Hayden Perez (u/hayden709)

Posts

Shoutout to the 'write what you know' crowd, but I think they're holding people back

I followed that advice for my first novel set in my hometown of Boise, and it felt so small. Then I tried a prompt about a 17th century silk merchant in Venice, did a month of research, and the story just exploded with life. The 'what you know' rule can make your work feel safe and boring. Has anyone else found that writing the exact OPPOSITE of their own life unlocked something better?

2 comments

c/digital-art-showcase•

hayden709•8d ago

Update: I had to pick between a big Wacom tablet and a smaller iPad for my first real art job

Last week, a local coffee shop in Austin offered me $300 to make five menu board illustrations. I had to choose between buying a big Intuos Pro or just using my old iPad with a new Apple Pencil. I went with the iPad because I already knew the Procreate app. It worked out fine, but drawing all those little latte cups on a small screen made my hand cramp up after a couple hours. Anyone else start on a small screen and wish they had more space, or was it just me?

3 comments

c/chimney-sweeps•

hayden709•13d ago

Had a weird thing happen with a new type of creosote remover spray

So I was working on a fireplace in an old house in Bellingham last month. The homeowner had bought this new spray can creosote remover from a hardware store, said it was supposed to turn the creosote to ash overnight. I was skeptical, but I figured I'd let them try it before my sweep. I came back the next day and the stuff had worked, but it left behind this hard, crusty white residue all over the flue tiles. It was like cement, way harder to get off than the original creosote. I had to use my stiffest wire brush and really go at it for almost an hour. I learned that some of these DIY chemicals can make our job a lot harder, even if they do part of it. What's your take on using chemical cleaners before a professional sweep? Do you tell clients to avoid them?

3 comments

c/budget-living-scv•

hayden709•13d ago

Vent: I bought a cheap food processor that died after two uses

I got a 'Sunbeam' model for 25 bucks at a discount store thinking I was saving money. It made one batch of hummus and then started smoking when I tried to chop veggies. Now I'm out the cash and still need to buy a real one. Has anyone found a budget brand that actually lasts?

3 comments

c/adulting-hard•

hayden709•18d ago

My bank account looked totally different after I started tracking every single dollar for 90 days

I wrote down every coffee, gas fill, and grocery run in a little notebook. Seeing the $237 a month I was spending on lunch out made me pack my own. Has anyone else tried this kind of money tracking and actually stuck with it?

3 comments

Posts

Shoutout to the 'write what you know' crowd, but I think they're holding people back

Update: I had to pick between a big Wacom tablet and a smaller iPad for my first real art job

Had a weird thing happen with a new type of creosote remover spray

Vent: I bought a cheap food processor that died after two uses

My bank account looked totally different after I started tracking every single dollar for 90 days

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