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Posts tagged ‘Blog’

Dec 18

books
8 Comments

6 Gifts for the Debut Novelist

The debut author is slightly better off. He has less needs than the struggling writer. He sees light at the end of the tunnel after a long struggle. His days of rejection slips are over. His book has been released. He now eagerly awaits reactions from the reading public and critics. In this holiday season, what could be the best gift for him? Here is my list.

1. An honest review, and a fair review, which will establish his standing amongst his peers. It will tell him where his book stands in the milieu, and might give it the necessary fillip to make it to a bestseller list, when his joy will know no bounds…

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Dec 15

black and white writer
14 Comments

9 Gifts for the Struggling Writer

The struggling writer is the worst off of all. He stares at a dark future, fumbling for a sliver of light in a dark tunnel of words, and not sure of what the uncertain future held for him. He is alone in his struggle, writing from his heart, not knowing whether his work will be appreciated one day, or whether he will be stuck in the doldrums forever. In this holiday season, what could be the best gift for him? Here is my list.

1. A critique of his work, preferably free (for they are expensive), which tells him what he is doing right, and where he needs to park his words or where his plot is going all awry. It will push him in the right direction…

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Dec 11

reading man
7 Comments

Things You Can Do with Books

So you think books are only for reading. Think again. Books have been put to good use by mankind for as long as they have been in existence. Books are the creation of imagination (and research), but the use they have been put to belies imagination. From keeping warm (remember the movie The Day After Tomorrow) to their use as weapons of self-defense (again, lots of movies) to … well, the list goes on and on. Here, in a nutshell, are my list of nine interesting things you can do with books.

1. Use as a pillow, though it may be uncomfortable, both for the book (especially one with a bad back), and you, unless it is face down…

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Dec 10

download (2)
1 Comment

Book Drum & the World’s First Literary Map

Book Drum is a web community for book lovers, which combining images, background information, maps, videos and music to bring alive the books we love. It calls itself the ‘the perfect companion to book, bringing them to life with immersive pictures, videos, maps and music.’ Anyone can join to build a profile on a book they know well. All you need is spare time, some enthusiasm, reasonable writing skills and an internet connection. While a book is being profiled, it cannot be worked on by anyone else. Once the profile is complete, other registered contributors will be able to add to it.

According to author Hector Macdonald who is Editor at Book Drum, what makes…

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Jun 4

images
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Getting over Writer’s Block?

Who is more to be pitied, a writer bound and gagged by policemen or one living in perfect freedom who has nothing more to say? – Kurt Vonnegut

Most writers will have trouble writing at some point in their careers, the cause of which they will attribute to writer’s block. Neurologist Alice Flaherty, author of The Midnight Disease: The Drive to Write, Writer’s Block, and the Creative Brain (2004) argued that ‘literary creativity is a function of specific areas of the brain, and that writer’s block may be the result of brain activity being disrupted in those areas.’ Victoria Nelson, author of On Writer’s Block(1993) writes that ‘although it can be triggered by any number of…

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Jan 4

blogger-newbie

Blogapost 2011 Part 1: Tips to help you on your way

1. Writing everyday would be challenge but be true to the commitment you have made to yourself, but it’s not the end of the world if you fail. Your life is important. 200 words make for a sufficiently large post. And you don’t have to write every day. You can always post videos or pictures, even link.

2. Plan for the week ahead. Post a video one day, a picture another day, anything that can get your view across and interest visitors to your blog. If you read something online that you like, you can use a WordPress feature PressThis, which creates a new post on your blog with a link to the page you were reading…

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