Amazon Again

I read a recent news article about Amazon opening more physical stores across the USA. They're not going to carry many books but will likely promote Amazon's electronics line, like their tablets and phones. The monster expands. I saw another stat that said of readers who pay attention to reviews, 46% of them list Amazon reviews as the ones they pay the most attention to. No other review source had more than 10% saying they took note of them.

Anna Simpson, a member of IWSG, wrote a post about another publisher biting the dust. She's feeling some of the same frustration I went through last year when two of my three publishers closed. Stop by and give her some encouragement. It's a tough business.

Peace flourishes when reason rules.  American Proverb

Wednesday is International Day of Peace. If the above proverb is true, it makes sense that there is so little peace in the world because there certainly is little reason. Some days I feel like there is a viral infection spreading across the globe. It causes the loss of common sense, human decency and any sense of compassion for others.

"Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe." H.G. Wells


Don't forget that Thursday, the 22nd, is the Autumnal Equinox. The days are really getting short and fall will be here for real.

"To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring." George Santayana

Went to a street craft show in local town with my daughter. It was a lot of fun though the two of us mostly looked. We each only bought one thing. The two of us have become real conservative in our purchasing of 'things.' Except for books. We always buy books.

And I need to add a happy thought today. Books!

What do you think of Amazon's stores? Do you own any Amazon electronics? Do you think peace will overtake Earth on Wednesday? Have any of your publishers closed recently? Is there a 'thing' you buy whenever you can like I do with books?

I'm Me, and You're You

I've been reading a book over the weekend where the pacing is terrific. I've been staying up way too late. Join me in a discussion about pacing over at the IWSG site.

It's so easy to admire the writing as you're reading a book or short story that really grabs hold of you. Then that little niggling voice inside your brain starts to suggest you should try to write like that. Or perhaps you read an article or post that describes your favorite author's methods or process. And you think you should try that.

We all have to make changes in how we work at times until we find what is right for us. But it should be your method, not a copy of someone else's.

Often I'll read a blog post or an interview where writers describe how they get the job done. Some actually work nearly the same as I do as in get the first draft done and then revise, revise, revise. Or they brainstorm while exercising like I do. Maybe they write late at night like I do. But there's never anyone exactly the same from start to finish.

In other news about the world, today is the International Day of Peace. A minute of silence at noon is asked as we all hope, pray or work for peace. And there is a lot of work to be done.

Have you been seeing a lot of sunshine lately? Then you must not live one of the ten most cloudy states in the USA according to The Old Farmer's Almanac. See if your state is there. After days and days of rain for us at the start of the summer, we're having a pretty dry August and September. Lots of sun for PA. If you live outside the US, how do you measure up against these states for days of clouds?

Here's a real shocker. According to the article in PW a survey from New Guild reveals that most authors make earnings below the poverty level? I guess none of us knew this.