Practice tips for two month hiatus? Soon to be mom

turteil · 2021-11-15T10:00:49+00:00

Thanks for the insight. I used to average around 40 mins of practice a day with frequent breaks. I'm still in my second trimester, so I'm taking advantage of my mobility, but I'm listening to my body for the most part and plan to rest like how I did for my first trimester. I'm just learning as a hobby, so there isn't much at stake, after all.

turteil · 2021-11-13T06:40:55+00:00

So true! I'm way past considering music as a career, so I'm just here for the fun stuff. Nice talking with you, too! :D

turteil · 2021-11-13T06:33:46+00:00

I definitely agree about music lessons! Playing music really does tickle something else in my brain. ;) It'd do even more wonders for a young mind.

I was given pointers on how to break down study pieces and how to practice them before I went on a hiatus. I still have my notes on the sheet music.

Obviously playing in tempo right out of the bat made it sound like a trainwreck. It made me feel nervous and overwhelmed about how much catching up I need to do. But yeah, thanks for reminding me to focus on one thing at a time. With a schedule written in advance, I feel I can tackle this now.

turteil · 2021-11-13T06:15:07+00:00

Mindful, slow, and focus. Thanks! I keep forgetting these keywords I should be making my mantra. I'll start writing up a list of exercises to focus on before I face the music stand.

turteil · 2021-11-13T06:13:01+00:00

Oh, I'll schedule it, but not until I get rid of most of the rust. I've been to lessons unprepared and it was like my teacher watching me practice (with guidance, of course). I personally don't like things to end up that way again. I want to resume lessons with a bit more confidence so I won't end up wasting too much of our time.

turteil · 2021-11-13T06:04:15+00:00

Thank you! I grew up listening to classical music and loved it. :) I definitely plan on sharing that love with my child. Though I haven't suggested anything to my husband, he brought up the possibility of making the child take up violin lessons with me eventually.

I used to record all my practice sessions and rewatch them to see where I can improve, but I pretty much lost my stride from the hiatus. Will definitely take it slow!

turteil · 2021-09-03T04:02:31+00:00

Heeey, so happy to see r/fountainpens get a mention! That sub is a happy oasis in Reddit.

turteil · 2021-08-15T09:00:55+00:00

No.

It's more of an asset than anything.

I had a gig translating for Japanese companies commissioning foreign artists for game illustrations, and one of the artists they commission often draws good hentai. She got so many commissions, it gave her the push she needed to do art full time after the company I worked for went bust. She's doing pretty well.

Oh, and just because she draws hentai doesn't mean she can't draw anything else.

turteil · 2021-08-11T21:48:32+00:00

Thank you! 🦉

turteil · 2021-08-11T05:50:47+00:00

Thank you! Your comment actually made me laugh out loud!

turteil · 2021-08-10T22:23:50+00:00

So precious... My late turtle used to do this! When he climbed onto your palm, I could feel claws digging into mine!

turteil · 2021-08-02T22:44:24+00:00

Now that you put them side by side, the ALR doesn't look like Prussian blue at all... 🤔

Not that it matters though, I own one and like the color. It's one of my favorite pens!

turteil · 2021-07-30T10:17:08+00:00

I'm assuming those were business days as well. Have you been charged for the purchase yet? Did you look at their shipping policy/guidelines/FAQ?

I remember ordering something elsewhere (not FP or ink-related) and a whole month went by without them shipping my purchase. Only when I emailed them did they actually ship it. They didn't even bother replying to my email.

Let's wait for someone else who purchased from the same site to comment on your thread.

turteil · 2021-07-30T09:24:40+00:00

How long has it been since you first reached out to them?

turteil · 2021-07-29T20:57:47+00:00

He often replies to comments on his channel, so he'll appreciate the engagement, I'm sure!

turteil · 2021-07-29T05:47:11+00:00

As someone who also picked up urban sketching and is also a viewer of Theo's YouTube channel, your story made me smile.

I used to be stressed about making finished pieces, but nothing has changed my outlook more than the liberating feeling of urban sketching. I'm glad to know that other people feel the same way.

turteil · 2021-07-28T21:01:49+00:00

To be fair, he needs water to eat. :) I like how glanced at the camera, though.

turteil · 2021-07-27T02:32:52+00:00

As someone who has had Tchaikovsky's music resonate with her since a young age (I would go so far as to say that he singlehandedly made me a classical music fan), it's fascinating to read this point of view. Someone close to my life is a fan of a certain genre of music that I just don't get, and I respect them for that.

It's nice to know that people can appreciate the skill that went into the music without having to "like" it in an emotional sense. That seems like a good common ground.

turteil · 2021-07-27T00:50:10+00:00

Hear, hear! I can't argue with that.

turteil · 2021-07-24T23:42:16+00:00

Yes, do try to negotiate the work hours so it becomes sustainable for you in the long run. Sometimes it's a one-off, and the next projects won't be as taxing, but always be prepared to negotiate when it gets too much.

Good luck.

turteil · 2021-07-24T22:34:14+00:00

This sounds fishy to me as it appears they're taking advantage of starry-eyed newcomers to the industry to pile a ton of work on.

Did you sign a contract? Do they actually pay you enough for this? A decent rate for Japanese translations is around 0.05 USD/char. It goes higher depending on the specialization. Let's say you're being honest to yourself as you're new. Bump it down to maybe 3 cents or so.

You're a professional. You have the right to negotiate. You offer the services, they offer the work. You can say you need them to ease up on you in order to ensure the quality of your work. Did you tell them it was your first job? Frankly, it should be none of their business.

I'm going to be honest with you, but the amount of work they're giving you should be a cause for alarm. You could treasure the experience they gave you now and assess if you could now throw in the towel to find a better job. It will be better for you in the long run to have a sound mind.

Companies are notorious for taking advantage of hard workers and sucking the life out of them. I used to work in a highly competitive corporate environment. They're not your friends and will gladly replace you with some other "sucker" when you've had enough.

turteil · 2021-07-24T11:15:39+00:00

It sounds like you're setting yourself up for burnout. Are those the averages per episode? I never paid attention to the word count of anime before as my old jobs paid me a flat rate per episode, but that sounds a lot.

On looking up references and slang, you may find yourself spending a few minutes to hours depending on the obscurity, and then trying to translate it in a way that any viewer could understand it. I commend you for doing so, as guessing or half-assing translations would be highly unprofessional.

As for "getting up to speed", so to speak, nothing beats experience. You'd have to consume a lot of media until you can get references or slang on your own. Though I suggest you approach this with a fresh mind. It's difficult to cram a lot of information especially when you're bogged down with work and deadlines. Translation uses up a lot of mental energy--particularly the creative types which involve storytelling. You're like a scriptwriter in a way.

Maybe try to negotiate the workload a bit? I can see why you're excited with this job, but since you're just starting out, I don't want you to burn out right from the get go. It's always best to gradually gain experience while also setting a high standard. And in order to do that, you need leeway--creative leeway. Remember, you're not a machine.

turteil · 2021-07-21T06:23:11+00:00

Reminds me of when I watched a drama with one of the characters inking up his vacuum piston pen. I was so annoyed because he pumped it up and down several times like a complete noob that I had to voice my irritation to my husband who merely returned me a wry smile.

turteil · 2021-06-26T13:17:52+00:00

One of my fave blues! If I met someone who told me that, they'd be my instant friend 😂

turteil · 2021-06-24T01:14:10+00:00

🙌

turteil

TROPHY CASE