Free Rice

A few days ago, oasiss stopped by my blog and left some nice remarks, so I had to take a gander at what goes on over at Zatetic.

There’s some fun happenings over there: not only can you snag a recipe for ice cream, but also, you can ponder the intellect of some of our modern-day heroes.

I know what you’re thinking: what do ice cream and athletes have to do with rice? Well, nothing, but the Zatetic blogroll included a link to FREE RICE, and there was no way I wasn’t going to see where that led, so off I went.

I don’t want to give too much away, so I’ll just say three things:

1. Test your word knowledge.
2. Make a difference.
3. Do both for FREE.

Constant Inconstancy

I wonder what would happen if a few auto manufacturers decided to switch the gas and brake pedals in the cars they produced. While I’m at it, let’s rotate the side of the road on which we drive based on the stock market. I also say we forget the red-yellow-green configuration of signal lights and let homeowners in the area pick the top-to-bottom order of the colors.

After all, it’s not as if there needs to be any real consistency on the roadways, right?

This is the logic used to create the internet—okay, not so much the internet as the means to travel it.

I’ve spent the last several days updating a Web site only to find out the updates read differently in Mozilla Firefox than they do in Internet Explorer.

I know what you’re thinking: anyone paying any attention to the way of the Web knows there are differences in the way combinations of browsers and operating systems alter the way Web pages appear.

I do know this, and overall, I can accept that depending upon a viewer’s browser, operating system, and screen size, what I see and what that person sees may differ, but this—this was a difference akin to night and day, and it cannot be fixed. (Well, I fixed it, but I had to compromise some design to do it.)

I’m no expert, but I know more than the average bear about HTML, XHTML, and PHP, and I’ve spent a lot of time working with my own site designs and templates and themes to feel pretty comfortable with things.

In layperson’s terms, it basically comes down to a difference in code interpretation among browsers, and which browser is more forgiving than the others.

It also comes down to a simple truth: when I type <div>, some browsers get edgy. Then, if I dare type < /br>, it gets worse. Finally, if I try to combine a little bit of <div> with a little bit of < /br>, everything blows up—in Explorer. Nothing happens in Firefox, and because I use Firefox, it was only by chance I realized a very simple Wordpress theme was unreadable in Explorer. (I generally check both browsers, but I tell you, this was a simple change that I never dreamed would cause any harm, so checking didn't cross my mind.)

Here’s what I don’t get: it seems to me there’s a simple analogy that ought to dictate how the World Wide Web “works.”

The Earth is like the Web.
The highway is like the internet.
A car is like a browser.
An address is like a URL.

If I want to get someplace on the Earth, I climb into my car, grab a map, and head out on the highway to the address of my choosing. The Web is no different—well, unless you count the fact that often the highways can’t be navigated, the car stalls, and once if you get to the address, the place looks nothing like what you remember.

Isn't it time all browsers interpreted code the same way?

Got_A_P?

The alphabet is a powerful thing:

When written, the only thing separating the image on the left from the image on the right is one “P.”I know this, but in something I recently posted, I left out that one little “P,” and what was supposed to be a little boy using “snippers” to cut a wire became a little boy with a pair of “snipers” in his hand.

(It’s now fixed, but that’s beside the oint.)

Tools

I mentioned in my first post of this year that I had discovered two productivity tools near the end of 2007 that I tried, liked, and used to formulate much of my 2008 writing schedule.

Each is a book, but both are designed to be more than reading matter: they are tools to assist in adjusting one’s attitude and time management with the end goal of producing more work that is higher quality.

The Way of the Cheetah, by Lynn Viehl, is a recipe for productivity with a real kick: read what Viehl accomplishes in a day, and you will sit down at a keyboard and get to work. (Well, you will if you really want to be a Writer.)

The Way of the Cheetah covers every inch of ground a writer traverses: the physical, mental, and emotional stuff; the office and equipment stuff; and the outside world stuff, and it’s all good advice. (Some of it can be put to work immediately, but some of it will have to wait, and that’s part of what I love about this book: it challenges one’s perseverance and patience, and I love a challenge.)

There is much to The Way of the Cheetah that is applicable to life in general—and I mean this in a practical not a touchy-feely way. There is no magic packet of dissolve-it-in-water motivation tucked inside nor is there a ready-mix determination-drink included, but if you bring these things to the table, The Way of the Cheetah can help you to make yourself more focused and more productive.

The Way of the Cheetah is also a joy to read: the information is honest—even when honesty is painful—and there’s just enough humor and sarcasm to keep you on your toes.

How to Find Your Writing Discipline, by Holly Lisle, is one of the best time management plans I’ve run across. This book is aimed at writers, but it would do anyone in need of a productivity-makeover good, and it wouldn’t take much effort to apply the tips Lisle provides to other areas of one’s life.

Ironically, I have used many of the general concepts in this text in my composition courses which led me to two conclusions: a person really can only be taught what he or she is willing to learn, and I’m giving my students good advice—even though it too often goes ignored!

I have always been a lister and a planner, so the basic premise of How to Find Your Writing Discipline was both familiar and comforting for me. For some, the idea is going to be a bit more of a challenge, but to those who feel that way I say give it a try—you might be surprised. (If you’ve never examined where your day goes, Lisle’s book will be a real eye-opener.)

If I were to pull out one element of How to Find Your Writing Discipline that is helping me the most, I’d have to choose the productivity board. Having my plans right in front of me and watching things move (literally) along is a real plus.

* * *

What sets these books apart from the many other writing books I have read over the years is the honesty and practicality of each. Neither claims to be The Answer. Both admit every writer is different and must take what she can from any source and toss aside the rest. Each writer readily admits that working as a Writer is a Sisyphean task not to be embraced by the faint-of-heart.

Best of all, both Lynn Viehl and Holly Lisle are full-time, in-the-trenches writers who give a whole bunch to the rest of us—for free, so spending my hard-earned money on their work gives me the warm fuzzies.

Resolutions

I’ve noticed a number of people have begun shying away from resolutions citing their failure to follow through with them, and while I see the point of avoiding unnecessary frustration, I don’t see the point of failing to embrace possibility—and that’s the way I view resolutions.What’s wrong with dreaming big at the beginning of a new year? I love having the opportunity to start fresh each January 1st with nothing but a blank sheet of paper and my imagination to guide me.

I suppose it might have something to do with having taught for so long: each semester is a fresh start, and each preparatory period before each new semester is a time to reflect and plan all the ways this semester is going to be the one during which teaching and learning collide head-on.

It might also have to do with my being a writer: if I weren’t a dreamer, I wouldn’t (and couldn’t) be a writer.

I suppose it also is a statement that reflects my age: I am still young enough to believe there is an infinite a lengthy amount of time at my disposal, and because I am in a good mood, I’m not going to dwell on reality where this point is concerned. (I’m thinking of you, Mike.)

I’m happy to have discovered several (new-to-me) writers in 2007, and there’s more to say about that later; however, for now, I’ll just say that I “discovered” two wonderful productivity tools that I test drove at the end of last year, and much of my 2008 is going to be based on those tools.

Let the embracing of possibilities begin:

WRITING GOALS 2008/2009

ON LEARNING THE CRAFT

1. Take the Gotham Writers’ Workshop Level I Fiction Writing Class
   
   • Mid to Late 2008
2. Take the Gotham Writers’ Workshop Level I [Genre] Writing Class
   
   • Early to Mid 2009
3. Bird by Bird
4. Writing Down the Bones

ON PRODUCTIVITY

1. Review and Revise Plan Monthly

WORK TO COMPLETE

1. The 2YN – Year 1 (Unearthed)
2. Test Case
   
   • Submit by 04/15/08
3. “The Cure”
   
   • Submit by 06/15/08
4. “The Well”
   
   • Submit by 09/15/08
5. Unearthed
   
   • Submit by 12/31/08
6. Scribbled Stories, Volume I
   
   • Writing Completed by 10/01/08
   • Printing Completed by 11/01/08
7. Contest #1
8. Contest #2
9. Contest #3
10. Contest #4
11. Contest #5
12. Contest #6

GENERALLY SPEAKING

1. Write at least 5 days each week.
2. Never miss a post at SHdN.
3. Post at least two Scribbled Stories each month.
4. Podcast at least two Scribbled Stories each month.
5. Enter SIX contests in 2008.
6. Complete the 2008 NaNoWriMo.
7. Get Scribbled Stories up at iTunes.
8. Get Scribbled Stories up at Podiobooks.

Free Stuff

One of the things that has become relatively commonplace is for writers (and other artists) to give away some of their work in order to draw attention to themselves in hopes of building up a following. (I suppose there are also a good number of people out their sharing their creations with no other motives, too.)

I have to admit to having been on both sides of the give-away fence. Initially, it bothered me to think that anyone who created something had to give it away. After all, no one expects the non-artist to give away her services. We are a firmly established you-get-what-you-pay-for society. (Okay, maybe we’re more a how-much-do-I-get-for-doing-that? society, but that’s another post.)

Here are two examples:

First, there was a time when buying a printer meant inside the box was everything one needed to hook that puppy up to a computer, press a button, and watch the ink fly. Then, times changed, and buying a printer meant deciding whether or not to buy a cable, too. I was one of the idiots who was caught off guard by this the first time: I had moved from a serial printer to a USB printer, so I had no compatible cable. Imagine my surprise when I called to complain that my order had been shorted a cable only to be told I hadn’t ordered one.

Let’s be realistic here: a printer will not work without a cable, so why not include it? (I understand the logic and cost effectiveness of not doing so, but c’mon.)

Second, I will say up front this is not an assault on a profession but an evaluation of what is and what is not free. Let’s look at the concept of tipping a waitperson. Why is it that the consumer is forced to pay part of an employee’s salary? Do I get the option as a diner of grabbing my own seat, my own menu, my own silverware, and my own water? Am I allowed to place my own order with the cook, pick it up, and take it to my table? (Uh, yes, and it’s called eating at home.) The simple truth is eating out is done to avoid serving oneself, so why do we pay someone to serve us? Service is part of running a service business, so why aren’t the owners paying their service staff to serve?

I find it odd we tip a server for serving us. I find it even odder that we tip well if the service has been exemplary. Shouldn’t I expect great service when I’m paying $20 for a meal I could easily fix myself? (What about pride in one’s work?)

I could go on and on with the things we pay for in society versus those we do not, but my point is that for a time I was adamantly against giving my stuff away, and these things were at the root of my reasoning.

Then I discovered a few sites where I could download free ebooks, free music, free podiobooks, and free podcasts, and often these sites were owned and operated by well-established writers/artists. Two things began to happen as I took advantage of these freebies. I found the items offered for “free” were not castoffs or lesser pieces. I also discovered some artists I would have missed had these things not been “free.” (I don’t have a ton of extra money hanging around to spend on books, and I already have lots of unread items lining the walls of my office. Reading is a big commitment, and as much as I enjoy it—it’s something I do every day—I am choosey about what books I give my time to.) Like almost all humans, I am attracted to free things in the same manner I am attracted to shiny objects, and free books get a few pages of my attention instantly.

Being an avid reader, I understand as a writer that one necessity is to get readers to want to read my stuff more than any other stuff they have available to them, and if that means giving some of my work away to showcase myself, I can do that without feeling as if I’m selling my work short.

(I still think all printers should come with cables and all restaurant owners should pay their wait staff a sum of money that includes waiting on customers, however.)

Which brings me to my latest project: podcasting. I’ve been posting short stories over at Scribbled Stories for eight months, and I really love the process involved in the writing I do for that site. After finding Podiobooks and the podcast novel Crescent, I had to give podcasting a shot, and I couldn’t think of a better way to get good at recording than by creating some small pieces.

Now, I am no Phil Rossi, and my first effort is by no means perfect, but for your listening pleasure, I present my first Scribbled Story Podcast, and it’s absolutely free.

The Creator

Something New--To Me at Least

I’ve never really been one to listen to audio books: primarily because I trained myself long ago to block out everything when I work so I don’t hear the darn things. The other reason I’m not fond of them is far too many stories don’t translate well to the spoken word.

I am, however, a huge fan of old radio shows, and I have quite a few of these types of programs stored on my iPod. I listen to them when I commute to work, when I clean the yard or the house, and often when I am struck with a bout of insomnia.

Several weeks ago, I ran across an amazing podcast: Crescent.



It’s actually a podcast novel written by Phil Rossi, and it brings to the table the best of both worlds: it’s an incredible novel-length tale that was written to be listened to.

And so, I am now an inhabitant of the wonderful world of podcast novels, and a frequent traveler to one of the coolest sites on the planet: Podiobooks.



If you’ve got any kind of a podcatcher on your computer—such as iTunes—you can subscribe to most of the novels listed at Podiobooks via the iTunes store. (Search by title or author in the “podcasts” section.)

If you prefer, you can download episodes directly from Podiobooks (and many of the linked author sites).

Oh, and the coolest part: THESE ARE FREE. (But do a writer a favor: if you like what you hear, donate via Podiobooks. The writers get 75% of the donation, and it’ll keep quality productions coming.)

Phil Rossi is a master at what he does in Crescent, and it would be remiss of me not to mention that many other books whose descriptions sound interesting are harder to listen to because the audio is just not as powerful, but there is definitely a significant selection of quality novels there.

You can see for yourself: each piece at Podiobooks allows you to stream the audio of the first chapter without a download commitment, and even on my s-l-o-w connection speed, I’ve been able to listen to the previews with relative ease.

Be forewarned: this site and these podcast novels are addictive.

It Appears a Theme Is Emerging

Sans the baseball bat, this so captures the last few days of my life:



I have got to remember to wipe the sucker from my forehead: there is a helpless animal network in my neighborhood, and all the signs point directly to my home.

The Real Thing Two—Well, Sort Of

A few days ago, I didn’t write about the snack-factory next door, instead, I wrote about a little program that helps keep my fingers moving along as I write.

Today, what I am not going to write about is my theme crashing on my fiction-only site. If I were going to talk about that, I’d have to mention the hours I spent trying everything I could to fix it only to repeatedly fail. I’d have to mention finding several viable replacement themes and settling for my second choice because it would require less tweaking to make me happy. What I really would have to mention is how the designer used base64 encoding in the footer to try to eliminate the removal of the “sponsor’s” pop-ups and ads. Of course, if I were going to write about this, I’d have to brag about ripping that code apart and putting what I wanted there despite the gibberish that is base64 code.

Instead, I’m going to write about The PC Timer: it’s the other little program I use to make my writing time more efficient.



This program is just what its name implies: it’s a timer/alarm that runs unobtrusively in the computer’s background. The user sets the time and then forgets about it: when the set-time expires, the program comes to the front of the computer’s workspace and alerts the user her time is up.

I love this for two reasons: first, it keeps me from having to worry about the time I’ve budgeted to write—I don’t have to clock-watch because this program takes care of it for me. This means I don’t have to worry about getting so caught up in what I’m doing that I forget to leave for the day job. Second, when things are going slowly (or I’m in the middle of, say, NaNoWriMo), the compulsion to check my word count can be overwhelming. Using the PC Timer, I can set thirty-minute intervals and make a mental deal to check my count only after the timer goes off.

There is a similar device available for the Mac, and as Mac things tend to be, it’s much prettier:



The best news about each is that they are priced right: they are FREE.

Happy times, no?

Did You Know?

It takes frighteningly little to make me happy; for example, getting my coffee for free will make my whole day.

Once each week, on my way to the day job, I stop at the same Starbucks to treat myself to a tall latte. I haven’t paid a dime for my cup-o-joe for the past month.

The reason?

Trivia.

My Starbucks has begun posting occasional trivia questions, and not only have I been lucky enough to patronize the store on trivia day, but also it seems the individual choosing the questions believes the crap sitting in my head qualifies as arcane.

Here are the questions that have garnered me free lattes for the past few weeks:

1. Before it was a movie, Psycho was a story. Who wrote the original tale?
2. Who was the host of the show featuring both J.P. Morgan and The Unknown Comic?
3. What is an Onomatopoeia?
4. Why do birds suddenly appear every time you are near?

Question number four was featured today, and even better than the free drink was the look on the barista’s face when I came up with the answer. According to her, no one had even guessed the line was from a song, let alone been able to follow up with the answer.

I can tell she thinks it’s a bit weird I seem to know the answers to all of the trivia questions.

I think it’s a bit weird they keep picking stuff I would have to have lived my life under a rock not to know.

I can take being thought weird as long as the free lattes keep flowing.

For those of you who don’t know them, here are the answers:

1. Robert Bloch wrote Psycho.


2. It was called The Gong Show.


3. An Onomatopoeia is a word that imitates the sound it symbolizes: the words buzz, zip, purr, swish, and boom are examples.


4. Just like me, they long to be close to you. (Drag out your Carpenter LPs!)

It's in the Mail

You know the saying, right?

The check’s in the mail.

Well, there are times this isn’t a brush off, and one of those times happened to me yesterday.

Mixed in with the junk I retrieved from my mailbox yesterday was an envelope that held the money I made for selling something I wrote.

I’ve done many things in my life to earn money—all legal, I might add—but this certainly beats them all.

I wish I could bottle what that felt like. (I have every intention of repeating the process so many times I forget that first-time feeling.)

Now, I suppose I’ll need to be certain not to spend it all in one place!

With Love

My world lost a bit of its beauty yesterday.



Roxi--April 28, 1995, to October 15, 2007



Thank you for all of your love and companionship and for fighting the good fight.

Preparations

Blog Action Day is just around the corner (Monday, October 15, 2007), and I’d like to encourage every blogger who stumbles upon my site to consider participating.

The challenge is for bloggers worldwide to blog about the same topic on that day, and for those bloggers who are generating income from their sites to donate their day’s earnings to a related charity of their own choosing.

The topic for Blog Action Day is the environment, but each writer can address the subject as he or she sees fit.

Regardless of the type of blog one has, there are ways to keep to the theme of the blog while addressing something environmentally oriented. (Come on—we’re writers: we can be creative, right?)

I’ve been spending a good deal of time at The Union of Concerned Scientist's Green Tips Page, and my Blog Action Day post will reveal some of the more surprising things I’ve learned about decreasing my footprint on our environment.

I’m also going to try to hug one of the area deer, but I fear that may be less successful; fortunately, I have plenty of trees to turn to if necessary!

Seasons Change

I’ve got two rose bushes I’m terribly attached to, and each has been kind enough to bloom a glorious last-hurrah for me before winter really arrives.

I doubt I could take a picture to do justice to this Tiger Rose, and even if the image were a fair rendition, without the aroma, well, it’s just not the same. (Really, stop scratching your monitor: there are no smells embedded in this post.)

I’ve made a deal with the deer—who are rose chompers of the first order—that if they leave the roses alone while they’re blooming, I’ll cut off the leftovers for their munching pleasure.

That talk (and a healthy dose of Deer Off) has allowed all of us to enjoy the roses’ recent kindness.

The rain has teased me, and soon, there will be more of it. On its heels will come the snow I love, but for now, I’m taking the time to enjoy my roses.

I do wish you could stop and smell them, too.

Sliced Bread Is Nothing

It dawned on me early this morning that this year’s NaNoWriMo is drawing near. That realization filled me with a mixture of terror and excitement, and anyone who’s participated in the event understands the reason.

If you have no idea what I’m talking about, NaNoWriMo is short for National Novel Writing Month. It’s an annual event that takes place each November, and participants are challenged to write a novel of at least 50,000 words in 30 days.

I participated for the first time last year, and I was a winner.



(Before you send confetti, a winner is anyone who completes the task.)

It’s true that sheer determination got me through, but time is everything when one is on a 2,000 word-per-day schedule, and the little device below made all the difference for me.













That’s right: a portable keyboard that allows me to use my Treo’s Microsoft Word Mobile and work anywhere.

My final writing day included a five-hour stint at the dentist’s office, and without this keyboard, I never would have made the deadline.

There are many portable keyboards on the market, but the ThinkOutside Infrared Wireless Keyboard features some significant differences.

• It’s a full-sized qwerty keyboard.


• It has no stay-flat problems.


• The keys feel and respond like those on a computer’s keyboard.


• It is durable and comes with a carrying case.

Beyond the NaNoWriMo use, this keyboard makes working anywhere possible with very little equipment: it takes up less space than a pad of paper, is smaller than a paperback book, and fits nicely in my purse.

While sitting in a café and writing is a nice change of pace, dragging a laptop inside and going through the hassle of finding a plug can be a pain. (Then, there’s what to do with your laptop if the coffee leads to the need to use the restroom.)

With the Stowaway and my Treo, I can come and go quickly and easily, and I don’t feel the burden of dragging my laptop around.

The only drawback I can find is the company has sold its product line to iGo, and their Web site isn’t very user-friendly, nor does the current version appear to be as lovingly crafted.

I never doubted the value of my purchase, but now, I feel like it was an even better buy.

There’s only one on eBay, and I may have to snag it as a backup!

You Know You're Old When. . .

. . .you remember typing papers on a typewriter, and you went to the doctor if you had a virus.

Those were the good old days, you know, before the words personal and computer became associated with one another.

According to several articles, this marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the very first personal computer virus.

Written by then ninth-grader Rich Skrenta (now 40) who called it “some dumb little practical joke,” perhaps the funniest part of the gaff is where the virus was grown: on the hard drive of an Apple II computer. (Talk about not PC!)

I think I finally understand the missing bite in Apple’s logo: it represents the origin of the term chip off the block—knew you could do it.

For those of you who want that piece back, dig around in your non-Apple hard drives!