Evo Terra's Blog, page 50
July 22, 2013
Welcome to the Books & Beer Hangout! This is a weekly video chat on topic related to something in or...
Welcome to the Books & Beer Hangout! This is a weekly video chat on topic related to something in or around the world of digital publishing … and we drink beer!
This week +Evo Terra and +Jeff Moriarty discuss the value of writing groups in 2013. Do they offer real value, or are they a distraction from the actual act of writing? And how has the advent of digital tools changed the way writing groups work together and, hopefully, publish their work?
We’ll chat with our guest for 15 minutes and then up the show to everyone in our Google+ Circles in the "Hangover". You can ask your questions directly, and by all means bring your own beer!
All you need is a webcam, a microphone, and speakers (or a headset). Follow us on Google+ at https://plus.google.com/u/0/105236277208554710444/posts and go to our page during this time to watch or join in!
You can see past episodes and upcoming topics on our site at http://epublishunum.com/books-and-beer/
Hope to see you soon!
Evo & Jeff
This week +Evo Terra and +Jeff Moriarty discuss the value of writing groups in 2013. Do they offer real value, or are they a distraction from the actual act of writing? And how has the advent of digital tools changed the way writing groups work together and, hopefully, publish their work?
We’ll chat with our guest for 15 minutes and then up the show to everyone in our Google+ Circles in the "Hangover". You can ask your questions directly, and by all means bring your own beer!
All you need is a webcam, a microphone, and speakers (or a headset). Follow us on Google+ at https://plus.google.com/u/0/105236277208554710444/posts and go to our page during this time to watch or join in!
You can see past episodes and upcoming topics on our site at http://epublishunum.com/books-and-beer/
Hope to see you soon!
Evo & Jeff
My buddy +Jay Baer knows a thing or two about marketing. His latest book is out -- Youtility -- and ...
My buddy +Jay Baer knows a thing or two about marketing. His latest book is out -- Youtility -- and it's in my pile of to be read books waiting patiently.
➨ Buy it: http://goo.gl/JyC2X6
But Jay didn't wait patiently for book sales. No, he had a plan and stuck to it. And he's shared the plan, with rather fine detail, with the world. Check the Slideshare preso below, and see how you might adapt his techniques to your next book effort.
➨ Buy it: http://goo.gl/JyC2X6
But Jay didn't wait patiently for book sales. No, he had a plan and stuck to it. And he's shared the plan, with rather fine detail, with the world. Check the Slideshare preso below, and see how you might adapt his techniques to your next book effort.
The Secret to my Success
A very large percentage of our community are newish members to Google+. Please...
The Secret to my Success
A very large percentage of our community are newish members to Google+. Please read this post. It will help you. I promise.
I'm going to be very open and transparent here. If you are new to Google+ or if you are unsatisfied with your Google+ experience, this is me trying to help you.
I'm posting this to the community because the information in this book really will help you. All of the content is written with authors in mind. I hope that some of you will benefit from this because I hate to go to people's profile to see that they are only following 63 people and have 12 people following them. Google+ is so much more than that, but there is a learning curve. This book will help you figure it out.
I realize that the title of this post sounds a little arrogant. Sorry about that, but I wanted to catch your attention. Some people say that I use G+ successfully because I have over 10,000 people who follow my personal profile or because I started the Writer's Discussion Group which has gone on to become the largest writing community on Google+.
When I look at other people's profiles who have more than 100k or more than a million followers, I realize how much more I have to learn. That being said, any degree of success that I do experience with Google+, is very, very much because I listened to +Evo Terra when I first joined Google+.
Evo is very opinionated. To be frank, sometimes he can come across like a bit of a jerk. He has no hesitation calling people out if he disagrees with them. However, if you can get past that, many times you will find that there is a lot of value in his message.
I joined Google+ in August of 2011. The beta had already been running for a few months. When I joined, I was just like each of you. I didn't know anyone who was using the platform. I didn't know what to talk about, how to get people to comment on my posts, how to connect with other individuals... honestly, I didn't really see the point of Google+.
Actually, I abandoned G+ and went back to Facebook. That lasted for a couple of weeks. Then, Facebook made some change that ticked me off, so I came back to G+ determined to figure this place out and make things work. Fortunately, it was right around that time, that I found Evo's profile.
Evo was a stranger to me. I read through his profile and was impressed by the fact that he was a frequent speaker at different conferences, he was the founder of Podiobooks, and ran a site devoted to helping educate authors. That stuff was nice, but the thing that made me decide to follow him were his rants. Back then, he used to post different screeds about how to use G+ effectively.
The most important lesson I picked up from him in those early days? Fill out the 'About' section of your profile. I did that and waited for his next proclamation.
In those early days, it wasn't possible to subscribe to posts made by individuals. So, I put Evo in a special circle called 'Must Read'. I checked that circle every day. Anytime Evo wrote a new post about how he was using Google+ I would adopt those same techniques and make them my own.
I'm sure that all of those same posts are still on his profile. If you are willing to scroll back through two years worth of daily posts, you could probably still find them. If you don't want to do all of that digging and you're willing to spend a few dollars, Evo has written a book that contains the vital and essential information that will help you use Google+ more effectively and allow you to use this place to your advantage.
If you'd like to learn more about his book, you can visit this page:
http://epublishunum.com/making-killer-google-plus-profiles/
In the interest of disclosure, over the past two years, I've become friends with Evo. By friends, I mean we're internet friends. He'll send me an instant message or an e-mail from time to time. He sent me a copy of this book because he mentions our community as being a good resource for writers.
Anyone who has followed me for a while, we'll know that I frequently will pass along information from other authors. You'll see me say things like, "So-and-so asked me to help them spread the word about their book or this other thing..." You hardly ever see telling people to go buy something. That's rare, but I'm doing it now.
If you are trying to figure Google+ out, if this place doesn't make sense to you, then, please go buy this book. Do what it says. It will help you.
A very large percentage of our community are newish members to Google+. Please read this post. It will help you. I promise.
I'm going to be very open and transparent here. If you are new to Google+ or if you are unsatisfied with your Google+ experience, this is me trying to help you.
I'm posting this to the community because the information in this book really will help you. All of the content is written with authors in mind. I hope that some of you will benefit from this because I hate to go to people's profile to see that they are only following 63 people and have 12 people following them. Google+ is so much more than that, but there is a learning curve. This book will help you figure it out.
I realize that the title of this post sounds a little arrogant. Sorry about that, but I wanted to catch your attention. Some people say that I use G+ successfully because I have over 10,000 people who follow my personal profile or because I started the Writer's Discussion Group which has gone on to become the largest writing community on Google+.
When I look at other people's profiles who have more than 100k or more than a million followers, I realize how much more I have to learn. That being said, any degree of success that I do experience with Google+, is very, very much because I listened to +Evo Terra when I first joined Google+.
Evo is very opinionated. To be frank, sometimes he can come across like a bit of a jerk. He has no hesitation calling people out if he disagrees with them. However, if you can get past that, many times you will find that there is a lot of value in his message.
I joined Google+ in August of 2011. The beta had already been running for a few months. When I joined, I was just like each of you. I didn't know anyone who was using the platform. I didn't know what to talk about, how to get people to comment on my posts, how to connect with other individuals... honestly, I didn't really see the point of Google+.
Actually, I abandoned G+ and went back to Facebook. That lasted for a couple of weeks. Then, Facebook made some change that ticked me off, so I came back to G+ determined to figure this place out and make things work. Fortunately, it was right around that time, that I found Evo's profile.
Evo was a stranger to me. I read through his profile and was impressed by the fact that he was a frequent speaker at different conferences, he was the founder of Podiobooks, and ran a site devoted to helping educate authors. That stuff was nice, but the thing that made me decide to follow him were his rants. Back then, he used to post different screeds about how to use G+ effectively.
The most important lesson I picked up from him in those early days? Fill out the 'About' section of your profile. I did that and waited for his next proclamation.
In those early days, it wasn't possible to subscribe to posts made by individuals. So, I put Evo in a special circle called 'Must Read'. I checked that circle every day. Anytime Evo wrote a new post about how he was using Google+ I would adopt those same techniques and make them my own.
I'm sure that all of those same posts are still on his profile. If you are willing to scroll back through two years worth of daily posts, you could probably still find them. If you don't want to do all of that digging and you're willing to spend a few dollars, Evo has written a book that contains the vital and essential information that will help you use Google+ more effectively and allow you to use this place to your advantage.
If you'd like to learn more about his book, you can visit this page:
http://epublishunum.com/making-killer-google-plus-profiles/
In the interest of disclosure, over the past two years, I've become friends with Evo. By friends, I mean we're internet friends. He'll send me an instant message or an e-mail from time to time. He sent me a copy of this book because he mentions our community as being a good resource for writers.
Anyone who has followed me for a while, we'll know that I frequently will pass along information from other authors. You'll see me say things like, "So-and-so asked me to help them spread the word about their book or this other thing..." You hardly ever see telling people to go buy something. That's rare, but I'm doing it now.
If you are trying to figure Google+ out, if this place doesn't make sense to you, then, please go buy this book. Do what it says. It will help you.
Distributed Flight Array self-assembled Helicopter
Researchers at ETH Zurich have demonstrated an amazing...
Distributed Flight Array self-assembled Helicopter
Researchers at ETH Zurich have demonstrated an amazing capability for small robots to self-assemble and take to the air as a multi-rotor helicopter. Maximilian Kriegleder and Raymond Oung worked with Professor Raffaello D’Andrea at his research lab to develop the small hexagonal pods that assemble into flying rafts. The true accomplishment of this research is that there is not one robot in control – each unit in itself decides what actions to take to keep the group in the air in what's known as Distributed Flight Array.
#TechNews #Aircraft
Researchers at ETH Zurich have demonstrated an amazing capability for small robots to self-assemble and take to the air as a multi-rotor helicopter. Maximilian Kriegleder and Raymond Oung worked with Professor Raffaello D’Andrea at his research lab to develop the small hexagonal pods that assemble into flying rafts. The true accomplishment of this research is that there is not one robot in control – each unit in itself decides what actions to take to keep the group in the air in what's known as Distributed Flight Array.
#TechNews #Aircraft
Welcome to the interior of The Boeing Company's CST-100 spacecraft. This is the view astronauts would...
Welcome to the interior of The Boeing Company’s CST-100 spacecraft. This is the view astronauts would have while climbing aboard the five-person capsule on launch day. Notice any cool features?
Don't burn your favors too quickly, new indie author!
Earlier today I was contacted by a student from...
Don't burn your favors too quickly, new indie author!
Earlier today I was contacted by a student from one of the workshops we recently produced. The workshop in question was a narrowly focused, 1-hour workshop on options for creating .epub files. The audience at this venue is typically on the low-end of the technology scale, so we focused less on the click-by-click and more on finding the method that fit best with the various skill sets in the room.
The attendee asked, of the methods we discussed, which option should she take? I provided feedback on a simple solution -- she wasn't immediately publishing, just looking for ARCs to pass out to close contacts -- and sent her on her way.
At 4:54 (the time differential will be important), she indicated that she was starting the process and wondered if I might "test drive" her file. I replied within a minute, saying that I would be happy to do that, but only after she had been through multiple exports and had a file she was happy with. This is a point also stressed in the workshop she attended.
At 5:28, just slightly over half an hour later, she sends me the .epub file with the telling note of "I have no idea what this will look like ..."
Ahem. 30 minutes does not your first acceptable .epub file make.
Not surprisingly, the book is not nearly ready for another human to look at it. The margins are ragged. The formatting looks very unfinished. The headings are unformatted. There isn't a table of contents (it's a novel). There's no front matter. There's no back matter. In short, this .epub file looks like a first export, and should never be seen by another human.
If you're new at this, you'll export your file at least a dozen times before you're happy with it. When you've done that, then and only then, can you give it to someone else.
Earlier today I was contacted by a student from one of the workshops we recently produced. The workshop in question was a narrowly focused, 1-hour workshop on options for creating .epub files. The audience at this venue is typically on the low-end of the technology scale, so we focused less on the click-by-click and more on finding the method that fit best with the various skill sets in the room.
The attendee asked, of the methods we discussed, which option should she take? I provided feedback on a simple solution -- she wasn't immediately publishing, just looking for ARCs to pass out to close contacts -- and sent her on her way.
At 4:54 (the time differential will be important), she indicated that she was starting the process and wondered if I might "test drive" her file. I replied within a minute, saying that I would be happy to do that, but only after she had been through multiple exports and had a file she was happy with. This is a point also stressed in the workshop she attended.
At 5:28, just slightly over half an hour later, she sends me the .epub file with the telling note of "I have no idea what this will look like ..."
Ahem. 30 minutes does not your first acceptable .epub file make.
Not surprisingly, the book is not nearly ready for another human to look at it. The margins are ragged. The formatting looks very unfinished. The headings are unformatted. There isn't a table of contents (it's a novel). There's no front matter. There's no back matter. In short, this .epub file looks like a first export, and should never be seen by another human.
If you're new at this, you'll export your file at least a dozen times before you're happy with it. When you've done that, then and only then, can you give it to someone else.
Obligatory Full Moon Shot
Single exposure
Olympus E-M5
600mm equivalent
f/11
1/250
ISO 200
Obligatory Full Moon Shot
Single exposure
Olympus E-M5
600mm equivalent
f/11
1/250
ISO 200
Single exposure
Olympus E-M5
600mm equivalent
f/11
1/250
ISO 200
Facing my own demons.
I'm listening to the audio book I recorded this weekend. And now ... I get the...
Facing my own demons.
I'm listening to the audio book I recorded this weekend. And now ... I get the pain all of you have expressed to me over the last eight years. Listening to yourself for any length of time is pain.
To make it worse, I actually do not mind the sound of my voice. Years with headphones listening to myself for hours at a time conditioned me to the experience.
But it's been a long time!
The audio book should be live on Monday. If you're not subscribed over at http://epublishunum.com, you'll probably miss it. And if you're an author and you miss it, you'll kick yourself. Or I'll kick you. Whichever.
Creative Commons licensed image found on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jball359/3832270398/
I'm listening to the audio book I recorded this weekend. And now ... I get the pain all of you have expressed to me over the last eight years. Listening to yourself for any length of time is pain.
To make it worse, I actually do not mind the sound of my voice. Years with headphones listening to myself for hours at a time conditioned me to the experience.
But it's been a long time!
The audio book should be live on Monday. If you're not subscribed over at http://epublishunum.com, you'll probably miss it. And if you're an author and you miss it, you'll kick yourself. Or I'll kick you. Whichever.
Creative Commons licensed image found on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jball359/3832270398/
July 21, 2013
CircleCount helps you find active authors on Google+!
Actually, the new ability to tag profiles listed...
CircleCount helps you find active authors on Google+!
Actually, the new ability to tag profiles listed on +CircleCount will let you find people active in a variety of areas. But the image below is just for those tagged with author.
▶ Mosaic
http://www.circlecount.com/tag-authors/mosaic/
▶ List
http://www.circlecount.com/tag-authors/profileslist/
▶ Most Popular
http://www.circlecount.com/tag-authors/popular/
From there, you can probably figure out how to change [authors] to whatever you want to see other tags.
This is why I love CircleCount! Well, one more reason. You should check it out. Add your profile to their growing database. Tag yourself. And when you see others that need tagging, do it.
Worried about tag spam? Of course you are. This has the very real possibility to turning in to the clusterflock that is LinkedIn Skills and Expertise. But you have control. If someone adds a tag you don't agree with (or don't want to be associated with); you can remove it.
Now... if they's just add CraftBeer as a tag ...
Actually, the new ability to tag profiles listed on +CircleCount will let you find people active in a variety of areas. But the image below is just for those tagged with author.
▶ Mosaic
http://www.circlecount.com/tag-authors/mosaic/
▶ List
http://www.circlecount.com/tag-authors/profileslist/
▶ Most Popular
http://www.circlecount.com/tag-authors/popular/
From there, you can probably figure out how to change [authors] to whatever you want to see other tags.
This is why I love CircleCount! Well, one more reason. You should check it out. Add your profile to their growing database. Tag yourself. And when you see others that need tagging, do it.
Worried about tag spam? Of course you are. This has the very real possibility to turning in to the clusterflock that is LinkedIn Skills and Expertise. But you have control. If someone adds a tag you don't agree with (or don't want to be associated with); you can remove it.
Now... if they's just add CraftBeer as a tag ...
Apparently, "2" in Thai is translated to "Two." in English!
Nerdy Google+ moment. I was viewing a G...
Apparently, "2" in Thai is translated to "Two." in English!
Nerdy Google+ moment. I was viewing a G+ profile from someone in Thailand and Google+ offered to translate the page to English for me. Look what happened to the notification bell.
Nerdy Google+ moment. I was viewing a G+ profile from someone in Thailand and Google+ offered to translate the page to English for me. Look what happened to the notification bell.
