STONE SOUP: Writing

Translation Rights and Wrongs

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 02:06:21 GMT

A couple of days ago, I googled myself, as I do from time to time, just to see what kind of web presence I have developed. This article was #1 in the search results:

http://www.buddhachannel.tv/portail/spip.php?article2249 http://www.buddhachannel.tv/portail/spip.php?article2249

There are some cool aspects to this. My picture is featured prominently, along with other illustrations. The article has been beautifully translated into French. I would be very proud, except for one little detail. My work has been reproduced without my knowledge or consent. In other words, it was stolen.

Stolen by Buddhists! I can't believe it. I have always had Buddhists on a moral pedestal. Now that I realize that they can infringe copyrights as much as anyone else, I will never see them in quite the same light again.

Pity. I would probably have let them use the article for free. All they had to do is ask.

Nurse Ratched's Place

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:56:42 GMT

My favourite medical blogger, Mother Jones aka Nurse Ratched, has moved from Blogger and established her own website.

I love her reviews of classic pulp nursing fiction, her takes on medical madness, and her poetic moments of empathy. If I ever have to go to a psych hospital, I want her to be my nurse!

http://www.nurseratchedsplace.com/

Helium in the news

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 20:14:36 GMT

Here is the link for an ABC news story about Helium

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=4514057

Whether we approve of it or not, the blogging craze has kicked us into the age of "citizen journalism". People are writing who never dreamed of doing such a thing. Most of them don't care about getting paid. They just want to express themselves and hopefully have their thoughts and voices heard. A lot of them aren't very good at the craft, but they will get better if they keep at it and pick up a tip here and there.

For me, the cash is in the contests. I have managed to sell only one article on Marketplace so far. If I keep my head down and write a dozen decent articles for a contest, I have a good chance of being a Channel Champion. Some of the topics are really fascinating, and I learn a lot from doing the research

The Great Reward-a-thon

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 02:05:50 GMT

No, I haven't died. I've been immersed in the Helium Reward-a-thon.

This is a 99-day event where you get a pay-out for each article you post, provided you have at least one writing star and three rating stars.

I have four writing stars, and have 33 articles to go for the fifth star. So that's no problem. But I am worried about maintaining my third rating star. Most of the time I have three stars, for a glorious couple of days I had four, and sometimes I have two. If I have only two when April 14 comes to an end, I won't get any pay-out.

The ratings are based on quantity, which I can easily control, and quality, which is more elusive. "Quality" ratings are the same as most the ratings other people make. This is to keep people from randomly rating without reading the articles, but it makes me very, very nervous. Instead of asking "Which is better?" am likely to ask, "Which will THEY think is better?" Sometimes it's obvious, but when it's a close call, I wonder whether I am shooting myself in the foot.

I have written articles about black history, Alzheimer's disease, love and marriage, evolution, and a host of other topics. Currently, I am working on anthropology. I have surprised myself. I can churn out an article faster than I ever believed was humanly possible, and they are actually good enough to make me a serious contender in the Channel Champions contests. I have learned a lot of new stuff. The only problem is -- how do I keep real life from interfering with my Helium obsession?

The Reward-a-thon ends on April 15. Then, theoretically, I can rest. Whether I am gloating over a pay-out or grieving for my lost rating star, the battle will be over. But I'll bet those Helium will think of another way to motivate me. They are very good at starting my writing engine.

Everything I know about writing -- so far.

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 00:51:47 GMT

1. A writer writes. And writes. And writes.

2. Hard work is like the gasoline in a car: very little progress is possible without it.

3. Not everyone shares my taste.

4. Taking time off to write is as risky as arranging maternity leave before pregnancy occurs.

5. Even if editors seem to have gone to the dark side, there is still good in them.

6. Reading about writing is like learning to swim without getting into the water.

7. The writer who writes to please others is doomed to stop enjoying it.

8. Ignoring grammar and spelling is like trying to play ice hockey without learning to skate.

9. When all else fails, read the guidelines.

10. The publishing industry is constantly changing. Yesterday's faux pas could be today's hot tip.

11. Sometimes writing is like being in love; other times it's like being trapped in a miserable marriage.

The Scoop on Helium

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 22:21:21 GMT

http://www.forbes.com/businessinthebeltway/2007/07/25/pundits-washington-helium-biz-beltway-cx_bw_0726helium.html

I have been a Helium member for about 3 weeks, and am well on my way to earning my first dollar.

The more I read, the more I want to write.

A guest editorial

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 00:25:09 GMT

Back in the year 2000, I was writing prolifically and even finding homes for some of my offspring. Here is a guest editorial I wrote for Shadowkeep E-Zine.

BETTER THAN SEX

Writers are like a hardy fungus hidden in dark corners, waiting to come to light at the most unexpected moments.

Janet, for instance. She was the photographer of the day when my best friend and I went to the department store to avail ourselves of the limited time $6.99 portrait special (sitting fee not included).

Janet was happy to see us. Her schedule for the morning had too many gaps, and time was dragging. More important, we spoke English. My community is primarily French, and Janet knew only a few phrases in that language.

Within a few minutes we found out that Janet had been working this job for ten years; that the camera needed repairs which had been frustratingly delayed; that one of her colleagues did dynamite pet photos; that the young man who would be showing us the prints in two weeks was a newbie. I taught her how to say "Regarde mon Smurf et ne bouge pas." (Look at my Smurf and don't move.)

By this time she had finished her shots of us with two different backgrounds, and told us that she was now going to photograph us separately.

"Good idea," I said. "I need promo pictures."

"What do you need promo pictures for?" she asked.

"I'm a writer." Not wanting to give the wrong impression of my stature in the literary field, I added, "I'm still making a negative income, but I thought that if they could see how beautiful I am --"

"I'm writing, too," she interrupted.

She had returned to school to get her high school diploma. The grade twelve English course had included a lot of creative writing, and she had developed a taste for it.

"After I finished the course, I never thought I'd write again. But one night I couldn't sleep and I couldn't sleep, because this story was going round and round in my head. So I got up and started writing."

We chatted on as she finished the photos. "I've got six and a half chapters," she said. "I've been stuck for a while."

"Yes, there are dry periods," I said wisely. "But when you're in the flow, it's -- " I groped for a suitable metaphor, "-- it's almost as good as sex."

She snorted. "No, it isn't -- it's better than sex."

The pictures turned out well. The 8 x 10 of my friend and me hangs on my office wall, reminding me why I write.

Better than sex? I guess that depends on the individual. I can tell you, though, that my computer has more stamina than most bed partners.