Archives for October 2006

The Mic Is On — It’s Halloween!

October 31, 2006 by Liz

It’s Like Open Mic Only Different

Here’s how it works.

It’s like any rambling conversation. Don’t try to read it all. Jump in whenever you get here. Just go to the end and start talking. EVERYONE is WELCOME
The rules are simple — be nice.

There are always first timers and new things to talk about. It’s sort of half “Cheers” part “Friends” and part video game. You don’t know how much fun it is until you try it.

Tonight it’s Halloween!

We might also talk about

Halloween costumes and parties
Urban legends and childhood beliefs
trick and treats and childhood pranks
Haunted Housed and ghost stories

AND THE EVER POPULAR,
Basil the code-writing donkey, and Milton the Moose.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Open Mic 7pm Chgo Time — It’s Halloween!

October 31, 2006 by Liz

What’s that Costume?

YES, the mic will be open again tonight. So start collecting your thoughts. Remember, you get to bring what you want to talk about.

The rules are simple — be nice.

There are always first timers and new things to talk about. It’s sort of half “Cheers” part “Friends” and part video game. You don’t know how much fun it is until you try it.

Tonight it’s Halloween!

We might also talk about

Halloween costumes and parties
Urban legends and childhood beliefs
trick and treats and childhood pranks
Haunted Housed and ghost stories

AND THE EVER POPULAR,
Basil the code-writing donkey, and Milton the Moose.

It’s like any rambling conversation. Don’t try to read it all. Jump in whenever you get here. Just go to the end and start talking. EVERYONE is WELCOME.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Writing for That One Most Important Reader: That Curious, Clever, Intelligent Individual

October 31, 2006 by Liz

How Do You Write for Everyone?

How easy it is to get overwhelmed when I think of how individual each reader is. How can I possibly meet what they expect, when each of them comes with a different goal, a different history, and a different mind set?

Whatever the subject I choose to write on, I can be sure that some readers will know it far better than I do and some will have never encountered it before. How do I bridge gap to write a piece that meets learners on solid ground while engaging readers with significant expertise? These writing questions are central for anyone who writes for an audience of more than two people they already know.

How do I answer these questions for myself and for others?

I give them the answer Big Roy discovered.
[Read more…]

Don’t Miss the Halloween D-Z List

October 31, 2006 by Liz

The Links Are Treats Today

Click the logo to visit the Blogging Times.

Happy Halloween!

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Bookcraft 2.0: Even the Best Shoes Don’t Belong in a Bookstore

October 30, 2006 by Liz

Look for Books Like Yours

If you recall, Phil, an editor, and I have been through his pages. We sorted them into four parts. I’ve read the parts through again and begun the process of fine tuning the order. This will get us to the final book map. We also checked the market at Amazon to see what books like Phil’s new book were doing. . . .

I promised to tell you more about that.

When I started in publishing I was a freelancer. I read everything I could about writing and one bit of advice always confused me:

Go after the publishers who already sell the kind of book you want to write.

To me, that advice seem counter-intuitive. Why would a publisher want another book about writing if they already had a list full of them? Shouldn’t I go to where a publisher didn’t have any?

[Read more…]

Interview 11.1: Rajesh Setty — Raj’s Story

October 30, 2006 by Liz

From Child Author to IT Consultant

Recently I wrote, if you want me to care, tell me who you are. It was a statement about knowing who wrote what we are reading. That statement becomes more when the writer in question is Rajesh Setty.

When we learn about who Raj is, it’s no wonder Beyond Code: Learn to Distinguish Yourself in 9 Simple Steps! is packed with testimonials to its quality and wisdom. Not every IT Consultant can write about personal and interpersonal skills in business. Not every business book can boast a foreward by Tom Peters.

Raj has worked in five countries. He wrote his first book when he was nine years old. He’s what people might call one in a million. He’s a nice man, who has friends almost everywhere.

I knew this interview would be outstanding, if I could find questions that went beyond the book in the same way that Raj had gone Beyond Code to the basics of every business. I was thrilled with the wealth of advice and experience Raj sent back in his answers.

Rajesh, tell us your story. How is that you came to be a child author? How did that child author become an IT consultant? What lead that consultant to write this book?

[Read more…]