Tracy's blog shows the evolution of my writing and blog.
The blog also shows the evolution of myself.
This blog post is like part 2 of this blog post from Oct. 2014:
email evolution/ constructive criticism/ Post Secret
Tracy's blog: email evolution/ constructive criticism/ Post Secret (badcb.blogspot.com)
Dec. 13, 2022 Why did you start this blog?:
Academic: I started this blog in Jan. 2008 for my Basic HTML class when I was in Professional Communication at MacEwan University. This was for school.
In Apr. 2008, I graduated. I then decided to post my weekly emails (to my friends) onto my blog.
Professional:
Diablo Cody: I have read that people like Diablo Cody (who is a screenwriter) was discovered on her blog:
Diablo Cody - Wikipedia
Personal: I was writing and sending 2 emails/ blog posts a week to my friends from 2006-2008. I decided to put these emails onto my blog.
There are times where I write about something. I then want to bring what I wrote in an earlier blog post into this present email/ blog post.
In 2008-2009: 2 blog posts a week.
In 2010- present: 3 blog posts a week.
I then wrote this on my blog summary:
"I’m Tracy Au and I have a 2 year diploma in Professional Communication from MacEwan University. I am an aspiring screenwriter, so this blog is used to promote my writing and attract people who will hire me to write for your TV show or movie. I post a lot of articles about jobs, entertainment (TV, movies, books), news, and my opinions on it. I also write about my daily life. I have another blog promoting my TV project at www.thevertexfighter.blogspot.com."
The main point of the blog was to prove myself and show my writing talent and skills.
Writing: From 2008- Aug. 2014, I find an article on any topic I like and am interested in, and write about it.
I read a news article and I summarize it and I put it in my own words. I put the link on.
Blog: I publish all the TV, movie, book reviews, author interviews articles from the newspapers and websites onto my blog.
I also write my own TV and movie reviews onto the blog.
I write my writing tips about characters, dialogue, storylines, etc.
I write "comparisons" like a TV show or movie has done this storyline, but they did it differently.
I write "comedy comparisons" like a TV show or movie has done this funny line, scene, storyline, but they did it differently.
Real life: I have tried to get a job at a TV production company called Dynacor Media in 2008 and I attended the interview. I didn't get hired. I decided to work at a restaurant in the day, and pitch my script by emailing TV production companies across Canada in the evenings and weekends.
In the pitch email, I tell them I have a 2 year college diploma in Professional Communication at MacEwan. I don't mention my blog, but they can look me up and find the blog.
Meetups: I attend Screenwriter and Filmmakers Meetups since 2015. I read people's scripts and I give my notes on how to improve them. I write pros and cons on them.
In 2008- 2012: I was trying to be a TV writer with pitching my script and blogging.
In 2011- Aug. 2014: I started writing 3 emails a week with these topics.
1. Jobs, careers, and business: I write about the business news and job interviews I attended.
2. TV, movies, writing: I am to show what I learned about writing onto my blog.
3. These can vary:
Shopping
My personal life
Charity
Current events/ crazy news: This was like in 2011. Angela said she thought my emails/ blog posts were boring, so I decided to write about crazy news/ current events. I predicted that she might like this.
Tracy: So have you been reading my weekly emails?
Angela: Yeah, I like these a lot more.
Tracy is happy and excited.
Tracy: Is it because I write about the news?
Angela: No, it's because you write about your opinion on the news.
I like to read and hear about people's opinions, like my friends or strangers comments on news articles on the internet.
This is my Dec. 2021 blog post. This has all my friends and co-worker's opinions.
grey issues (Part 1)/ Justin Berry/ intervention/ abortions
I was happy that Angela liked my emails more. I write my opinions about a lot of topics.
This is my Oct. 2022 blog post. This really proves the main point of Tracy's blog is to show my writing talent and how I'm trying to achieve my goal of being a TV writer and producer:
"Don’t tell anyone what you doing until it’s done. Outside energy can throw off goals"/ "Why Jensen Ackles Didn't Tell Jared Padalecki About 'Supernatural' Prequel: 'Extremely Superstitious'"
Sept. 22, 2022 Angry and annoyed:
This is from the Nov. 2021 blog post:
Tracy's ideal life vs. Tracy's real life (Part 2)/ "Missing Out: In Praise of the Unlived Life" by Adam Phillips
2012 TV production company job search: I rebooted my TV production company job search. I attended an interview in 2008, and didn't get hired. I decided I will work a regular job at a restaurant in the day and pitch my script to TV production companies in the evenings. I got 2 interviews in 2 months in 2012. I called my friend Angela about this:
Angela: How come you didn't do this sooner?
Tracy: I did. I attended a job interview at a TV production company back in 2008, after I graduated from Professional Writing. I wrote about it on my blog.
It's okay that she and my friends, family, or blog readers will probably not remember that I attended a job interview at a TV production company from 5 yrs ago.
In Dec. 2014, I was sick for 2 days and decided to look for the blog post about that 2008 interview and I couldn't find it. I edited spelling, punctuation, and grammar. In Dec. 2020, I was saving and backing up my blog and I found it:
Dynacor Media:
In May 2008:
job/ drive/ shopping
Tracy's blog: job/ drive/ shopping (badcb.blogspot.com)
This morning I got up at 10am. Since I got a email from Dynacor, I wanted to get his name so I could call them back. I then called and we will have an interview on Fri. He said I could be a production assistant and not only an office assistant. My dream of working at TV production company could be coming true. I also got a email from Media Masters, but he said that they are a production company. They don't produce the film like pay the writer for the script. They only film it. He told me to get an investor and money for the project before I could call them and start filming.
job/ charity/ 27 Dresses
Tracy's blog: job/ charity/ 27 Dresses (badcb.blogspot.com)
May 9: I went to the Dynacor job interview. It was good. They asked that I email my The Fighter script to them and I did. What was interesting was that one of them kind of recognized me because my name sounded familiar. I told her I called her back in 2004 when I was trying to get into Nait's tv program. They don't really have time to train a production assistant, but they will keep my resume on file. She gave me some tips and production companies like Anaid, Reel girls and Panacea Productions. Call Citytv and ask who is in charge of programming.
In Nov. 2018:
Dynacor Media job interview/ "It's do or dye" (Timeless)
Tracy's blog: Dynacor Media job interview/ "It's do or dye" (Timeless) (badcb.blogspot.com)
Tracy's blog: Tracy's ideal life vs. Tracy's real life (Part 2)/ "Missing Out: In Praise of the Unlived Life" by Adam Phillips (badcb.blogspot.com)
Sept. 22, 2022 My opinion: I am angry and annoyed that Angela thought that I was stupid and that I didn't try to get a TV production company job right after I graduated out of Professional Writing in college.
There I said it. I need to get my anger out.
Comedy comparisons:
A character thinks another character is really dumb when he or she is not dumb:
The Simpsons: The episode where the school bus driver Otto lives with the family.
Bart: You said Otto can live with us. I have it on tape.
Bart plays the tape:
Bart: Hey mom, can Otto live in the garage as long as he wants?
Bart (pretends to be Marge): He sure can!
Homer: Marge, what were you thinking?!
Marge: That's not my voice.
Homer: Oh, that's what everybody says when they hear their voice on tape.
Nov. 9, 2018 Tracy's top 5 bad topics: I thought of this back in 2016.
1. Maury (2003-2006): This is before I started the blog, but I write about this talk show here and there.
2. Dr. Phil (2003-2006): This is before I started the blog, but I write about this talk show here and there.
3. Teen pregnancy (2008-2010)
4. The girl who's in a religion that doesn't allow her to talk to boys (2008-2012)
5. Dateline: To Catch a Predator (2011- 2012)
This is important:
1. Maury: I started watching the show back in summer 2003 after I finished high school. I had free time. I was interested in knowing who the father is from the paternity tests.
The woman says this guy is the father and the guy says he isn't. They argue about it for 5 minutes. Maury reads the test results.
If the man is the father, the woman says: "In your face! You are the father."
If the man is not the father, the man says: "If your face! I'm not the father."
I liked that Maury settled the argument between them. I liked it when the woman proves that this man is the father.
If the man is not the father, the woman will have to bring in another guy.
I was watching Dr. Phil, and in the commercial breaks I was watching Maury.
In summer 2005 I started disliking it. I was getting way too angry at the show. If the man is the father, there is a low chance he will be in the kid's life, except pay child support.
In Nov. 2005, I made myself stop watching Maury. I watched one too many paternity tests. I was going to stop watching the show. I was allowed to watch Dr. Phil.
If I quit Maury, it's like going from 0 to 30 km/hr. That's hard. I know I was going to relapse by watching it.
It's important to know who the father is or is not.
2. Dr. Phil: He used to help people when I started watching it in fall 2003-2005 (the first 2 seasons for me.) In fall 2005 he wasn't really helping people.
The people who came on the show seemed to make up a problem just so they can get on TV.
I was angry and depressed, and in a bad mood after watching it. I had to make myself stop watching it.
It was in Nov. 2005 I started disliking Dr. Phil, and then I was going to stop watching the show when the season ended in May 2006. If I quit earlier, that's good.
It's important to help people.
3. Teen pregnancy: I wrote about this a lot in like 2008-2009 because of the shows like Secret Life of the American Teenager, 16 and Pregnant, and Teen Mom.
This is an important topic so teens can graduate out of high school and not be raising a kid that they are not prepared for.
4. The girl who's in a religion that doesn't allow her to talk to boys:
This is important because it's about how you shouldn't waste your time and effort in trying to find this girl who doesn't want to be found.
You should put your time and effort into things that matter:
-school
-work
-family, friends, relationships
This may make people more compassionate and understanding of people's differences in race, religion, lifestyle. etc.
5. Dateline to Catch a Predator: This is important because it's about safety of kids and teens. I guess safety on the internet in general.
Am I intense?: This was in 2012. I asked Angela this.
Angela: Yeah, you get too fixated on some things like the girl who doesn't talk to boys.
Tracy: Yeah, and Dateline: To Catch a Predator.
Why do you write the same topics all the time?: This is to show my creative writing and screenwriting skills.
The girl who's in a religion that doesn't allow her to talk to boys:
I wrote some spec scripts for it on my blog.
spec scripts/ commercial/ job interviews
http://badcb.blogspot.ca/2010/04/spec-scripts-commercial-job-interviews.html
job search/ Lie to Me/ dentist
http://badcb.blogspot.ca/2010/02/job-search-lie-to-me-dentist.html
Dateline: to catch a predator:
It's fine if a lot of people who read it are saying:
"This is bad writing. There are these offensive, mean, and funny comments from YouTube where they criticize these predators."
This is practice for writing. I write a lot of things for my scripts that aren't on my blog and no one reads it but me.
Dateline/ Post Secret/ Polaris Project
Dateline/ comedy comparisons/ Ropes Quest
I do write about my old scripts:
comedy comparisons/ old scripts/ old inspiration
TV and movie comparisons/ my old scripts
Tracy's top 5 good topics:
1. Jobs, careers, and business: I write about the business news and job interviews I attended.
2. TV, movies, writing: I am to show what I learned about writing onto my blog.
3. Current events/ crazy news
4. Charity
5. My personal life or my opinions on the above topics.
2013 The Year of the Office Job: I got hired full- time at the Office Job and was working at a restaurant on the weekends.
I also accidentally offended my friend when I made a joke about one of her interests. I was relying on her too much. I apologized to her a few times in emails.
I was still writing.
In 2008- 2013:
95% of the blog was my writing.
The other 5% is where I copy and paste people's comments or news from the internet onto my blog.
2014 The Year of Education and Research: I started copying and pasting more from the internet like college programs I was researching.
In Sept. -Dec. 2014: I got accepted into the Office Assistant program at MacEwan University. I took a Microsoft Word 2010 computer class and a Business Communication class. I was also working part- time (4 days) at the hotel restaurant job.
I was very busy so I decided to copy and paste all these book reviews and author interviews from the newspaper that I cut over the years onto my blog.
I bold parts that I like and make comments on it.
In 2013- 2014: I had veered away and I felt like I wasn't going to be able to become a TV writer and producer.
2015 The Year of the Office Job and Dating (and Decluttering): I got hired at the Home Installation place and was working there and my hotel restaurant job on the weekends.
I was very busy so I copy and paste all these job articles from the newspaper that I cut over the years onto my blog.
I bold parts that I like and make comments on it.
It has been like that ever since.
It has now turned to 95% news articles and 5% my writing.
2016 The Year of Decluttering: I put the "my week" part to tell about my personal life.
Feb. 4, 2022 Current events/ crazy news: I put this in my weekly email/ blog post in the "my week" part.
I could a put a link of the news article onto my Facebook account as soon as I see the article.
However, I need to put a limit to how much news I'm reading and the time I spend on the internet.
The 3 weekly email/ blog posts is enough.
Jul. 30, 2022 News: I have been reading the news intensely since 2010. I also started cutting out articles. I write a lot about the news.
By Sept. 2014, I decided to post all the articles onto my blog.
1. I'm not a journalist.
2. I'm not trying to be a journalist.
If I was trying to be a journalist, I would be posting all these news articles the day that it came out.
I can post old news articles from a few years ago.
Blog: I collect information (mainly news).
I read and analyze them.
I put them together.
I post this on my blog.
Real life: I apply the information I read into my life.
Example: I read the job articles and business news to help me look for a job and learn how to be more productive.
Jul. 31, 2022 News articles: I have articles that I saved onto my email/ blog accounts from 2015.
I read the business news mainly from:
CBC
BNN Bloomberg
Financial Post
Current events:
Yahoo
I copy and paste 10-20 articles a week and save them onto my email/ blog accounts.
I am only allowed to send/ post 3 emails/ blog posts a week.
That is because you will be overwhelmed if I post more than that.
There is the saying "Less is more."
You are more likely to read 3 blog posts than 10 blog posts a week.
Dec. 14, 2022 What would you have done differently on your blog?:
News articles: I wrote about news articles from a newspaper, but I didn't write about who wrote it or copied and pasted the whole article or excerpts.
2013 The Year of the Office Job: I would have posted the whole news articles (like job articles) onto my blog.
When: The date of when it was published.
Who: Who wrote it.
Where: Where it was published.
By Sept. 2014 and definitely by Jan. 2015, I have mainly become this:
I wasn't trying to achieve the goal of being a TV writer and producer anymore.
I don't have to prove myself and show my writing skills and talent.
What is the main point of Tracy's blog?
This is mainly to show what I'm reading and learning from the news.
This shows my life.
First hand experience and knowledge: These are things I have personally learned and experienced.
Second hand experience and knowledge: These are things I have read, watched, listened or heard about from the news, books, TV, movies, other people's experiences.
I have asked myself the same question: What would you have done differently in achieving your goals in your life?
Tracy's ideal life (as a TV writer & producer, Actor, Office Career) vs. Tracy's real life (Part 1)
Tracy's ideal life vs. Tracy's real life (Part 2)/ "Missing Out: In Praise of the Unlived Life" by Adam Phillips
The other 2 blog posts of the week:
"A new year won't solve all of your financial problems: Tips for a better 2023"/ "5 ways to set yourself up for financial success in 2023"
"How to pay down debt quickly according to the experts"/ "Experts share tips for young Canadians finding themselves in debt for the first time"
