Poems: Hail Upon My Head

According to my oldest son, I absolutely must share this little haiku about hail inspired by him and my younger son. Yes, they got caught in a hailstorm. Yes, they took a couple pieces in the head. And yes, everyone is just fine. In honor of their little adventure, here's their haiku.



 

Frozen water hurts
When it falls onto my head
Can I skate on it?

 

Learning to Use Java

I like doing things myself. So do most writers I know. I hate technology. So do most writers I know. Java was probably the biggest annoyance I encountered, but once I figured it out, I was able to use it to do all kinds of stuff. Java is now my best friend in the technology world, right up there with wireless internet and word processers. But learning to use it can be a challenge. so here are some tips.

In 1995, Sun Microsystems a compiled programming language called Java. This language, which is free to download and integrated into most computer applications today, is platform independent. This means that Java can run on any operating system and so is truly a universal programming language.

Using Java on your computer is a fairly simple process. For the most part, once it’s installed correctly, it just runs itself with very little maintenance from the user except for the occasional update. Java requires Java Runtime Environment (JRE) to run correctly. It is this program which allows the Java code to execute. JRE can be downloaded for free and can be easily located using your favorite search engine.

For those users who wish to write Java code, an additional program will be required. The easiest way to write Java code is by using a Java Development Kit and compiler combination such as Eclipse. There are other programs available, but they all work in much the same manner. They allow you to review and examine your Java code, and even point out syntax errors that you may have missed. These programs are invaluable for the beginner wishing to learn how to write Java code.

Once JRE and Eclipse (or other program; Eclipse will be used in this example) are successfully installed on your computer, you can begin to write your first program. Open Eclipse and begin a new project. You’ll have to name your project, but what you call it isn’t important; for now you can simply call it ‘myProject’. After you’ve named your project, your main class and main method should be automatically generated.

This may sound a little confusing to the beginner, but classes and methods are simply used to accomplish certain tasks within your program. Classes are required to create your program, but are really rather useless things when left all by themselves. Methods are equally useless alone, but are necessary components to have the classes accomplish anything. The methods are those things which put your program into action.

Your new project should look something like this:

public class myProject{

                public static void main(String args[]){

}

}

The term ‘public’ means only that everyone can access it. You can, if you wish, designate your project as ‘private’ or ‘protected’ but it might confuse you right now. Since you’re only experimenting with Java, you can leave it as ‘public’ to avoid any problems that might occur as you’re writing your program.

It is important to understand that your program can have many methods. However, it can only have one main method. The main method of your program is the method that will be called initially when you first run your program, so you can never have more than one main method. Your starting code will go after your main method.

At this point you may be simply staring at your screen wondering what you’re supposed to do next, so try running a very simple program. Choose a name. Any name will do. In this example, we’ll pretend you have a dog named Fluffy and you want his name to appear on the screen. To accomplish this, add the line System.out.println(“Fluffy”); right after your main method initialization.

To execute your program, you’ll need to ‘run’ it. This is the easy part. The program you’re using to write the code should have a run tab. Click the tab and select ‘runas -> java application’. This should execute your entire program beginning with your main method. Since you only have the one method in this particular example, there shouldn’t be any confusion.

Once executed, the program should print out the line “Fluffy” to the console. If it doesn’t, check your code again. You may have neglected to add the semi-colon (;). All Java statements must end in a semi-colon, or Eclipse won’t be able to make heads or tails of your program. If it helps, think of the semi-colons as signposts, telling everyone what’s what. This isn’t a perfect analogy, but they’re just as necessary as signposts. Without them, everyone ends up lost and confused.

This is a very simple example of how to use Java to write code. It can obviously be much more complex, especially when you start adding additional methods. However, with a little practice and a good book (or website) on the subject, you should be able to write a variety of Java programs.

Poems: Ice Storm

 

The breeze is brisk; it is not warm.
I cannot see clear through this storm.
I take a breath that I will hold,
And hope my story will be told.

 

I do not know where I might be,
But I hope I will be set free.
I grow colder with each breath,
And know that I must starve off death.

 

The ice, it comes, I cannot speak.
It chills my blood and makes me weak.
I may be lost, I may be scared,
Perhaps my judgment is impaired.

 

I see something … is it a light?
This feels wrong … but it may be right.
It’s still so cold, I turn within,
And find warmth inside my own skin.

 

It’s a lie, this I know,
I’m still trapped in ice and snow.
I’m cold and wet and full of sorrow.
But things will be better on the morrow.

Flash Fiction: Revenge of the Smallest

It's early December and we have so much snow it defies expectations. The weather is inspiring flash fiction in me, and the kids are out throwing snow at each other. Is it any wonder why I'm writing about a snowball fight?

Revenge of the Smallest

Liam cried out as he ducked behind the snow bank. This wasn’t fair. One against four, and all four older than him. How could any of them think this was a fair fight?

He heard footsteps crunching over fresh snow and knew they were surrounding him. This was no snowball fight. It was an ambush. He should have stayed in bed, but he’d been tempted by the idea of a good romp on a not-so-cold winter’s day. Bad choice.

Knowing he was out of time, Liam glancing around. He did not want to be showered in snowballs. Not again. It had been fun until they had ganged up on him. Now it was just ridiculous. He’d rather go inside and watch his mother baste a turkey. It was better than this.

Just as he was about to dash from his sanctuary, he caught sight of someone on the roof of the house. Uncle Leo. But what was he doing on the roof? Then he noticed the shovel Uncle Leo had. Why would anyone haul the large bucket-shovel up on the roof?

Uncle Leo started waving and pointing, obviously trying to tell him something. Liam tried to pay attention, tried to figure it out. After a moment, he grinned. With a wave back at his uncle, Liam turned onto his stomach and wiggled his way to the top of the snow bank.

As soon as his head cleared the top, his toque flew off as a snowball grazed his head. They were still hunting him. Perfect. They were looking at him, hoping he’d show himself, and hadn’t noticed Uncle Leo up on the roof. Good.

Turning onto his back, Liam waited. He waited until he heard his brothers start to climb up the snow bank. With a deep breath, Liam threw himself up and ran for all he was worth. He ran for the house, for the porch, grinning all the while.

Snowballs peppered his back, footsteps dogged him, but he kept running. He threw himself onto the porch and turned, landing with his back against the door. His brothers ran up the steps, snowballs in hand, only to disappear in a wash of white as Leo pushed the fluffy snow off the roof.

As his brothers grumbled and dug themselves out, Leo’s laughter boomed out over the snow. Liam giggled and smiled sweetly, happy with his revenge.

Poems: The Mystery of Snowflakes

 

Each and every snowflake,
Is unique unto itself.
Each one bears a message,
Of love or faith or help.

 

Each and every snowflake,
As they fall beneath our feet,
Brings up a fallen memory.
Some are painful, some are sweet.

 

Each and every snowflake,
Reminds us of the past.
Perhaps they hold the secret,
To questions we have asked.

 

Each and every snowflake,
Holds a story yet untold.
But this story stays a mystery,
In the deep and dark and cold.

Poems: A Frosty Walk

 

The sun shines down upon my face,
The wind drifts slowly by.
The frost is crisp beneath my feet,
And I feel like I could fly.

 

Winter can be long and dark,
And go on far too long.
The wind can come and steal your breath,
As you trudge along.

 

But today is nearly perfect,
Or as perfect as can be.
The frost, it clings and glitters,
And moves quite like the sea.

 

I’m in a winter wonderland,
As I take my morning walk.
And yet I know I must go back,
I know this, and still I balk.

 

I hear my name, know it is time,
And am glad of any warning.
I kick up snow, disturb the frost,
And enjoy this frosty morning.

Flash Fiction: Cold Winter Rain

I know it's only October, but where I'm from we've already had frost, snow, hail, and sleet. It's downright cold. Flash fiction is one of the ways I deal with the weather, so my first story of the season deals with the cold rain we so recently had. For reasons passing understanding, I've decided to write in first person. Oh, well.

Cold Winter Rain

I usually love winter, but today it's cold and raining. That means freezing rain, slick roads, and idiot drivers. Why is everyone driving like it’s a bright summer day? You can’t drive like that during a winter rain.

I try to dismiss the other drivers from my thoughts and concentrate on the road. As I pull out onto the highway, my car slips. I’ve got snow tires and I’m not going very fast, but still I slide. It’s no better than a skating rink out here, and I’m usually not stupid enough to drive on a skating rink. Today, however, I have no choice. I have to pick up my daughter and her newborn baby from the hospital.

As I’m thinking about my new grandson, I hit a patch of ice. Caught unaware, I jerk the wheel to the right and skid toward the shoulder. Then I made a rookie mistake. I slam on the brakes. The car starts to spin and I utter a curse as I fight the car for control. I’m losing and I know it, so I say a quick prayer and release the wheel.

The car spins wildly before coming to a sudden stop. My head rocks forward. Something hits me square in the face and drives my head back into the headrest. I see stars and gasp for breath, wondering where I am. Oh. On the road, driving like an idiot.

A disembodied voice floats through the air and I realize it’s been speaking for several minutes.

“What?” I mutter, pushing the airbag out of my way.

“Ma’am, we’ve detected an airbag deployment. Do you need assistance?”

I shake my head, realize he can’t see me, and snap, “No, I need a new brain.”

“Do you require assistance?”

Now that’s the real question. My head hurts a little, but that’s from the airbag. Finally I reply, “No. I’ll just call my husband to pick me up.”

"Are you sure, Ma'am? I can have an ambulance sent to your location."

"No, I'm fine. All in one piece."

“Okay, Ma’am. Take care.”

I dig my phone out of my purse and dial. My daughter and her son will just have to wait while I get my husband out of work. Hopefully, he won’t laugh at me. Of course, I laughed at him last year...

Why Some Writers Need a Social Media Expert

If you're writing for profit you're running a business. There is no way around it. And all businesses need marketing, writers more than most. Marketing is one of the most important aspects of business and can help your own both stabilize and grow. Running a business without a sound marketing will cost you more money, limit your profits, and will generally mean more work for you.

Thankfully, the advent of the Internet has made marketing easier. It is now much easier, convenient, and efficient to create a successful marketing plan than it was even a few short years ago. As a business owner, the Internet and related technology should factor into your marketing plan. But for many people, even business owners, try to fully understand technology can be intimidating and time consuming. This is where social media experts come in. These people are proficient in information technology and specialize in giving businesses online exposure. There are many reasons to hire a social media expert, but five reasons stand out above the rest.

Social Media Experts are Highly Creative

Most social media experts are multitalented. They are experts in design, marketing, art, and have the ability to combine these talents into a cohesive whole. Creativity is one of the most valuable gifts out there, and a creative social media expert can design a business plan that is unique and has the ability to draw in new customers.

There’s Something to Learn From Social Media Experts

Social media experts know their craft. And you can learn if you pay attention. Most social media experts are more than happy to teach business owners a thing or two. Knowledge gained is never wasted and if you’re going to hire someone, you might as well hire someone you can learn from.

Social Media Experts Can Build an Online Presence

If anyone out there needs an online presence, it's the writer trying to make a decent living. But the Internet is full of pitfalls for anyone looking to market their own business. A social media expert understands technology and the associated lingo, grasps the intricacies of search engine optimization (SEO), and knows how to gain a wider exposure for your business. Simply put, they understand business and how the Internet can benefit business. This can use this understanding to build an online presence for your business, relieving the burden of having to do all this yourself.

Hiring a Social Media Expert is Convenient

Once you’ve hired a social media expert, you have access to a wide range of skills. Most social media experts understand various aspects of business and marketing. Take advantage of this knowledge and work with your social media expert to develop a whole business strategy.

Social Media Experts Can Save You Money

Hiring a social media expert is an expense, it’s true. However, in the long run, it will probably cost less to hire someone than it will to do it all yourself. They know the ins and outs of the business, so they’ll spend less time than you would. They can also usually obtain appropriate advertising at a reduced rate. While you may have to invest a little money at the beginning, the value you’ll receive will more than make up for it.

Most business owners, and most writers, need help and social media experts can provide that help. Their skills can help your business to grow and develop. If you do choose to hire a social media expert, you’ll have a valuable resource at your fingertips. Don’t overlook this person, or the value they represent.

YouTube Marketing Tips for Better Engagement

Using YouTube videos as part of a larger marketing strategy is an excellent idea that can truly benefit your reputation as a writer. You can post book trailers, interviews, or even video journals. However, there is more to this tactic than simply creating the video and posting it on YouTube. You need to find ways to engage your audience, to make them truly want a relationship with your business, whatever that may be (and writing for profit is definitely a business). There are some simple tips that you can use to truly maximize your YouTube marketing campaign.

Allow Comments on Your Videos

Every video you post for the purpose of marketing should be a place where you audience can leave comments and have discussions. It’s also a place where you can engage with your audience and answer questions, and you can even post links to your blog or website. However, you should at least moderate the comments you receive. This allows you to catch spam before it’s posted and keep your comment board neat and clean.

Take Advantage of Your Own Channel

Starting your own channel is a great way to allow your viewers to subscribe to your videos and locate specific videos in your library. This is an easy way to connect with your viewers and ensures that your subscribers are immediately notified of new material. This alleviates some of the burden of getting that new material out there, since your loyal viewers will already know it exists.

Give Your Audience Something to Do

If you’re using a YouTube video for marketing purposes, you probably want your audience to do more than just watch the video. Give them the opportunity to “Like” your Facebook page, follow you on Twitter, or visit your website. Do this by providing links that are visible and direct. Don’t try to hide the destination and trick people into visiting your site. The goal is to build a relationship with your audience, to keep them coming back, and you’ll do this best by providing honest links on your YouTube video.

Make Your Video Stand Out

Videos are everywhere. And it’s unlikely your content is so unique that it hasn’t been covered by someone in some form. In order to attract and keep your audience, you’ll have to get creative. Don’t just make a video, make a professional video. Use high quality sound and exciting graphics to create a video that is truly unique.

Pay Attention to Text

It’s not enough to simply post a YouTube video. You have make sure that video is found by search engines such as Google or Yahoo. To do this, you’ll have to ensure that your text and tags contain relevant keywords and phrases. These phrases should work both to attract the attention of the search engines and interest readers. When tagging your videos, think like a search engine and pick terms that someone might type into Google in order to find content like yours.

YouTube is a powerful tool for promoting your services, products, and business as a whole. With some simple tips and a powerful video, you will soon be able to maximize the potential of YouTube and attract a loyal group of followers.

Poems: Reunion

As I'm in the middle of finishing up a novel, I sometimes get sidetracked, but in a good way. I love poetry and will eventually publish a book of poems. In the meantime, I'll have to be satisfied with writing the occasional poem that pops into my head. I found this one about a year ago scribbled inside one of my journals. I thought I'd share it this week.

 

 I was just a child when we said goodbye.
 Everyone said that it was simply fate.
 But I was much too young to understand
 Why you weren't coming home.

 As the years flew past, I missed you just the same.
 And everybody said my pain would soon abate.
 But truth is a cold comfort and time does not heal.
 So I hold my grief close and pray they do not see.

 This dark tunnel never ends, though time will still creep on.
 Grief burns a fiery cold, refusing warm and comfort.
 I walk, no, I wander, no direction to be had.
 Waiting in the darkness, for what I do not know.

 The wheel has turned, the long night ended,
 And I can see the light.
 It looks like you, it shares your warmth,
 And sings softly as it waits.

 Now I understand.
 And yes, it was our fate.
 Parted once, but reunited,
 And I have no fear.

Writing Software: The Best Thing About Scrivener

I get a lot of questions about writing software, questions I usually find funny. I write with paper and pen. I have pencils scattered across the desk and right now there are index cards covering the floor. A little messy? Maybe. But it works for me, so I don't use writing software.

But when I first decided to be a writer, I did fiddle with the various writing programs available. I was hoping to find something more efficient, but the old fashioned pen is what draws my creativity. Still, if i was going to use a program designed for writers, I might go with Scrivener. It's efficient, organized, and you can get it for under $50. You want specifics? Here are a few of the things I enjoyed when using Scrivener.

1. You can divide the story based on keywords. This is handy if you have a complex plot involving more than one story line. You can search using a character's name (or a place or an object) and have everything involving that character pop up for you. Any scene with that character's name is going to pop up for you. This is helpful, especially if you need to focus on a specific thing, place, or character.
2. It has note cards. I love note cards. Of course, these are electronic note cards, but since they display much of the information you'd write on a note card anyway, they're almost as satisfying. This is probably my favorite feature of Scrivener.
3. You can make notes. If you've ever written a book, you'll know that you make constant notes as you go along. Scrivener allows you to keep these notes within the program. The bonus? No more lost notes. The drawback? You can't use lost notes as a reason to procrastinate.
4. It has chapter files. Have you ever been typing and wished it were easier to move between chapters? Scrolling can get a little irritating. The chapters are actually individual files and show up in the handy sidebar. You can simply click on the chapter you want instead of scrolling.
5. Chapters can be divided into scenes. Moving scenes within a chapter is handy, and Scrivener makes this possible. Because the scenes are also stored as individual files, they can be accessed as easily as chapters. Even better is the ability to move them around, helping to revolve continuity errors or simply streamlining the story.
6. You can put your scenes up on the cork board. Want to rearrange scenes and chapters quickly and easily? Put them all up on the cork board and move them as you please. This is fun and almost as satisfying as the note card feature.
7. It's organized. This program has places for character biographies, research, notes, and all the other little things a writer needs to keep track of. It's nice to keep all these things in one place instead of having to open multiple files.
8. You can export your file to multiple formats. If you don't think this is important, you've never had to submit anything to an agent, editor, or publisher who happens to be picky about file formats. But this is also handy for the self-published author since you can export to paperback and even .mobi (for Kindle). Handy.

If you haven't used Scrivener, give it a go. You might find it useful. If you're like me, you'll be impressed with its versatility but not care so much because you still like pen and paper. But if you work almost exclusively on the computer, you might find yourself using this program frequently. I'll look at other programs in later posts, but Scrivener should be enough to get you started.

Writer's Block and Why It Doesn't Exist

For those of you who don't know, I teach at the local university on occasion. I work, not surprisingly, in the English department. Specifically, I teach creative writing. While I'm not actually teaching a class this semester, I was asked to come in for a few days and talk to students at various phases in their education. One thing that always strikes me is how often students (and even seasoned writers) complain of the infamous writer's block.

Let me make one thing clear: I don't believe in writer's block. I simply cannot believe that anyone who calls themselves a writer (or who claims to want to be a writer) might sit down all ready to write and find themselves with nothing to say. How can that possibly be? Surely there are thoughts kicking around in your mind somewhere. Even if they have nothing to do with your current project. I've come to believe that writer's block has become the excuse a writer gives for pure laziness. This is not said with the intent of being malicious. We're all entitled to be lazy once in a while. I know I like having a lazy day here and there. But you'll never catch me trying to tell you that I'm doing anything other than being lazy.

But some people do really believe in writer's block. I know this because I argue with students about it all the time. And if you truly believe in writer's block, and believe that you're suffering from it, you might be having a tough time putting words on paper (or on the computer screen). If this describes you, there are some tried and true methods that can help you get in the habit of writing, which is the only thing that can really overcome writer's block.

1. Place butt in chair. No, I'm not kidding. Glue yourself to your chair and get something done. Reading is not writing. Researching is not writing. Thinking is not writing. Getting a snack is certainly not writing. Sit down and do it.
2. Why do you think I have a blog? Because I have nothing better to do? No. I have a blog (ten of them, actually), so I always have something to write. Nothing kills the desire to write like not writing, so I blog when I'm in the middle of research just to keep those creative juices flowing. So start a blog about anything you like and post no less than once a week. Even if no one reads it, you'll exercise those creative muscles. My blogs follow my passions, so use yours and have fun.
3. Write 500 words a day, no matter what. No excuses. Think 500 sounds like a lot? I write 5000+. You shouldn't compare yourself to me or anyone else, but you need to write if you ever want to be able to say you're a writer. I write my 5000 words even if they're horrible. That's the magic of editing.
4. Read. That's right. Pick up a book by an author you admire and read it. Let the flow of words inspire you. That doesn't mean taking their ideas, but inspiration can come from the way others use words, so read a good book.
5. Have more than one project on the go at any one time. I write adult fiction, children's fiction, and non-fiction, and I have at least one project in each category. Everyone once in a while, a project does need to sit, but if you just stop writing, it'll be harder to start again. So move your efforts over to something else for a few days.
6. Have a schedule. And now I hear the groans. But writers find time to write. If you can't find time to write, you're not a writer. You're just someone is playing around with the idea of being a writer, which is not at all the same thing. We all have distractions. I know I do. Kids, television, movies, kids, books I haven't read, kids, papers to mark, kids ... and did I mention the kids? But I've developed a very strict schedule for myself, and I follow it like clockwork. It's all well and good to say you're too creative for a schedule, but you'll never get anything done if you don't carve out the time. Make a writing date with yourself and stick to it.

Find a way to break the cycle and get writing. If you can do that, you are well on your way to writing a novel, or whatever your writing goal happens to be. Just don't fall into the trap of writing nothing, or nothing is all you'll ever write.

Choosing a Point of View When Writing a Novel

Well, I'm at the beginning of a new project, this one a rather lengthy novel that will likely be split into two or even three different books. Before I really delve into the books, I need to answer a few questions. The first is always what the story will be about. This one was easy. I already had the idea or I wouldn't have sat down to write the book

So I've got my story. After spending most of the week fleshing out the plot, I run into my next crucial question. Point of view (also called narrative perspective) is nearly as important as the plot. There are many choices, all of them with their pros and cons. Generally, when writing the types of novels I work on, there are three choices: first person, third person limited, and third person omniscient.

First person, which uses the pronoun I, is great for getting into a character's head. You can reveal all thoughts and feeling your lead character is having and you get to know everything that character knows. The main character is not a mystery. This is great, and would be great, except for the obvious drawbacks, the first of which is limiting the point of view. As a reader, you only get to know what the main character knows. There is no way of introducing any other information (unless I make use of the idea of the Interlude, but these always annoy me).

The other problem is one of suspense. If I'm using first person, then the reader can guess, probably accurately, that the main character is sitting by the fire telling the story after the fact. The main character survived everything that happens. I don't usually like to kill off my main characters, but I do it occasionally and I like to have the option.

Third person limited is not all that far removed from first person. Third person uses the pronoun he or she, but the point of view is still limited (for the most part) to the main character. This imposes some distance between the main character and the reader, and as an author, I don't have to reveal everything the main character knows. This allows for more mystery and some suspense. But I still have a hard time killing off the main character, since we've been mostly in his (or her) head the entire time. Also, this point of view can become boring for some readers, which is the kiss of death for any author.

Then we come to third person omniscient. A good point of view, as far as it goes. I can dip into anyone's thoughts at any time and I only reveal what I want, and only when I want to. I can kill any character and keep the integrity of the story. The problem? This point of view can seem cold and distant, which it is to a certain extent. It also leaves me open to being accused of head hopping, which is leaping from one point of view to another and confusing the reader while doing so. It can be done, but it takes a little more care and patience to do it well.

My choice, as always, must be dictated by the story itself. Looking carefully at my plot, it became clear to me that I only rarely drift away from my main character. With a little careful rewriting I can eliminate these scenes and drift closer to first person point of view. But I don't want to get that close. A little mystery is good for this particular story, since I don't want to reveal the end too quickly. Third person limited, then. But I like the intimacy of first person, so I think I'll do a prologue and an epilogue in first person. The best of both worlds.

When you are searching for a point of view, disregard what's popular and what you might be used to. This decision should be driven entirely by the story, and not by what is currently popular.

Want more information about narrative perspective? They this little video for starters.

Self-Publishing With CreateSpace

I'm going to start this post by saying I don't use CreateSpace. I don't use any self-publishing company as I'm still traditionally published. This isn't to say I won't eventually turn to self-publishing in the future, but I haven't done it yet.

However, I've been getting a lot of e-mails about self-publishing. I suppose it's something many people do, so I've decided to post about it just this once. And while I haven't personally used CreateSpace, I have interviewed 23 people who did. Not all the experiences have been great, but that's the way it is with any service.

Make no mistake, CreateSpace (and any self-publishing company) is selling a service. They're going to print you up a book (and possibly make it available from Amazon and other online booksellers), but you'll have to pay for the privilege. CreateSpace is a print-on-demand (POD) service, so no copies of your book are printed until ordered, either by you or another party.

You'll either love or hate CreateSpace and it's certainly not for everyone. In theory, you can publish your book completely free of charge, but this is a little misleading. You need to preview your book, so you'll have to order your own copy (called a proof copy). Then you must review it carefully. It's important to realize there are no editors, so what you submit is what you get. If your book is riddled with errors when you upload it to CreateSpace, you'll get a proof copy riddled with errors.

You'll also have to format your book for paperback, and this is no small task. It can be done with Microsoft Word or other programs such as Scrivener, but let's not pretend. It's a pain in the butt. Most of the people I interviewed had published multiple books with CreateSpace. Their advice? Once you've got your template perfected, use it for all future books. It will save you time and frustration. Make sure you can save your formatted novel as a PDF. Some POD printers will allow you to upload other file types, but stick with PDF. At least things won't move around when the file is uploaded, which can sometimes happen.

After you've received your book, decided you're not going to bother with the 14 typos you found when reviewing your copy, and approved it, you're still not quite done. Here's where the free thing comes up again. To really get the most out of CreateSpace, you have to shell out a little money for distribution. However, a little research reveals that this is standard among POD printers, including Lulu.

One thing I haven't mentioned yet is the extra services CreateSpace (and most POD companies) offers. You'll see offers for editing and design services, but steer clear of these. Of the 23 authors I spoke to, only 6 of them had used these services, and not one of them was happy with it. In the words of one author, "I could have designed that myself. And the editing wasn't any better than my wife could have done. And she's free!"

All in all, CreateSpace is a good deal for the money, but don't expect bestselling status. Self-publishing may be shaking off its stigma, but it still faces problems traditionally published authors don't have to worry about. The editing, format, and design of your books has to be done yourself. You have to do all the marketing. And distribution will be a problem. Look at your local bookstore and see how many self-published books are there. Not many. But if you're okay with all of this, perhaps you'll be satisfied with CreateSpace.

How did the authors I interviewed rate the service? 1 of the 23 gave it five stars. 15 gave it four stars. 1 gave it three stars. 1 gave it two stars. 5 gave it one star. Of those who didn't like the service at all, most said it was due to quality issues, so there are some bumps in the road when using this service.

Poems: The Voice

I'm a poet at heart, though I make my living writing books. Some of the poems I write are funny, others are tragic, but they all come from the heart. So here's one of my favourite poems, this one about a dark time in my life.

Listen, can you hear it?
Or is it only in my dreams?
I close my mind to shut it out,
Yet still somehow it seems,
There is a dark wind calling,
Singing wild and free,
Caressing all my skin,
Crying out to me.
“Come,” it sings so gently,
“Leave all your cares behind.
Follow with each step I take,
And true peace you will find.”

I doubt and still I follow,
Knowing not where this road leads,
Yet praying it holds the answer,
To all my darkest needs.
And there at last he’s waiting,
His eyes older than my years.
They touch my own so tenderly,
And banish all my fears.
I know I have the choice then,
And yet how can I dare,
To move into the darkness,
And seek an end right there?