Category Archives: Businesses supporting independent publishers

Minds, Metaphor and Imagination

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Have you ever wondered why we use metaphors in writing and speaking and the influence the imagination has on clearly understanding concepts?

children-quoteIn James Geary’s book, I is An Other: The Secret Life of Metaphor and How it Shapes the Way we See the World, Geary explores how children think differently than adults and thus their perceptions of the world are different. Intuition and pattern recognition also may play a part in children’s comprehension of concepts that are too big for them because they have not yet experienced certain ideas in life. Geary’s book is an interesting read for anyone who wants to know more about how children learn and think.

Metaphors are interesting. If you want to know more about the use of them in communication, http://www.brainpickings.org/  is a site that will stretch your mind and imagination. A summary of Geary’s book is posted on the site www.brainpickings.org, as well as other things for your brain to digest and to conjure about.

The beautiful child was the center of attention, with his golden curls and tuna fish complexion. – Author Unknown

See you tomorrow on All Things Fulfilling, the blog of www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com

Copyright: The Godfather?

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“Yes, God made man first, but there’s always a rough draft before the final copy.”~Unknown

copyright_1

I already know what is on my plate for the weekend – I’m headed into Denver for the monthly meeting of the Colorado Independent Publishers Association. http://www.cipacatalog.com/ . Copyrighting will be the focus of the day tomorrow, and “our” own in-house expert, Joyce L. Miller, co-author of Copyright Clearance for Creatives will be speaking.   I’ve found Dr. C. Daniel and Joyce L. Miller’s resource so helpful, and it recently received an excellent review from Esther Sinofsky of the Booklist Review. http://thecopyrightdetective.com/guide/ .

There is so much to learn about copyrighting. I just read a cleverly written article that initially made me think the movie The Godfather had something to do copyright permissions and laws, the kind of copyrighting the Millers are experts in. As it turns out I had the wrong kind of copyrighting on my mind. The article by Peter Michaels was about the value of watching The Godfather because of the copy that was written. The brilliance of the screenwriters, Mario Puzo and Frances Ford Coppola is evident as the audience is led through the movie with a brilliant opening scene, dealings of the characters and their standings in the community. The narrative is not necessarily all told through dialogue.

After reading the article, I have been persuaded that I need to watch The Godfather again this weekend for completely different reasons – paying close attention, this time, to how the movie communicates and convinces.

So, what are you doing this weekend? I If you are person who is considering publishing, I encourage you to join a regional or state-wide independent publishing association, such as the Colorado Independent Publishers Association or a local writers group. Joining and networking with a groups of other writers and publishers is where you will learn all kinds of tips of the trade.

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com. The space where independent thoughts, words and views are all part of the business. Do return to All Things Fulfilling on Monday.

Lifestyle Solutions

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Mindful or mind fullIn the space between your thoughts there is your truth. ~ Reuben Lowe

Every once in a while I need to put on the brakes and find some lifestyle-oriented solutions to slow down my journey through life. I usually need to have a come-uppance with myself after a busy summer. It’s good to switch gears from Mind Full to Mindful to remind myself that life is not a race, and to enjoy every task, each day, that I have been given.

 The pronunciation of the words Mind Full and Mindful are exactly the same, but take on two different stories if you put the emphasis in different places, capitalize different letters, and eliminate one of the L’s. Strange isn’t it?

For instance, if you asked someone what having a “Mind Full” morning means, the response may go something like this:

  • Take the kids to school
  • Drop the dog off at the groomer
  • Stop at the store for bread and milk
  • Run back home and throw laundry in the washer
  • Jump in the shower
  • Slap some ham and cheese between two pieces of bread for lunch
  • Remember to gas-up
  • Arrive at work only a few minutes late

If you told someone you’ve had a “Mindful morning,” you’d probably be implying you spent the early hours of your day:

  • Watching the sunrise
  • Sipping a mug of hot chai
  • Reading a passage in a daily  devotional
  • Taking a leisurely bath
  • Letting your hair air dry while you do your nails
  • Moseying on to work with plenty of time to spare

the exquisite riskThe Mindful morning sounds more appealing, doesn’t it?  Practicing mindfulness means listening to our inner whisperings in our jobs as well as in our personal lives. It reduces burnout because we work more efficiently and productively, eliminating the feelings of rushing thoughtlessly from task to task.

Just by rising a little earlier each morning it may be possible to switch from a Mind Full to a more Mindful existence. And you may get the benefit of seeing something new and fulfilling growing within yourself called contentment.

Are you ready to trade chaos for calm and face a new dawn? The Exquisite Risk: Living an Authentic Life by Mark Nepo may help convince you of the value. To check out this book and his others, please visit this website.http://www.marknepo.com/. Note that Mark Nepo will be appearing on Super Soul Sunday in November. See the details on his website.

This blog  brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.  The space where independent thoughts, words and views are all part of the business.

Kids Join in NaNoWriMo

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Play is not only our creative drive; it’s a fundamental mode of learning.” ~ David Elkind

child writing. jpgAs a follow-up to last Thursday’s blog, I forgot to mention children are invited to participate in the National Novel Writing Month also. In November, many libraries will have special programs just for children which will promote writing fellowship and fun among the young participants.

Of course, children have a more limited attention span, so parents if you get your child involved in the contest, remember children are more easily distracted. However, there are children who have a natural affinity for writing, and will write with great abandon.

There are many homeschooled children who will participate in NaNoWriMo. Here is an excellent article about keeping children on task. http://bit.ly/1a0pZdS. 

The main thing is to relax, parents, and let your child be their own guide as to how much or how little they want to write. The month long contest is supposed to be fun and not grueling.

Suggestion: Why not make it a parent and child activity? Parents can set a good example by entering in the challenge also. Write till your child’s heart is content, then switch gears, do something fun and reward your child for their efforts.

This blog brought to you by www.cornerstonefulfillmentservice.com. Do return tomorrow to All Things Fulfilling.

Important First Steps to Publishing

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“It is not in the pursuit of happiness that we find fulfillment, it is in happiness of pursuit.” ~ Denis Waitley

The e-Book Extravaganza on Saturday sponsored by the Colorado Independent Publishers Association (CIPA) was well-worth attending. During one of the breaks, the President of CIPA, Dr. Patricia Ross came over to me and said “Sue, I’d like you to meet one of our new members.” Of course, the usual niceties followed.

I asked the new member if she was enjoying the morning, and she said “Yes, but I feel so uninformed! There is so little I know about independent publishing.” Dr. Ross told her not to be discouraged, and off the President went doing her job of hob-knobbing about the room.

CIPA 9 13 #1As the new member and I stood talking, I said to her, “You know, each and every person in this room started where you began today, knowing nothing. That is the reason you have joined this group -to get help, to learn, to network and become informed about your options.” There is a lot to learn and you have taken a very important first step. You have joined this group!”

“Yes,” the new member replied. “There seems to be plenty of knowledge to learn from in this group.”

Before the break was over and we went to sit in our respective seats, across the room from one another, I had one more thing I had to say. “In your free time, read anything you can get your hands on about the industry, and keep coming to this group. It’s the best thing you can do for yourself.”

To learn more about the Colorado Independent Publishers Association, please visit this link. http://www.cipacatalog.com/join-cipa/. Please note the organization also offers downloadable webinars if you are too far to travel to their meetings.

http://www.cipacatalog.com/categories/CIPA-College-Downloads/

As I drove home, I began to ponder how many first steps I have taken since 1998, when the independent industry was in its infancy. They’ve all been in a quest to learn all I could about the industry and it led to becoming a business.  And the wonders and development of the independent publishing universe never cease to amaze me. I find it fascinating.

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com. The space where independent thoughts, words and views are all part of the business. See you tomorrow on All Things Fulfilling.

e-Book Extravaganza

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Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family. ~ Kofi Annan

cipa logoOn Saturday I made the very worthwhile three hour trek into Denver from Steamboat Springs, Colorado to attend Colorado Independent Publishers Association (CIPA) monthly meeting. The September agenda was an e-Book Extravaganza. Here are just a few things that were discussed throughout the day:

  • The e-book industry now represents 33% of book sales. How about that?
  • People like having a choice of formats, so offering books in print, as well as an e-book version is wise marketing.
  • There is still a viable market for books-in-print but there is a certain part of the reading population who are clamoring for e-books due to their convenience.
  • Surprisingly, people who are 55 years of age and over ARE BUYING e-books, contrary to what was expected. It is not just the young generation that are interested in the digital format.
  • We discussed pricing of e-books and how you can leverage your intellectual property.
  • E-books make it easy to offer samples, providing potential book buyers the  opportunity to see if they like an author they’ve never read before.
  • A big advantage to e-books – there is no printing involved, thus it removes the need for physical space of inventory.

If you are a writer who wants to get on The Fast Track to Independent Publishing, here is a short webinar that will introduce you to the basics. http://bit.ly/10cCp1Y. 

Do return tomorrow to All Things Fulfilling, we will be discussing the next best step if you are a person who is considering independent publishing and you are in need of knowledge. I will tell you a quick but valuable story from this weekend.

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com .

 

Timely Messages

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Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” – Joshua J. Marine 

On September 6th, National Read a Book Day I mentioned that reading one spark of an idea from a book can change us for a lifetime. I recently saw a sentence that motivated me big time! I took seriously the words: “the person whose life is full of faith is on the offense; he or she is taking charge of life, making decisions and making things happen.”

morning-roosterHow’s that for a call to action? For weeks I had been indecisive about whether or not to sign up for a public speaking class. I knew it was something that I needed to do for myself if I am to pursue my dreams for my publication. As soon as I read the inspirational thought, I acted immediately and enrolled in the course, before I could “chicken out.”

The course is in the early weeks but it is going well. When it’s time, I will be better prepared to “strut my stuff,” and I will be one more step closer to what I dream of doing.

As I have said before on All Things Fulfilling, I try at all costs to hold myself accountable to any ideas that I broadcast on this website. Otherwise, I am full of phony-baloney. That is not one of my lifetime aspirations I can assure you of that!

The inspiring thought came from THE book I’ve hinted about previously that I will be revealing in due course. Before it appears on this site, I will give you the heads up!

This blog is brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com. Please return to All Things Fulfilling tomorrow.

Gatsby Groupies

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 “Show me a hero, and I’ll write you a tragedy.” ~ F. Scott Fitzgerald

gatsbyI feel as if I am becoming a Gatsby groupie! Today I walked into the Bud Werner Library, and saw a display case announcing the next One Book Steamboat (a community read). It is The Great Gatsby. “I’m in,” I thought, as I proceeded to the DVDs and took out the 2000 production of The Great Gatsby movie by A & E Television Networks. Then I wandered over the computer and put in a reserve for a copy of the book by the same title.

I guess I haven’t had enough of the Fitzgeralds, the Jazz Age and the Long Island social elite even though last summer on my vacation, I took in the movie The Great Gatsby with my sister and I also hawked my mother’s copy of  Zelda and read it.

Truthfully, I was disappointed in the latest rendition of the movie, with Leonardo DiCaprio. The visual effects, I felt, were so over the top and frantic that it distracted me from being able to absorb the tragic tale of wealth and entitlement. The telling essence of Jay Gatsby’s character weaknesses were lost in the visual chaos of the movie, rather being told by the dialogue of the story.

The book Zelda, for me, provided much better insight into the psyche of an artist who “never wanted to give in or give up” despite failure and rejection. The narrative told an up-close and personal story of the relationship between wife and husband, Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald and it gave historical perspective into their friendships with other contemporaries (filmmakers, writers and artists) from the era.

As a lead-up to the community discussion of the novel, on October 10th, the latest Leo Dicaprio version of “Gatsby” will be aired at the Bud Werner Library. I’ll probably skip it. But then again, perhaps with a second look I might have a different opinion. But I hope not to miss what will probably be a very fulfilling discussion on Monday, October 21st.  It will be led by the English teachers of SteamboatHigh School. I hope students are required to join in and read this classic novel.  For more information, please follow this link. http://www.steamboatlibrary.org/events/one-book-steamboat

Come on back tomorrow to All Things Fulfilling. This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Film Friday: Teaching Emerging Filmmakers

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new day films “One of the privileges of being a filmmaker is the opportunity to remain a kind of perpetual student.”  – Edward Zwick

Are you an educator who teaches emerging young filmmakers? The other day I came across a film distribution company that may not be known to visitors who frequent All Things Fulfilling for news about independent filmmaking.

New Day Films is a filmmaker-run distribution company providing award-winning films to educators since 1971. This on-line site “delivers over 230 titles that illuminate, challenge and inspire.”  Many of the films can be digitally streamed directly from the website or delivered in DVD or VHS format.

willard van dykeSince the genre of documentary film is particularly interesting to me, I was drawn to a film called Conversations with Willard Van Dyke. http://www.newday.com/films/Conversations_with_WVD.html. In this film, Van Dyke discusses his belief that “films have the power of film to change the world.”  The man behind his films, Willard Van Dyke, “became synonymous with social documentary in the U.S.”

During his lifetime (1906 – 1986), Van Dyke painted portraitures of Americans, through the medium of film, who made their living through hard labor everyday such as steelworkers, cottonpickers and machinists. The Depression, he said, made an everlasting impression on him.Click for info & ordering Willard Van Dyke’s film

Van Dyke was director of the Department of Film at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) from 1965 to 1974. He also began the film department at the State University of New York in Purchase.  In 1978, he received the prestigious George Eastman Award, given by George Eastman House for distinguished contribution to the art of film. 

New Day Films distributes films on many social issue topics, among them:

  • Aging & Gerontology
  • Media, Art & Culture
  • Religion & Theology
  • African-American
  • Multi-Cultural
  • Children & Family issues
  • Sociology
  • Native American Studies

Film educators and film historians may find the perfect film they are looking for to use in the classroom on the website http://www.newday.com.  Check it out.

See you Monday. This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.