It's funny what you find when you're cleaning out your virtual filing cabinet. I found three stories I can't remember writing, along with an e-mail I drafted as a reply to an angry pinhead that I'm very glad I never sent (and whenever you write a letter like that, you should let it sit somewhere until you cool off, then look at it again.)
Here's a freeware ten list I wrote eight months ago (thus no OS notations) that never made it to the blog:
Ten Things to Help Take Care of Business
Freeware caution: always scan free downloads for viruses and other bugs before you dump them on your hard drive.
1. 100 Letters freeware provides one hundred form letters for home and office use.
2. Take control of your code with Araneae text editor freeware.
3. Bitlets freeware stores and manages your text notes.
4. Design your business cards online and generate a .pdf for printing with the Business Card Marker.
5. Easily keep track of your daily expenses with GCS Budget freeware.
6. The free trial of OfficeBooks will help you design and print your own office stationery (business cards, CD labels, address labels, letterhead, envelopes and more.)
7. OpenProj is "a free, open source desktop alternative to Microsoft Project. If you are managing a group project we recommend Project-ON-Demand. If you want a free replacement to commercial desktop software then OpenProj is perfect and avail[a]ble on Linux, Unix, Mac or Windows."
8. Manage your personal business/financial records better with the free version of QuickBooks.
9. Reminder-Organizer freeware is a "powerful personal information manager. The program can help you organize and plan your business and personal life. In short, this is a reminder, notebook, address book, passwords and calendar, combined into one powerful, easy-to-use application."
10. In search of a free, powerful word processor? Take a look at WordWright freeware.
Showing posts with label Monday 10. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Monday 10. Show all posts
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Monday, November 26, 2007
Mac Ten
Ten Things for the Mac Users
Freeware caution: always scan free downloads of anything for bugs and other threats before dumping the programs into your hard drive.
1. Applejack is "a user friendly troubleshooting assistant for Mac OS X. With AppleJack you can troubleshoot a computer even if you can't load the GUI, or don't have a startup CD handy. AppleJack runs in Single User Mode and is menu-based for ease of use."
2. Butler is designed "to make it easier for you to perform different — potentially recurring — tasks. Butler lets you arrange these tasks in its fully customizable configuration."
3. iBackup is a backup/restore utility that "supports scheduled backups of files, folders and applications. Further, it uses plugins to backup your settings like the dock, deskop picture, time, firewall, bluetooth and other system preferences. It is also able to backup Application Settings. You can add, delete and edit these plugins."
4. Inkscape is "an Open Source vector graphics editor, with capabilities similar to Illustrator, CorelDraw, or Xara X, using the W3C standard Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) file format."
5. Based on Open Office, NeoOffice is "a full-featured set of office applications (including word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, and drawing programs) for Mac OS X."
6. Nvu is a "complete Web Authoring System for Linux desktop users as well as Microsoft Windows and Macintosh users to rival programs like FrontPage and Dreamweaver."
7. Scrivener Gold freeware is "aimed at writers who want to manage and organise projects large or small" (Scroll down on page for download link; requires Mac OS X Tiger (10.4) - Universal for both Intel and PPC)
8. TextExpander is a neat little utility that "saves you countless keystrokes with customized abbreviations for your frequently-used text strings and images."
9. TextWrangler 2 is a "powerful general purpose text editor, and Unix and server administrator's tool."
10. XShelf "enhances drag and drop in MacOS X by letting you "pause" drag and drop operations, as well as have multiple drag and drop operations in flight at once."
Finally, from MacWorld, 63 Great Mac Programs That Won't Cost You a Bundle.
Freeware caution: always scan free downloads of anything for bugs and other threats before dumping the programs into your hard drive.
1. Applejack is "a user friendly troubleshooting assistant for Mac OS X. With AppleJack you can troubleshoot a computer even if you can't load the GUI, or don't have a startup CD handy. AppleJack runs in Single User Mode and is menu-based for ease of use."
2. Butler is designed "to make it easier for you to perform different — potentially recurring — tasks. Butler lets you arrange these tasks in its fully customizable configuration."
3. iBackup is a backup/restore utility that "supports scheduled backups of files, folders and applications. Further, it uses plugins to backup your settings like the dock, deskop picture, time, firewall, bluetooth and other system preferences. It is also able to backup Application Settings. You can add, delete and edit these plugins."
4. Inkscape is "an Open Source vector graphics editor, with capabilities similar to Illustrator, CorelDraw, or Xara X, using the W3C standard Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) file format."
5. Based on Open Office, NeoOffice is "a full-featured set of office applications (including word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, and drawing programs) for Mac OS X."
6. Nvu is a "complete Web Authoring System for Linux desktop users as well as Microsoft Windows and Macintosh users to rival programs like FrontPage and Dreamweaver."
7. Scrivener Gold freeware is "aimed at writers who want to manage and organise projects large or small" (Scroll down on page for download link; requires Mac OS X Tiger (10.4) - Universal for both Intel and PPC)
8. TextExpander is a neat little utility that "saves you countless keystrokes with customized abbreviations for your frequently-used text strings and images."
9. TextWrangler 2 is a "powerful general purpose text editor, and Unix and server administrator's tool."
10. XShelf "enhances drag and drop in MacOS X by letting you "pause" drag and drop operations, as well as have multiple drag and drop operations in flight at once."
Finally, from MacWorld, 63 Great Mac Programs That Won't Cost You a Bundle.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Novel McTen
Ten Things That May Indicate You're Writing a McNovel
1. Amazing McTechnoThing: Your novel features a fantastic gadget, method of transportation or scientifical process which, if it actually existed, would make you the coolest, wealthiest, most admired, and most sexually active person on earth for inventing it (like Bill Gates with a harem of Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders.)
2. Brother McVampires: Your vampire fiction novel features a manly, aggressive, somewhat homoerotic group of male vampires controlled by a female deity who passes off torture and mind games as wisdom and guidance; your protagonist will defy the female deity at least once during the story. Bonus Mcpoints: you claim the novel is entirely your invention and has nothing to do with that other Brother McVampire series which you of course simply haven't had time to read yet.
3. Dark and Stormy McNight: Your novel opens with a description of the weather, night, day, the sky or the aftermath of the weather which, while very prettily written and engaging all five of the human senses, has zero to do with the story.
4. Dragon McQuest: Your novel features dragons who, despite being much smarter, stronger and longer-lived, will voluntarily do anything for humans beings, including going on long journeys of incredible hardship, fighting wars and dying magnificent deaths, usually for some mystic item that has no value to dragons whatsoever.
5. Fannish McKnockoff: Your novel is based on a novel written by a much better writer who has been dead for at least twenty years and who you once fanboyed/girled but now you secretly think was not as talented as you are.
6. Happily Ever McAfter: Your novel ends with the hero and heroine getting married and having kids (conservative or religious romance); deciding to live together with an option on kids (liberal, modern, or sequel-in-the-works romance); choosing to be monogamous to each other without bringing up the subject of kids (author is under thirty and probably very hot) or selling the herd of sheep but keeping the goats and the cute blonde chick for occasional orgies (why, you hussy.)
7. Inspirational McLecture: Your novel has no sex, violence, politics, other-than-hetero people or social situations that are more troubling than what to bring to the PotLuck at church; the characters continually quote Bible verses to each other (when they're not wrestling with gritty story issues like how to tell the minister that his dog is digging up poor Mrs. Sanderson's prize roses.)
8. Literary McMasterpiece: Your novel has a meaningless title, is deeply depressing, ends badly, uses the word chiaroscuro more than three times and is really understood, like your pain, by only you.
9. Pundit McSoapbox: If anyone wants to know what your politics are, all they have to do is read your novel. Or anything you write.
10. Whodun McIt: Your novel has a murder mystery solved by an ex-cop, ex-therapist or ex-Fed detective with a dangerous but heart-of-gold sidekick who is beaten up or killed; the villain will either be a beautiful dame, a fat man or a good friend of the detective.
1. Amazing McTechnoThing: Your novel features a fantastic gadget, method of transportation or scientifical process which, if it actually existed, would make you the coolest, wealthiest, most admired, and most sexually active person on earth for inventing it (like Bill Gates with a harem of Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders.)
2. Brother McVampires: Your vampire fiction novel features a manly, aggressive, somewhat homoerotic group of male vampires controlled by a female deity who passes off torture and mind games as wisdom and guidance; your protagonist will defy the female deity at least once during the story. Bonus Mcpoints: you claim the novel is entirely your invention and has nothing to do with that other Brother McVampire series which you of course simply haven't had time to read yet.
3. Dark and Stormy McNight: Your novel opens with a description of the weather, night, day, the sky or the aftermath of the weather which, while very prettily written and engaging all five of the human senses, has zero to do with the story.
4. Dragon McQuest: Your novel features dragons who, despite being much smarter, stronger and longer-lived, will voluntarily do anything for humans beings, including going on long journeys of incredible hardship, fighting wars and dying magnificent deaths, usually for some mystic item that has no value to dragons whatsoever.
5. Fannish McKnockoff: Your novel is based on a novel written by a much better writer who has been dead for at least twenty years and who you once fanboyed/girled but now you secretly think was not as talented as you are.
6. Happily Ever McAfter: Your novel ends with the hero and heroine getting married and having kids (conservative or religious romance); deciding to live together with an option on kids (liberal, modern, or sequel-in-the-works romance); choosing to be monogamous to each other without bringing up the subject of kids (author is under thirty and probably very hot) or selling the herd of sheep but keeping the goats and the cute blonde chick for occasional orgies (why, you hussy.)
7. Inspirational McLecture: Your novel has no sex, violence, politics, other-than-hetero people or social situations that are more troubling than what to bring to the PotLuck at church; the characters continually quote Bible verses to each other (when they're not wrestling with gritty story issues like how to tell the minister that his dog is digging up poor Mrs. Sanderson's prize roses.)
8. Literary McMasterpiece: Your novel has a meaningless title, is deeply depressing, ends badly, uses the word chiaroscuro more than three times and is really understood, like your pain, by only you.
9. Pundit McSoapbox: If anyone wants to know what your politics are, all they have to do is read your novel. Or anything you write.
10. Whodun McIt: Your novel has a murder mystery solved by an ex-cop, ex-therapist or ex-Fed detective with a dangerous but heart-of-gold sidekick who is beaten up or killed; the villain will either be a beautiful dame, a fat man or a good friend of the detective.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Freely Ten
Ten Things for the Freeware Lovers
Freeware caution: always scan free downloads of anything for bugs and other threats before dumping the programs into your hard drive.
1. Budgie 1.6 freeware offers "a contacts manager, word processing capabilities, a database manager, a spreadsheet utility, an e-mail manager, an image tool, a scheduling utility, a ZIP manager, and a fax manager. You can use it as a stand-alone or as an add-on to your existing Office software."
2. Convert units of distance (like miles to kilometers), temperature (fahrenheit to celsius), volume (gallons to litres), as well as time, speed, mass, power, density, pressure, energy and many others (or customize your own conversions) with Josh Madison's Convert freeware.
3. Digital Calendar freeware (scroll down on page) has an embedded MP3 player so you can have music while you're planning out your month.
4. Polar Office freeware offers a free office suite with word processor, spreadsheet, charting and more.
5. Safeguard your Notepad contents with Secure Notepad freeware.
6. TimeSentry freeware is a small, multifunction time management app that simplifies retrieving the time and calendar info you need.
7. Create professional .pdf files from virtually any document with Tiny PDF.
8. UserClone freeware will copy the filing cabinet and favorite places from one AOL screen name to another (helpful when creating a new screen name.)
9. Wax freeware is "a high performance and flexible video compositing and special effects software. The idea for Wax is to be very general purpose and flexible in video compositing and effects, so that you can compose your dream video sequence with ease everytime."
10. Also from Debugmode.com, warp and morph images to your heart's content with WinMorph freeware.
(posted by Tom)
Freeware caution: always scan free downloads of anything for bugs and other threats before dumping the programs into your hard drive.
1. Budgie 1.6 freeware offers "a contacts manager, word processing capabilities, a database manager, a spreadsheet utility, an e-mail manager, an image tool, a scheduling utility, a ZIP manager, and a fax manager. You can use it as a stand-alone or as an add-on to your existing Office software."
2. Convert units of distance (like miles to kilometers), temperature (fahrenheit to celsius), volume (gallons to litres), as well as time, speed, mass, power, density, pressure, energy and many others (or customize your own conversions) with Josh Madison's Convert freeware.
3. Digital Calendar freeware (scroll down on page) has an embedded MP3 player so you can have music while you're planning out your month.
4. Polar Office freeware offers a free office suite with word processor, spreadsheet, charting and more.
5. Safeguard your Notepad contents with Secure Notepad freeware.
6. TimeSentry freeware is a small, multifunction time management app that simplifies retrieving the time and calendar info you need.
7. Create professional .pdf files from virtually any document with Tiny PDF.
8. UserClone freeware will copy the filing cabinet and favorite places from one AOL screen name to another (helpful when creating a new screen name.)
9. Wax freeware is "a high performance and flexible video compositing and special effects software. The idea for Wax is to be very general purpose and flexible in video compositing and effects, so that you can compose your dream video sequence with ease everytime."
10. Also from Debugmode.com, warp and morph images to your heart's content with WinMorph freeware.
(posted by Tom)
Monday, September 10, 2007
Magic Hat Ten
You saw this coming, right? Ha.
Ten Bloggers Who Won an Evermore ARC
1. Pamk
2. Charlene
3. Rosie
4. Marjorie
5. Ann
6. Rosina
7. Erin
8. Molly
9. Joely Sue
10. Mackan
Winners, please send your full name and ship-to info to LynnViehl@aol.com, so I can get these ARCs out to you.
But wait, there's more.
I have a consolation prize to offer to the other bloggers who entered the drawing but didn't win an ARC this time. If you don't mind reading an unbound version of Evermore, send your full name and ship-to info to LynnViehl@aol.com, and I will send you a signed copy of the galleys. This way everyone doesn't win, but everyone sort of wins.
Some of what's upcoming this week on PBW:
September Biz Post
Voice vs. Style
Novel Outlining 101
Lost and Found
Ten Bloggers Who Won an Evermore ARC
1. Pamk
2. Charlene
3. Rosie
4. Marjorie
5. Ann
6. Rosina
7. Erin
8. Molly
9. Joely Sue
10. Mackan
Winners, please send your full name and ship-to info to LynnViehl@aol.com, so I can get these ARCs out to you.
But wait, there's more.
I have a consolation prize to offer to the other bloggers who entered the drawing but didn't win an ARC this time. If you don't mind reading an unbound version of Evermore, send your full name and ship-to info to LynnViehl@aol.com, and I will send you a signed copy of the galleys. This way everyone doesn't win, but everyone sort of wins.
Some of what's upcoming this week on PBW:
September Biz Post
Voice vs. Style
Novel Outlining 101
Lost and Found
Monday, August 27, 2007
Make Time for Ten
Ten Things About Virtual Clocks
Freeware caution: always scan free downloads of anything for bugs and other threats before dumping the programs into your hard drive.
1. Indulge your Neo or Trinity fantasy with a 3D Matrix Clock (scroll down on page.)
2. Banshee Screamer Alarm freeware has one purpose: to wake you up.
3. Get the time announced to you at your desired intervals with Claudio freeware.
4. Custom-design your own virtual timepiece with Clock! freeware.
5. Get an attractive analog clock for your desktop with ClocX freeware.
6. Cursor Clock is a nice little freeware utility that turns your mouse into a timepiece.
7. If you absolutely positively must have the precise exact correct time on your system, check out Free Atomic Clock.
8. Kaleidoscope Clock is a morphing screensaver freeware that also displays the accurate time.
9. MultiLingual Speaking Clock freeware can tell you the time in 25+ different languages.
10. Topmost Clock freeware gives you a transparent digital or analog clock that will sit on top of however many windows you open.
For the readers with a little time on their hands, PlanetPDF.com has a nice archive of free classic literature e-books in .pdf format here.
A peek of what's upcoming on PBW this week:
Cast Balancing
RW: Book Making
The Novel Crash Cart
How to Talk to a Reviewer
The Previous Topic is a Joke
Just Seeing If You're Paying Attention
and much, much -- okay, probably not THAT much -- more . . .
Freeware caution: always scan free downloads of anything for bugs and other threats before dumping the programs into your hard drive.
1. Indulge your Neo or Trinity fantasy with a 3D Matrix Clock (scroll down on page.)
2. Banshee Screamer Alarm freeware has one purpose: to wake you up.
3. Get the time announced to you at your desired intervals with Claudio freeware.
4. Custom-design your own virtual timepiece with Clock! freeware.
5. Get an attractive analog clock for your desktop with ClocX freeware.
6. Cursor Clock is a nice little freeware utility that turns your mouse into a timepiece.
7. If you absolutely positively must have the precise exact correct time on your system, check out Free Atomic Clock.
8. Kaleidoscope Clock is a morphing screensaver freeware that also displays the accurate time.
9. MultiLingual Speaking Clock freeware can tell you the time in 25+ different languages.
10. Topmost Clock freeware gives you a transparent digital or analog clock that will sit on top of however many windows you open.
For the readers with a little time on their hands, PlanetPDF.com has a nice archive of free classic literature e-books in .pdf format here.
A peek of what's upcoming on PBW this week:
Cast Balancing
RW: Book Making
The Novel Crash Cart
How to Talk to a Reviewer
The Previous Topic is a Joke
Just Seeing If You're Paying Attention
and much, much -- okay, probably not THAT much -- more . . .
Monday, August 20, 2007
SPAM Ten
Ten Things for Those Who SPAM Me
1. Auld Lang Asinine: If you're a publisher who couldn't be bothered to return my agent's phone calls about a submission of mine that you sat on during a year when I was living on ramen noodles and moonlighting as a malldrone in order to pay the rent, it's really not a good idea to SPAM me now with any promo on your new releases. I know you don't understand why, but just trust me on this one.
2. Con Proof: Whatever writer or reader conference you're organizing, running or guesting, the answer is no. To everything. Forever. You can't get me. Not for plane tickets and a free room, not for a speaking fee. Not because you can't get anyone else, not for the good of the industry. Not in a house, not with a mouse. Not here or there, not anywhere. I do not like your conference SPAM. I do not like it, SPAM I am.
3. Friendly Fire: If we were once friends but for whatever reason you've been dodging me and/or my e-mails for a period longer than 90 days, please resist the urge to put me on your newsletter mass mailing list and/or send your book junk mail to my house. Oddly enough I have not developed global amnesia, and I seriously doubt you can now classify me as your fan.
4. I Won't Fly One Thousand Miles: If you're an author who resides in a major metropolitan city over 500 miles from my home, please stop inviting me to every single public appearance you make, which is apparently ten every week. I did not subscribe to your mailing list, and I can't unsubscribe to it, either. Changing your e-mail return addies to get past my SPAM filter is really starting to piss me off, too.
5. Pedestal Pushers: If you're a writer who thinks your couple o' books career has elevated you to the status of literary giant, and you've thought up a new way to peddle this assumption along with your extremely short stack of novels while swindling money out of the internet reading public for stuff they can get for free elsewhere, please don't have your friend the garage-based publicist SPAM me for a mention on my blog. The mention will probably not be kindly.
6. Please: If you're a reviewer starting up a new web business that makes money off writers, mazel tov. Be advised that SPAMming me with a discount offer for your new service is just about the same thing as dangling a bloody hand in front of a starved Cheetah on a frayed elastic leash.
7. Re-zined: If you're starting up a new online e-zine but you have no venture cash and can't talk any reeeeelly beeeg name authors to give you a gratis piece, please don't go trawling the midlist for writers like me. Especially do not start your SPAM with, "I've never read any of your novels, but I saw one made the Publishers Weekly bestseller list. . ."
8. Strong Disarming: If you're an editor, and you've just forked out $200K for the right to publish the Next Sweet Young Writin' Thang, please do not try to wheedle a quote out of me by using the following enticements: "I know you will love her as much as I do" "A quote from you would thrill her to pieces" "You know how difficult it is to get a decent cover blurb these days" and especially "She's written the best [insert genre I write in] novel I've ever read!"
9. Vanity, Thy Name is Not Moi: If you produce any sort of plastic, useless, offensive or pricey writer promo widget, please accept the fact that I'm never ever ever going to be interested in buying one, much less five thousand. I do not need my bio pic photoshopped onto an example, either. I have enough nightmares, thank you.
10. You Don't Know Me, But . . . : If you're a colleague who has openly and loudly trashed me or my books in the past, but you have since switched genres and cleverly assumed a brandnew pseudonym, please don't send me a lofty-worded invite to blurb your new novel. Assume for one millisecond that I'm not as stupid as you think I am, and that the answer is blow me.
Upcoming this week on PBW, weather permitting:
August Biz post
John and Marcia, the Synopsis
Editorisms
. . . and other stuff, still in the works.
1. Auld Lang Asinine: If you're a publisher who couldn't be bothered to return my agent's phone calls about a submission of mine that you sat on during a year when I was living on ramen noodles and moonlighting as a malldrone in order to pay the rent, it's really not a good idea to SPAM me now with any promo on your new releases. I know you don't understand why, but just trust me on this one.
2. Con Proof: Whatever writer or reader conference you're organizing, running or guesting, the answer is no. To everything. Forever. You can't get me. Not for plane tickets and a free room, not for a speaking fee. Not because you can't get anyone else, not for the good of the industry. Not in a house, not with a mouse. Not here or there, not anywhere. I do not like your conference SPAM. I do not like it, SPAM I am.
3. Friendly Fire: If we were once friends but for whatever reason you've been dodging me and/or my e-mails for a period longer than 90 days, please resist the urge to put me on your newsletter mass mailing list and/or send your book junk mail to my house. Oddly enough I have not developed global amnesia, and I seriously doubt you can now classify me as your fan.
4. I Won't Fly One Thousand Miles: If you're an author who resides in a major metropolitan city over 500 miles from my home, please stop inviting me to every single public appearance you make, which is apparently ten every week. I did not subscribe to your mailing list, and I can't unsubscribe to it, either. Changing your e-mail return addies to get past my SPAM filter is really starting to piss me off, too.
5. Pedestal Pushers: If you're a writer who thinks your couple o' books career has elevated you to the status of literary giant, and you've thought up a new way to peddle this assumption along with your extremely short stack of novels while swindling money out of the internet reading public for stuff they can get for free elsewhere, please don't have your friend the garage-based publicist SPAM me for a mention on my blog. The mention will probably not be kindly.
6. Please: If you're a reviewer starting up a new web business that makes money off writers, mazel tov. Be advised that SPAMming me with a discount offer for your new service is just about the same thing as dangling a bloody hand in front of a starved Cheetah on a frayed elastic leash.
7. Re-zined: If you're starting up a new online e-zine but you have no venture cash and can't talk any reeeeelly beeeg name authors to give you a gratis piece, please don't go trawling the midlist for writers like me. Especially do not start your SPAM with, "I've never read any of your novels, but I saw one made the Publishers Weekly bestseller list. . ."
8. Strong Disarming: If you're an editor, and you've just forked out $200K for the right to publish the Next Sweet Young Writin' Thang, please do not try to wheedle a quote out of me by using the following enticements: "I know you will love her as much as I do" "A quote from you would thrill her to pieces" "You know how difficult it is to get a decent cover blurb these days" and especially "She's written the best [insert genre I write in] novel I've ever read!"
9. Vanity, Thy Name is Not Moi: If you produce any sort of plastic, useless, offensive or pricey writer promo widget, please accept the fact that I'm never ever ever going to be interested in buying one, much less five thousand. I do not need my bio pic photoshopped onto an example, either. I have enough nightmares, thank you.
10. You Don't Know Me, But . . . : If you're a colleague who has openly and loudly trashed me or my books in the past, but you have since switched genres and cleverly assumed a brandnew pseudonym, please don't send me a lofty-worded invite to blurb your new novel. Assume for one millisecond that I'm not as stupid as you think I am, and that the answer is blow me.
Upcoming this week on PBW, weather permitting:
August Biz post
John and Marcia, the Synopsis
Editorisms
. . . and other stuff, still in the works.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Artfully Ten
Ten Things for the Art Blog Lovers
1. Art Tea Life blog offers mixed media art, experiments and many great links.
2. Lisa Hoffman's blog features her very creative work as well as posts about other artists and art resources.
3. Nothing to do the day before TGIF? Check out the weekly create segment over at Inspire Me Thursday.
4. Anahata Katkin's blog has art, great links and woo-woo, too.
5. Even dollmakers have blogs -- stop in and see Nicol Sayre's.
6. Stamp artists can pick up a new challenge every Wednesday at Wednesday Stamper/Mittwochstempler.
7. Posy is written by an English teacher and homemaker who sews, treasure hunts, crochets, gardens and re-paints the furniture. She posts wonderful photos, too.
8. I gained at least five pounds while wandering around Alicia Paulson's Posie Gets Cozy.
9. Artist Patti Van Dorin features other guest artists on her blog, River Bend Ranch.
10. Author, illustrator and guerilla artist Keri Smith, who created one of the journals I gave away during the virtual workshops, has a blog: The Wish Jar.
All of the above links found in the premiere issue of Artful Blogging magazine.
Upcoming this week on PBW:
Nothing planned for once, as I feel a tsunami surge of parody, satire and surprises coming on. Stay tuned.
1. Art Tea Life blog offers mixed media art, experiments and many great links.
2. Lisa Hoffman's blog features her very creative work as well as posts about other artists and art resources.
3. Nothing to do the day before TGIF? Check out the weekly create segment over at Inspire Me Thursday.
4. Anahata Katkin's blog has art, great links and woo-woo, too.
5. Even dollmakers have blogs -- stop in and see Nicol Sayre's.
6. Stamp artists can pick up a new challenge every Wednesday at Wednesday Stamper/Mittwochstempler.
7. Posy is written by an English teacher and homemaker who sews, treasure hunts, crochets, gardens and re-paints the furniture. She posts wonderful photos, too.
8. I gained at least five pounds while wandering around Alicia Paulson's Posie Gets Cozy.
9. Artist Patti Van Dorin features other guest artists on her blog, River Bend Ranch.
10. Author, illustrator and guerilla artist Keri Smith, who created one of the journals I gave away during the virtual workshops, has a blog: The Wish Jar.
All of the above links found in the premiere issue of Artful Blogging magazine.
Upcoming this week on PBW:
Nothing planned for once, as I feel a tsunami surge of parody, satire and surprises coming on. Stay tuned.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Easy Ten
Ten Things to Make Your Writing Life Easier
Freeware caution: always scan free downloads of anything for bugs and other threats before dumping the programs into your hard drive.
1. Looking for a free journal/diary program that also features an event reminder, address book, an alarm, picture manager, built-in mailer, HTML & Web Diary and To-Do List? Check out DiaryBook.
2. Another journal-keeping freeware, eJournal, can also be used as a project diary.
3. MikkoMatrix freeware "randomly selects words from two different lists, and displays these words. The user can use the included lists or may elect to replace the lists for his or her own specific purposes, such as creating random character names."
4. Magnify anything under your cursor up to 20X with MouseCam freeware utility (scroll down.)
5. RapidKeys freeware is an intelligent virtual keyboard for the disabled that suggests words as you click-type.
6. Create standards compliant bibliographies with ScholarCite freeware.
7. Scrapbook is an unstructured freeware program that simply saves and stores chunks of text for you.
8. SpeakOut text-to-speech freeware will read any text or text file to you. It can also monitor your Windows clipboard and read the contents to you.
9. Organize your time, stay on schedule and never forget another task again with TaskPrompt freeware.
10. Improve your vocabulary, create your own dictionary and more with Vocabula freeware.
While I was out freebie-hunting, I also found a virtual dictionary freeware for bad spellers: Fredal's Dictionary.
Upcoming on PBW this week:
The Art of Coining Words
PBWisms Contest
RW: Holiday Wishlist
Sub Ops
Buzz Kills
August Biz Post: Finding New Markets
Freeware caution: always scan free downloads of anything for bugs and other threats before dumping the programs into your hard drive.
1. Looking for a free journal/diary program that also features an event reminder, address book, an alarm, picture manager, built-in mailer, HTML & Web Diary and To-Do List? Check out DiaryBook.
2. Another journal-keeping freeware, eJournal, can also be used as a project diary.
3. MikkoMatrix freeware "randomly selects words from two different lists, and displays these words. The user can use the included lists or may elect to replace the lists for his or her own specific purposes, such as creating random character names."
4. Magnify anything under your cursor up to 20X with MouseCam freeware utility (scroll down.)
5. RapidKeys freeware is an intelligent virtual keyboard for the disabled that suggests words as you click-type.
6. Create standards compliant bibliographies with ScholarCite freeware.
7. Scrapbook is an unstructured freeware program that simply saves and stores chunks of text for you.
8. SpeakOut text-to-speech freeware will read any text or text file to you. It can also monitor your Windows clipboard and read the contents to you.
9. Organize your time, stay on schedule and never forget another task again with TaskPrompt freeware.
10. Improve your vocabulary, create your own dictionary and more with Vocabula freeware.
While I was out freebie-hunting, I also found a virtual dictionary freeware for bad spellers: Fredal's Dictionary.
Upcoming on PBW this week:
The Art of Coining Words
PBWisms Contest
RW: Holiday Wishlist
Sub Ops
Buzz Kills
August Biz Post: Finding New Markets
Monday, July 23, 2007
Book It Ten
Ten Things for the Book Junkies
Freeware caution: always scan free downloads of anything for bugs and other threats before dumping the programs into your hard drive.
1. Find the best online price for a book with Books Price Comparator freeware.
2. BookSearch freeware allows you to "search a number of large book search engines on the Internet for new and used books. Ideal for finding rare or hard-to-find books, or for comparing prices. Search by keyword, title, or author name."
3. Download and manage books from Project Gutenberg with eLibrary freeware.
4. Flying Books screensaver freeware will send up to 32 books flapping across your screen.
5. Thinking of starting a bookselling business from home? Have a look at Home Base freeware.
6. Get your book collection catalogued and organized with The Libellis Personal Library freeware.
7. LibriVox offers 755 free audiobooks (created by volunteers reading public domain works.)
8. Another, simpler book collection database freeware, The Librarian.
9. TitleScroller will scroll text files on your screen at your preferred speed for reading.
10. Read e-books on your iPod with WordPod freeware.
I find a very interesting project -- Ocean -- which offers a freeware collection of over a thousand books of ten world religions in English, as well as collections in French, Spanish, German, Russian, Dutch, and Portuguese. The project hopes to promote more understanding among persons of different faiths, never a bad thing.
Also, one more book link -- if you'd like to take a text file and print it out in book form, try Gordon Reynold's Book Format freeware.
Upcoming this week on PBW:
Writing Triage
Enders
Win a copy of The New Writer's Handbook 2007
Missing in Action posts: Helpful Hobbies and Character Palettes
Freeware caution: always scan free downloads of anything for bugs and other threats before dumping the programs into your hard drive.
1. Find the best online price for a book with Books Price Comparator freeware.
2. BookSearch freeware allows you to "search a number of large book search engines on the Internet for new and used books. Ideal for finding rare or hard-to-find books, or for comparing prices. Search by keyword, title, or author name."
3. Download and manage books from Project Gutenberg with eLibrary freeware.
4. Flying Books screensaver freeware will send up to 32 books flapping across your screen.
5. Thinking of starting a bookselling business from home? Have a look at Home Base freeware.
6. Get your book collection catalogued and organized with The Libellis Personal Library freeware.
7. LibriVox offers 755 free audiobooks (created by volunteers reading public domain works.)
8. Another, simpler book collection database freeware, The Librarian.
9. TitleScroller will scroll text files on your screen at your preferred speed for reading.
10. Read e-books on your iPod with WordPod freeware.
I find a very interesting project -- Ocean -- which offers a freeware collection of over a thousand books of ten world religions in English, as well as collections in French, Spanish, German, Russian, Dutch, and Portuguese. The project hopes to promote more understanding among persons of different faiths, never a bad thing.
Also, one more book link -- if you'd like to take a text file and print it out in book form, try Gordon Reynold's Book Format freeware.
Upcoming this week on PBW:
Writing Triage
Enders
Win a copy of The New Writer's Handbook 2007
Missing in Action posts: Helpful Hobbies and Character Palettes
Monday, July 16, 2007
Portrait of Ten
The winners of the VW#5 giveaway are:
Maggie
Jessica D. Russell
Winners, please send your full name and ship-to address to LynnViehl@aol.com, and I'll get these goodies out to you. On to the Monday ten list:
Ten Things for the Art and Graphics Lovers
Freeware caution:always scan free downloads of anything for bugs and other threats before dumping the programs into your hard drive.
1. Anry Color Picker freeware not only identifies a picked screen color, but shows you a harmonious color palette to go with it (good for web site builders/designers and making your own cover art.)
2. Get a free 3D modelling and rendering studio with The Art of Illusion freeware.
3. Create your own geometric designs with BezierDraw vector graphics freeware.
4. Digitizer freeware "will convert any image into a colorized textual representation of that image."
5. Paint online with the free web-based drawing service, Litha:Paint Beta.
6. Offtype.net offers a basic paint/canvas program, which you can use online or download as a freeware, as well as add to your weblog or web site as a widget for your visitors to play with. According to the site, they will store your saved artwork on their server, too.
7. PhotoShape freeware "gives a different perspective to your image and photo by letting them be rotated three dimensionally."
8. PosteRazor freeware makes images into poster pieces that you can print out and assemble yourself (no-cost option for authors who want to make cover art posters.)
9. Paint and animate your art painted with Project Dogwaffle 1.2 freeware.
10. Want to paint on your PC, but prefer using natual art tools? Have a look at Pixarra's TwistedBrush freeware.
One of my favorite online art toys, Segmation, breaks down famous artwork into a paint-by-numbers pattern which you then have to fill in. It has different levels of difficulty, and a counter that starts ticking down as you begin. If you'd rather create music than art, check out FractMus, an algorithmic-music generator freeware that creates melodies using mathematical formulas.
I'm still putting together my post plans, but here's some of what's upcoming this week on PBW:
Helpful Hobbies
The Revised Novel Notebook
Character Palettes
Heart and Soul Songs
Maggie
Jessica D. Russell
Winners, please send your full name and ship-to address to LynnViehl@aol.com, and I'll get these goodies out to you. On to the Monday ten list:
Ten Things for the Art and Graphics Lovers
Freeware caution:always scan free downloads of anything for bugs and other threats before dumping the programs into your hard drive.
1. Anry Color Picker freeware not only identifies a picked screen color, but shows you a harmonious color palette to go with it (good for web site builders/designers and making your own cover art.)
2. Get a free 3D modelling and rendering studio with The Art of Illusion freeware.
3. Create your own geometric designs with BezierDraw vector graphics freeware.
4. Digitizer freeware "will convert any image into a colorized textual representation of that image."
5. Paint online with the free web-based drawing service, Litha:Paint Beta.
6. Offtype.net offers a basic paint/canvas program, which you can use online or download as a freeware, as well as add to your weblog or web site as a widget for your visitors to play with. According to the site, they will store your saved artwork on their server, too.
7. PhotoShape freeware "gives a different perspective to your image and photo by letting them be rotated three dimensionally."
8. PosteRazor freeware makes images into poster pieces that you can print out and assemble yourself (no-cost option for authors who want to make cover art posters.)
9. Paint and animate your art painted with Project Dogwaffle 1.2 freeware.
10. Want to paint on your PC, but prefer using natual art tools? Have a look at Pixarra's TwistedBrush freeware.
One of my favorite online art toys, Segmation, breaks down famous artwork into a paint-by-numbers pattern which you then have to fill in. It has different levels of difficulty, and a counter that starts ticking down as you begin. If you'd rather create music than art, check out FractMus, an algorithmic-music generator freeware that creates melodies using mathematical formulas.
I'm still putting together my post plans, but here's some of what's upcoming this week on PBW:
Helpful Hobbies
The Revised Novel Notebook
Character Palettes
Heart and Soul Songs
Monday, July 09, 2007
Plotfreaks Ten
Ten Things for the Plot Lovers
Freeware caution: always scan free downloads of anything for bugs and other threats before dumping the programs into your hard drive.
1. Not sure how to outline your plot? Get some advice from plot kahuna Lee Masterson.
2. Footsteps to a Novel by Margaret Fisk includes a link to her excellent Excel worksheet on plotting scenes by POV ala Holly Lisle.
3. Floating Notes allows you to use virtual stickies on your desktop (beats misplacing all those handwritten Post-Its.)
4. Squirrel Technologies offers a couple of freewares that may appeal to the freestyle plotfreaks out there, such as Notebox Disorganizer.
5. Can a pantser become a plotter? Camy takes a shot in Pantsing and Plotting.
6. How does how you are affect how you plot? Find out from Marg McAlister's article, Plotting by Personality.
7. Escape the Sargasso Sea of plotting with advice on how to deal with Sagging Middles by Dr. Vicki Hinze.
8. Get insight into the whys of plotting from Crawford Killian's Ten Points on Plotting.
9. PBW's Ten Things to Help with Novel Plotting (note that my single novel plotting template is now here; my trilogy plotting template is here, and my mid-length series plotting template is here.)
10. Our blog pal Simon Haynes has made his terrific-for-plotters program yWriter 3 available as a beta release.
Two other freewares of interest to all, no matter how you plot: OpenOffice has gone portable, which means you can take a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation tool, drawing package and database with you on your iPod, portable hard drive, USB thumbdrive or any other portable media. Jarte is a streamlined, simplified word processor with essential, user-friendly features.
Upcoming this week on PBW:
The second annual Left Behind & Loving It virtual workshops -- stay tuned to PBW today for more details.
Freeware caution: always scan free downloads of anything for bugs and other threats before dumping the programs into your hard drive.
1. Not sure how to outline your plot? Get some advice from plot kahuna Lee Masterson.
2. Footsteps to a Novel by Margaret Fisk includes a link to her excellent Excel worksheet on plotting scenes by POV ala Holly Lisle.
3. Floating Notes allows you to use virtual stickies on your desktop (beats misplacing all those handwritten Post-Its.)
4. Squirrel Technologies offers a couple of freewares that may appeal to the freestyle plotfreaks out there, such as Notebox Disorganizer.
5. Can a pantser become a plotter? Camy takes a shot in Pantsing and Plotting.
6. How does how you are affect how you plot? Find out from Marg McAlister's article, Plotting by Personality.
7. Escape the Sargasso Sea of plotting with advice on how to deal with Sagging Middles by Dr. Vicki Hinze.
8. Get insight into the whys of plotting from Crawford Killian's Ten Points on Plotting.
9. PBW's Ten Things to Help with Novel Plotting (note that my single novel plotting template is now here; my trilogy plotting template is here, and my mid-length series plotting template is here.)
10. Our blog pal Simon Haynes has made his terrific-for-plotters program yWriter 3 available as a beta release.
Two other freewares of interest to all, no matter how you plot: OpenOffice has gone portable, which means you can take a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation tool, drawing package and database with you on your iPod, portable hard drive, USB thumbdrive or any other portable media. Jarte is a streamlined, simplified word processor with essential, user-friendly features.
Upcoming this week on PBW:
The second annual Left Behind & Loving It virtual workshops -- stay tuned to PBW today for more details.
Monday, July 02, 2007
Hmmmm Ten
Ten Things That Seemed Pretty Interesting
Freeware caution:always scan free downloads of anything for bugs and other threats before dumping the programs into your hard drive.
1. 7 Wonders is a free game download that takes the player on a journey to build the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World by swapping and matching ancient runes. For the fantasy empire-lovers out there, 8 Kingdoms.
2. Manage your research info better with BiblioExpress freeware.
3. Easy HR Popup Calendar is a quick-ref utility freeware that sits in your system tray until you need it.
4. Train yourself to read more quickly with FastReader freeware.
5. Microsoft Word users can "write mirror words or whole sentences, mix up the words of a sentence, remove all the vowels from the words, color every word of a document in a different color, give a wave shape to a sentence, cipher the text and more" with Fun4Word freeware.
6. Garden with Insight freeware is a virtual garden simulator (I'd love to play with this one when I have more time.)
7. Need a tabbed word processor and outliner freeware designed specifically for creative writers? Check out Page Four.
8. Turn your photo archive into a virtual city with Photopolis freeware.
9. The free 30 day trial of QuiltComposer allows you to design quilts on your computer.
10. Seasidesoft Book Manager freeware helps you create digital photo albums with music and pages that turn.
For the rockhounds like me out there, Earth's Core freeware offers "a wealth of information for those people interested in Rocks, Gems and Minerals. It contains detailed information on hundreds of gems and minerals as well as a detail glossary of terms." Also included in the freeware is a generous amount of info on the Periodic Table.
Upcoming on PBW this week:
July's Biz post: Supplemental Writing Income
Missing in Action posts from last week: Scene Building 101 and Your Best Writing Life Now
Plotfreaks
Revitalize Your Blog
Some New Writing How-Tos (and a chance to win them)
Freeware caution:always scan free downloads of anything for bugs and other threats before dumping the programs into your hard drive.
1. 7 Wonders is a free game download that takes the player on a journey to build the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World by swapping and matching ancient runes. For the fantasy empire-lovers out there, 8 Kingdoms.
2. Manage your research info better with BiblioExpress freeware.
3. Easy HR Popup Calendar is a quick-ref utility freeware that sits in your system tray until you need it.
4. Train yourself to read more quickly with FastReader freeware.
5. Microsoft Word users can "write mirror words or whole sentences, mix up the words of a sentence, remove all the vowels from the words, color every word of a document in a different color, give a wave shape to a sentence, cipher the text and more" with Fun4Word freeware.
6. Garden with Insight freeware is a virtual garden simulator (I'd love to play with this one when I have more time.)
7. Need a tabbed word processor and outliner freeware designed specifically for creative writers? Check out Page Four.
8. Turn your photo archive into a virtual city with Photopolis freeware.
9. The free 30 day trial of QuiltComposer allows you to design quilts on your computer.
10. Seasidesoft Book Manager freeware helps you create digital photo albums with music and pages that turn.
For the rockhounds like me out there, Earth's Core freeware offers "a wealth of information for those people interested in Rocks, Gems and Minerals. It contains detailed information on hundreds of gems and minerals as well as a detail glossary of terms." Also included in the freeware is a generous amount of info on the Periodic Table.
Upcoming on PBW this week:
July's Biz post: Supplemental Writing Income
Missing in Action posts from last week: Scene Building 101 and Your Best Writing Life Now
Plotfreaks
Revitalize Your Blog
Some New Writing How-Tos (and a chance to win them)
Monday, June 25, 2007
Overshopped Ten
Before we get to the Monday Ten, here's the winner of the Win What PBW Reads This Week giveaway:
Carolyn Bahm
Carolyn, when you have a chance, e-mail me at LynnViehl@aol.com with your ship-to info, and I will get this box out to you.
Onward:
Ten Signs That You've Attended Too Many Writing Workshops
1. Ask and Ye Shall Sound Smart: The night before the workshop, you write a very long, technical question for the speaker inside your notebook, and read it out loud to make sure it sounds intelligent. You also write a very long, technical back-up question in the event someone asks a question similar to your first one before you can. You already know the answers to both questions.
2. Colorized: You insist on calling red things crimson, scarlet or cherry, blue things azure, lapiz or turquoise, and green things by latin plant names, even when they're not plants. You become infuriated when the Department of Transportation will not change the eye color listed on your driver's license from brown to "terabinth at dusk."
3. Coordinated: You keep a personal supply of ten thousand 5 X 7 notebooks, twenty thousand pens, and every color of Post-It note and index card known to mankind. There is also a dry-erase board on the wall near your computer, along with a set of twelve color dry-erase markers. All of these items are brand new and will never be used.
4. GMC'd: You've outlined the goal, motivation and conflict for your boss, your friends, your family, the dog, the cat, the hamster and the parakeet, but you still can't decide on the GMC for your protagonist.
5. Handouted: You save and store your conference handouts in 4" binders that take up at least one entire bookcase. Once in a while you'll make copies for very special writer friends, but otherwise no one is allowed to touch them or look at them.
6. Is This Love?: You and your spouse separate because you can't think of twenty reasons (besides sex) as to why you should be in love. You cite "lack of character development" as your reason for wanting a divorce.
7. Plot-Savvy: You've never plotted out an entire novel because the ten thousand plotting methods you've already learned may not be the right ones for your story.
8. Saved by Clarion: Your justification for why your manuscript keeps getting rejected changes from all those editors hate me and buy only crap to I can't afford to go to Clarion yet.
8a. Ruined by Clarion: After you go to Clarion, you blame your rejections on 1) all the editors who hate you and buy only crap, and 2) Clarion.
9. Seating Arrangements: You will elbow your way past a fat blonde in stretch jeans and her friend, Heidi on Crack, to grab a seat in the first row in front of the speaker's podium. You will save the seats on either side of you "for friends" and then decide as people come up and ask you if they're taken who gets to sit there.
10. Sound Bites: You own workshop tapes from every con in your genre dating back to the year you started writing. Although you promise every speaker that you'll purchase their tape after the con, at least half of your tapes are bootlegged.
If any of the above might apply to you, try the PBW cure for workshopaholism: for every con you attend, write and submit two manuscripts.
Upcoming on PBW this week:
Your Best Writing Life Now
Self-Promotion That Doesn't Suck
John and Marcia: Darlingalingus
Scene Building 101
That vampire parody I promised, along with other interesting stuff, if I can get into the archives. If I can't, we'll just wing it . . .
Carolyn Bahm
Carolyn, when you have a chance, e-mail me at LynnViehl@aol.com with your ship-to info, and I will get this box out to you.
Onward:
Ten Signs That You've Attended Too Many Writing Workshops
1. Ask and Ye Shall Sound Smart: The night before the workshop, you write a very long, technical question for the speaker inside your notebook, and read it out loud to make sure it sounds intelligent. You also write a very long, technical back-up question in the event someone asks a question similar to your first one before you can. You already know the answers to both questions.
2. Colorized: You insist on calling red things crimson, scarlet or cherry, blue things azure, lapiz or turquoise, and green things by latin plant names, even when they're not plants. You become infuriated when the Department of Transportation will not change the eye color listed on your driver's license from brown to "terabinth at dusk."
3. Coordinated: You keep a personal supply of ten thousand 5 X 7 notebooks, twenty thousand pens, and every color of Post-It note and index card known to mankind. There is also a dry-erase board on the wall near your computer, along with a set of twelve color dry-erase markers. All of these items are brand new and will never be used.
4. GMC'd: You've outlined the goal, motivation and conflict for your boss, your friends, your family, the dog, the cat, the hamster and the parakeet, but you still can't decide on the GMC for your protagonist.
5. Handouted: You save and store your conference handouts in 4" binders that take up at least one entire bookcase. Once in a while you'll make copies for very special writer friends, but otherwise no one is allowed to touch them or look at them.
6. Is This Love?: You and your spouse separate because you can't think of twenty reasons (besides sex) as to why you should be in love. You cite "lack of character development" as your reason for wanting a divorce.
7. Plot-Savvy: You've never plotted out an entire novel because the ten thousand plotting methods you've already learned may not be the right ones for your story.
8. Saved by Clarion: Your justification for why your manuscript keeps getting rejected changes from all those editors hate me and buy only crap to I can't afford to go to Clarion yet.
8a. Ruined by Clarion: After you go to Clarion, you blame your rejections on 1) all the editors who hate you and buy only crap, and 2) Clarion.
9. Seating Arrangements: You will elbow your way past a fat blonde in stretch jeans and her friend, Heidi on Crack, to grab a seat in the first row in front of the speaker's podium. You will save the seats on either side of you "for friends" and then decide as people come up and ask you if they're taken who gets to sit there.
10. Sound Bites: You own workshop tapes from every con in your genre dating back to the year you started writing. Although you promise every speaker that you'll purchase their tape after the con, at least half of your tapes are bootlegged.
If any of the above might apply to you, try the PBW cure for workshopaholism: for every con you attend, write and submit two manuscripts.
Upcoming on PBW this week:
Your Best Writing Life Now
Self-Promotion That Doesn't Suck
John and Marcia: Darlingalingus
Scene Building 101
That vampire parody I promised, along with other interesting stuff, if I can get into the archives. If I can't, we'll just wing it . . .
Monday, June 18, 2007
Intro Ten
Ten Things People Say When They Meet Writers
(and what we're really thinking while we're politely smiling)
1. Are you really a writer, or was he joking?
He was joking; I'm a retired porn film producer. Say hi to your husband for me.
2. Authors make big money, don't they?
Of course we do. I'm just putting these canapes in my purse for the dog.
3. Books put me to sleep.
Sounding out all those words must be pretty exhausting.
4. Can you write like Stephen King?
No, but I bet you could give him ideas for his next book.
5. Do you have a real job?
Yes, I beat the crap out of people who think writing isn't a real job. Can I talk to you outside for a minute?
6. Have I read anything you've written?
Oh, my God. You can read?
7. I never go into bookstores. I can't find anything I like.
Hey, maybe someday Barnes & Noble will carry pork rinds and personal massage units.
8. I have this great idea for a book. Would you write it for me?
Sure. Just as soon as I write the books for the forty thousand other people with great ideas that I met before you.
9. My sister/wife/mother reads all your romance novels.
Don't worry, Big Guy, your secret is safe with me.
10. You don't look like a famous writer.
While you, on the other hand, look exactly like a jackass.
(and what we're really thinking while we're politely smiling)
1. Are you really a writer, or was he joking?
He was joking; I'm a retired porn film producer. Say hi to your husband for me.
2. Authors make big money, don't they?
Of course we do. I'm just putting these canapes in my purse for the dog.
3. Books put me to sleep.
Sounding out all those words must be pretty exhausting.
4. Can you write like Stephen King?
No, but I bet you could give him ideas for his next book.
5. Do you have a real job?
Yes, I beat the crap out of people who think writing isn't a real job. Can I talk to you outside for a minute?
6. Have I read anything you've written?
Oh, my God. You can read?
7. I never go into bookstores. I can't find anything I like.
Hey, maybe someday Barnes & Noble will carry pork rinds and personal massage units.
8. I have this great idea for a book. Would you write it for me?
Sure. Just as soon as I write the books for the forty thousand other people with great ideas that I met before you.
9. My sister/wife/mother reads all your romance novels.
Don't worry, Big Guy, your secret is safe with me.
10. You don't look like a famous writer.
While you, on the other hand, look exactly like a jackass.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Play With Your Desktop Ten
Ten Things for the Desktop Toy Lovers
Freeware caution: always scan free downloads of anything for bugs and other threats before dumping the programs into your hard drive.
1. Get easy and instant access to your desktop with AdingOd Desk.
2. Set transparent windows of any program running in Windows 2000 or XP with Chaos Crystal.
3. Custom Skin Clock allows you to customize a movable, scalable desktop clock with personal graphics.
4. Vandalize your own desktop with Desktop Graffitist.
5. Desktop Messager also lets you draw or write texts on your desktop.
6. Because you know you want one for your desktop: Digital Snowglobes.
7. Create beautiful fractals in real time and set them as your wallpapers with Fractal Wallpaper
8. Add HTML-Help-Toy (scroll down) to your desktop and learn HTML in your spare time.
9. The desktop toy Lava Lamp will never break, spill or explode on you (unless you hit your monitor with a hammer or something.)
10. Another screen-draw freeware, ScreenMarker.
Two freewares I found while I was putting together this list weren't desktop toys but seemed too neat to pass up:
11. Turn your keyboard into a garage band with Electronic Piano 2.5 freeware.
12. Copy the viewed contents of an explorer window in text format to the clipboard display with ExCopy.
Freeware caution: always scan free downloads of anything for bugs and other threats before dumping the programs into your hard drive.
1. Get easy and instant access to your desktop with AdingOd Desk.
2. Set transparent windows of any program running in Windows 2000 or XP with Chaos Crystal.
3. Custom Skin Clock allows you to customize a movable, scalable desktop clock with personal graphics.
4. Vandalize your own desktop with Desktop Graffitist.
5. Desktop Messager also lets you draw or write texts on your desktop.
6. Because you know you want one for your desktop: Digital Snowglobes.
7. Create beautiful fractals in real time and set them as your wallpapers with Fractal Wallpaper
8. Add HTML-Help-Toy (scroll down) to your desktop and learn HTML in your spare time.
9. The desktop toy Lava Lamp will never break, spill or explode on you (unless you hit your monitor with a hammer or something.)
10. Another screen-draw freeware, ScreenMarker.
Two freewares I found while I was putting together this list weren't desktop toys but seemed too neat to pass up:
11. Turn your keyboard into a garage band with Electronic Piano 2.5 freeware.
12. Copy the viewed contents of an explorer window in text format to the clipboard display with ExCopy.
Monday, June 04, 2007
Code Ten
Ten Things for the HTML-Challenged
Freeware caution: always scan free downloads of anything for bugs and other threats before dumping the programs into your hard drive.
1. How to add basic and complex e-mail links to your web site or weblog.
2. For those who would rather work online than download, CreatingOnline.com has a Free HTML Page Maker Online Generator.
3. The University of Texas at Austin has a great page on Generating Colors in HTML.
4. HTML Code Tutorial explains web page code and maintains a related help forum.
5. HTML Color freeware allows you to easily create color values for your web document.
6. The "ultimate HTML resource": HTML Goodies.
7. W3Schools.com's HTML Tutorials for beginners break it all down into simple categories.
8. If you need a flexible, powerful code generator, give MyGeneration freeware a whirl.
9. Another HTML tutorial site: PageTutor.com.
10. Acme's Web Design Toy freeware features a split screen where you can type the HTML code on one side and see it instantly shown in web page form on the other.
If you presently can't afford a web site, check out the free services offered by these web hosting providers.
A sneak peek at what's coming up this week on PBW:
June's Biz Post: Branding
Meet the Vampyre Smythe, Vice President of VLAD
RW: The I Told You So Anniversary Giveaway
Blade Dancer, Five Years Later
(Possibly, if I can stop obessessing over it) A new free short story
Freeware caution: always scan free downloads of anything for bugs and other threats before dumping the programs into your hard drive.
1. How to add basic and complex e-mail links to your web site or weblog.
2. For those who would rather work online than download, CreatingOnline.com has a Free HTML Page Maker Online Generator.
3. The University of Texas at Austin has a great page on Generating Colors in HTML.
4. HTML Code Tutorial explains web page code and maintains a related help forum.
5. HTML Color freeware allows you to easily create color values for your web document.
6. The "ultimate HTML resource": HTML Goodies.
7. W3Schools.com's HTML Tutorials for beginners break it all down into simple categories.
8. If you need a flexible, powerful code generator, give MyGeneration freeware a whirl.
9. Another HTML tutorial site: PageTutor.com.
10. Acme's Web Design Toy freeware features a split screen where you can type the HTML code on one side and see it instantly shown in web page form on the other.
If you presently can't afford a web site, check out the free services offered by these web hosting providers.
A sneak peek at what's coming up this week on PBW:
June's Biz Post: Branding
Meet the Vampyre Smythe, Vice President of VLAD
RW: The I Told You So Anniversary Giveaway
Blade Dancer, Five Years Later
(Possibly, if I can stop obessessing over it) A new free short story
Monday, May 28, 2007
Senior Moment Ten
Ten Things I Had Bookmarked to Post and Have Since Forgot Why
Freeware caution: always scan free downloads of anything for bugs and other threats before dumping the programs into your hard drive.
1. Aignes.com has tweaked, repaired and upgraded their virtual notebook freeware, and has released AM-Notebook Lite v4.1.2 Beta 1 (a repeat; the link is the same but I think I originally posted about an older version.)
2. SoftVoile.com's ClipDiary will save all the stuff you post to the clipboard for future retrieval (I don't see a limit on the number of saved clips, which would be very helpful to those with active clipboards.)
3. Old Dominion University Libraries's page of Digital Projects and Resources
and UoC Berkely's Digital Library Project (I think I grabbed these for a ten list about virtual libraries or something along those lines.)
4. Flickr's Toys Page (I'm pretty sure that there were some image generators on here I wanted to try out. The Billboard maker is fun, and the Writer is that online writing environment minus the usual bells and whistles.)
5. Medieval-spell.com's Medieval Fashion page (I think someone e-mailed and asked me if I'd found any interesting links on this period's garments.)
6. Tweak your images with PhotoFiltre freeware (drawing a blank, but I might have earmarked this one for a graphics ten list I already did, or it's a leftover.)
7. Phrase Express Autotext 4.1.6, also upgraded, allows you to retrieve commonly-used phrases and such from the task tray and paste them into any application (Another repeat, possibly saved because there's an upgraded version now.)
8. Printable Notebook freeware arranges your data in notebook format for printing; there's a companion program they're selling for a small price that allows you to customize your own page templates (this looks like a new link, and they've dropped the price on the accompanying customizing software.)
9. Kids of all ages can play Stranded, the University of Arizona's interactive fiction game (probably bookmarked for my children to check out but I always like passing along links to fiction games.)
10. Find and manage your stored documents with Wise Doc Manager (have no clue why I bookmarked this. None.)
I know I had put aside Julia West's Character Feelings and Moods and Emotions lists for a post I meant to write about two-emotional characters (I'm happy, I'm sad, that's it.) I can't find the draft of the post, but basically it was me griping about the largely bi-polar emotional range of genre protagonists. If I can't unearth it, I'll simply rewrite it (I'm already thinking it would make an excellent addition to the ongoing adventures of John and Marcia.)
Also (a new perk I'm adding on Mondays) a sneak peek at PBW this week:
-- Preview the brand new match-making service for authors. Then run away, very fast.
-- Learn the important signs that indicate if your novel has become a Mercy Read.
-- The very best web sites for writers that the diligent link list makers over at Writer's Digest somehow overlooked.
-- Music for visualizing, plus a chance to have a musicwish granted and receive a copy of the Nickelback album that inspired me while I was writing Night Lost, my personal notes about the songs involved, and a signed copy of the end result.
Freeware caution: always scan free downloads of anything for bugs and other threats before dumping the programs into your hard drive.
1. Aignes.com has tweaked, repaired and upgraded their virtual notebook freeware, and has released AM-Notebook Lite v4.1.2 Beta 1 (a repeat; the link is the same but I think I originally posted about an older version.)
2. SoftVoile.com's ClipDiary will save all the stuff you post to the clipboard for future retrieval (I don't see a limit on the number of saved clips, which would be very helpful to those with active clipboards.)
3. Old Dominion University Libraries's page of Digital Projects and Resources
and UoC Berkely's Digital Library Project (I think I grabbed these for a ten list about virtual libraries or something along those lines.)
4. Flickr's Toys Page (I'm pretty sure that there were some image generators on here I wanted to try out. The Billboard maker is fun, and the Writer is that online writing environment minus the usual bells and whistles.)
5. Medieval-spell.com's Medieval Fashion page (I think someone e-mailed and asked me if I'd found any interesting links on this period's garments.)
6. Tweak your images with PhotoFiltre freeware (drawing a blank, but I might have earmarked this one for a graphics ten list I already did, or it's a leftover.)
7. Phrase Express Autotext 4.1.6, also upgraded, allows you to retrieve commonly-used phrases and such from the task tray and paste them into any application (Another repeat, possibly saved because there's an upgraded version now.)
8. Printable Notebook freeware arranges your data in notebook format for printing; there's a companion program they're selling for a small price that allows you to customize your own page templates (this looks like a new link, and they've dropped the price on the accompanying customizing software.)
9. Kids of all ages can play Stranded, the University of Arizona's interactive fiction game (probably bookmarked for my children to check out but I always like passing along links to fiction games.)
10. Find and manage your stored documents with Wise Doc Manager (have no clue why I bookmarked this. None.)
I know I had put aside Julia West's Character Feelings and Moods and Emotions lists for a post I meant to write about two-emotional characters (I'm happy, I'm sad, that's it.) I can't find the draft of the post, but basically it was me griping about the largely bi-polar emotional range of genre protagonists. If I can't unearth it, I'll simply rewrite it (I'm already thinking it would make an excellent addition to the ongoing adventures of John and Marcia.)
Also (a new perk I'm adding on Mondays) a sneak peek at PBW this week:
-- Preview the brand new match-making service for authors. Then run away, very fast.
-- Learn the important signs that indicate if your novel has become a Mercy Read.
-- The very best web sites for writers that the diligent link list makers over at Writer's Digest somehow overlooked.
-- Music for visualizing, plus a chance to have a musicwish granted and receive a copy of the Nickelback album that inspired me while I was writing Night Lost, my personal notes about the songs involved, and a signed copy of the end result.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Pic Me Ten
Ten Things About Graphics, Images and Pics
Freeware caution: always scan free downloads of anything for bugs and other threats before dumping the programs into your hard drive.
1. Free for the downloading: Powerbacks.com's 720 Templates, Images & Backgrounds.
2. Average Color Seeker (scroll down on page) is a freeware utility that "allows you to find the average color for a particular photo. This color can be used for several purposes like color cast corrections, framing, etc."
3. Need a background, but can't decide on what to use? Play with the Background Generator.*
4. Colorblender is a free online color matcher and palette creator (if you're into creating color palettes, fun and extremely addictive.)**
5. Creative Guy is a weblog where you can get nontstop creative graphics tips & tricks.
6. Need a graphic or interesting font? Browse the selection over at Dafont.com.**
7. Natter with other pic wrestlers over at Graphics.com (lots of free downloads at this site, too.)
8. Everything you wanted to know about blog and web design tricks but were afraid to ask: Mandarin Design.
9. Make quick text graphics with Rockin' Text.
10. WPanorama allows you to "display panoramic pictures by letting them scroll horizontally or vertically on the screen."
Finally, if you're looking for copyright-free public domain photos, check out the 27,000 available in the community archives over at Gimp-Savvy.com.
*Link swiped from The Generator Blog
**Links pinched from Creative Guy's sidebar
More color and palette linkage can be found on my Da Code Ten list.
Freeware caution: always scan free downloads of anything for bugs and other threats before dumping the programs into your hard drive.
1. Free for the downloading: Powerbacks.com's 720 Templates, Images & Backgrounds.
2. Average Color Seeker (scroll down on page) is a freeware utility that "allows you to find the average color for a particular photo. This color can be used for several purposes like color cast corrections, framing, etc."
3. Need a background, but can't decide on what to use? Play with the Background Generator.*
4. Colorblender is a free online color matcher and palette creator (if you're into creating color palettes, fun and extremely addictive.)**
5. Creative Guy is a weblog where you can get nontstop creative graphics tips & tricks.
6. Need a graphic or interesting font? Browse the selection over at Dafont.com.**
7. Natter with other pic wrestlers over at Graphics.com (lots of free downloads at this site, too.)
8. Everything you wanted to know about blog and web design tricks but were afraid to ask: Mandarin Design.
9. Make quick text graphics with Rockin' Text.
10. WPanorama allows you to "display panoramic pictures by letting them scroll horizontally or vertically on the screen."
Finally, if you're looking for copyright-free public domain photos, check out the 27,000 available in the community archives over at Gimp-Savvy.com.
*Link swiped from The Generator Blog
**Links pinched from Creative Guy's sidebar
More color and palette linkage can be found on my Da Code Ten list.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Share Ten
Ten Things Writers Can Try for Free
Shareware caution: always scan trial or demo downloads of anything for bugs and other threats before dumping the programs into your hard drive.
1. Looking for one of those 3D book image rendering programs? Give 3D eBook Shot a try.
2. The 15-day trial version of Action Outline will organize your data in tree form.
3. YaduDigital.com offers two shareware programs, Book Writer and Finders Keepers, that mind map ideas and search files for you.
4. Book authoring software Chrysanth NETime Author offers a free trial or demo download (the wording is a bit weird; probably a demo.)
5. Get the look of a paper journal for your electronic scribblings with the free trial version of Forever Journal.
6. Grammar Slammer offers a free demo download; now available with spelling and grammar checkers.
7. Another journaling shareware, LifeJournal, stores your entries, provides writing prompts, searches your entries, and more.
8. Liquid Story Binder XE is a shareware word processor/document tracker program geared specifically for writers.
9. Need a program that actually nags you to write? Give the free trial download of Modjex Coaxer a whirl.
10. Nolad.com's Visual Typewriter shareware allows you to write on a virtual typewriter. I wonder if they have it in a Royal Academy edition.....
For the readers, check out The National Academies Press website, which offers free online access to over 3,000 titles with a wide range of topics in science, engineering, and medicine.
Shareware caution: always scan trial or demo downloads of anything for bugs and other threats before dumping the programs into your hard drive.
1. Looking for one of those 3D book image rendering programs? Give 3D eBook Shot a try.
2. The 15-day trial version of Action Outline will organize your data in tree form.
3. YaduDigital.com offers two shareware programs, Book Writer and Finders Keepers, that mind map ideas and search files for you.
4. Book authoring software Chrysanth NETime Author offers a free trial or demo download (the wording is a bit weird; probably a demo.)
5. Get the look of a paper journal for your electronic scribblings with the free trial version of Forever Journal.
6. Grammar Slammer offers a free demo download; now available with spelling and grammar checkers.
7. Another journaling shareware, LifeJournal, stores your entries, provides writing prompts, searches your entries, and more.
8. Liquid Story Binder XE is a shareware word processor/document tracker program geared specifically for writers.
9. Need a program that actually nags you to write? Give the free trial download of Modjex Coaxer a whirl.
10. Nolad.com's Visual Typewriter shareware allows you to write on a virtual typewriter. I wonder if they have it in a Royal Academy edition.....
For the readers, check out The National Academies Press website, which offers free online access to over 3,000 titles with a wide range of topics in science, engineering, and medicine.
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