Gretchen Stull's Blog, page 4

Of Time and OMG TIME? There is no time!!1!

Recently, I've made the switch from corporate America to self-employment. It's a plan that's been on the back burner for a while. Some people thrive in the fast paced, super competitive, back-biting, stakes-are-all-there-is world of high powered industry...and some people are me. I'd been looking to make the jump into the publishing world (writing, editing, assisting) for months and finally the time was right. But as prepared as I thought I was, I was grossly under-educated about time.

I've wo...

Of Comcast and Customer Rage

When trying to decide what to blog about today (I'm trying to adhere to a new Monday/Friday schedule) I was interrupted by a call from Comcast. Comcast, both as a company and a top-notch example of how to fail in every aspect of "customer service," has been bleeding my energy lately. Not in the sexy way, like current pop culture vampires who are all brooding and sensual. No, in the disgusting way, like a tick who doesn't realize it's a parasitic drain on resources.

"Circle round people, w...

Of Love and Family

I get a decent amount of stuff posted to my Facebook wall. I try to keep up with it, often fall behind, and respond when I can. The response time will run longer if the post is a video. 30 seconds or 3 hours, it doesn't really matter. I do most Facebooking (totally a verb) from my phone, while in public.

What else are you supposed to do in grocery lines, interact with other human beings? Psh!Photo credit: Consumerist Dot Com via photopin cc
If it requires sound, like a...

Of Toddlers and Truisms

I follow a lot of different writers for a lot of different reasons. On social media, I mean. Not in an unmarked panel van down dimly lit streets or anything like that.

Don't mind me, I'm just chilling in my Stalker VanPhoto credit: djwudi via photopin cc
Some offer great craft advice, some are business savvy gurus, and some are living the type of career I want. Then there are a few who are just the entire package. For whatever reason, I can identify with what they're saying, whether it's about...

Pitch Contest Now Open

Music City Romance Writers’ annual PITCH contest is now open! Whether the "pitch" is for back cover copy that you plan to self-publish, or that oh-so-perfect query letter blurb, we want to help you get it right!  Contest Information:
·    Enter 200 word max. This would be the back cover copy or pitch letter blurb.
·    $15 entry fee
·    Accepting a max of 100 entries only, so get yours in soon!
·    There will be time to revise aft...

Of Tough Love and Good Advice

I came across a blog post about bad reviews, professional irritations, and learning to let go by Dani Collins a month or so ago, and her frank, honest advice hit me in ways I needed to be hit. I bookmarked it, and reread it again today. The whole post is fantastic, and I recommend it to anyone who's been in this crazy publishing business long enough to get discouraged and need a kick in the pants. She doesn't sugarcoat things, but I prefer my advice bitter to the taste; if it's hard to swallo...

Of Advertisements and the Undead

Government agencies and foundations are jumping on the zombie trend. The U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) used zombies in their disaster preparedness campaign. This campaign spawned videos, news reports, and even a graphic novel.

Now Canada's Heart & Stroke Foundation has released a PSA video about the importance of CPR in keeping cardiac victims "undead."

Check it out:



Why are zombies being used in important educational campaigns? Because the zombie metaphor is ripe for interpretation....

Reblog: Undead Resolutions

New Year, new you. That's the goal, right? Join me at The Otherworld Diner to explore what resolutions the undead would make, if given the chance.


Zombie Resolutions:

Brains! Eat more of them, but choose judiciously. Humans holed up in a McDonald’s are probably eating the food served there. Skip the trans fats and target those who’ve taken shelter in Whole Foods.Don’t lose weight; keep all limbs firmly attached. Your excitement at seeing your goal weight on the scale will be hampered...

Of Fairy Tales and a Disney Addiction

Disney and I go way back. I remember seeing Oliver & Company in the theater when I was 6. My love of Billy Joel started that day. My cousins and I watched and rewatched (and re-rewatched) Aladdin until the VHS lost all color except blue. We knew every line of every song in The Little Mermaid . We memorized Beauty and the Beast , Sleeping Beauty , and Cinderella . To be clear, none of my cousins are what I'd define as girly-girls, and I don't think that's a descriptor I've ever been...

Of Inspiration and Nick Miller

I don't know who made this, but it's officially my NaNoWriMo inspiration:


Even though I'm actually not writing about zombies for once, this shall be my new mantra. If Nick Miller can do it, I can too!

Happy NaNo, everyone!