I've had my Kindle for a couple of months now and while it has some limitations, I like it. Mostly, I like reading USA Today and some blogs on the Kindle. I have a book or two and while some have been practical to read on the kindle, others have been more of a struggle.
One book that I'm on the fence about is "The Healthy Kitchen" by Andrew Weil and Rosie Dailey. I like being able to read it on the Kindle but at the same time, this is a book that would be nice to have in hardcopy. Could be I'll change my mind down the road as I become more adept at using the Kindle - only time will tell.
I'm definitely a fan of reading USA Today on my Kindle and even though it's not in color, I'm able to scan and read the paper and then zero in on those select articles when I get a chance on my regular computer and print to pdf if I want to preserve them for research or just plain morbid fascination. Sure beats cutting out articles from the actual paper and then trying to capture them electronically.
I just wish that the electronic version of books was more reasonable. The price points seem curious given that electronic delivery should be much more cost-effective than the actual book. It probably is but the savings aren't necessarily being passed onto the reader.
It will be interesting to see where we are at in 5, even 10 years on the issue of price.
I also purchased a netbook and so far so good. The keyboard takes a little getting use to but I like how compact it is, especially since I commute by train.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
Finish What You Started (part 2) by June Sproat
On March 8th I blogged about the problems I was having keeping my attention on my current work (or works) in progress. I meant to blog the next week to follow up with that blog, but low and behold, WAD (Writers Attention Disorder) got in the way again.
While keeping up with Spring Fling 2010 stuff, I didn’t get a chance to write anything, but I did a lot of thinking. And yes, I did get sidetracked, but, and this is a big BUT, I came up with another character that fits the need perfect for my WIP!
YAY!
So now I have a new character that fills in the gap I needed which was hindering my progress and creates the hero for a novella idea that would be perfect to follow the WIP.
Double YAY!
It appears that I won’t be able to shake off WAD, but I’m okay with that because once I do get back to writing I’m certain the words will flow. I just only hope I can keep up typing as fast as my brain is spilling out the story.
Best~
June
www.junesproat.com
While keeping up with Spring Fling 2010 stuff, I didn’t get a chance to write anything, but I did a lot of thinking. And yes, I did get sidetracked, but, and this is a big BUT, I came up with another character that fits the need perfect for my WIP!
YAY!
So now I have a new character that fills in the gap I needed which was hindering my progress and creates the hero for a novella idea that would be perfect to follow the WIP.
Double YAY!
It appears that I won’t be able to shake off WAD, but I’m okay with that because once I do get back to writing I’m certain the words will flow. I just only hope I can keep up typing as fast as my brain is spilling out the story.
Best~
June
www.junesproat.com
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Good News and Goals
I had some good news this past week. My author copies for Wild Wedding Weekend were available to order! I can't wait for that box to be delivered in a couple of weeks.
To keep my mind off of the nearly-impossible-to-contain anticipation, I am setting some goals for the coming week. I am off all week (Spring Break!), so I hope to accomplish a lot. I figured if I put something down in writing and let other people see my list, it might give me an extra incentive push to actually get these things done.
So here they are:
*Write EVERY day. I am a third of the way done with my WIP and would like to be done by the middle of next month. To be specific, let's say I'd like to do at LEAST a hundred pages.
*Finish up at LEAST two more interviews for my upcoming mini-blog tour in April.
*Design the bookmark for This Can't Be Love.
*Get on the treadmill three to four times during the week.
*Paint the back/kitchen door stoop white. It's been grey forever, and every time I look at it I think, "This thing really needs to be painted." As does the one small spot of grey on the ceiling of the back porch where we removed a pole when we redid the back stairs...eight years ago.
*Have lunch and go shopping with a friend.
*Have dinner with my Goddaughters.
Now my list is set. I have my goals in mind. Check back next week to see how well I did!
Until next time,
Happy Reading! (I plan on doing some of that as well this week.)
Debra
www.debrastjohnromance.com
To keep my mind off of the nearly-impossible-to-contain anticipation, I am setting some goals for the coming week. I am off all week (Spring Break!), so I hope to accomplish a lot. I figured if I put something down in writing and let other people see my list, it might give me an extra incentive push to actually get these things done.
So here they are:
*Write EVERY day. I am a third of the way done with my WIP and would like to be done by the middle of next month. To be specific, let's say I'd like to do at LEAST a hundred pages.
*Finish up at LEAST two more interviews for my upcoming mini-blog tour in April.
*Design the bookmark for This Can't Be Love.
*Get on the treadmill three to four times during the week.
*Paint the back/kitchen door stoop white. It's been grey forever, and every time I look at it I think, "This thing really needs to be painted." As does the one small spot of grey on the ceiling of the back porch where we removed a pole when we redid the back stairs...eight years ago.
*Have lunch and go shopping with a friend.
*Have dinner with my Goddaughters.
Now my list is set. I have my goals in mind. Check back next week to see how well I did!
Until next time,
Happy Reading! (I plan on doing some of that as well this week.)
Debra
www.debrastjohnromance.com
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Stuff by Margot Justes
I normally stay away from public political comments, but the 2010 Census got to me. The TV blitz wasn't enough, because I received a postcard in the mail telling me the census is on the way. Sure enough, the census came, and a week later another postcard arrived letting me know what number to call if I had any problems.
Couldn't that number have appeared somewhere on the census form? Saving a tiny bit of money considering what we owe, would have been nice. A start.
Economic crunch? What economic crunch, it's business as usual. The unfortunate often heard comment 'your tax dollars at work' seems to apply. Well, that's my gripe for the week.
On another note, totally not politically related and goes to librarians and booksellers-the RWA Chicago North Spring Fling is just around the corner, please register for this free event. And, if you register before March 31, you'll get a lovely goody bag. So, please do not delay. Here is the link www.chicagospringfling.com/bookseller.shtml
Just fill out the RSVP form and you'll be all set.
A bit of more stuff, Susan Miura and I are all set for our A Taste of Italy presentation fir kibraries, I'm very excited about it, because I'll finally get to write my Venice travel blogs. It's a work in progress.
Till next time,
Margot Justes
www.mjustes.com
A Hotel in Paris
Couldn't that number have appeared somewhere on the census form? Saving a tiny bit of money considering what we owe, would have been nice. A start.
Economic crunch? What economic crunch, it's business as usual. The unfortunate often heard comment 'your tax dollars at work' seems to apply. Well, that's my gripe for the week.
On another note, totally not politically related and goes to librarians and booksellers-the RWA Chicago North Spring Fling is just around the corner, please register for this free event. And, if you register before March 31, you'll get a lovely goody bag. So, please do not delay. Here is the link www.chicagospringfling.com/bookseller.shtml
Just fill out the RSVP form and you'll be all set.
A bit of more stuff, Susan Miura and I are all set for our A Taste of Italy presentation fir kibraries, I'm very excited about it, because I'll finally get to write my Venice travel blogs. It's a work in progress.
Till next time,
Margot Justes
www.mjustes.com
A Hotel in Paris
Friday, March 19, 2010
March Forward Past Inertia
Inertia - it is a problem when getting underway on a writing project just as it is when wanting to lay a new floor or build a bookshelf or assemble a bike. But where does it come from and why? I have a sneaking suspicion it is related to procrastination, but I suspect it is even more closely related to procrastiantion's mother and father - Doubt and Self-Doubt. A deep-seated fear that asks us in the recesses of our mind the daming and depressing question: Why bother? At its worse it can be paralyzing, and at its best it challenges us if we take a blowback, angry, determined response, so that perhaps it is not so much the devilish voice in our head that keeps us from our work, but our reaction to that voice.
Frankly, as a young writer, I was told by many more adults than not that I would never be a writer, and that I should choose another career path. But Robert Frost's poem "The Road Less Taken" spoke volumes to me and said it was all right to take the path I was already on as a kid in junior high school. I had adults in every arena of my life urging me to go into accounting, plastics, mechanics, electronics, even teaching, and I did go into teaching but with the clear discussion with myself that I do so to support my writing life. Even then in college as in high school, I ran into resistance; in fact, I was told by a professor in my first college creative writing class that I should not only drop his class but think about another career path. That I would never be a writer, certainly not a publishe writer and best I could do in his class was make a C. That only made me more determined; I took the right attitude and took it as a challenge, and I worked diligently at craft. In fact, after college, I decided to give it a year and work at nothing else to perfect my writing. That year turned into four years...four lean, hungry years which to this day I consider my self-imposed PhD time wherein I put in the time and effort to get better as a writer and in doing so I wrote a lot of novels that garnered some thousand or so rejections from others who kept telling me I would never succeed at this business or profession or roulette wheel called a writing career.
I would not take no for an answer not even from the experts--agents, editors, publishers. So why should I take NO and doubts from within my own head? What did I know? I have to convince myself each time I go forth to do a scene that I am good enough and worthy enough to be considered a novelist, even after all my successes thanks to inertia and self doubts that come I am convinced as a prerequisite to an artistic mind. We may choose to be artistic crafts-people but that does not quell or kill that doubting Thomas inside our psyche that asks in a sneer, "Just who the hell do you think you are?" and "Do you really think anyone truly wants to read a word you have to say?" and "One day someone will kick your door in and expose you for the fraud you are."
We can't give in to such nonsense; in fact, we must turn those thoughts right around to read: "I think I am a writer...in fadt, I KNOW this. And there are people anxious to hear what I have to say most assuredly. And no one can call me a fraud as I work extremely hard to make my product the best it can be, so Self-Doubt get thee behind me! I have work to do. And in the doing comes the joy of writing and all the negatives fade to nothing, and you are free to work thanks to your proper response to the nonsense that wants to control your sense. Don't let the devils of inertia beat you down; instead beat them down. But beware as they never ever quite go silent.
Rob Walker
Killer Instinct, first in the Instinct Series available now at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003CJU2T0
Name my Next Novel contest continues - http://www.robertwalkerbooks.com/
Frankly, as a young writer, I was told by many more adults than not that I would never be a writer, and that I should choose another career path. But Robert Frost's poem "The Road Less Taken" spoke volumes to me and said it was all right to take the path I was already on as a kid in junior high school. I had adults in every arena of my life urging me to go into accounting, plastics, mechanics, electronics, even teaching, and I did go into teaching but with the clear discussion with myself that I do so to support my writing life. Even then in college as in high school, I ran into resistance; in fact, I was told by a professor in my first college creative writing class that I should not only drop his class but think about another career path. That I would never be a writer, certainly not a publishe writer and best I could do in his class was make a C. That only made me more determined; I took the right attitude and took it as a challenge, and I worked diligently at craft. In fact, after college, I decided to give it a year and work at nothing else to perfect my writing. That year turned into four years...four lean, hungry years which to this day I consider my self-imposed PhD time wherein I put in the time and effort to get better as a writer and in doing so I wrote a lot of novels that garnered some thousand or so rejections from others who kept telling me I would never succeed at this business or profession or roulette wheel called a writing career.
I would not take no for an answer not even from the experts--agents, editors, publishers. So why should I take NO and doubts from within my own head? What did I know? I have to convince myself each time I go forth to do a scene that I am good enough and worthy enough to be considered a novelist, even after all my successes thanks to inertia and self doubts that come I am convinced as a prerequisite to an artistic mind. We may choose to be artistic crafts-people but that does not quell or kill that doubting Thomas inside our psyche that asks in a sneer, "Just who the hell do you think you are?" and "Do you really think anyone truly wants to read a word you have to say?" and "One day someone will kick your door in and expose you for the fraud you are."
We can't give in to such nonsense; in fact, we must turn those thoughts right around to read: "I think I am a writer...in fadt, I KNOW this. And there are people anxious to hear what I have to say most assuredly. And no one can call me a fraud as I work extremely hard to make my product the best it can be, so Self-Doubt get thee behind me! I have work to do. And in the doing comes the joy of writing and all the negatives fade to nothing, and you are free to work thanks to your proper response to the nonsense that wants to control your sense. Don't let the devils of inertia beat you down; instead beat them down. But beware as they never ever quite go silent.
Rob Walker
Killer Instinct, first in the Instinct Series available now at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003CJU2T0
Name my Next Novel contest continues - http://www.robertwalkerbooks.com/
Thursday, March 18, 2010
A Conundrum! by DL Larson
Lately I have done a few book chats for book clubs. While I enjoy talking about my novels with others who have read them, I have discovered (again) how frugal folks can be. The last book club I visited was at a senior residence. It's a large, beautiful environment and the ladies boasted they had their own library. Unfortunately they had purchased only a couple of my books and the group took turns reading the few copies. In April I have another book chat scheduled with another book club, from another town. I asked if they had enough books and the caller said they were sharing the book. As a librarian I suggested if they didn't want to purchase a book, they could borrow a few from their town library. I believe this to be the next best thing to a sale and keeps my books in circulation. The caller didn't think this was necessary. I continued to encourage her to stop at her local library any way. Hopefully she will.
I realize the economy has slowed impulsive buying to nearly nonexistent. Profit for the writer is becoming more challenging. The group I mentioned above were very enthusiastic about discussing the plot of my book Memories Trail. They were eager to take my book marks and business cards and I hope my press information doesn't end up in a junk drawer but in the hands of friends and family with a comment or two about "you should read this book."
Money for presenting seems to fall into one of those gray areas of professionalism. All too often, I'm too soft-hearted to say up front I charge for appearances. It's a sticky situation. In the last year presenting at libraries I have been paid and I appreciate that. Talking in front of small groups and book clubs I have not. Somehow I have fallen into a swamp here, wondering how to "get my name out there" and not go broke at the same time. Book clubs seem to be looking for free entertainment and a free book from the author. And of course I left a free book at the senior residence because ... because ... because they wanted one! My stash of free books from my publisher is long gone - this came right out of my pocket. I continue to believe I'm spreading my name this way, but it's difficult to believe when I come home and in my ledger I write mileage 120 miles - no payment and 1 book for $20 - no payment. My accountant thinks I'm running a charity and not a business. He's right of course. This doesn't feel like a business when I'm the only one spending money. At book signings and other outings I have my prices posted and I have tried this at book club gatherings, but it doesn't seem to work the same.
I've been spending money on my writing from the get-go; I'm not afraid to spend money in order to make money. However, in this tight economy I'm giving more than I'm getting right now and I wonder how long can I continue on this path of no-profit again today? It's become a conundrum; how can I sell my books if I'm not out promoting them? How can I promote my work if I don't receive any payment for my efforts?
Do you accept invitations without pay? Has that worked for you? Share your experiences with us at Acme Authors.
Til next time ~
DL Larson
I realize the economy has slowed impulsive buying to nearly nonexistent. Profit for the writer is becoming more challenging. The group I mentioned above were very enthusiastic about discussing the plot of my book Memories Trail. They were eager to take my book marks and business cards and I hope my press information doesn't end up in a junk drawer but in the hands of friends and family with a comment or two about "you should read this book."
Money for presenting seems to fall into one of those gray areas of professionalism. All too often, I'm too soft-hearted to say up front I charge for appearances. It's a sticky situation. In the last year presenting at libraries I have been paid and I appreciate that. Talking in front of small groups and book clubs I have not. Somehow I have fallen into a swamp here, wondering how to "get my name out there" and not go broke at the same time. Book clubs seem to be looking for free entertainment and a free book from the author. And of course I left a free book at the senior residence because ... because ... because they wanted one! My stash of free books from my publisher is long gone - this came right out of my pocket. I continue to believe I'm spreading my name this way, but it's difficult to believe when I come home and in my ledger I write mileage 120 miles - no payment and 1 book for $20 - no payment. My accountant thinks I'm running a charity and not a business. He's right of course. This doesn't feel like a business when I'm the only one spending money. At book signings and other outings I have my prices posted and I have tried this at book club gatherings, but it doesn't seem to work the same.
I've been spending money on my writing from the get-go; I'm not afraid to spend money in order to make money. However, in this tight economy I'm giving more than I'm getting right now and I wonder how long can I continue on this path of no-profit again today? It's become a conundrum; how can I sell my books if I'm not out promoting them? How can I promote my work if I don't receive any payment for my efforts?
Do you accept invitations without pay? Has that worked for you? Share your experiences with us at Acme Authors.
Til next time ~
DL Larson
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Handouts - Are You a Giver Or Receiver, Or Both? by Morgan Mandel
I'm getting organized to present a social networking program at the Niles, Illinois Library on March 28 from 1:30 - 4:30. One of the things I did Monday night was prepare a handout. Hopefully, my handout is engaging enough to make people want to stay and listen. I want to spark their interest, throw in some information they may not know, yet not tell it all on paper. They have to come to the program for that.I like giving handouts and I love receiving them. What about you? If you go to a program, do you like to get a handout? Or, maybe you're so neat you hate to bring any more paper into the house. It's too late for me on that score. Paper's already infiltrated my home and won't leave any time soon.
What about you? Are you a giver or receiver, or both?
Morgan Mandel
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)