For no other reason than it's time for a change, I am attempting to move my newer writings, along with some classics over to Substack - which is apparently the next evolution of blogging, much like all the others.
So for some new and old, check me out at substack.com/metajayroyston
I've had this blog for about 10 years now. I don't know how many people actually read it so at times it's part journal, part essay, part stories. With my focus switching to a new five year plan, I've made a move of sorts over to Substack, which allows for a new audience of fans who will also 'support' my writing via a subscription service.
It gives you an option to pay to have special features sent directly to your Inbox or simply maintain subscribing for free to get notices of when I have posted some type of entertaining substance.
It also allows me to see how many subscribers I have.
You can see and/or subscribe to my substack here.
Like every social media, I need to learn the rules to drive the algorithm. As this is to be more of a writer marketing site, there will be little personal entries there. Perhaps I may make this more of my journal.
However, there is always the risk that one day this will all disappear into the Cyber-Nether.
In other news, I found a CD of Word back-up files from pre 2005, so that's been fun. I will be posting contents from that stage of my life mostly on substack so if you want to read of a world pre-USA politics, You can see and/or subscribe to my substack here.
Soon it's back to school time, I find out if I have successfully transferred to a new school closer to where my youngest is going. Change is good, right?
You can answer that here; You can see and/or subscribe to my substack here.
This year, in honour of the kids being older, options becoming more limited, I'm throwing money behind myself and my writing by hiring a marketing person. She's an old friend, gregarious and smart.
I have 2 books in the chamber but we are getting my 'ducks in a row' which unfortunately also requires me working a trades job 40 hours a week while trying to carve out some time around my goals.
I have also learned over the last month that while I'm trying to adopt a 'me-first' attitude, my family will always comes first. So that has meant camping and driving a lot. My writing took a back seat which is not a bad thing, when I recognize the love I get in return. On those days, I feel like a good dad and I pity the boy who will replace me one day in my daughter's life. He's got some big shoes to fill.
I digress. This was only meant to be a quick update to mention I am trying to merge my writing life over to Substack, as that is the weapon of choice for Jasper Fforde, a writer I admire.
I also have to write up an options contract for Unlimited Media, who are purchasing the film rights to Enter A Fistful of Marijuana (World Domination, baby!)
I also have my 12 year old's birthday party today. My wife's high school bff is visiting for the weekend so there is a possibility I'm undergoing a husband review from a 3rd party.
Here's a picture of my ducks in a row.
After all the excitement of the 4 Nations hockey tournament and the continuing mention (by Canadian hockey announcers) of Drew Doughty recovering from injury in time to lead the back end on the Canadian blue line, it made me think of 10 years ago and my hilarious (to me) blog around the 2014 Sochi Olympics, which I hope I can link in it's original blog form here.
I decided to convert it into a hard copy booklet form because, you know, practice and vanity and perhaps the off chance Drew himself would read it and I would get some bankroll/booksales from him (or one of the many other Team Canada/NHL players who may have read it).
I didn't and honestly, reading it 10 years later, it's not as good as I remembered, likely as there were no pictures.
But that didn't stop me from making a new cover, which looks a bit less like a 16 year old with a class in graphic arts did it.
If you've read this far and don't have this little booklet, you can buy it digitally or in book form here. Personally, I'd go with the book form as I made some edits in order to keep up with how my writing taste has changed over the last 10 years.
It's so hard to decide I keep having to flip between the two, thereby only catching 1/2 of each story. They are both great stories and great examples of a genre i just was informed of "Absurdist Fiction". So help make that a thing.
Plus, in an odd coincidence they both mention Angelina Jolie. I couldn't take the remote possibility of having to decide between two excellent shows happening again so I had to shut it down for the rest of the night. Also, Global was showing the Premiere episode of Saturday Night Live back in 1975 but was calling it a repeat but as usual, there were too many commercials so I saw none of it.
On my other semi-secret project. I am hitting .333. I was surprised at how much i am enjoying it.
oh well, off to work and write and kill zombies (not in that order). 
Kelly trying to save her baby
Kelly trying to save Twilight
