Tidbits 12-31-2011

Some fun and newsworthy notes to end 2011.

Akel Studio has an informative breakdown for photographers thinking to buy new equipment in 2012. Do you really need it? ==============
The fun and social interesting list of Banished Words is now up. Amazing! (ha ha). ==============
For Writers, this post at Terrible Minds has good information to heed. ==============
Photographers, history buffs, nature lovers, make note of this National Park's Service announcement. On the dates January 14–16, April 21–29, June 9, September 29 and November 10–12, 2012, there is no monetary excuse not to visit some of our nation’s greatest beauties. ==============
Here's interesting feedback on the new KDP Select program Amazon is running. David Wisehart has put up his personal info on the Make It Free feature that Select offers to authors.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Amazon Kicking Up Dust

Another brouhaha brewing. This time around the Kindle Owners' Lending Library. Borrow books for free, says Amazon (if you have Amazon Prime). However it seems some publishers are upset by this.

Here's a the skinny in a good overview from the LA Times.

Kodak Thinking Ahead

Or not.

It's so strange that a company that was the forefront and innovator in photography has seemed to miss the boat in the 21st century. I hope they get things righted.

Kodak Today

Kindle goes Tablet

Here it comes!

For Western Books and Readers

So often it's said that Westerns are "dying" and no one is interested in reading them. Reaction to a new Facebook group, Western Book Readers, certainly doesn't support that idea. In the two weeks since the group's inception, it already has more than 300 members. Some are authors (who are also readers), and the discussions are lively. Check it out!

New e-reader available

Just when it seems the e-reader market was saturated and about to become redundant (because of the capabilities of smartphones and tablets), a new one hits the market.

Google has joined the e-reader realm. Offering not only books for sale, but the vast library of stored books they have already squirreled away. You'd think they'd drop the price to snatch some of the competition, but they didn't. Not good, since Amazon is lowering prices this fall when they introduce their tablet. Nook is also considering price reductions.

The interest and success of this new product seems iffy.

KindleTag Misuse

A lot of conversation ensues about Amazon's decision to remove tags from Kindle pages. Tags--you know, those descriptive one to two word entries that are supposed to refer to what's in the book. Blogger calls them "labels"; the Internet search calls them "keywords." Whatever, Amazon has removed them from the Kindle pages, and they aren't available for indie authors to use on the publishing page.

An overview of this can be found at Taleist; and I agree, there have been a lot of bad practices regarding tags, including authors tagging each others' works that they haven't even read. I've also noticed bad tagging practice over at netgalley.com where publishing houses give their titles all sorts of tags that don't apply. Using "romance" is almost across the board by many houses, since they feel that's a hot item. "Thriller" is another. Unfortunately, the plan backfires with me, as I'm not interested in romances or thrillers; I see those tags and move on.

It's a shame the system has been misused so abundantly that Amazon has changed the format. It is also a shame that publishers and indie authors can't be satisfied that the descriptions of their work will draw in readers. With so many other social media and networking ways to promote a book, misusing tags seems silly.

Ancient Dictionary Completed

The University of Chicago's Oriental Institute has completed a project started 90 years ago. The Chicago Assyrian Dictionary is a compilation of the ancient languages of one of the first urban civilizations. Read the article here for more the information.

Another Kindle Innovation

It costs $25.00 less than a regular Wi-fi Kindle, but it now has ads! Would you buy it? Amazon is betting many will, since the ads include store coupons and special offers. This will be interesting marketing strategy.

the $114.00 Kindles are in pre-order now—available 1 May.

Tidbits 03-08-2011

In March 2011 Angry Robot Books will be accepting submissions from unagented authors for the first time. Angry Robot Books publishes cutting-edge SF and Fantasy. Check out their bookstore

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1 through 31 March, everyone is encouraged to bid on a book. Proceeds from this literary auction will help the Red Cross. Something new every week. Check the site to see lists of items/titles and more.

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Big Romance publisher Avon has jumped into the e-book marketplace with its digital branch, IMPULSE. e-books and POD only will come from this shop; existing Avon authors are already in the mix, but submissions are not discouraged.

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Don't forget, now through 12 March is Read an e-book Week. Many authors are offering discounts and freebies, this week only. Check the e-book sites for more info.

Read an E Book

Electronic books now have their own week. March 6 - 12 is Read and Ebook Week, and the site has some interesting information about this not-so-new gadget.

Right in time for this event, I've completed a 2-book set for the SF series, Gem of the Galaxy. It will be available for Nook and Kindle on the 8th at the bargain price of $4.25 (buying the books individually would be $5.98). It has its own web page, too, for more information.

eReaders More Than Entertainment

With all the pros and cons, discussions and recriminations regarding eReaders, it's important to realize their use beyond the middle-through-upper-class use for entertainment. The international organization World Reader (WR) sees them as a viable outreach to developing nations’ education programs.

In the recently-begun a cooperative with Ghana, Kindles are now in the hands of hundreds of students. Although the WR program was developed by a former Amazon.com exec, other eReaders are also being tested for this type of use and WR administrators are hoping for the development of a more-rugged implement that will withstand the rigors of in-school application.

Impractical? I think not. One eReader, at a cost of less than $150.00 U.S., can hold thousands of titles. Twenty printed books would cost more than the device; the initial investment to provide Internet service would be the biggest outlay and with the eReaders, each child would have their own copies of valuable information. World Reader is also working with the Ghanaian councils to have Ghanaian authors’ works produced in ebook form. Not only will students have educational tools, but cultural offerings as well—a good incentive for reading.

This should be inducement for eReader companies to toughen up their products and go for a new marketing scheme. Barnes and Noble, whose textbook branch already provides the company with important revenue, could flourish in this setting.

We need to start looking at the eReader innovation as more than an entertainment gadget for affluent techy urbanites. The potential is there for so much more.

Related Articles: Wall Street Journal Mashable Green Curb

More Literature Awards

Literature nominees are up for the NAACP image awards in literature. The awards show will broadcast live, March 4, on FOX tv

Will the Quality BeThere?

The online Author/reader site Author's Den is now offering POD production at its Book Factory and while they offer a cost calculating guide, they only compare themselves to Lulu. Odd, when there are so many PODs out there.

So far, there is no indication that editing or layout services will be offered. Only three book sizes are available: 6" x 9", an odd 7.5" x 7.5" and 8.5" x 11". They allow a minimum of 150 dpi for photos (300 dpi is minimum printer standard). And, of course, you have to join Author's Den to utilize this new feature.

It is another option for self-publishing, but with track records in place for many other companies, AD's Book Factory will have to prove up to compete as a top-quality producer.

Interesting ASI Development

This could have some innovative benefits.

Author Solutions, Inc has now partnered with Principal Entertainment with a goal to turn books into films and TV projects. They are creating a film and media department to handle this. Details at Deadline Hollywood

New Book Award Announcements

The weekend held several meetings and confabs at which new book awards were announced.

More than 200 titles were nominated for the 2011 Pacific Northwest Book Association awards--work published by a Northwest author in 2010. Nine volunteer booksellers from member stores throughout the region formed the selection committee. Here are the results.

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The Association of Jewish Libraries, have announced the Sydney Taylor Book Awards, honoring "new books for children and teens that exemplify the highest literary standards while authentically portraying the Jewish experience." The winners will receive their awards at the AJL convention in Montreal 19 - 22 June 2011.

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At the American Library Association (ALA) Midwinter Meeting in San Diego, the association announced the top books, video and audio books for children and young adults—including the Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, Newbery and Printz awards.

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Some interesting titles here. I hope they soon end up in schools and libraries--especially those for young readers.

Writing Fiction First Person

When I open a book and see it is in first person--where the main character personally tells the story—I expect an eloquent revelation of the emotional concerns of the character. In most cases, that's not what I'm finding. More times than not, I read a regular story told with a limited viewpoint. Often the story suffers because the emotions of other characters aren't revealed. Most of the books I've read could have been changed to third person without missing a beat. Nothing was gained by the first-person presentation, and I've occasionally found myself frowning when the "I" became really obvious; "That's right," I think, "This is first person," having forgotten the assumed style. A first-person viewpoint can allow for a more active voice, and in today's book marketplace active voice is a definite plus, but there are many pitfalls in using this voice. One of my own titles was a first person story. I recall the discipline it took to maintain the tone and voice of the character; there is no room to deviate. Yet in books I've read deviations are many. Examples:

1. A first-person character spoke of himself and acted like someone of minimal schooling, and yet many of the passages (through this first-person voice) used language and observations that bespoke a higher level of education.
2. In another book, the first-person adolescent protagonist was lamenting her strict and limited cultural upbringing, yet used metaphors and references beyond the scope of the aggrieved lifestyle and her age. This disparity was enhanced by the story being told in present tense—there was no distance of time to assume she had acquired the knowledge after she matured and left the community.
3. Another problem arose when the protagonist voiced a preference or prejudice, but didn't exhibit the emotions that go with the stated feelings. In one section, the character admits having the willies in a unclean environment, yet she didn't show discomfort when entering a dirty, rundown warehouse.
4. Really disturbing is when the protagonist becomes a sort of Houdini or Superman, reading post-a-note messages upside-down and half obscured on the desk so the reader can learn the information, or realizing someone is carrying an expensive brand of wine by identifying the cork emerging from the edge of the carry bag.
5. The worst problem occurs when first-person characters know bits of information that aren't revealed in their presence. To circumvent this, I read many books where the author resorts to the Device of having the character meet someone who knows all and proceeds to tell it to the protagonist. This slows the story to a halt, with too much discourse and not enough action.

Writing first person should draw the reader into the environment and emotions of the story: what the protagonist sees is what the reader sees; protagonist emotions and interests determine how other characters and circumstances are viewed. The main thrust of first person should be the impact events have on the emotions and psyche of the protagonist. If this personal impact isn't developed, the story becomes rather like someone telling about their vacation and giving way too much information (the shorter the better with first person). And like a vacation story, what's happening is only shown/told through one person's eyes. If that person isn't highly intuitive, extraordinarily impacted by the events, or marvelously eccentric, everything becomes rather bland. If you are writing a first person story (or planning to) here are some suggestions.

· Avoid the use of third person-type sentences: "I looked across the street and saw a dog running up the alley." In first person, it isn't necessary to identify the character—there is only one. If something is shown (the dog running) it's because the first-person character saw it: "Across the street, a dog ran up the alley." This corrected sentence provides a more active voice, and it insures the first person viewpoint.
· The same is true with emotions and sensations. "I went outside and felt the cool breeze on my face..." Saying "I felt" isn't necessary; just give the sensation and reaction: "The cool breeze felt wonderful after the stuffiness of the room." (More information, more action, no "I", no "felt")
· Avoid overusing the pronoun, "I". If the voice is strong, it shouldn't be necessary—as with the "breeze" example above.

A few examples of well-constructed first-person stories: Contemporary - Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich, Historical - The Accidental Spy, by J. R. Lindermuth, Science Fiction - Muse of Fire, by Dan Simmons. (Please leave a note about those you've read and liked.) If you haven't read these, sample them at least, and think about the construction. A good test: In a paragraph, if you don't lose anything by substituting "he" (or the necessary third-person pronoun) for "I", then the first person isn't working. Writing in first person is more difficult than many people believe. When done correctly, it is excellent; when it's a bit sloppy--well, it's a bit sloppy. Of the recent first-person titles I've read, only one in four have been well constructed.

Ever heard of Blio?

Blio is a full color eReader with a in-reader bookstore and a good audio system. It's already built into the Dell system, and is expanding to a wider market. Reads ePub and XPS. ust be individualized with Microsoft ReadyPlay. I downloaded a free kid's book. The color is rich, the page turn, a bit ragged. Unlike Caliber, access to ePub books already on the computer doesn't seem possible. More research coming.

Self-publishing Concerns

In a previous post, the umbrella companies of major publishing houses were listed. Merging has also occurred in the self-publishing market. Although many of the subsidy publishers are listed independently—especially in ads on other Web pages—many are the subheads to a larger company. This has changed some of the features the bought-out companies originally had.

A large Umbrella in this new scheme of things is Author Solutions, Inc. (ASI), which is owned by Bertram Capital. ASI has become the world leader in the fastest-growing segment of publishing. ASI brands include iUniverse (acquired by ASI in October, 2008), AuthorHouse, Wordclay, Trafford Publishing (acquired by ASI in April 2009), Xlibris (acquired by ASI in January 2009), Palibrio (for Spanish language books), Inkubook as well as AuthorHive (for marketing).

ASI also has partnered with several trad publishers who are creating their own self-publish imprints. Those are Thomas Nelson (WestBow Press), Harlequin (DellArte Press), Hay House (Balboa Press).

All this seems to fit a recent quote from a Wall Street Journal article about Internet mega-sites: "Over the long haul, competition has been the exception, monopoly the rule." Although the article focuses on Google and Facebook, it also applies to the publishing industry.

The new ASI conglomerate has standardized contracts and created several changes in author services and rights. For instance, some of the distribution perks (to Amazon and Ingrams) have been curtailed unless a stiff fee is paid. More importantly, at Xlibris, iUniverse and Authorhouse, the publisher owns the authors' files after creation, even though the author paid to have them created (this includes payment for editing service as well as formatting). If authors upload their own cover art—it's all owned by the publisher; the author has to pay another fee to get back these files. Hence, if authors decide to take their books elsewhere to republish, or if they didn't sign-up for ebook production and want to do that themselves, these files, now owned by the company, are off limits to them without paying a fee; if authors don't like the costs, it a different cost of new cover and often re-editing.

The Writers weekly Web site, which is associated with the DIY publisher Booklocker, has run a pod price comparison.. Here are pointed out the many author rights circumvented or lost in the new contracts that come from the ASI buyout. Books and Tales also has a page for a quick comparison of high-visibility POD companies.

Mark Levine, who wrote a book on self publishing lists many of the POD publishers, but he doesn't give information—encouraging you to buy his book for answers. :-\

Many sites listed in the search engines haven’t been recently updated and don’t have information on the mergers, buyouts, etc., and how those have affected the services. None of the DIY pulisher sites GITP visited had information about who owned the files. This prominent monopoly trend shows how this DIY segment of the publishing industry is growing, changing and becoming as hard to negotiate as trad publishing.

Good Start for 2011 #5

Clean up your Desktop

Ever notice how things pile up and when you really want something, you can't find it with out a lot of searching, moving piles, or checking in several files? If this happens to you it's time to clean up your desktop. Your computer's Desktop!

Every new computer has a desktop filled with little icons of Internet sites the manufacturer assumed you would want to be involved in. Many people never use these—and they never take them off the desktop. These are only shortcuts, and if you delete them, you aren't deleting the program, those are still in the Program or App file, but now you more easily see the icons you do use.

Now think of what you need to get to quickly: you WIP, your research, your household accounts...and so on. These are what should be on your desktop in their own little shortcut folders. No scrolling through the "My Documents" to find your WIP (was it in My Page Manager?) or checking the desktop/documents and settings/administrator/, no clicking through many lists to find that last research note you gathered online that might be buried in that hard-to-find Temporary download file.

Right click on the desktop, hit "new" and make a folder. Or go to your WIP folder, right click it and make a shortcut you can then move to your desktop. To be certain you don't lose track of documents, start them in the folder you want to keep them in. Open the folder, THEN click "new." That way when you save it, it automatically stays in that folder. If you download afrom the Internet, save the item to your desktop, and then file it later in the folder or your choice.

What programs do you use the most? I have two graphics programs that I use at least three or four times each day. I've added shortcuts to them in the "Start" bar so I don't have to click start and scroll along the program files to find them. I have a desktop folder named "work" that isn't a shortcut. But the shortcuts are within it. I open "Work" and then have instant access to my current projects, which are in other locations and folders (such as Kindle books, Nook books, Covers, or Blog Articles). Once I've completed a project, I delete the shortcut from the WORK file.

These same principles can be applied to your Internet browser. Be certain your "home page" is something you really use, and not just the generic Yahoo, Google or MSN start page. It could be your local newspaper, a weather channel or the social networking site you maintain or frequent most often. Cleaning up the folders in the bookmark or favorite tab can be helpful, and again, get rid of those generic links you don't use. They waste space and your time.

These might seem like nitpicky considerations, but when you do them, your priorities become more evident, and the organization will carry over into your writing life.