ECLECTIC EDITOR’S BLOG DECEMBER 3, 2005 TO JANUARY 22, 2006 1-22-06 PLAYING CATCH-UP CREATIVITY PLUS: HOW STAR TREK CAN HELP YOU I’ve been downing vitamins twice a day, drinking orange juice, plenty of water and more, but I’m fighting off the same virus that got me earlier this month. It’s been going around like some kind of plague, in circles, hitting people twice (I hope not more!). I haven’t been hit hard by it this time, but I’ve spent most of this weekend resting and little else. Today, I stayed in bed until around 4 PM and managed enough energy to take our German Shepherd (enchantingly and originally named Rex) for a walk. At least the weather felt wonderful, a bracing 47 with a wind chill perhaps ten degrees cooler. CREATIVITY PLUS: HOW STAR TREK CAN HELP YOU During my down time, I read Nicholas Spark’s The Guardian, part of Chuck Swindoll’s Character Counts (character development), and The Making of Star Trek. Okay, I guess I should let you know how the first two were . . . The Guardian is the type of feel good book to read when you want to feel good, but aren’t in a rush. The ending, which comes gradually, develops suspense well and for dog lovers, hits about like Where the Red Fern Grows (the only book that ever made me angry at a teacher). Character Counts is spectacular, setting strong examples for character development. The Making of Star Trek, though, is unpredictable and a fertile garden for your mind’s dreamscape. First of all, it will make you realize early on that Gene Roddenberry was either modestly brilliant or an idiot savant. Yes, some accidental discoveries and filming limitations led to things like beaming up, but good grief, the level of planning and predicting these guys went through! A sick bay that could monitor patients without touching them, non-invasive surgery, a ship with gravity, computerized chefs, and more. After reading the book, every episode becomes a new discovery. Now, I see Spock’s almost dangerous fascination with aliens, Kirk’s empathy toward them. Why read this book? Because after reading it (if you can find it!), you’ll have great ideas for Marketing Your Book, Developing Characters, Creating New Worlds and much more. 1-17-06 BUSINESS: HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO RESPOND? MY BIRTHDAY: HOW IT WENT (NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE) BUSINESS: HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO RESPOND? I’m loaded with e-mail subs, working with writers and a new editor, who will be announced soon, Dear Reader. A good question would be, how long does it take me to get to submissions now? Ah, I remember when it took, at most, a day. Then, a week. Now, sometimes, a month. To be fair, I try to respond to some of the oldest and some of the newest e-mails daily. But, then there are those in the middle . . . Tomorrow, I know where I’ll be reading. MY BIRTHDAY: HOW IT WENT I almost got run over on my birthday! How close? A few inches. Lucky for me that I used to wait on tables (gosh, that was a past life, though). As I walked through a dark parking lot on the way back to my car, I can only guess that a woman behind the wheel decided at that moment that she was either 1) terribly pissed off at a boyfriend or 2) in a great hurry. Either way, she gunned the car as I passed and leaped out of the way. My words? “I’ll bet you’re glad you’re lucky.” I hope she understood. Other than that, lunch with a friend, time in my garden, dinner was great at the Cuban place, then STAR TREK at my best friend’s with family. What will I do when I run out of the series? Well, I have two more seasons to watch yet! What a Christmas present. . . . 1-13-06 FRIDAY THE 13th, ALMOST A FULL MOON, AND MY BIRTHDAY TOMORROW’S THE LAST DAY TO VOTE FRIDAY THE 13th, ALMOST A FULL MOON, AND MY BIRTHDAY I’ve always like the number 13, probably because it’s the date of my birthday. However, the number’s caused problems for me. My father wouldn’t drive me somewhere for one of my birthdays, saying he was afraid he’d have an accident, as the date had brought him bad luck. When I was teen, I’m sure it brought him misfortune ;-) Now, though, it’s just a birthday, something simple for me. I have a long weekend ahead of me, MLK day off from work. And I have no idea what to do! Strange facts about my birthday: 1. January 13th is typically the coldest day of the year. I love cold weather, though I’ve never been snowed in. Here, today’s high will be in the lower 60’s. This is my only regret this year. 2. My numerical age has almost always held little significance for me: I’m now 37. A good age, you might think, for an editor, who had better not be fresh out of college and lack experience. Most of the time, I forget how old I am. Doctors and other officials requesting my age find this strange. I also forget the ages of friends and acquaintances, largely remembering them as the age I Want to remember them by! I do, however, remember most birthdays. 3. As you can expect, I don’t have an appreciation for Friday the 13th movies. . . . What will I do today? Of course, read a few great stories and poems, submissions awaiting my perusal. There’s one I Saved to read on my birthday and that writer knows I will treasure the reading. Friends and family have sent presents already. Being an introvert of sorts, I have dinner with my best friend and her husband, making four with my husband, Gerald. Tonight, we will dine Cuban. Today, I’d like to go to La Madeleine (French bistro) for lunch. If the cuisine’s from another country, I want to try it. As Spock told Dr. McCoy one time on STAR TREK, “You’re a sensualist.” Yes, I’m a sensualist, but not a hedonist. My evening will be peaceful, odd, memorable. For the rest of the day, little more than quiet conversation, reading and saving my garden from the unusual winter drought we’re having today in Austin. Where do I get my writing experiences from? Oh, I used to be a hedonist J 01-11-06 MY PERSONALITY TYPE AND HOW TO FIND YOURS!If you receive my newsletter for writers, Jack of Genre, then you received this link about a FREE personality test. Use it. Other websites Charge for this Myer-Briggs type test. I did mine first out of a book (a Lot of paperwork) and then at the website and the results are conclusive. I'm an INFJ: the world's rarest personality type, adding up to little over 2% of the world population (some statistics place it at 1.8%). Guess what my ideal jobs are? This information is according to websites and books . . . Writer, Editor, substance abuse counselor . . . hmm. Famous INFJ's are Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jimmy Carter. Given my personality, it's no surprise that I started an electronic magazine with the intention of inspiring others to write and get published. INFJ's are one of the few types who actually do something "for nothing," in reality, for the good of others. So, if you've wondered . . . I'm for real. There has to be a downside . . . of course! I'm strongly intuitive, meaning I feel empathy for just about anyone. I get hurt easily, though not because someone rejects my ideas. One downside is that I have few close friends, because I can "feel their pain." Another downside is that I often predict what someone will say to me after the first few words they say! As an editor, however, I always wondered why I have few problems at all with writers. Now I know. I'm a natural diplomat (the kind who makes peace, not a politician!). I take precise care in not offending others. Here's a great link to learn about your personality type, gratis. It's a 70 question test that will tell you your personality type. If you click on the link to learn more about your personality, the website links directly to information specifc to your personality type. This will help you select a career, deal better with others, design a writing approach and much more. As my personality type, INFJ, would say, "To thine own self be true!" Later, you can e-mail me and tell me about your personality type and all its wonderful strengths. http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp I can be e-mailed at: 1-08-05 (the wee hours) WHILE YOU SLEPT . . . JANUARY EDITION OF HUMDINGER: How long did Turkish coffee, Cuban espresso, and American coffee make Chris last? Good evening, morning. I’m not sure what to call it. The January edition of Humdinger Literary E-zine took most of last night and tonight to complete (not counting hours of pre-prep). If you’ve been reading, you know I prepared for Friday night with Turkish coffee (this coffee type’s so thick that you can’t drink the sludge at the bottom), Cuban coffee (with a near lethal dose of sugar) and American coffee (which I drink, surprisingly, with a modest amount of . . . honey). I don’t normally drink coffee overloads, but I felt tired early in the day and knew I didn’t have time to sleep or even nap. How long did the coffee work? Keeping in mind that I woke up at around 7 AM Friday morning, I worked on Humdinger until around 6 AM. Then, I napped and woke up at 10 AM with a strong burst of energy (coffee leftovers?) and worked until 4 AM, napped to 8 PM, ate dinner, watched an old STAR TREK episode (with the Romulans, great one), and returned to work here from 10 PM to now, Midnight, Saturday evening. Of course I’m going to have to get more staff, but I’m looking for staff who can do what I do and that’s rare. They would have to be willing to work for free (See? I said it was difficult), edit writers’ work with a kind heart and have the ability to help writers retain their style and so the writers great about the editorial assistance. The last thing I want is literarily wounded writers who swore off writing because we didn’t exert caution. I have some people willing to help, but need to assess if they can. January Humdinger is up and running, around 95% complete. If you’re a writer and don’t see your work there or haven’t been contacted, believe it or not, we had a submissions Surge of epic proportions and will still be posting stories and poems. In the case of one writer, I thought I had the final edit, but actually think I left it up to him, so the version isn’t ready for posting. Links that don’t work? Tell me immediately. That’s a serious problem. Discover typos? Same deal. I can be contacted at: Just when I wondered if anyone appreciated this hard work, a writer wrote and told me they put my Christmas card up on the wall. Another said their card is on display. Of course, what I do makes a difference to so many of you and that’s why I endure a few days’ torture for a beautiful monthly issue that honors great writing in every genre we can produce! Hey, guys, VOTE FOR ME! Yeah! It takes a few minutes, but you Can’t let Humdinger’s monumental monthly publication of around 130+ pages go unrecognized! Or worse, lose to a skin mag. We have so much more and the quality’s always astounding and fresh. HERE’S HOW TO PAY CHRIS BACK FOR ALL THAT WORK! Preditors & Editors is having its annual publications poll. If you appreciate Jack of Genre, Humdinger Literary E-zine and/or Chris Goebel’s assistance and useful articles, thank us by nominating us. The polls end January 14th, so every vote counts. The P&E Polls are a great way to thank us and let us know what we do for you matters! Vote now before you forget. We only have until January 14th (the day after Chris’ birthday)! THREE CATEGORIES: Editor: Chris Goebel Fiction E-zine: Humdinger Literary E-zine Poetry E-zine: Humdinger Literary E-zine To nominate Chris Goebel as E-zine Editor (at the humdingerzine.com address): http://www.critters.org/predpoll/zineeditor.shtml Nominate Humdinger Literary E-zine, parent of Jack of Genre at: http://www.critters.org/predpoll/fictionzine.shtml To nominate Humdinger Literary E-zine at a Poetry E-zine: http://www.critters.org/predpoll/poetryzine.shtml 1-7-06 (the wee hours) The Midnight Report Mixing Turkish, Cuban, and American Coffee Computers Suck Vote for me and I'll feel better Around midnight of the evening when I’m working on Humdinger’s newest edition, I post to my blog. This is for those late night readers and writers who came to the website looking for the new e-zine . . . and found nothing new (yet). Mixing Turkish, Cuban, and American Coffee Today, I drank Turkish coffee because I knew I’d need to be strong to get through with the new issue of Humdinger tonight. When I got home, I drank American and later drank Cuban coffee. I haven’t done this before—ever. Nor can I recommend it. But, I’ll let you know later how many hours I could stay awake. Ha, that’s not really helpful. Without coffee, I can stay awake for two days. Always have been able to do that. Computers Suck I hate viruses, slow computers, mysterious bugs, freezing up, file variations, etc. I heard about a trash truck blowing up in Miami in the other day and leaving bits of melting metal everywhere. Hmm. Computers can blow up. What’s my anguish? I’ve spent hours today and yesterday and over the past few weeks dealing with what amounts to a horrendous number of “bugs.” If only bug spray worked for computers. The speed at which I can get the e-zine up is being seriously hindered. However, Tim Bruderek has already judged the Writing Contests from December and you can read his decisions by clicking here. Meanwhile, I’m back to work, wide awake, of course and feeling better just because I wrote to you, because while it’s awful to have catastrophes alone, with company, it’s just embarrassing. See, my situation improves. Vote for me and I'll feel better Though I suffer for you, dear writers, you can help me feel better by voting for me and Humdinger. Ha! Were I to win recognition, I would howl at the rising sun! Want to help? I and Humdinger are in the running for three polls: E-zine Editor, Chris Goebel (at the humdingerzine site, please), Fiction E-zine, Humdinger Literary E-zine, Poetry E-zine, Humdinger Literary E-zine The three links to vote are listed below. Each person can vote once. E-mail verification is sent to you to ensure more honest voting. Once you confirm, a vote is entered. One confirmation is needed per e-mail address, no matter how many times you vote. You can use the back and forward arrows on your browser to use these links easily and quickly. They don’t require your address, just name and e-mail. To nominate Chris Goebel as E-zine Editor: http://www.critters.org/predpoll/zineeditor.shtml There are two addresses listed. Vote for Chris at the www.humdingerzine.com address. Nominate Humdinger Literary E-zine, parent of Jack of Genre at: http://www.critters.org/predpoll/fictionzine.shtml To nominate Humdinger Literary E-zine as a Poetry E-zine: http://www.critters.org/predpoll/poetryzine.shtml 1-5-06 Preditors & Editors Polls Adware and Spyware: Have you hugged your computer crap today? January 7th, January Edition of Humdinger and my Handy Espresso Recipe Preditors and Editors (intentionally misspelled to represent editors which are predators) are recommended on my resource page as a website that tells writers which agents and editors are preditors (ie., charge us money when they shouldn’t, charge too much, make us cover expenses we shouldn’t, etc.). That’s why so many writers are fond of P&E, because they represent justice for writers. I’ve viewed their polls for years and it is one of the most important awards I or Humdinger could earn, particularly because I respect what they do. Also, they are a readers’ choice poll. I’m not thrilled to be beat out by a skin magazine (earlier today, though voting stops on January 14th, so there's still time for someone wearing clothes to win). Hopefully, on January 7th, when readers and writers return to Humdinger for January’s e-zine release, they’ll help support Humdinger too. Still, for our first year in the running, we’re doing well. Want to help? I and Humdinger are in the running for three polls: E-zine Editor, Chris Goebel (at the humdingerzine site, please), Fiction E-zine, Humdinger Literary E-zine, Poetry E-zine, Humdinger Literary E-zine The three links to vote are listed below. Each person can vote once. E-mail verification is sent to you to ensure more honest voting. Once you confirm, a vote is entered. One confirmation is needed per e-mail address, no matter how many times you vote. You can use the back and forward arrows on your browser to use these links easily and quickly. They don’t require your address, just name and e-mail. To nominate Chris Goebel as E-zine Editor: http://www.critters.org/predpoll/zineeditor.shtml There are two addresses listed. Vote for Chris at the www.humdingerzine.com address. Nominate Humdinger Literary E-zine, parent of Jack of Genre at: http://www.critters.org/predpoll/fictionzine.shtml To nominate Humdinger Literary E-zine as a Poetry E-zine: http://www.critters.org/predpoll/poetryzine.shtml Adware and Spyware Have you hugged your computer crap today? Adware and spyware. Oh, we love them, don’t we? I spent two days battling junk heaped on my computer before I reinstalled ZoneAlarm. Get ZoneAlarm. It’s cool. ZoneAlarm’s free and blocks the bad guys. I’m seeing it happen now, though I’d been warned. You can download this firewall at the website located below: http:www.zonealarm.com Back to adware and spyware. Adware comes as a malicious advertisement that won’t go away. I received one of the worst: a desktop hijacking ad for spyware remover, of all things. My desktop decorations were masked by the Ad that Won’t Go Away. The ad is stored in your computer’s registry. Worse, Adaware and Spybot Search couldn’t get it, neither could AVG Free. Then, I had a Trojan Horse Downloader, which downloads more junk into your computer, the Trojan horse that’s just beginning to siege your city. Any of the free spyware programs above could isolate it. Best of all, though, is to get ZoneAlarm now, or, of course, a similar butt-kicking firewall/anti-virus/nuclear missile for adware and spyware. January 7th, January Edition of Humdinger Saturday, Humdinger will be out. I’m guessing during the evening hours, but I’ll have espresso and see what I can’t get done. How about that? I drink espresso on rare occasions, and drink it Miami-style. Here are two secrets (and some people in Miami would die to know): When making the espresso, PACK THE ESPRESSO WITH A SPOON AND ADD MORE ESPRESSO. SECRET TWO: Mix ½ cup of sugar with the FIRST FEW DROPS OF ESPRESSO, not adding enough to wet the sugar, but a few drops, as I said. Stir the sugar for around 2 minutes, until it turns a caramel color. If it’s not smooth after that time, add a few more drops of espresso. The coffee should have no bitterness. If it does, add a little more sugar until it is slightly sweet. This process has made the sugar like candy and changes the consistency of the espresso! For those of you who drink demitasse or those unsweetened espresso concoctions, you’re missing half the rush. Ha. Just don’t drink it when you plan on sleeping. 1-2-06 BAD JUJU-Infected Computer I have no idea what Bad Juju originally meant, but I know what it’s supposed to mean now-something rotten’s happened <grimace>. Last night, my desktop was hijacked, but Adaware and Spybot couldn’t remove it. Worse, both programs said I had 11 nasties, including a Trojan Horse, TrojanDownloader. The way they describe it, the TrojanDownloader acts like something else, while downloading more terrible things into your computer. Since Adaware froze, can you believe it?, unable to remove this junk, I used Spybot, which seemingly scanned, but did nothing. SO, I downloaded SpySweeper, which ran for 1 ½ hours, told me what I had and then wanted $30. Okay, I always try free first, because sometimes, free works, you know? Then, I downloaded AVG Free, which sounded great, because it scans your e-mail too. AVG tried to immediately “heal” the desktop hijack, which is an advertisement for spyware that won’t go away until you buy it! But the hijack came back immediately. Also, AVG said I had only the TrojanDownloader and supposedly inoculated it. Things got worse, and if you’re not technical, well, my computer wasn’t working so I could get online and there was the knowledge that more bad stuff was going to be downloaded into my computer by the things I already had. What I’ve learned so far that will benefit YOU. I cannot recommend SpySweeper. After I tried to remove the program-it didn’t work after all, so why keep it?, my computer wouldn’t access the Internet. I rebooted. Then, I had nothing on the screen, though my DSL provider’s equipment showed my computer receiving local access (it was online, even though I couldn’t see anything). I rebooted. Now, my computer’s in safe mode. Safe mode happens when super terrible things are happening with your computer and is basically for repairing your computer, not much else. I cannot recommend AVG, because it only removed 4/10 nasties. If AVG Free couldn’t do it all, why get it? Since my computer got WORSE after downloading these programs and since neither program fixed the problem, I advise you NOT TO DOWNLOAD THESE PROGRAMS. If/when I learn more about this problem, I will let you know immediately. Meanwhile, I’m using another computer <sigh>. I have access to several computers, but prefer mine, naturally. Learn all you can about protecting your computer. ZoneAlarm, a free firewall, has received raves from my friends and family. 12-31-05 My Lucky Slipping in Coffee Accident, I Guess . . . , STAR TREK and DOCTOR WHO Happened Here, Speeding Up Your Computer (You’ll learn a USEFUL WEBSITE), Poems for Dedication—If You’re a Poet, Everyone Would Like YOUR Help!, Happy New Year! What’s Your Resolution as a Writer? My Lucky Slipping in Coffee Accident, I Guess . . . Yesterday, just as my son had flown out and I had time to sit down to Humdinger business, I spilled a little coffee on the floor, BUT I didn’t know that. When I returned to my room to get something, the SLIP happened. I can be clueless when it comes to technology, but this time, I was footless when it came to walking! The slide was pretty bad because it happened in a narrow hallway. I slipped on the tile, slid across the floor, tried to stop it with one arm (sprained the wrist), hit my head against the corner on the wall (nice bump, too) and then slammed my butt against the other wall (causing five or six alien blotches like silver dollars). I’m virtually touchless now (see, don’t touch!) and am wearing a wrist brace so I can tolerate typing. It could’ve been worse, so I’m lucky, I guess . . . STAR TREK and DOCTOR WHO Happened Here, I’m not a Trekkie, but I might be soon. I just got every episode of the original Star Trek series (I don’t like the other series, for me it’ll always be Kirk, Spock, Jim, Scotty, Sulu, Uhura, Chekov). I’ve watched several so far and it’s been a while, so I sit afterwards and wonder how in the heck those writers got those ideas! Every story I’ve watched so far makes modern sci-fi sound boring. I got one Doctor Who on DVD (the only Tom Baker one on DVD). Tom Baker was the only Doctor Who I cared to watch, but he made the character fun. I have tons of movies, but these guys were hard to get . . . Speeding Up Your Computer (You’ll learn a USEFUL WEBSITE) Your computer’s slow. Everyone seems to have a similar complaint these days. Many technical websites advise to use a combination of free spyware and adware detection programs, such as AdWare and a firewall, such as Zone Alarm. You can find these guys by doing a Google search at: Remember to triangulate, that is, read several sites’ recommendations before you decide which freeware you’ll use. Also, erase those cookies! (Cookies are basically pictures of websites you’ve visited and advertisements you’ve received on the ‘Net.) You can do this by going to My Computer (if this doesn’t work for Macs, I’m sorry. My first computer was a Mac, but I have no idea what most Macs are like now) and clicking on Internet Options. Click Delete Cookies and Delete Files (in the same Cookies box). Then, if you’re familiar with the Task Manager, you can help your computer more. (You access the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Delete keys on your computer. If you do this once, it won’t reboot your computer. Instead, you’ll see Task Manager and the name of programs. If you have ten or more things listed (running), chances are that’s slowing your computer too. I found an awesome website which tells you what those .exe and other weird files are. It’s: http://www.answersthatwork.com Go to the Task List and look up those mysterious files . . . The website explains what to do about each one. And yes, some require software, so this will take learning time. Poems for Dedication—If You’re a Poet, Everyone Would Like YOUR Help! There’s a new page at Humdinger (when isn’t there?). For a long time, I’ve wanted a poetry page for people who don’t write poetry, but recognize its importance in times of need. A poem can romance a lover, say you’re sorry, propose marriage, honor a hero or a deceased loved one, celebrate birthdays, etc. These people, when I was a Poetry Writing expert at AskMe.com, requested poems from me. They always sought poems to share with people they cared about or to honor someone. I wrote poems for quite a few memorial services and got thanked by a fire department for giving them the words to say goodbye to a fallen comrade. My biggest dedication to the page was for fallen servicemen/women, such as soldiers, police officers, firemen/women. If you know anyone who needs poems to honor a fallen hero, refer them to this page. If you’re a poet, check out the page with some poems I’ve donated and consider donating some of your own poems. You’re not giving up copyright! But we are giving them permission to read them, share them and copy them (imagine for memorial services, etc.) for non-profit use. Hopefully, this will become a huge resource for people who need poets and their poems! Visit the page by clicking here. Happy New Year! What’s Your Resolution as a Writer? Happy New Year! I hope this year sees your work in print often, if you’re a writer. If you’re a reader, I hope you find great things to read, especially here. If you’re like me, you’ll have several in-the-back-of-your-mind resolutions for the New Year. I’m kind of nonchalant about it by now, but the goals are there. Since we’re writers and most people in writers’ lives don’t give a hoot about our writing resolutions, let’s talk about that now. If I hadn’t written a novel, that would be my resolution. Really. I’d sequester myself in my office and get it done. But I’ve written novels and am reworking the chapters in the largest one, which is 477 pages long (after its 6th edit, I’m meticulous about edits). Every time someone suggests improvements on a section, I rework the whole novel. No, I don’t recommend that, but the improvements are great ideas. My resolution will be to get representation for that novel! Then, to do the same for two more and finish another. I’m terrified of my unfinished novel because it’s written in a new world and everything’s different from Earth—flora, fauna, species, history, the sun. Everything. But it’s a goal and we need those as writers. If you don’t LOVE your job, then let that motivate you to work hard enough writing to have the job you’d really enjoy, not the one you have to do because it makes money. My newsletter would help you keep on track and focused, if you haven’t subscribed. I love it because it’s a way for me to communicate with you and inspire you to write. You can subscribe by clicking here. 12-28-05 NEW NEWSLETTER WILL PROVIDE GRANT INFORMATION AND FREEBIES Since I have family that will soon play Lord of the Rings Monopoly (strange how new traditions start), I don’t have much time, but . . . During the day, I worked on FREEBIES and GRANTS for my newsletter for writers, Jack of Genre. Subscribe and the wealth will be yours! I wasn’t planning to do it (anything great I do is an accident), but as link led to link, I discovered the goldmine of Federal grants. And get this, they’re free. I know, people pay hundreds of dollars for that information, but I’ll provide it for Jack of Genre subscribers por gusto (because I want to, ha!). Not only that, but Jack of Genre will provide monthly FREEBIES for writers! I thought freebies would be cool to look forward to every month when Jack of Genre arrives. I wish I had something to sell right, but I don’t. It’s like Christmas for Writers and I love that feeling, giving to writers who, blast it all, miraculously overcome daunting odds to get something written and then published. This month’s freebies will be: free web space (for your website), free add-ons for the same, free books, gardening catalogs (because I garden), a freelance writing portfolio, rhyming dictionary and more! Don’t tell me you read my blog and don’t subscribe to my newsletter! Man, I pour my heart into it. Want to subscribe before the January 2006 issue comes out soon? Click here to subscribe to Jack of Genre: Newsletter for Writers. You’ll receive the newsletter 30 days before everyone else and a password non-subscribers won’t receive to access my Freebies and Grants pages. 12-26-05 BOOKS HIDE WEBSITE SECRETS HOLIDAYS BOOKS HIDE WEBSITE SECRETS At the bookstore today, I perused several Internet marketing books and discovered something shocking: they don’t reveal secrets. How marketing books can dance, romance and appear to promise the sky (when they don’t) and sell, I have no idea. Don’t people skim books before they purchase them? Maybe people lack time, or think they do. What’s missing from these promise-you-the-moon books? How about FREE ways to market and promote your website, freelance writing and book(s)? I hate to say this, because I’d like to think the world was kinder and less selfish, but I may be one of the only ones revealing free promotional secrets. Half the time, I have no idea how I find things! But find them I do . . . Want in on website marketing and promotional freebies? Two ways: 1.) Read old editions of Jack of Genre: Newsletter for Writers. Click here to read previous issues. 2.) Subscribe to Jack of Genre’s FREE monthly newsletter to receive private membership codes for special information and freebies for writers. Click here to subscribe and get free marketing and promotional secrets. You don’t have to spend a fortune to have a decent website. Even if you hired a company to create a website and market it for you, guess what? You’ll Still have to Wait! The Internet’s fantastic for people on shoestring budgets, but it takes longer to market on the ‘Net. So? You have plenty of time to plan for that great vacation home and what kind of car you can splurge on when you become wildly successful. If you don’t believe in your own dreams, who will? HOLIDAYS I had and am having a great time with family for Christmas. I celebrate it with presents, music, movies and all of the food fixings, which can be near-lethal in the right doses! Guys, you just can’t imagine the spread here, even though many of you had the same. Turkey, ham, mashed potatoes (a Must here), stuffing, green bean casserole, lasagna (I think Emeril had something to do with it), cheesecake, cherry pie, gingerbread and chocolate chip cookies and more. Presents were right on target, both ways and I’m thrilled to have more canvas and gesso. My art’s in the Austin Museum of Art right now and I hope to have much more on the market soon. Some of you are probably asking, And edit, Chris? Are you insane, or just cruising for a bruising, you pretentious twit? My life’s often crazy because of extreme right-brained creative behavior. I don’t have a choice. I must paint, write, cook, learn new languages, etc. (I also suspect that I must get lost when driving for the same reason.) If I don’t create, I become restless and dissatisfied. And I begin to Rot. Speaking of languages, next I’ll delve in French with a wonder CD set I received for Christmas. But that’s for a reason. I want to visit Paris and see the Eiffel Tower. One of my best friends in high school was French and she confessed to sending unknowing tourists to parts unknown (and Not where they asked to go), so I’d darn well speak the language before I go. 12-21-05 TODAY’S THE SHORTEST DAY OF THE YEAR VIEWING SIGHTS FROM WORLD WEBCAMS: EIFFEL TOWER, EMPIRE STATE BUILDING, BARS, ETC. TODAY’S THE SHORTEST DAY OF THE YEAR Do you ever wait for the shortest day of the year and then miss it? Well, you won’t now! It’s December 21st! Shortest Day of the Year-Winter Solstice You might remember Daisy Buchanan of The Great Gatsby discussing waiting for the shortest day of the year (Was she really stupid? I wonder.). That messed me up, because I haven’t been able to catch the longest day of the year. Now, I know . . . it’s around June 21st or 22nd. It’s called Summer Solstice. VIEWING SIGHTS FROM WORLD WEBCAMS: EIFFEL TOWER, EMPIRE STATE BUILDING, BARS, ETC. If you write, then you know the importance of place. Nothing’s more embarrassing than having a character visit a location and describing it poorly or incorrectly. Plus, viewing sights from around the world is fun! First, I went to view Manhattan from the Empire State Building’s view. Then, I was on to the Eiffel Tower’s webcam. Both are listed below. The winning link I found was incredible: a series of world cams on one website! You can visit bars, ski resorts, beaches, famous international monuments, etc., from the Dashboard of Best Webcams on the Net, listed below. Enjoy! Dashboard of Best Webcams on Net http://www.patricksenecal.com/webcams/w-english0834.php Niagara Falls, Pyramids at Giza, Broadway, the South Pole, a stork’s nest, an Internet café, Sloppy Joe’s Bar of Key West, Florida (a Hemingway hangout), various world cities Empire State Building Webcam http://www.esbnyc.com/index2.cfm 12/19/05 TIME WELL SPENT: GIVING CHRISTMAS HOW DO FOOD STAMPS WORK? (No, I don't need them, but you should know about this stuff!) A PERFECT COOKIE RECIPE (They stay chewy!): LEMON SUGAR COOKIES! I don’t often have the volunteer opportunities that I’ve had this year. By far, the most exciting has been this week. Apparently, an eight-year-old boy told his counselor that his mother sat him down with a sibling and said that they wouldn’t have Christmas this year. Worse, they didn’t have Christmas last year, either. With all of the “magic of Christmas” Santa shows around, you can imagine what this young man felt. At the same time, I asked a friend who does volunteer work if she could find a family for me to help. Voila! Don’t expect it was easy, though! Volunteer work doesn’t promise smooth riding and this one didn’t either. The two children were actually five. Five! So, I had gotten students to raise money for these two kids (yes, children need this interaction with society, don’t you think?) and there were suddenly five. My church came through on this one and helped purchase presents for the other three “girls.” I say girls, because one of the kids had an ambiguous name. You guessed it. That ambiguously named kid was a guy. He had a shiny purse, lip gloss, A Buffy the Vampire Slayer book and a frilly bag waiting for him! Tonight, I’ll somehow rectify that because, after all, there’s a little Chris in Christmas and I bought way more toys than the average person for the first two boys. And yes, I’ll have to run to the store. Again. HOW DO FOOD STAMPS WORK? I’m discussing the family above, but a new subject enters. If you haven’t worked with the impoverished, then you might assume that food stamps cover food costs. Well . . . They get a card with a dollar amount of groceries that’s supposed to last a month. For someone who doesn’t have experience dealing with money, because his/her parents likely didn’t have money, this often fails. Many times, they budget poorly. As a teenager, I realized that I could help adults at the projects next door to my high school. They needed to know how to budget. Simple (I thought). Today, I bank in my head. No balancing the checkbook. No checks. Just cash. I pay bills with money orders and avoid late fees, worrying about balancing, etc. Of course, I manage money like this because my parents had some disposable income. I was used to manipulating sums, whether invisible or not. This is not the same with people who’ve never had much money! In fact, it’s a vicious cycle the poor are in today. Why do you need to know? If you’re a writer, duh . . . But also we need to know this when volunteering. I’m taking toys to the kids, but it’s the end of the month and the budget’s probably extended itself. Food will be a welcome addition. Which led me to . . . A PERFECT COOKIE RECIPE (They stay chewy!) Kids need cookies at Christmas. If you don’t agree, then it’s been WAY too long since you were a kid! So, I went to none other than Martha Stewart to find the perfect recipe. After a little modification, here it is. Copy, paste and print to use this recipe at home. LEMON SUGAR COOKIES Notes about making the recipe are Chris’. These cookies have a slight lemon flavor and stay chewy. If you use regular (salted) butter, omit the salt. 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda
Makes about 20 big cookies (I made 25, mixed sizes.)
