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Writer's Notes - By Jeanne Dininni

 
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Writer's Notes - July 2009



An affordable Source of Writing-Related Materials

I came across an interesting website recently and thought I'd share it with you--though I should preface this post with the disclaimer that it will only apply to my U.S. readers. (My apologies to the rest of you! The site is planning to expand into the international arena in the future but as of this writing it hasn't reached that point.) The site, called swaptree, while not directly related to writing, could prove really handy as a potential source of writing resources (books, videos, etc.). The best thing about the site is that it doesn't require a ton of cash to get the informational or inspirational resources you need to keep yourself growing as a writer. The only money involved in any transaction made on this site is the cost of shipping the item(s) you trade with others. It's a pretty revolutionary idea, really. But, I'm getting slightly ahead of myself.


What Exactly Is Swaptree?

Swaptree is a website where you can trade books (on a wide range of topics), CDs, DVDs, and video games for other items you want or need with absolutely no fees for listing items or making trades. Such an arrangement can obviously be a real boon to the writer whose budget is tight but who has unwanted items to trade. And, when you think about it, there's a double benefit to acquiring your writing resources this way: not only can you choose the precise items you need or want from among the many thousands of items others are offering in trade, but you can also de-clutter your home or office at the same time by getting rid of the materials you no longer want or need. It's really the perfect arrangement!


How Does Swaptree Work?

Swaptree allows you--and every other registered user (and registration is free)--to set up two lists: a list of items you have and would be willing to trade and another list of items you want. All you do is enter the UPC code or ISBN number of each item you have to trade, which creates your "have" list. You then peruse the site to find items you'd like to own that have been posted by others and add these to your "want" list. The site's software then compares your data with that of all other users of the site and generates a list of potential trades. You can then determine which trade(s) to pursue further. For more complete information about the finer points, logistics, and safeguards that swaptree has instituted, visit swaptree's how does this work? page. (You'll find a link to their FAQ page there, as well.)

Swaptree is the ultimate way to "recycle" your no-longer-needed materials and end up with a whole collection of new-to-you items that could just prove valuable to your career and/or otherwise enhance your life!

Hope you'll find this site helpful!
Jeanne


What are your thoughts on a site such as this? How needful/helpful would you consider such a service to be? Does it surprise you to hear that this service is completely free? Why, or why not?



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Do You Have a Book Inside You Struggling to Get Out?

If you've envisioned the perfect plot for a blockbuster novel or have a fantastic idea for the next non-fiction best-seller, yet have found it difficult to motivate yourself to get started or stick with it for very long, you may just find the inspiration you need by writing your book with novelist Holly Lisle.


Let Holly Help You Get Your Book Written!

Holly Lisle, an experienced author with over 30 books to her credit, who offers various courses in fiction writing at her website, HollyLisle.com, has brainstormed a fabulous idea for helping her fellow writers find the initiative to get their books written. She calls it Write a Book With Me.


A Group Writing Plan That's a Little Different

Perhaps you've participated in other community writing efforts, starting out enthusiastically enough but losing steam partway through because the high daily word-counts were difficult to maintain. You may have fallen behind and catching up simply required too much effort. If so, I have good news for you: You won't have that problem with this absolutely pressure-free group writing plan. Holly has made it almost ridiculously easy for any writer to participate and stick with the program by requiring (and I use the term loosely) a minimum of only 250 words per day, five days a week, and by not requiring that missed days' word-counts be made up later. What more could a writer ask?


A Program That's Not Just Fun but Guilt-Free

Holly also gives the reticent writer a convenient "out." Should you try her writing plan and decide it isn't for you, you simply quit—without recriminations. Here's the way Holly explains it in her "official" rules:

You acknowledge that all this has to be is fun—it isn’t work, a competition, or a form of self-flagellation—and if knocking out your words at this pace stops being fun, you walk away with no guilt.

Well, that certainly is refreshing, isn't it? Writing without guilt—and having fun doing it! I hope you'll pardon the pun when I say, "What a novel idea!"


You'll Enjoy the Flexibility of Holly's Plan

As you can see from the points mentioned above, flexibility is the hallmark of Holly's cooperative writing plan. In fact, the most important "plus" that I see in it (aside from actually getting your book written) is that, no matter what you do, you absolutely can't fail. And, in our often stress-burdened lives, there's certainly a great deal to be said for that! (You can also join this group writing plan regardless of your book's current stage of completion--another obvious indicator of its flexibility.)

So, what are you waiting for? Check out Holly's "requirements" for participation and then get started. Now's as good a time as any—and probably better now that this super-flexible plan has been developed—to get your book written!

Holly's plan may be just what you need to free your Muse and get your creativity flowing.

Happy writing! (And I do mean happy!)
Jeanne


Do you have a book "in you"—one that you've always dreamed of writing but never gotten around to? Or, have you started your book, only to lose your enthusiasm part-way through? Perhaps you've joined other cooperative writing programs that were more of a challenge than you were prepared to undertake and quit soon after. I'd just love it if you'd share your experiences with us. What were the positives and negatives of the programs you've been involved with? What do you look for in such programs? Or are you a lone-wolf writer? If writing alone is your preferred modus operandi, what don't you like about writing along with others?


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