Both Eyes Book Blog

Book Head

My man Rocket Scientist enjoying some light reading.  I’m not sure what he’s doing, either.  I just know I wanted a picture of it.

The President’s Summer Reading

Here is President Obama’s summer reading list:

The Bayou Trilogy – Daniel Woodrell (496 pages)

Rodin’s Debutante – Ward Just (272 pages)

Cutting for Stone – Abraham Verghese (667 pages)

To the End of the Land – David Grossman (672 pages)

The Warmth of Other Suns – Isabel Wilkerson (640 pages)

That would be seven books in nine days, adding up to 2,747 pages, or 305 pages per day.  Depending on what constitutes a fun vacation for the Obama family, he could undoubtedly pull it off, but I’m guessing he’ll only get through half that stack before they head home.

If the Chief wants my advice, I’d skip the Grossman and the Verghese… Personally I found at least one character in both those books to be extremely annoying and it took me about two months per book to force myself to finish.  Definitely start with the Woodrell; he’s amazing.

http://news.yahoo.com/obama-summer-reading-list-leans-toward-fiction-181834794.html

When Your Kids Need Less Screen Time

Yesterday I posted our household’s Electronics Use Policy.  I realized it might not be obvious to some parents why such a thing is a good idea.  Here are the indicators that led me to create this document, an artifact that smacks somewhat of fascism even to me.

How to know your kids have a problem with electronics:

• You have to call them more than once to come to dinner
• They spend more time with their headphones in than out
• They fall asleep with their headphones in
• They complain of back pain
• You wake up in the middle of the night to find them online or gaming
• Their grades have declined
• They fight with their siblings over use of the computer, game system, or remote control
• They have a problem with their weight
• They go outdoors only when forced
• They tune out during family gatherings or meals
• They are rude
• You have to fight them to make them do chores or homework
• They have temper tantrums, raise their voices to you, or throw things
• They are sleep-deprived and may “pass out” on the couch at odd times

Our Home “Electronics Use Policy”

By request, this is how we manage my teenage step-daughter’s screen time.  She’ll be 17 in November.  We followed this policy all summer and I was actually stunned at the way the “static” over her laptop simply vanished.  One day she was late coming home and didn’t call.  We took away her phone until she finished her work the next day – and she was done with everything on the list before noon.

Electronics Use Policy

Businesses commonly have a ‘computer use policy’ that all employees sign upon hiring.  It reminds employees that all computer equipment is provided for business purposes only.  Employees are advised that the company may review any information they store on the computer, including personal e-mail.  Certain web sites may be off limits and certain activities are prohibited and can lead to termination.

Similarly, we have an electronics use policy.  A laptop has been provided specifically for homework and educational purposes.  Conflicts over its use have led to restrictions and revocation of usage privileges.  Its availability remains subject to strict adherence to the electronics use policy herein defined.

1. Laptop is to be checked out for use only after day’s duties have been completed.  Permission must be requested politely and will be granted based on review of tasks and academic work.
2. Laptop is to be checked in at or before 10:00 pm and is not to be kept in bedroom overnight.
3. Laptop time may be earned according to formal guidelines.
4. Laptop time may not be used during family time.
5. Laptop use can and will be restricted if household rules are not followed.
6. E-mail, documents, and web search history will continue to be considered private unless cause is given to indicate increased supervision is necessary.
7. Web site access will continue to be unlimited unless cause is given to indicate increased supervision is necessary.
8. Electronics use policy may cover, but is not limited to, laptop, television, and phone.  Use of these items is a privilege, not a right, and their use is considered of lowest possible priority after other educational, family, health, professional, and recreational purposes.

I acknowledge receipt of the Electronics Use Policy.

___________________________      __________

Signature                                              Date

Here is the companion document:

Earning Laptop Time

Daily Requirements

1. Be showered and dressed
2. Make bed
3. Wipe counter after breakfast
4. Unload dishwasher and dish rack, load breakfast dishes
5. Chores done, if any (clean bathroom, put away laundry, clean up yard)
6. Walk dog: minimum half hour
7. Essay
8. Essay re-write
9. Vocabulary worksheet – write 10 words from SAT flashcards with definition and sample sentence in your own words
10. Any additional assigned worksheets and corrections
11. PSAT book: minimum half hour
12. Read non-illustrated novel or non-fiction book: minimum one hour

Meeting daily requirements earns one hour of unsupervised laptop time to be used in accordance with Electronics Use Policy.  Goal is to teach independent work habits.

Additional Time

Additional time may be earned in 30-minute increments as supervised.

30-59 minutes = 30 minutes

60-89 minutes = 60 minutes

Ratios denote time spent to time earned.  A 1:2 ratio means 30 minutes earns one hour.

Note that activities are weighted to encourage certain activities over others.  Writing a research paper earns the most time, but requires use of earned time to complete.  Writing a book report is also a high earner because it requires reading an entire book first.

Academic activity

• Extra vocabulary worksheets – one page earns 30 minutes
• Extra writing or math worksheets – one page earns 30 minutes
• Current events report – half page read at dinner earns 30 minutes
• Book reports (on approved titles) – one page earns 2 hours
• Research paper (on approved topics) – 3 pages earns 4 hours, 5 pages earns 8 hours
• Research paper outline – earns 30 minutes, not necessary to develop into paper
• Rewrites of any ‘extra’ writing assignment – one page earns 30 minutes

Family activity

• Call Grandma or cousins – 1:1 ratio
• Write letters to Grandma or cousins – one page earns 30 minutes

Physical activity

• Running – 1:2 ratio
• Walking – 1:1 ratio
• Riding bike – 1:1 ratio (riding to library earns bonus hour on library computer)
• Library: 6.2 mile round trip, >60 minutes
• Safeway: 2 mile round trip, >20 minutes
• Convenience store across from firehouse: 2 mile round trip, >20 minutes
• Going to swimming pool – 1:1 ratio (making a new friend earns bonus hour)

Vocational training

• Hired for formal job or internship that requires résumé, application, and interview – unlimited time for duration of employment
• Hired “under the table” for job – to be negotiated
• Start own business – to be negotiated depending on review of earnings
• Babysitting for pay – 2:1 ratio
• Extra chores – 1:1 ratio (can be done daily if desired unless otherwise designated)
• Clean microwaves inside and out
• Sweep and mop tile floors, including both bathrooms and moving all furniture and trash cans out of the way
• Vacuum carpeted areas
• Vacuum/spot clean couch
• Wash and dry dog bedding and set it up again (maximum once/week)
• Groom dog (brush him outside)
• Sweep porch, including cobwebs
• Take out garbage, compost, and recycling
• Mow lawn (maximum once/week)
• Cook dinner (unassisted)
• Grocery shopping
• Family errands (take dog to vet, get oil changed in truck, etc)
• Work on game design project – discuss with project supervisor
• Other tasks or commitments as negotiated

Life skills

• Budget worksheets – one page earns two hours
• Write résumé – one page earns one hour
• College research worksheets – one page earns one hour
• Mending/altering clothes – 1:1 ratio (sew buttons, hems, darning, etc)
• Sewing machine use – 1:1 ratio (projects as negotiated)
• Power tool use – 1:1 ratio (as supervised)
• Home repairs – 1:1 ratio (hand and power tools)
• Bike maintenance – 1:1 ratio (pump tires, change flat, install accessories)
• Kitchen appliance use – 1:1 ratio (food processor, rice cooker, etc)
• First aid/safety classes – 2:1 ratio

Booker Long List!

It’s Booker time, kids, and you know what that means!  I’m going to try to read through them all before the short list is announced on September 6 and then guess which titles will make the cut.  I missed last year but I’ve beat the odds in the past and I’ve done a little better each time.  I’ve even guessed the winner before without having read it.

As you can see, I have 10 of the 13 titles.  The Last Hundred Days is back-ordered.  My Amazon UK books all came early after a delivery date of 8/31, which is good because my days of reading 1806 pages in six days are probably behind me.  I have Snowdrops on reserve and… I just realized that I somehow forgot to order The Sense of an Ending!  Ye gads, that won’t do.

I’m nearly done with Pigeon English and really enjoying it.  I’ll review each book as I go, though I must say it will be a challenge while trying to finish my own manuscript.

Any Booker-related news, opinions, or speculation?

How Do You Sell a Rectangle?

I’m getting ready to self-publish my first book, and I’ve promised to share my experiences as I learn from them.  It is hard for a person with skills and knowledge to replicate “beginner’s mind,” so I hope my naivete and silly mistakes will be useful for other rank neophytes.

The first thing to know is that the publishing world is undergoing a seismic shift right now, and nobody knows “the rules” any more.  In the Bad Old Days, self-publishing could mean saying goodbye to selling your work to a conventional publisher.  It meant you submitted your work unsuccessfully until you gave up and paid someone to print it.  It meant your book wasn’t marketable.

Now anyone can publish anything.  I just did it tonight, and you’re reading it right now.  The only questions left are:  Will someone pay to read my work? and Where do I sell it?

Actually, it’s slightly more complicated than that, and that’s what I am going to recap in this post.

1. I checked out my competition.  If there are a lot of books out there that are similar to yours, you can look at it in one of two ways.  Either you shouldn’t bother, or you can assume there is a solid market for your type of book.  If you already have a manuscript, you may as well wade in and try to sell it.  Take a good, long look at your competitors’ book jackets, advertising copy, and customer reviews.
2. I read a big stack of writing manuals.  These books always have a chapter on Things to Avoid.  Pay heed.  Editors and writing instructors will have seen more examples of terrible writing than any mortal should endure, and these books will almost certainly contain advice that affects your work.  Beyond that, you will learn about how the publishing industry works (or used to work), and it will help you with your marketing strategy.
3. I realized I needed a cover.  I can barely draw a stick figure.  I do, however, know several talented artists, one of whom just graduated from art school.  I approached him and offered two options:  Sell me the cover art at a fixed price and let me retain the rights, or give it to me on spec for a percentage of profits.  He speculated.  The work is of far higher quality than I would have gotten from a conventional publisher.  It’s also of higher quality than I expected my artist to deliver!  I believe very strongly that an eye-catching cover has always been one of the main features that will lead a reader to pick up a book.  In the age of e-publishing, I predict it will become even more important.  How do you sell a rectangle in the midst of thousands of other rectangles?  Make it stand out.  If I’m right, e-publishing will become a way for obscure artists and graphic designers to make names for themselves along with authors.  I can also sell my book to my artist’s friends.  I call these “pity purchases.”  It’s how word of mouth starts.
4. I found out I can sell my book on Amazon via Kindle Direct Publishing.  The advantages are a higher percentage of sales than what a conventional publisher would offer; lower prices for readers; an e-book that stays “in print” as long as you like; the ability to choose your own title and cover; the ability to direct your own marketing campaign; and the ability to tag your work, helping readers find your book and avoiding the problem of a publisher or bookseller that doesn’t know where to shelve your title.  The caveats are that Amazon can sell your book at a price other than your chosen list price; the text needs to be formatted (I haven’t reached this stage yet, but I watched a video tutorial and it looks complicated); and, of course, you’re responsible for your own editing and marketing.  Oh, and you don’t get an advance.
5. I found out I can also sell my book via print-on-demand through Lulu.com.  This means my readers can order a print copy and choose as fancy a binding as will fit in their budget.  It also means I can buy print copies to sell directly. [WRONG!  Although it’s a cool idea, the reader can’t choose the binding.  The author chooses one.  Lulu also offers e-publishing, but I’m not sure yet whether I can sell multiple print versions in different bindings].
6. I decided to set up a website.  Oh brother.  I was able to buy a domain name, my first and last name dot com, that I didn’t think would be available, so that was lucky.  Then I found out I had to pay separately for hosting.  My site is administered through a separate website, and it requires an 18-character password, among other things.  It took me about two weeks to figure out how to upload files.  I still haven’t designed any pages for it, and I need to know how to upload video and accept PayPal, while I’m still struggling with the part where I juggle three URLs and the concomitant log-ins and passwords.  At the rate I’m going it will take me about eighteen years to get the thing up and running on a professional level.  The good news is, it only cost me $80 for two years!
7. I decided to make a book trailer.  I was able to convince a friend to perform in it for free, and she gave such a brilliant performance I got chills.  Alas, I found out too late that my handheld digital camera isn’t really the right tool for this kind of job, and the audio was out of sync.  Due to the nature of the clip, it took me two hours of editing to realize this.  Because I am very lucky in my friends, I have been getting technical assistance on this that I really don’t deserve, and I should be able to salvage my project.  I also just happen to have a good friend who composes film scores, and he agreed to write music for me.  If you are flexible and fun to work with, and your project is interesting, you may find all sorts of people will be willing to help you.  Be appreciative and respectful of your friends’ time.  Also try to return these favors in any way you can, and pay it forward by helping others.
8. I’m keeping a running list of new ideas about how to market my book.  This is the kind of thing that will vary depending on your genre.  I believe there are no limits in the new world of publishing.  Anything I want to try may very well work, and there is some intrinsic interest in the attempt itself.  I don’t want to give away any of my secrets, which probably wouldn’t do you much good for your particular book anyway.  I’ll use the example of a friend of mine, who just paid to publish her first book two months ago.  She is a home-schooler mom who is active in her church.  She is already selling her book at a local gift shop – one that would slam the door as soon as they saw the cover of my book! – which is fantastic as far as I’m concerned.  I suggested that she send out review copies to home-schooling newsletters, and check to see if any branches of her church have reading groups that might be interested.  Now I just have to convince her to start a second book.
9. I’m already working on my next book.  Realize that your first book may be a bomb.  It may mysteriously become popular years later.  It may simply sell at a slow and steady rate.  Regardless, if you’re like me you’ll walk a bald patch in your carpet unless you find a way to channel your energy into something constructive.  Start planning your next project.  Put to use everything you’ve learned while creating the first one, and try to make your next book better than your first.