More adventures of a dyslexic writer
Sacred, scared, scarred, does everyone know what these words mean without looking them up? The are words a spell checker wouldn't catch. This dyslexic knows them too, when reading, by the context that is, and if the author used the correct word. A scared bear, standing alone, could mean it was a holly bear, a frightened bare, or a bier with a healed cut. After spending a half hour yesterday studying these words, and then going through my entire novel checking the occurrence of each one, I just now had to refer to the little list I made up. But then, I understand normal people have problems with these words too. What's a dyslexic writer to do?
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
SELF PUBLISHING
Is self publishing worth it.
I read everything I can on self publishing as long as it doesn't cost anything.
I just finished reading an add promoting a book on how to self publish. It took me forty-five minutes to read, an investment in time I seldom allow myself, especially when it sounds like one of those paid-for commercial shows on TV. They were selling a 140-page booklet for $40.00; of course good until midnight tonight at a one-time special discount price along with all the free extras, with an iron clad money-back guarantee if not completely satisfied. They even had a PS with another urgent chance to buy, and a PPS and a PPPS. I almost busted a gut. First, I've learned long ago to mistrust such hyper driven adds, I indulged myself this time hoping I might find a piece of candy somewhere amongst the hype. I didn't.
My point is, it seems to me the only people making money in self-publishing are the ones selling services etc, at an outrageous price I might add, to the self-publishers or building a mailing list to promote their own product. Everyone and their granny have something to offer with a guarantee of success if you buy their services or product before midnight.
I joined one site that boasted of several million hits a month, guaranteed to increase traffic to your web page. I jumped right on it. That was two months ago. The only traffic my two web pages and blog had was my increased checking to see if I had any traffic. That got me to thinking. That website that got millions of hits a month also had a million and a half members, mostly writers. They too, were checking their site numerous times a week or a month.There's no magic formula out there to make you an instant best seller. I don't think our chances of being a best seller are any different than going the traditional route. Best sellers came about by timing and the coming together of the right people. Or, if you're famous, or someone who has a large following or are a radio or television personality. Of course, your writing has a lot to do with it. I think? Having a great editor can also do wonders to most manuscripts. How many great writers are also great editors? Even Steven King has his books edited, but then he can afford it. Being published is not the ultimate.
I read everything I can on self publishing as long as it doesn't cost anything.
I just finished reading an add promoting a book on how to self publish. It took me forty-five minutes to read, an investment in time I seldom allow myself, especially when it sounds like one of those paid-for commercial shows on TV. They were selling a 140-page booklet for $40.00; of course good until midnight tonight at a one-time special discount price along with all the free extras, with an iron clad money-back guarantee if not completely satisfied. They even had a PS with another urgent chance to buy, and a PPS and a PPPS. I almost busted a gut. First, I've learned long ago to mistrust such hyper driven adds, I indulged myself this time hoping I might find a piece of candy somewhere amongst the hype. I didn't.
My point is, it seems to me the only people making money in self-publishing are the ones selling services etc, at an outrageous price I might add, to the self-publishers or building a mailing list to promote their own product. Everyone and their granny have something to offer with a guarantee of success if you buy their services or product before midnight.
I joined one site that boasted of several million hits a month, guaranteed to increase traffic to your web page. I jumped right on it. That was two months ago. The only traffic my two web pages and blog had was my increased checking to see if I had any traffic. That got me to thinking. That website that got millions of hits a month also had a million and a half members, mostly writers. They too, were checking their site numerous times a week or a month.There's no magic formula out there to make you an instant best seller. I don't think our chances of being a best seller are any different than going the traditional route. Best sellers came about by timing and the coming together of the right people. Or, if you're famous, or someone who has a large following or are a radio or television personality. Of course, your writing has a lot to do with it. I think? Having a great editor can also do wonders to most manuscripts. How many great writers are also great editors? Even Steven King has his books edited, but then he can afford it. Being published is not the ultimate.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Articles on writing and dyslexia
Articles on dyslexia and writing
Check out this site, I came across it this morning on my daily adventures through La La Land. It's a free article dictionary site where you can submit or take out articles on just about any subject. As an example, I looked up writing and there are over 2300 articles on writing listed.
This is the main site, http://www.isnare.com/ ,
This takes you directly to articles on dyslexia, http://www.isnare.com/?aid=355662&ca=Wellness%2C+Fitness+and+Diet ,
Tags, dyslexia, teaching dyslexic children, free articles, article dictionary, writing articles
Check out this site, I came across it this morning on my daily adventures through La La Land. It's a free article dictionary site where you can submit or take out articles on just about any subject. As an example, I looked up writing and there are over 2300 articles on writing listed.
This is the main site, http://www.isnare.com/ ,
This takes you directly to articles on dyslexia, http://www.isnare.com/?aid=355662&ca=Wellness%2C+Fitness+and+Diet ,
Tags, dyslexia, teaching dyslexic children, free articles, article dictionary, writing articles
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Frustration
A dyslexic's frustration.
Frustration, a word I could not spell until recently. I guess it finally reached that magical number of times it takes beating it into my brain until it finally registers as another word conquered. (I just spent another frustrating eight minutes trying to spell conquer without a Q, such is the life of a dyslexic; write down, check spelling, choose word I think is the one I'm looking for, look up, wrong word, try another. Around the merry-go-round we go until I happen upon the word I want. I recognize it right off but must look up its definition to be sure). That is Frustration.
Sorry for the distraction, but it is a perfect example of why I chose frustration for the subject of this blog. Pick a random article on dyslexia and nine times out of ten, you will find frustration mentioned. It consumes a huge part of a dyslexic's life. Not that everyone doesn't experience frustration.
Frustration and all of its synonyms from annoyance to exasperation and from aggravation to pain, yes, look it up, pain is a synonym for frustration, and believe me, frustration can be painful. The older I get the more frustrated I become. You would think that after seventy years, your brain would absorb more than it does. Being that we only use ten percent of it. For crying out loud, what is the other ninety percent doing. I tell you, it's frustrating.
Frustration, a word I could not spell until recently. I guess it finally reached that magical number of times it takes beating it into my brain until it finally registers as another word conquered. (I just spent another frustrating eight minutes trying to spell conquer without a Q, such is the life of a dyslexic; write down, check spelling, choose word I think is the one I'm looking for, look up, wrong word, try another. Around the merry-go-round we go until I happen upon the word I want. I recognize it right off but must look up its definition to be sure). That is Frustration.
Sorry for the distraction, but it is a perfect example of why I chose frustration for the subject of this blog. Pick a random article on dyslexia and nine times out of ten, you will find frustration mentioned. It consumes a huge part of a dyslexic's life. Not that everyone doesn't experience frustration.
Frustration and all of its synonyms from annoyance to exasperation and from aggravation to pain, yes, look it up, pain is a synonym for frustration, and believe me, frustration can be painful. The older I get the more frustrated I become. You would think that after seventy years, your brain would absorb more than it does. Being that we only use ten percent of it. For crying out loud, what is the other ninety percent doing. I tell you, it's frustrating.
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