konni: "Today is a day of completion. I give thanks for this perfect day, miracle shall follow miracle, and wonders shall never cease."
Florence Scovel Shinn


konni: People say they want to buy my books, but have trouble doing so, and I'm trying to figure out what the problems might be.
Yesterday, someone told me that since he has no reader, android, etc., he had to download the free app from Amazon, but then he had to go get it in "downloads" and "install" it.
I'm so not a techie. Will anyone with ebooks on Amazon, who knows about these things, please enlighten me about the problems people might run into when they buy ebooks?
    nor84: Sounds like the person who talked about the trouble of downloading isn't much of a techie either, konni.

    I have almost every Kindle made, plus two Kindle fires and a fire phone. And yeah, I have the free app for Amazon on my PC and my Apple I-pad.

    When you find a book on Amazon, you buy the book. It goes into your online library, which is a good thing because Amazon maintains the library for you. If your computer crashes, your house burns down so you lose all your electronic gadgets, you don't lose your books.

    So you click on Manage my devices, then on the library, and click "download." You'll get a message that the book will be sent to your device (PC, Kindle, whatever) and it's there in about a nanosecond. Then you click the cover image and read the book. That's it. Easy peasy.

    Now, if you have several kindles, you'll have one to which the book automatically goes, but you can choose to send it to any or all of the other kindles.

    You need to have access to wi-fi to download, OR you need to have a Kindle that will connect to the internet like a cell phone does, with 3g. Some kindles have 3g and some don't. Wi-fi is available in some coffee shops and hotels and in Barnes and Noble if you don't have it in your home (which you may not if you have only one computer and no kindles or laptops.) -
    nor84: Of course, your computer is probably able to connect to the internet without wi-fi, in which case I'd advise the free app. -
    Cumbrianlass: The Kindle app is totally free, dead easy to download, and sticks a wee icon on the desktop for easy access. I have a Kindle, but I read all my e-books on my iPad via the Kindle app because I prefer the screen. -
    konni: Thanks very much, nor84. I've been trying to find the stuff you mentioned--with some success, but I use a reader. The people with all the gadgets will know this--and I sure couldn't walk them through it. But the ones with only a computer will need to download Amazon's free app, and they'll need wifi? -
    konni: Cumbrianlass,
    When you say, Kindle app, this is an app that works on Kindle devices, right? Do you get it from Amazon, and is it different from the free app available to download? -
    Lynn27: Kindle app is free and you can download it from Amazon or a app store on a device like computer, cell phone, or I pad. If a person owns a kindle device that's person doesn't not need app -


konni: There seems some confusion about this post. It's part of a short story--of 5000 words, the first story in a collection of short stories (7) entitled, "Strange Loves." Further posts on this? Well, got no money, and this is the amount that Amazon put in its free sample.


konni: Marion Zimmer Bradley published her own magazine. A good story, she said, needed:
1. A protagonist we care deeply about
2. a worthy goal
3. a hard struggle.
    nor84: I agree, with the possible addition of 4, a satisfying outcome.

    I don't mean a happy outcome, although some genres require one. The ending should show whether or not the protagonist achieved what he was struggling for. -
    konni: Absolutely. Something achieved--even if it's only understanding or acceptance.
    I was thinking about this because one of my writing books advises, Don't duck trouble. So many do, yet it drives the story, keeps us reading. -


konni: Thank you, mrsmajor. What's spag?
    konni: Thanks. They drive me insane. Wish they didn't. Details!
    Must be some reason my screen keeps leaving--trying not to take it personally. . . -
    mrsmajor: SPAG....Spelling Punctuation, and Grammar... -


konni: Thank you, mrsmajor. What's spag?


konni: Reviewing: According to the Q/A ratings, "excellent," means no revisions needed--the work can't be improved, is experienced as perfect.
How did "excellent" become the new norm?
    F. Wehr3: I think you should take this topic into the reviewing forum. -
    michaelcahill: It doesn't say that at all. We all agree that the word "Excellent" is thrown around with abandon, but whatever the standards are here we should all be on the same page.
    No flaws, needing no revisions.
    It doesn't say "can't be improved" "Experienced as perfect".
    That's why people get irritated when a piece is marked down when it has no flaws or needed revisions, because the review isn't following site policy.
    That doesn't mean the policy is correct. It just means that that is what site policy IS. -
    Adri7enne: Don't let the 'score' be too important to you. It's lost a lot of meaning. Whether writing reviews or reading reviews, search for honesty, insight, and understanding. Try to give that in return. In time, you will meet people who will value your opinions, and with whom you might want to form writing partnerships - encouraging and critiquing each other. One good, honest reviewer that you can count on can be a true blessing. That's the real value of this writing site. -
    mrsmajor: The subject you have brought up...has been discussed here on the forum, over and ver again...the stars given are of little consequence where your writing is concerned...apparently the explanation that one reads, on the site policy is not actually being followed...Perhaps when this site was first established it did have specific meaning,,,but in my humble opinion it no longer does...What has happened is this:..if a post has been read, no spag is noticed, the reader enjoyed the piece, saw nothing that should be changed...then the 5 stars are given...there is really no other choice but to give the piece 5 stars...however there are some that will mark down a piece if it is felt it could be improved...personally I rate only for spag, for (poetry)...and do not review stories at all...I've learned its best to rate according to how you feel about the piece...Most of the readers do that...Perhaps one of these days, Tom would make some changes to the rating system...but frankly I think there is too much concern over the star rating...Since you are new here, and I have just paid for my 12th year subscription, I stay because I enjoy the art of poetry writing...enjoy reading and commenting, on the writing of others with...but you will learn there are some excellent reviewers here, and as time passes they will find you...Read as much as you can, though, and I'm sure you will soon enjoy the give and take...

    I certainly wish you well, write write and write some more...I you receive one sincere, helpful review you will surely be pleased...Those are the ones that count... -


konni: Reviewing: According to the Q/A ratings, "excellent," means no revisions needed--the work can't be improved, is experienced as perfect.
How did "excellent" become the new norm?


konni: Reviewing: Ego or Art?

Do we want to be flattered, or do we want to receive suggestions on how to improve our work?
    Ima L. Ami: I say rip me apart; make me cry! I'm not scared... hehehe. If I sound like a dumb ass, let me know. -
    F. Wehr3: Reviewing is neither ego nor art, but one reader's opinion.

    Everyone looks for something different in a review. Some want to be told they're doing okay or a push in the right direction. Remember tact and consideration when reviewing. Most are not professional writers and most are not professional editors. -
    --Turtle.: A little of both.... praise where I got it right, suggestions where things might not be working, or at least the heads up that something isn't working. But it's nice to get a compliment, too. Even works that need help likely have something to compliment. But flattery for the sake of blowing smoke, not what I'm looking for. -
    giraffmang: If you put them together you get a goater - just saying. -
    konni: I've no desire to make anyone cry--ever. I love to praise what I can, and try to be tactful about possible missteps.
    Yes, of course, a review is simply an opinion. Ego vs. Art is my concern about our response as writers to a review of our work. If we insist it's perfect, we can't improve. -


konni: I value truth (a much-misused word), and I'm longing to answer the question, How much truth can you tell in fiction? How much do people want, and how much can they take?
    nor84: Fiction is not truth, although you can take a real event and fictionalize it by changing the names of the people involved, the place, and dramatizing the incident.

    -
    konni: Yes, but maybe fiction should be truth with only the names changed?
    When fiction lies (about the wrong things? too much?), the audience doesn't believe it.
    Surely, we're not only entertaining, but trying to say something true about life. -
    giraffmang: Of course you can put a lot of truth into fiction. Reactions, dialogue, feeling, emotions can all come from a real place. Fiction needs to be infused with a sense of realism for people to buy into it. Again it depends on the type of fiction we are talking about. It is one of the reasons I like science fiction writings so much. Good examples in this genre reflect back at society, can inform and inspire society. Many writings are allegorical in nature which hold both specific and general truths.

    If you really want some discussion around this area, start a thread in the forum. It can be very useful ... and enlightening!

    All the best
    GMG -
    konni: point taken. Sf tells truths about society, but neglects to build character, to make real, complex personalities with good and bad traits.
    forum? maybe. -
    giraffmang: You must be reading bad science fiction. That is rather a poor stereotype of a much maligned genre. You get bad writing in any genre. -


konni: I've written a broad band of stuff, with success in news, nature articles, and humor-- but my heart's not there, and I'm having trouble finding what I do best. I've written a lot of speculative stories and a spec novel, which seem harder. I could use some guidance.
    konni: I read little sf now, but I read lots years ago. Much of it was science/tech, exploration, ideas (wonderful ideas), and adventure-- lots of fun, but often, poorly-written and stock characters. Perhaps that has changed. And yes, there's poor writing in every genre and in literature, too. -
    Spiritual Echo: Great writers understand they need to cut open a vein and bleed out on the page. In every case, the writer must be willing to stand naked, unadorned and unashamed of the truth. Sometimes that truth comes through characters, and the writer, a mere instrument, but never, at no time can an artistic communicator determine how much ;truth; the writer can bear, It's none of your business.

    In the real world, you will be read by ordinary people, not writers. They depend on the arts, writers, singers, melodies and oils to rationalize their emotions. Set them on fire-inspire or succumb to a need. When you can do all that, unashamedly, you will never ask the question again., -