Saturday, November 17, 2012
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Reblog: Otters that Look Like Benedict Cumberpatch (From BBC's Sherlock)
http://redscharlach.tumblr.com/post/19565284869/otters-who-look-like-benedict-cumberbatch-a
Benedict Cumberpatch plays Sherlock Holmes in BBC's 21st century modernizing of the classic Sherlock Holmes stories. Apparently, he also looks like an otter.
Benedict Cumberpatch plays Sherlock Holmes in BBC's 21st century modernizing of the classic Sherlock Holmes stories. Apparently, he also looks like an otter.
Monday, March 12, 2012
How to Make Money Self Publishing Your Ebook on Kindle
How to Make Money Self Publishing Your Ebook on Kindle
When it comes to reading on the go, the Kindle is one of the best platforms out there. I say that from experience, since I've owned a Kindle for several years now. In all that time though, I've never really given much thought to publishing on Kindle myself. I'm a freelance writer, but I never really have time to get around to writing my own stuff, as you can probably tell from the way these blog posts are spaced out.
However, I finally decided to give it a go and spent a few weeks off and on writing a short ebook whenever I had the time. The result was How to Build an Unstoppable Email List, a guide for getting started with an email list, including how to set up your squeeze page for bringing in more traffic.
It turns out, I had a bit of trouble getting everything to work properly. Publishing an ebook on Kindle isn't difficult, but the formatting takes some time, and there are some specific writing guidelines you have to keep in mind while you're actually writing your ebook.
Needless to say, I ended up purchasing this other ebook which tells you how to publish on Kindle. It was only 99 cents, a very small fee considering the time I saved by using it. It has step by step instructions, with screenshots, to get you through the entire process.
Check it out if you're seriously thinking about publishing a book on Kindle.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
How Fast Can You Read? Reading Speed Test
How Fast Can You Read?
As a writer I'm always reading. Whatever I can get my hands on is usually enough, but I've never known how fast I can read. I came across this awesome reading speed test earlier today and tried it out a few times. There are only 3 snippets of writing that you can test reading speed with (I'd be at it all day if there were more), but it gives you a good idea of how fast you can read.
On average I can read between 619 words per minute and 811 words per minute, which puts me between a high level executive and a high scoring college student. At 811 words per minute reading speed, I can apparently read 224% faster than the national average, and if I was to keep up that same reading speed throughout the whole book, I would be able to read:
As a writer I'm always reading. Whatever I can get my hands on is usually enough, but I've never known how fast I can read. I came across this awesome reading speed test earlier today and tried it out a few times. There are only 3 snippets of writing that you can test reading speed with (I'd be at it all day if there were more), but it gives you a good idea of how fast you can read.
On average I can read between 619 words per minute and 811 words per minute, which puts me between a high level executive and a high scoring college student. At 811 words per minute reading speed, I can apparently read 224% faster than the national average, and if I was to keep up that same reading speed throughout the whole book, I would be able to read:
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy in 12 hours, 4 minutes
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling in 1 hour, 35 minutes
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien in 9 hours and 50 minutes
I've read two of those books actually, and I'm pretty sure I didn't manage it that fast.
Anyway, enough about me! Try it out for yourself and post your results in the comments section below.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Re: Virtual Handbook for Writing on the Internet
Virtual Handbook for Writing on the Internet
Well, I'm still stumbling around Hubpages and I came across another awesome post about how to write for the internet. It's pretty crazy how many people get started with short stories or dreams of being a novelist, but have no idea how to take those writing skills to the internet. From formatting to subject matter, there are a lot of different rules that you need to pay attention to when it comes to writing on the internet.
As the hub mentioned, one thing in particular that's important for online writing is using clear, concise titles and sub headings. Unlike reading a novel, most people online read by skimming, or skipping down to the most interesting portions. Your sub headings act like speedbumps throughout the article to slow them down and get them to pay attention to some of your content.
Well, I'm still stumbling around Hubpages and I came across another awesome post about how to write for the internet. It's pretty crazy how many people get started with short stories or dreams of being a novelist, but have no idea how to take those writing skills to the internet. From formatting to subject matter, there are a lot of different rules that you need to pay attention to when it comes to writing on the internet.
As the hub mentioned, one thing in particular that's important for online writing is using clear, concise titles and sub headings. Unlike reading a novel, most people online read by skimming, or skipping down to the most interesting portions. Your sub headings act like speedbumps throughout the article to slow them down and get them to pay attention to some of your content.
Re: How to Earn More Money from Hubpages
How to Earn More Money from Hubpages
I just wanted to get up a short post here to plug an excellent hub that I just read on Hubpages. Hubpages is a writing website that allows you to post content in the form of articles, or 'hubs," about any subject you wish. You enter into an adsharing program with Hubpages when you do this, so you get the money from 50% of the clicks on your hubs.
Of course, there are a lot of sites like this out there and sometimes it takes a little insider information to learn how to use them correctly. This guy offers some excellent advice on how to make more money from Hubpages, so check it out! You can learn a lot.
I just wanted to get up a short post here to plug an excellent hub that I just read on Hubpages. Hubpages is a writing website that allows you to post content in the form of articles, or 'hubs," about any subject you wish. You enter into an adsharing program with Hubpages when you do this, so you get the money from 50% of the clicks on your hubs.
Of course, there are a lot of sites like this out there and sometimes it takes a little insider information to learn how to use them correctly. This guy offers some excellent advice on how to make more money from Hubpages, so check it out! You can learn a lot.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Website Content Writers and Personal Freedom
One of the things that attracted me personally to freelance content writing was the freedom it provides. I have always loved writing, but even more than that I wanted a career that would allow me to set my own hours and travel anywhere I wanted while still being able to work.
The truth is, any sort of freelance career provides these opportunities, but many people still feel trepidation about stepping outside of their comfort zones. I've been in Costa Rica for nearly 3 years, and I've been feeling the travel bug once again. What I realized, though, was that this time it's different.
The Freedom to Change
Right now I could spin a globe and head wherever my finger lands, not because I'm rich but because my work allows me to go anywhere in the world without worrying about losing my job. There's something really freeing in that realization, and any website content writers out there are in the exact same situation.
You don't have to be bound by common conventions of how or where you are supposed to work. In a very real sense, the world is your oyster. If traveling is not your cup of tea, you still have plenty of options. Freelance content writing allows you to pursue hobbies and personal goals throughout the day because you are the person who sets your schedule.
But I Have to Work All the Time!
A lot of website content writers come into this job with the idea that they have to work constantly to make ends meet. For awhile that may be true, but these same people end up getting stuck in routine and feel like they're trapped, the same way a bumblebee will never fly out of a jar even though the lid is off. If you're constantly looking left and right, you never have time to look up and see where things could go if you just took the initiative.
The truth is, you probably do have to work a lot, but not all day, every day. If you decide to set aside 2 hours every morning to exercise, or paint model trains, or go out and explore your city, or whatever you want to do, you'll find that the bills are still getting paid despite the fact that you're taking those hours off.
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