It's a very sad day....

For those of you who are Moonlight fans, you're mourning with me. Moonlight was cancelled! UGH! The horror of it all. What's wrong with CBS anyway?



The reason this has affected me so much is because I'm usually not a tv watcher. I can't remember the last time I fell in love with a tv series and HAD to watch it every week without fail. When Moonlight first started, I had several online friends tell me how good it was. I'm part of a paranormal Yahoo Group too, and they said I had to watch it. By episode three, I decided to watch it. WOW!!! It was great. It hooked me immediately. Of course, it didn't hurt that Alex O'Laughlin who plays Mick St. John (the vampire) is gorgeous!!!! But I fell completely in love with him...ummm...I mean, the tv series. I watched every Youtube video that was made with him in it. I joined two Moonlight Yahoo Groups because I wanted to talk to other people who was obsessed as I was.



This Friday will be the season finale show...and now we know it'll be the LAST show. I almost don't want to watch it because it's going to leave me hanging - for nothing. Grrrrr. I'm pissed! How could CBS do this to me?

I'll be in mourning for several months. This is seriously going to affect my writing, too. AUGH!!!




~Phyllis~

Blog Hopping

Okay, I confess. I'm procrastinating, but in all honesty, I was very productive in my procrastination. See, I should be writing, but instead, I found myself blog hopping. And wow, I'm so glad I did.Here's where I've been tonight:

Alien Romances
The Gallaxy Express
Boxing the Octopus

I would visit more but I really need to write. However; my favorite was a blog post on alien romances about the exogamous female. Why? Because it gave me "food" for thought and stimulated my stagnant brain cells. Gotta love a wee bit of intellectual stimulation. In fact, I actually feel charged to write.

Sharing Opinions on Ebooks

A few days ago, I talked a little about ebooks and the effect of the economy on that industry. I solicited a few friends on various loops, asking for their opinions on the topic, and also asked them to share any information they wished on hand-held readers. There are a wide variety available, and hopefully they'll grow in popularity. If only their sales would increase to match the popularity of IPOD and MPG players, on which people download music, I think more and more people would see the advantage of downloading books. Remember the song, "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy?" Think, "Save a tree, read an ebook." *VBG*

Here are some of the comments I receive. If I get more, I will share them on another blogging day:

1. As a concerned citizen of Mother Earth, I appreciate the fact that eBooks are a more eco-friendly solution to my voracious appetite for books than the traditional mass market offers. I highly recommend that anyone interested in reducing their impact on the environment consider trying eBooks as one of many alternatives.
--Lisa Logan, multi-published author, editor, and founder of the Green Writing Challenge


2. I believe E-books are the future in the publishing world.There's something to be said about not having to fight crowds to shop, but instead, you remain in the comfort of your own home and download the books to read. Plus, if your eyesight is getting weak, it's so much easier to see the words. Most of all, I love the idea of saving trees. Wouldn't it be nice if Earth was known as the 'Happy Green Planet?'
Tabitha Shay

3. I agree that more people will be going to ebooks, but until I can afford an ebook reader I will stick to the print books. I am an avid reader and spends a lot on books. This comment was left on my blog by Joan. Thank you, for your input. I love people who leave comments. :)

4. I'm a huge fan of ebooks and ereaders/ereading. What I like about ebooks:

Instant gratification downloading. You want it now, you get it now. Even beats next day shipping and...I don't have to find room for it on my already crowded ookshelves.
Price of ebook is usually cheaper and there are a lot of legal, free downloads out there (at Baen books and Project Gutenberg). Even the heaviest reader is lighter than most print books (or equal in weight to a single paperback). I'm a fast reader, so love having choice and volume when I'm stuck somewhere.

I own two readers (possibly three when Apple gets the iPhone in line with ereading software). I own a Sony Reader and an Ebookwise. I also had a Palm Treo that just died.

The Sony Reader is amazing. The screen is so crisp, I forget I'm not reading a paper book and reach up to turn the page. It's light weight and sassy. I have 84 books loaded onto it right now. I can organize the books into collections, and it keeps track of my place in multiple books. When I turn it on, reminds me which book I was reading when I shut down. It is possible to jump around in a book with the SR, but I haven't got that function figured out that well. Downloading is easy and done through a computer. My son has used it for in tub reading by tucking it in a zip lock bag.

The Ebookwise is also dear to me. The screen isn't as crisp, more like reading on a computer screen, but the text sizes quickly and easily and I can jump around in the book very easily. No learning curve. Downloading is quick and easy--can be done on the computer or through a phone line.

I've also been known to read on my desktop and laptop, using Mobipocket Reader and Adobe Digital Editions (not my favorite because I can't upload them to my SR, even though it will read pdfs.).

Basically, I check FIRST for a digital edition of a book, then decide whether I want to mess with a print book.
Pauline Baird Jones

5. I love ebooks. I read them on my Dell PDA at night in bed or during blackouts. LOL. In the day time, I read paperbacks in my hot tub. If I have an appointment I take my PDA with me and read it in the waiting room.

I think I like reading ebooks best. I'm not into clutter and shelves or stacks books gathering dust.
Ashlyn Chase

6. I have a love hate relationship with ebooks!!! I own a Palm PDA and do not love reading ebooks on it although I do when I travel if I don't have my laptop with me... I read ebooks on either my PS or laptop and am fine with that. Hehehe I find I can multi task while I'm reading on the computer...you should see how many windows I
have opened at one time on my system...

For me, ebooks will never completely replace the printed book...there is still something to be said for holding the "real" book in your hands...the feel, the smell...whatever it is. BUT ebooks are convenient and do require a WHOLE lot less space to store. I generally trade away most paper books because I don't have the room to keep them. An ebook I can keep forever (as long as I back up my harddrive...).

And this brings me to my next point...this one an author may not like but for a reader I think you will understand. A print book holds more value as I can trade it for another book when I am through, so if I pay $6.99 for a new book I can get most of it's value back by trading it with someone for another book. If I pay the same $6.99 for the book in an ebook format, that is it... I can't trade it, loan it to someone or do anything with it but store it. The majority of books I read I will
never read again (there are just too many new books coming out constantly to have time to reread one). I am more likely to try a new author or different genre by getting a used book then I am to pay full price for a book I'm not certain of.
This comment was supplied by Stevi.

NOTE FROM ME: Stevi, I appreciate your candid opinion. I used to be a frequent flyer at the local used book store. My mother uses one weekly and is not open to the idea of reading anything but good old paperbacks. She's that 'old dog' you keep hearing about who doesn't want to learn any new tricks. It's nice to have options. :)

7. I don't have a website, blog or myspace, but I thought I'd put my 2 cents in.I love the convenience of ebooks. buying an ebook means I can read it immediately even if it's 2 am.I live 25 miles from the nearest Walden books and with gas prices the way they are, it's easier and cheaper to read ebooks. Also I get a much larger variety of books that way. I love paranormal romances, and there is much more to choose from on the internet. The only problem I see is the chance of losing all your ebooks if your computer crashes, but I have an external hard drive that I save all my books, music and important documents to.

I have an ebook reader that I use all the time. It's an Ebookwise. I love it. The Sony and Kindle ebook readers are great, but the Ebookwise is much more affordable. You can get one from ebay for $124.00. It doesn't take long to charge and it has a backlight. You can also buy larger memory cards. The ebookwise website has a page where you can add personal content to your bookshelf. It won't read PDF files, but I save my pdf files to text and then use the personal content page to add the books. There are alot of public domain books available for free. - Submitted by Charlene Coyle. (Thank you for your input, Char.)


8. First let me tell you that my friends and I love ebook and our readers. I have not only the older Sony Reader but also the eReader that I purchased from eBookwise.com. I love them both. Two of my ex co-workers both have the Sony Reader and love it. (I decided to take an early retirement)

I have over 100 ebooks AND the most recent one that I purchased was The Countess Takes A Lover by Bonnie Dee. I find myself buying ebooks from blurbs that authors post on a couple of yahoo groups that I belong to.

I go in spurts using my readers.....I usually take one of my two readers when I go on vacation or for long rides. I love it when going on vacation I don't have to worry about did I pack enough books and I have more space in my luggage to bring home souvenirs.

My only problem is --- I wish both readers would take PDF formats....I have to convert PDF books to Rich Text format in order to read them on either reader.

I think with Amazon coming out with the Kindle that it has increase the interest in the this market. I received an email the other day and it looks like the next iPhone that comes out you will be able to download books on them. I'm so excited.
Danielle

9. I’ve always been a believer, if you can save paper (a tree) then do it! An interesting thing I will share; I went to the health food store here in Helena, Montana, and asked the clerk if she liked reading ‘suspense’ or ‘Indian historicals.’ Since she said yes, I handed her a postcard and a couple business cards (with my book cover on one side … to share with her friends). I told her they were ‘e-book’s, therefore, saving a tree or two! She was delighted! Asked if she could have postcards to post on the bulleting board.
Rita Karnopp

10. I get very frustrated with people when they insist on saying, "I hate reading on my computer." But what are they doing while answering their emails or writing letters etc? I haven't read a paper book in so long I've forgotten the last time I did. I still buy my own books in print because I have relatives who refuse to own a computer (Strange people!) and some friends who belong to the group mentioned above. How much simpler can it be than to log on any time day or night, go to your favorite ebook seller, be it the publisher or fictionwise etc, and choose a book that can be on your computer in just the format you need within minutes?

I have an ebookwise reader and after my computer, it is my most treasured possession. I buy my ebooks in text format so I can enlarge the print as much as I like before I transfer it to my reader, have a back light so there's no need to have a bright light overhead, can carry as many books around with me as I please when I travel. All this for a very reasonable cost.

Love ebooks and my only concern and complaint is that here in Australia I can't seem to find an ebook reader distributor and had to rely on an American friend to buy my ebookwise reader for me and ship it over.
Tricia McGill

11. In my opinion, the great achievement of Ebooks is that they've opened up opportunity for both readers and authors. I have been accepted and published within 6 months, an achievement I'd never have made with traditional print routes.

I read many more ebooks than print now, too. The advantages to me are that they are quick and easy and flexible. I don't have a PDA but read on computer screen. This suits me at work in lunch hours, and at my laptop when I want to be distracted! I can dip in and out at whim. They're cheap, immediately available and don't take up half my lounge in shelf space.

The other huge advantage I see is that it's opened up the erotica markets in which I personally write. I doubt that readers' tastes have changed over the years, but their ability to access more edgy/controversial/niche material has. So has the opportunity for authors in these markets. You can download an erotica book in seconds, in complete privacy and without being embarrassed in the middle of a bookstore by a cover that's often very explicit!

To me, the DISadvantage is the other side of the Advantages coin: the range of fiction is still relatively limited, many people don't want to or can't spend long periods of time reading from a screen, and the quantity of new authors quickly and readily available isn't always a measure of quality.

In conclusion, I see ebooks still as another option rather than an alternative. Maybe they always will be. But anything that brings more books into the market and encourages more reading has to be a good thing!
Clare London


Whew! That was quite a great response. Don't discredit responses because the person happens to be an author. Like me, I'm sure they were readers long before they started to write. Active links to these people are on my personal blog at http://mizging.blogspot.com. If I receive more responses, I'll certainly share them in another blog. Thanks to everyone who participated.

Oh, by the way, I have a Franklin ebook reader, and I love it. I take whenever I know I'm going to be sitting with nothing to do. Besides reading, I can also jot down ideas for new stories that might pop into my mind. I love showing it to people who haven't a clue all the things it can do. It doesn't just read ebooks, it's my calendar, address book, my 'to do' list, and I can also download the daily news if I feel the need to be more depressed. *lol*

Big words...

dYesterday a friend wrote me that he loved the card game and called it INGENIOUS!

Wow, I thought. Nice, but then I frowned...what the devil was he actually saying. I really thought that he didn't like the cards. But before I said anything back to him, and because I am dyslexic and not comfortable with BIG WORDS, I hauled out my well worn Webster's Dictionary and looked up "ingenious."

Image my surprise when I found out what it meant!

INGENIOUS means

• showing intelligence (hmmm, that was nice)
• marked by especial aptitude at inventing (well that was right, I did invent the cards...)
• marked by originality, resourcefulness and cleverness in conception (yes, it is totally original)

Okay, so it was a nice word...in fact...a wonderful word and I am thrilled to know that I am indeed ingenious.

Now, if only my grand kids would also think so... grin.

Sue

Thinking outside the box

Thinking outside the box is one of those educator terms teachers like to bandy about. But what does it mean? For some, it means coming up with a creative solution to a problem. For others, it means the process by which we solve problems. Either way, it deals with creativity, of thinking beyond the mundane.

So, how do we train our muse to think outside the box? I would suggest a healthy dose of exercise. And yes, you can train yourself to be more creative. One of the first art workshops I ever attended discussed methods for getting children to be more inventive with their ideas. The presenter introduced me to two fabulous books; A Whack on the Side of the Head and A Kick in the Seat of the Pants, both by Roger von Oech. He also developed a Creative Whack Pack, a set of cards designed to help solve problems from a different angle.About that same time, I took on a coaching job for a Destination Imagination team. This is a wonderful competition that encourages the kids to "think." As part of the training and part of the competition, the kids are asked to solve problems in 5 - 8 minutes. These problems are called instant challenges.

So - what does this have to do with writing? Everything. I think one of the biggest challenges a writer is faced with it coming up with "creative ideas." Many believe that there are no new plots, that writers must use basic plots and change them up or present them in such a way that they seem new. Not an easy task.Discussion has already been presented on pantser vs plotter. I'm a certified pantser, but regardless, my characters often get themselves into impossible situations. To try and think outside the box, I try very hard to throw out my first two solutions. In my opinion, the first solution is the one that most readers will expect and a writer doesn't want to state the obvious. The second solution might also fall into this category. So - my challenge to myself is to find a third solution to the problem created by my contrary characters. I think and hope that this practice helps create page turners and stories that will engage the reader to the bitter end.

In this respect, doing brain exercises, teasers, instant challenges all help develop a creative mind. The best writers in the world will take their creative thoughts and present them in novel format. Some write well, but the story is lacking and some have the most awesome ideas but a writing style that's hard to follow. A marriage of both creative thought and superb writing is what we all strive for.

"Right Write" Mode

Distractions are everywhere, some external and some internal, but they surround a writer at the worst possible moments. Lately, I've had a difficult time trying to find quality writing time. I work full time teaching, part time editing for a local magazine, full time as a mother and wife and part time as a romance novel writer. Part time you say? I could probably call that job a full time job for all the hours I commit to writing, promoting and editing, but with the other distractions it's hard to justify that label. A full time writer must give 100% to their creative muse and all that goes with it and well, I just don't have 100% to give - yet.

So - last night was the first time in forever that I entered what I call "right write" mode. I turned on my music (my playlist from myspace), tuned out everything else and found that special place where I gave 100% to the story I'm currently working on. I wrote for three hours without taking any detours like e-mail, myspace or solitaire. At 1:00 AM, I discovered I'd zoned into my work, submitted to my muse and written about 2500 words. It felt soooooo good.

Plotting Versus Pantsers

Plotting as done by a "Panster"


There's a difference in writing styles recognized as 'plotters' and 'pantsers'. Plotters sit down with pencil and paper and figure out their characters, develop the storyline, identify who's going to be the protagonist, the antagonist, determine the conflict and sum up how everything is going to end. Then there are the 'pantsers,' named because they 'write by the seat of their pants.' I happen to be one of them.

My stories usually begin when a character pops into my head and starts dragging me, mentally, into a developing storyline. At the beginning, I have no idea who might join in the party, where we're headed and we're we'll end up. It's quite often frustrating, because when your muse takes a break and the character fades into the background, you aren't quite sure how to pick up the pieces and carry on.

I've tried plotting, but it doesn't work for me. I can't sketch out something before the main character jumps out and identifies his or herself. Usually a name comes first, then the characteristics...hair and eye color, body attributes, personality. Next, usually my heroine, starts whispering in my ear and telling me what's happening. My fingers become the tool through which she works as I plunk out words on the keyboard. I find it amazing to work this way, because at the same time I'm creating something, it feels as if someone is telling ME a story, and I can't wait to see how things play out.

I've recently started using 3x5 cards to note hair and eye color and important things I need to remember for each person, because when you have multiple characters, it's often hard to recall who has chocolate brown eyes and who has ones as blue as the sky. Nothing is more irritating than reading a story and having the character's eyes change from chapter to chapter. *lol* Of course, one could blame color contact lenses, I suppose. I used to have a memory, but sadly, I don't anymore.

I currently have three works-in-progress, and I can't stop the voices in my head. It doesn't mean I'm crazy, it just means there are more characters screaming to have me tell their stories. I was watching TV, when out of the blue, Odessa crept in and tugged me to an overturned wagon where he father was trapped somewhere between Tucson and Brisbee, Az. Last night, Clare visited and wants me to tell her story of love during World War II. She gave me a crick in my neck from constantly turning her head to check to see if the seams in her stockings were straight. She was so proud to have real ones, rather than having to paint a line on her leg.

So, I'm sure these are two stories yet to come, but I have to find a way to lock the door to my mind. There are far too many people roaming around, creating havoc, and I have to get Carrie and her prison story finished and submitted, Grace's amazing tale told, and Hope from Hope Springs Eternal is really getting ticked for sitting on the back burner. Oy Vey! I need more fingers and less voices.