Since I am unemployed, I thought this would be a good idea.  I at least would like $7 a month to help cover the cost of this website.  I have also been working harder on increasing my reach on my Facebook and Twitter pages. I have increased likes and followers, but this is only the beginning.  Please tell your friends and keep an ear out for other free eBook download days.

The challenges will never cease, and I will continue my mental health battle.  I’ve been finding more and more reasons to stay positive and finally feel like I have a support system.  This is a first for me, but this is what motivates me to keep writing, to keep searching for a new job, and to continue promoting myself to one day become a full-time writer.  What a joy that would be to work for myself and still make enough money to survive and have fun.  We should all be so lucky.  Remember to face your challenges and never give up!

 

Posted on

Why I Share Articles About Anxiety


As I have grown to understand the full scope of my anxiety, I am more open about discussing anxiety.  I tell people I have anxiety.  Some believe they can relate and are sympathetic.  Some do have anxiety but never speak of their own struggles.  I sometimes wonder if they think I am brave for vocalizing mine.  Then there are others who do not understand anything.  They associate anxiety with being nervous before a test or feeling stressed at work.  They do not feel anxious every second of every day.  They are why I share articles about anxiety.

Someone offered me a neck and shoulder rub.  They said, “You’re so tense.  Loosen up.  Relax.”  I replied, “I always feel like this.  This IS me relaxed.”  At the time, I did not know all the physical symptoms of anxiety.  I have experienced muscle tension as long as I can remember.  I did not realize I lived with this condition for almost 20 years.  Everyone says I look tense, on edge, or hyper alert.  It makes them uncomfortable, but they have no idea how uncomfortable I am.  Their discomfort goes away; mine is constant.  They are why I share articles about anxiety.

I want to understand myself, so I can heal and grow.  I want other people to better understand where I am coming from and possibly appreciate me a little more.  I want potential romantic partners to understand why I worry or lack confidence in myself.  I want everyone to be patient with me and understanding.  I want to be loved in a way I have never known.  I want to feel comfortable and at ease with someone; with everyone.  I want to feel like I am not a burden to everyone around me.  That is why I share articles about anxiety.  That is why I write articles about anxiety.

Posted on

Variety Performance is Growing

There are more and more event producers seeking variety performers for their shows.  Many of them have produced burlesque exclusively but are expanding the kind of entertainment in their shows.  This is good for everyone; however, what they consider variety usually involves circus or vaudeville type acts.  They of course do not define what they mean by vaudeville acts.  VaudVil hopes define what this means.  A vaudeville act could be any kind of performance art.  It could be standup comedy, an actor reciting a monologue, someone who juggles and uses the balls to play the piano while he juggles…anything!

What these producers are likely searching for is something that has not been seen or done before.  It is very easy to find a standup comedian but how often do you find a comedy duo?  What about comedians who also play guitars during their act?  Where are the Abbott & Costello type comedians?  Where are the Smothers Brothers type comedians/musicians?  Where are any ventriloquists?  These are not likely found in Tucson and probably not in Phoenix either.  How does one nurture this kind of performance art?  Where are the people who are interested in learning these kinds of performance art?

VaudVil is going through a rough year but we hope to find ways to help would-be performance artists learn new trades and crafts.  There are few magicians in southern Arizona (I am only aware of four and only know of three who actually get work).  But again the question is how does one nurture this kind of performance art?  We at VaudVil are currently researching all the things we need to have buskers in Tucson.  Busker is a fancy word for street performers.  This will hopefully encourage more variety performers to crawl out of the woodwork and enhance the entertainment of Tucson and southern Arizona.