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This year’s Blog Action Day subject is climate change. At first I struggled with how to relate that to writing. The obvious answer didn’t jump out at me. I blame that on my muse sticking around Europe and not coming back home when I did.

My muse is back now, apparently refreshed and ready to work. She pointed out to me that we are in the middle of big climate changes in publishing now. Some of these changes will have a positive effect on the world’s climate.

Publishing as a business resists adopting new technology. Even when they moved from printing presses to computers, submissions still needed to be sent by “snail mail”.

Publishers didn’t take as long to shift the responsibility for publicity to the authors. Just because you receive an advance for your book doesn’t mean that the publisher will put money into your promotion. Very few authors get any publisher support for promotion.

Fortunately the Internet lets authors reach far more readers than even the largest publisher’s PR departments did in the past. Subscribe to this blog for tips on using technology to promote yourself and your writing.

Right now the e-Reader wars are heating up. This week Amazon announced a big jump in earnings. They attribute a large part of the increase to the Kindle, both the device itself and the books, blogs, and magazines sold for it.  The International Kindle version is now shipping.

Plastic 40 mg strattera Logic has said that they will release the product details and the price of their e-Reader device at the Consumer Electronic Show in early January. It will probably be called the Que or the QueproReader. AT&T will be the wireless provider. It will read PDF, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents.

Design Spring has announced an ebook reader based on the Google Android operating system. It will have full browser capability and a patented dual screen. The Alex will have an electronic paper display for reading and an LCD screen, running Android, for better web access with browser features for bookmarking, history, and security. It’s also mobile enabled with smart phone capabilities.

You are now able to pre-order buy viagra online without prescription Barnes and Noble’s ebook reader, Nook.  It’s also a dual-screen reader and has similar features to the Alex. Due to release at the end of November, you can check out the features on Nook.com or at Buy a prescription online target=”_blank”>Barnes and Noble.

These readers are great for those of us who freak out about running out of reading material. It’s especially handy when traveling. I saw lots of people reading Kindles on my recent trip.

As more readers accept e-readers and the e-readers themselves improve, the amount of paper used to print books will decrease. This will benefit the entire planet.

Do your research before you buy. Pick the reader that works best for your reading habits and your eyes. These readers will continue to improve. If you plan to upgrade, make sure you can read the books you’ve purchased on the new device.

If you haven’t already subscribed to this blog, sign up on the right. I’ll keep you updated on the latest changes in e-Readers and other technology. Remember that the climate of publishing is changing. I’ll help you keep up with it.

Write on,

Lynn

Related articles by Zemanta

• Que and Alex set to challenge e-reader leader Kindle (seattlepi.com)
• Kindle is More Environmentally Friendly Than Old-School Books [Ebook Readers] (gizmodo.com)

As a writer, you know that sometimes it’s harder to get an agent than it is to get an editor.

When I first decided to target the category romance market, I thought that I wouldn’t need an agent because I could handle the business aspect of writing myself. Later as my focus changed to non-fiction and single title, I realized that I’d need an agent to succeed.

Now, if you are trying to get the interest of a print publisher, you will need a literary agent to represent you. Attracting the attention of an agent is very similar to attracting an editor. However, a bad agent can hurt your career much more than no agent at all.

There are a few things you should keep in mind as you start (or continue) your search for an agent.

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Why you write isn’t a question you ask yourself very often. Unlike the dreaded, “where do you get your ideas” questions, it isn’t a favorite of interviewers.

One January several years ago, I made a resolution to write every day. Haven’t we all done that?

By the 15^th I hadn’t written at all and feeling more plagued by guilt every day. I had the solution. I didn’t need to write, didn’t need to put myself through the pain, didn’t need the guilt trip.

I vowed to stop writing and not to worry about it any more. I was no longer a writer.

That night I dreamed plot line, complete with characters’ names. When I woke up, I critiqued the story  and saw which part wouldn’t work and what had to be changed to make them work. Apparently threatening to quit forced my muse up off the couch.

You don’t think about why you write very often, unless the words aren’t flowing or you receive a rejection. Then you ask yourself why.

You give up quality time with your friends and family. You miss out on the latest episodes of Lost or Survivor. I have a friend who missed the entire first Gulf War because she had a book deadline.

Some of us write to pay the bills. Others write so we can give our kids private school or braces. However, working as a barista at Starbucks would be easier and provide a steady paycheck.

Some of my reasons are

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