Alexander M. Zoltai's Blog, page 111
December 4, 2015
Authors Finding Readers
Since I’ve been serially posting three of my works over at Wattpad, I’ve adopted, finally, one of the key methods for finding readers—reading what they wrote and commenting on it, Sincerely…
Of course, not all readers are writers (though, the way things are going, that may not be true in 100 years…).
So…
My interest perked-up when I saw that Mark Coker, founder of Smashwords had written the article,2015 Smashwords Survey Reveals Insights to Help Authors Reach More Readers.
And, even though I’...
December 3, 2015
What Your Writing Habits Say About You: Take the Quiz!!!!
Cute little quiz in today’s reblog—for writers or those readers who want to Imagine they’re writers :-)
Originally posted on Dysfunctional Literacy:
(image via Wikimedia)
Writing habits can explain a lot about your personality. Take the quiz below, keep track of the points as you go,and see what kind of writer (and human being) you really are!
A. When a commenter on your blog tells you that you suck, what do you do?
Feel bad that the commenter didn’t like your writing. F...December 2, 2015
“Best Books” 2015
I’ve been in a heavy reading-mode since I’ve been engaging on Wattpad—the place to find authors you like before they become well-known…
Image courtesy of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bouquin_%C3%A9lectronique_iLiad_sur_une_pile_de_livre_dehors_au_soleil.jpg
Yes, there are some folks posting on Wattpad who are famous; but, the bulk of what’s there is “aspiring”.
Yes, my last two comments about Wattpad are crass generalizations; but, Wattpad is a complex place…
GoodReads is also a complex...
November 30, 2015
Michael Gove on “however” and contractions
Somewhat entertaining but definitely comprehensive grammar lesson in today’s re-blog :-)
Originally posted on Stroppy Editor:
Michael Gove, the Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary, has given his civil servants some guidance on writing.
I won’t go over all of it, but a few things stand out.
First, some positives. He urges civil servants to take a “warm tone” and be “gracious in thanking people for their letters”, to avoid being repetitive or “too pompous”, and to acknowled...
The Librarian Who Became a Novelist
I have a new (virtual) friend who just happens to be a fine poet.
Click to visit Lucia St. Clair Robson’s site…
“Virtual” because I met her in a placecalled The State of Writing—which is in the Virtual World, Kitely.
She’d just visited for the first time two nights ago and we shared a boat trip (virtually) last night.
This morning she left a comment on yesterday’s post with a link to a fascinating article in the Capital Gazette—Lucia Robson: How I made peace with telling lots of lies for a li...
November 29, 2015
Is This How You Feel?
I normally have a re-blog on Sundays—a brief beginning of a blog post from someone else, with a link to their site (actually, I do this on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday…)…
Image Courtesy of Leonard Thury ~ http://www.freeimages.com/photographer/LeonardT-61763
However, I’ve been blessed to receive word of an amazing site that presents an incredible enterprise.
It was so fantastic that I added a link to it at the top of the left side-bar…
It’s a site from a group of Australian scienti...
November 28, 2015
The Three Ages of Becoming a Writer
Are you a writer?
If not, do you think you might want to be?
If yes (to either question), today’s re-blog should be of intense interest :-)
Originally posted on Nail Your Novel:
Was writing so easy when you started? If you’re bogged down by all the techniques you don’t know and it’s squashing the life out of your writing, this post is for you
I used to take singing lessons. I’d always loved belting out a tune, and being rather a perfectionist I wanted to do it well. I saile...
November 27, 2015
#Reading Is Powerful Medicine
To say reading is powerful medicine demands that I say a bit about the word “medicine”…
I’m not necessarily talking about pharmaceuticals—dangerous stuff…
I suppose, if your dying and there are no natural alternatives, sure, take certain pharmaceuticals.
It’s just that doctors are often paid to dispensepharmaceuticals that people don’t need and that harm more than they help—I, in particular, was nearly crippled by misdiagnosed pharmaceuticals…
So…
My Oxford dictionary informs me that “medicin...
November 26, 2015
Putting a Writing Life on Display
For my readers in the USA—be THANKFUL you can write in private—today’s re-blog shows you why…
For all my other readers—Be Thankful—for Something—today’s re-blog shows you why… :-)
Originally posted on Longreads Blog:
It’s not uncommon for writers to document the writing process via an anxious dream journal, or on Twitter, or in emails to their friends. Artist and author Gabriela Denise Frank took this impulse one step further. Frank moved her living room furniture into Seat...
November 25, 2015
Public Libraries in the U.S.A. Are Under Threat
I know I have an international audience for this blog; but, some stories that concern the U.S.A. seem like stories that could also happen in other countries…
Image courtesy of Odan Jaeger ~ http://www.freeimages.com/photographer/danjaeger-39991
Did you know that public libraries are going private?
They’ll still admit the public to check out books but they’re owned by private corporations…
BloombergBusiness has the article,As U.S. Libraries Are Outsourced, Readers See Public Trust Erode, and I...
