Friday, August 30, 2013

Using Create Space


I have been working on a book for children that includes my articles I've published in Two-Lane Livin' magazine.

I am separating it by months instead of chapters.

Each month starts with a poem and has articles, easy recipes and crafts and sometimes a story, depending on what I had written about that particular month.

It is coming right along. I want to publish it with Create Space. At the moment Create  Space is very confusing to me. I am hoping to figure it all out.

I am including clip art and I finally figured out how to make all the clip art be 300 DPI, which is what they want for all pics. That is one obstacle out of the way!

I downloaded Gimp, which is free. I went to this short tutorial on You Tube and found out how to convert pictures to 300 DPI. It is very easy! If I can figure it out, anyone can.

Have any of you used Create Space to publish your manuscripts?

Thanks for any input, suggestions or helpful hints on using their site.

 Posted by Janet Smart  on Creative Writing in the Blackberry Patch.




Monday, August 26, 2013

Getting Organized


"Hoo-boy," as my favorite character in A Year Down Yonder says, I am getting organized!

I moved my computer desk from the kitchen to the room next door that used to be our laundry room.

My so-called computer desk is actually a 24" x 40" enamel top table from the old days. It has a small drawer with a crystal  knob where I can store this and that.

I have two pictures hanging on the wall in front of me to inspire my imagination . . .



a fold-out display board that I can attach picture book pages to and use as a picture book dummy board . . .

now empty, but I have sectioned off 32 grids
 to place pages of my PB manuscripts on.

and a place where I can file my folders.


I am making a folder for each of my main manuscripts, an ideas folder, a writing tips folder (which is way too crowded and needs to be sub-divided), contest folder, publishers folder, etc.

I am hoping this will help me be more productive. While moving out here to my new room, I discovered so much forgotten stuff in my piles of paper, books and notebooks.
 
I also hope to start blogging on a regular schedule.


Do you have any organizational tips to share with us?

I leave you today with a favorite quote:

"Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass." Anton Chekhov

Happy Writing!

Posted by Janet F Smart   on Creative Writing in the Blackberry Patch.




Friday, August 9, 2013

Book Lovers Day


Today is Book Lovers Day!      

So nice that books have their own day.

I love books. My house is overrun with books.

Old school books, vintage Little Golden Books,  history books, how-to books, cookbooks, paperbacks, hardbacks, novels, picture books, middle grade books, chapter books, early readers, etc.

As you can see, I am not very particular.

Last year, I made a Christmas tree out of books. Go here to see it.

Right now I am  reading a middle grade book called The Lemonade Wars by Jacqueline Davies.

What are you currently reading?






Posted by Janet Smart  on Creative Writing in the Blackberry Patch.