Le Blog
...Blog-blog-blog. We used to say blah-blah-blah. My, how times have changed. I came from the pre-internet daze (no, that's not a typo) of BBSes (computer clubs) with posts and chat and pix. I remember when I got my first 2400 baud modem, I was estatic. And 14.4kb was only for the elite when it hit the market.
...In the early days of 1993 when the internet was first becoming commercial high speed meant a 56k modem or a hardwired university connection. In '92 there were about 200 web pages (mostly from CERN, the high energy physics lab in Switzerland) and by mid-'93 over 2 million. The rest is history.
...I became a techie of the age. I did my own (limited) graphics and built my own web sites by hand. The big dawg on the block was Netscape, which came from Mozaic (University of Ill, Champagne), created by Andreesen, better known as Mozilla. That was before Bill Gates decided he wanted to own the internet.
...I left the arena in mid-2000 and was gone for 12 years. That was before CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), HTML5, Google, My Space, Facebook, Twitter, and Firefox. I'm a dinasauor. In the 12 years I forgot almost everything I knew about HTML and computers. It hasn't taken me long to get most of my computer skills back but HTML still eludes me. Beside, I've concentrated on a new career, that of Author-Publisher.
...Why did you go away for 12 years, you may well ask? And I reply, "Well, I could tell you, but then I'd have to wipe your memory!" The future lies before us ("lies" being the operative word). But if it's on the internet it has to be true, right? And where did you hear that? - On the Internet. [insert heavy sigh emoticon here]
...When I was 14 I started writing Science Fiction and if I do say so myself it was quite good (for a 14 year old). Wish I still had what I wrote. It's long gone. During those 12 years I had occasion (occasion being plenty of time and the inclination) to write. I loved the stories of Robert Aspirin - Myth Conceptions, Another Fine Myth, etc. He set out some guidelines, fathered and caused to be published an anthology by young authors. It inspired me to write.
...Now, here's the bizarre part. I wrote a Western - Educated Injun. Robert Aspirin has nothing to do with westerns. He writes fantasies. I wrote a western. Thank you, Bob.
...I have no idea why a western, I didn't even read them. But the muse struck and all those words flowed onto the page. Some was in pencil, some in felt tipped pen, and later on a real, honest to goodness ink pen. What I wouldn't have given for a word processor. Hallaluya!
...Flash forward to mid-2012. I have 9 manuscripts, only three are typed up (an ancient technology called a typewriter), 3 are in hand printed paper and ink. 3 more are "in process", partially completed.
...Step one: Buy computer equipment and scan the typed documents into Word. Easier said than done. Tons o' editing. But much better than having to type all 'em wurds.
...Step two: Purchase Speak n' Spell (technically Dragon Naturally Speaking V12) and get the others from paper to Word. Problem: reading my own hand printing! And it takes Dragon a while to learn my un-accented patios. I spent 2/3 of the time making corrections. But still faster than hand typing.
...Step Three: Learn how to overcome the frustration of publishing online for both eBooks and print editions. That daunting task lying before me sent me running to a professional self-publishing company. I made all the changes they asked for and submitted the final draft. While waiting (and waiting) I learned how to publish myself. First for Kindle, then ePub. I learned about ISBN and the advantages of same. I learned formatting and re-formatting and re-editing and re-proofing and how not to be overcome by frustration in having to read your own work over and over again. Postings in the Amazon community and the Smashwords Style Guide helped with formatting. eBooks are just not right without the proper formatting. Print books too but it's a lot different.
...I had to put myself in an "outside-self" frame of mind. I didn't have the wherewithal to hire an editor or proofreader. I had to wear all those hats. It's frustrating and time consuming. I read somewhere the worst thing you can do is be in a hurry to publish. Take the time to edit and proof and get it write (write, get it?)
...Still waiting for book one.
...I spoke and typed and edited and proofed and re-edited and re-proofed and had friends proof when I could. I published 5 eBooks and print editions (through CreateSpace). I made my own covers, and re-made them later when I became more profeceint at graphics. One of the main reasons for going with the professional company was they provide a professional book cover and web site. Upon their recommendation I purchased two domain names @ $80. I later found out I could have a domain name and web site with unlimited traffic with the company in Taipai I used to deal with for $30. (Heavy sigh).
...Still waiting for book one.
...Cruising the authors communities blogs (Amazon, Goodreads, others) is a great way to get an education. I confirmed what I suspected about the attraction of book covers. I remade my fantasy covers. I had to upload the book cover to the publishing company because their artist couldn't come up with a proper cover. So what did I spend $995 for?
...Still waiting for book one.
...Marketing is the hardest part of writing and publishing a book. Writing takes self-discipline. Sit down and do it! Apply the KISS principle - Keep It Simple Stupid! Marketing is a whole different animal and not one within my bailiwick (isn't that a neat word, bailiwick?). But I'm learning, slowly but surely.
...Wow! I've put off writing a blog because I thought I didn't have anything to say. That's a whole lot of wurds fur not having anything to say. I should be in congress.
-- R.L. Kiser - Reno, Nevada - Feb 6, 2013
...In the early days of 1993 when the internet was first becoming commercial high speed meant a 56k modem or a hardwired university connection. In '92 there were about 200 web pages (mostly from CERN, the high energy physics lab in Switzerland) and by mid-'93 over 2 million. The rest is history.
...I became a techie of the age. I did my own (limited) graphics and built my own web sites by hand. The big dawg on the block was Netscape, which came from Mozaic (University of Ill, Champagne), created by Andreesen, better known as Mozilla. That was before Bill Gates decided he wanted to own the internet.
...I left the arena in mid-2000 and was gone for 12 years. That was before CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), HTML5, Google, My Space, Facebook, Twitter, and Firefox. I'm a dinasauor. In the 12 years I forgot almost everything I knew about HTML and computers. It hasn't taken me long to get most of my computer skills back but HTML still eludes me. Beside, I've concentrated on a new career, that of Author-Publisher.
...Why did you go away for 12 years, you may well ask? And I reply, "Well, I could tell you, but then I'd have to wipe your memory!" The future lies before us ("lies" being the operative word). But if it's on the internet it has to be true, right? And where did you hear that? - On the Internet. [insert heavy sigh emoticon here]
...When I was 14 I started writing Science Fiction and if I do say so myself it was quite good (for a 14 year old). Wish I still had what I wrote. It's long gone. During those 12 years I had occasion (occasion being plenty of time and the inclination) to write. I loved the stories of Robert Aspirin - Myth Conceptions, Another Fine Myth, etc. He set out some guidelines, fathered and caused to be published an anthology by young authors. It inspired me to write.
...Now, here's the bizarre part. I wrote a Western - Educated Injun. Robert Aspirin has nothing to do with westerns. He writes fantasies. I wrote a western. Thank you, Bob.
...I have no idea why a western, I didn't even read them. But the muse struck and all those words flowed onto the page. Some was in pencil, some in felt tipped pen, and later on a real, honest to goodness ink pen. What I wouldn't have given for a word processor. Hallaluya!
...Flash forward to mid-2012. I have 9 manuscripts, only three are typed up (an ancient technology called a typewriter), 3 are in hand printed paper and ink. 3 more are "in process", partially completed.
...Step one: Buy computer equipment and scan the typed documents into Word. Easier said than done. Tons o' editing. But much better than having to type all 'em wurds.
...Step two: Purchase Speak n' Spell (technically Dragon Naturally Speaking V12) and get the others from paper to Word. Problem: reading my own hand printing! And it takes Dragon a while to learn my un-accented patios. I spent 2/3 of the time making corrections. But still faster than hand typing.
...Step Three: Learn how to overcome the frustration of publishing online for both eBooks and print editions. That daunting task lying before me sent me running to a professional self-publishing company. I made all the changes they asked for and submitted the final draft. While waiting (and waiting) I learned how to publish myself. First for Kindle, then ePub. I learned about ISBN and the advantages of same. I learned formatting and re-formatting and re-editing and re-proofing and how not to be overcome by frustration in having to read your own work over and over again. Postings in the Amazon community and the Smashwords Style Guide helped with formatting. eBooks are just not right without the proper formatting. Print books too but it's a lot different.
...I had to put myself in an "outside-self" frame of mind. I didn't have the wherewithal to hire an editor or proofreader. I had to wear all those hats. It's frustrating and time consuming. I read somewhere the worst thing you can do is be in a hurry to publish. Take the time to edit and proof and get it write (write, get it?)
...Still waiting for book one.
...I spoke and typed and edited and proofed and re-edited and re-proofed and had friends proof when I could. I published 5 eBooks and print editions (through CreateSpace). I made my own covers, and re-made them later when I became more profeceint at graphics. One of the main reasons for going with the professional company was they provide a professional book cover and web site. Upon their recommendation I purchased two domain names @ $80. I later found out I could have a domain name and web site with unlimited traffic with the company in Taipai I used to deal with for $30. (Heavy sigh).
...Still waiting for book one.
...Cruising the authors communities blogs (Amazon, Goodreads, others) is a great way to get an education. I confirmed what I suspected about the attraction of book covers. I remade my fantasy covers. I had to upload the book cover to the publishing company because their artist couldn't come up with a proper cover. So what did I spend $995 for?
...Still waiting for book one.
...Marketing is the hardest part of writing and publishing a book. Writing takes self-discipline. Sit down and do it! Apply the KISS principle - Keep It Simple Stupid! Marketing is a whole different animal and not one within my bailiwick (isn't that a neat word, bailiwick?). But I'm learning, slowly but surely.
...Wow! I've put off writing a blog because I thought I didn't have anything to say. That's a whole lot of wurds fur not having anything to say. I should be in congress.
-- R.L. Kiser - Reno, Nevada - Feb 6, 2013
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Blogging definitely took me by surprise when I took it up. It's much easier to come up with a post than I had anticipated and then you look back at what you wrote and say 'holy cow, where'd that come from?'
I look forward to hearing more from you.