Category Archives: computer technology

Come Again? No, thanks.

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“Do not plant your dreams in the field of indecision, where nothing ever grows but the weeds of “what-if.” ~ www.dodinsky.com

The Reverend of my church celebrated his birthday on Sunday, the day before mine. He explained that last year he thought he was a year older than he really is, thus this year he gets to celebrate the same year all over again. His sermon was about considering whether he liked the idea of “do-overs” in life or not. 

As he spoke, I couldn’t help but reflect on how I felt about that matter since the next day was going to be my turn to add another year to my tally. There have been times in my life that have been difficult and I wouldn’t wish on them on anybody.  Yet, the most beautiful events have been so life affirming. All things considered, the hard times have made me appreciate, even more deeply, the good times. I wouldn’t do any of it all over again if I could. The challenges are what have made me the person I am today. Find out more through this link Gift of a Lifetime:Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected.

How would you feel if you could do your life over? Would you, if you could? I’d like to hear your opinion of the life you have been given. 

After the church service, the congregation was invited to Fellowship Hall to have a piece of birthday cake. There were two choices – chocolate and vanilla. For some, the choices were too difficult, so some people had both flavors. I indulged and enjoyed a piece of cake but there were no big decisions on that matter. I  always, always choose vanilla over chocolate. 

Now wait a minute! Before you judge me and say, “How boring!”  read this article called The Scoop about Being Vanilla. http://bit.ly/SdQoxI. Positives come with making the same, plain choices and in the end isn’t it all about what bring personal fulfillment to each of us? That varies.

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

The Real Deal in Albuquerque

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According to the L.A. Times, the city of Albuquerque, NM is the “next best haven for filmmakers.” As mentioned in the Times article, a sign that hangs in the city’s airport proclaims Albuquerque as “Hollywood’s newest home.” To read more about the filmmaking culture that is growing in the Sandia Mountains, thanks to financial incentives from the State, please visit this link.http://lat.ms/fEXR2. 

There is a competition among filmmakers in Albuquerque and other cities called the 48 hour film project. During this incredibly short time given to write, shoot, edit and “score” their production, there is high pressure on the producers to finish their “short”. Teamwork skills are put to the test, as well as creativity. In 2012, over 50,000 filmmakers participated producing 4,000 films on 6 continents in 120 cities. For more information on the 48 hour film project, please visit this link.http://bit.ly/OnBB0D.

One of the best films that came out of Albuquerque, NM was The Real Deal, by Lindele Media. Their film won five awards in this season’s contest.

  • Best director
  • Best use of a Character
  • Best Original Song
  • Runner-up Film (2nd place)
  • Best male actor (Bernardo) 

The Real Deal, is a 7 minute “short,” by next generation filmmakers who are striving to become some of the best on the planet. Inconceivable to me, that within a 2 day period a film, so professional in quality, can be produced.  Today’s digital equipment and software and people who know how to make the most out of using it makes it possible.

 Congratulations to all who were involved in the award winning 48 hour film project crafted by Lindele Media – from the writer and actors, to director  and the editor/colorist to the production assistants. A few of these people work at Reelz Channel.

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

Focus, Fonts and Phones

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” I love to create interesting textures with language.” ~Robert Morgan

I’ve detected an important discovery about my retention and comprehension while reading my 4th or 5th e-book that I  downloaded on my Android cell phone. Because there is a limited amount of text on a small screen at one time, my concentration is so much better. I’ve come to the conclusion it is because there is less distraction. Seems kind of crazy, but, I am getting more out of books when I read on a small digital screen. 

Having a mind that flits and floats and is in constant motion,  it makes reading (and remembering what I am reading) a challenge. It’s nothing new; a life long occurrence and probably the reason, I enjoy blogging. It serves as an outlet – turning my never still thoughts into writings. 

It’s been about seven or eight…or nine or ten years since I’ve been to the eye doctor, I know I need new prescription reading glasses. With an e-book I can increase the font if I need to. Comes in handy! Never would I have thought that the purchase of a cell phone would double as a great reading platform.

Lately, I’ve been shown several new independently published books that were printed in fonts too small for the average reader. Seeking the advice of a book printing company about the best font to use for readability is a wise thing to put on your check list of things to do when publishing; especially important if you are not planning on having a book available in electronic format. Best not to subject your readers to having to find a magnifying glass in order to comfortably read the words. It’s a turn-off. 

That’s all my independent thoughts words and views for today. Come back tomorrow, on Film Friday. We will be addressing how watching movies can help novelists.

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Worldwide Interest in Indie Publishing

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

What do the U.K., India, Australia, Macedonia, Russia and Canada have in common? These countries are only the start of the long list of countries that frequent this site. Over the weekend we reached a new landmark in readership – one that I would never have predicted when this blog was started. It’ s thrilling!

What does this tell us? About the internet’s ability to reach far and wide! It also tells me that independent publishing of books, films and music is, indeed, a hot topic of conversation in this age of digitally produced art content. Countries that endorse independent publishing, have common concerns. 

In July, the 2012 Yale Publishing Course will take place. Many global issues surrounding independent publishing will be addressed. The website Independent Publisher has featured an interview of YPC’s Director Tina C. Weiner. To read her interview which provides an overview of this year’s discussion, please visit http://bit.ly/I48Vd6.  To apply for the Yale Publishing course, designed for mid and upper level publishing professionals, please visit this link http://bit.ly/ln4cFX. 

Obtaining copyright permissions is just one of many issues that will be discussed at the YPC. A  perplexing and time consuming task, there are experts in this field who can steer you, such as Integrated Writer Services, LLC.  To view the website of Integrated Writers Services, LLC, please follow this link http://bit.ly/JRBnfW. 

Thank you to all readers who visit this blog site. Our objective is to share interesting, useful, and fun information for anyone who is interested in the topic of  independent publishing and finding fulfillment in the Arts. 

Return tomorrow for more independent thoughts, words and views from www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Fulfilling Thoughts of Thanksgiving

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“Gratitude can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. It makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” ~ Unknown 

On this Thanksgiving Day, I am grateful for all readers who have visited this blog site All Things Fulfilling. I appreciate your encouraging comments and your interest in the independent thoughts, words and views that are posted on this site. This digital publishing format provides a way of learning about others in the world who also have faith in the growing  independent publishing industry and see  value and worth in providing a way for each voice to be heard.

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

Community Driven Publishing

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“Freedom is man’s capacity to take a hand in his own development. It is our capacity to mold ourselves.” ~ Rollo May 

Have you picked up a copy of Poets & Writers Magazine lately? Biding time before our weekly Steamboat Writers Group, I picked up the current issue at the Bud Werner Memorial Library and began to explore the articles.  The November/December issue 2011 is a fulfilling read devoted to changes that have taken place and are continuing to take place in the publishing community. Literary Magazines and small presses are leading the way in building a new model in publishing. 

Attitudes of bigger = better is no longer proving to be true in the publishing world. Going with smaller presses often yields advantages. Big presses are not necessarily more stable. Signing on with one of the publishing powerhouses does not mean an end to economic woes nor marketing responsibilities. According to the article in Poets and Writers Magazine, author’s reputations do not suffer when going with small independent presses. These points of views, long endorsed by literary agents, have not proven to be correct.

If you haven’t read this article, I’d suggest that you do. Thought provoking testimony comes from people who have experienced both sides of the publishing world – employment by large, corporate publishing houses and involvement with the small presses. For more information on this article, please visit www.pw.org.

Living in the community of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, where many experienced and published authors reside, I have noticed a shift here, too. Interesting and inspiring changes are happening throughout publishing communities everywhere. Learn more about the fast track approach to publishing. Independently discover and explore the art of the new publishing universe,  in quick time!  http://bit.ly/oIkV2g.

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Holiday e-Book Buying Guide

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“Only one shopping day left ’til tomorrow.” ~Author Unknown

I am always in awe of people who begin their holiday shopping before Thanksgiving. Shopping from the computer, through e-commerce has become routine. Catalogs in print, arriving through the mail, have been reduced. Many of the big catalog companies now have catalogs on the web. That is a positive move toward sustainability –  a very good thing. It will save a lot of trees! 

There has been a dramatic uptick over past ten years in digital and electronic gadgets that appear on Christmas lists. Everything from laptops, to i-phones, i-pods to digital cameras and more are the most wanted gifts on any adult and children’s wish lists. 

In 2011, e-books are selling at a rapid rate. As sales of electronic reader devices increases (such as the Kindle, the Nook, i-Pads and Sony readers), there becomes a proportionate increase in electronic books sales, too. Some e-book authors are selling 9,000 or 10,000 books per month. 

Let’s face it –  e-books, are on the fast track of independent publishing. http://bit.ly/oIkV2g. They have provided, to the reader, the most convenient and affordable way of purchasing new books. 

To view a catalog of authors who make their titles available through independent publishing, follow this link. http://bit.ly/qs0jUN .  Authors in this holiday  guide are among  leaders in the independent publishing industry. There are others available and they can be found by searching the internet for “top selling e-books or independently published books.”

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Different Methods of Delivery

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“Life is the sum of all your choices.” ~ Albert Camus

Book-lovers often get disturbed when they hear the word e-books. All they can envision is the disappearance of books in print. I can not see this happening in my lifetime.

Many people love digital readers. They are another instrument of delivering media – electronically.  Our choices for receiving news and entertainment has been expanded to film, music, radio, television, newpapers, magazines, audio books, books in print and e-books. As each form of media has arrived on the scene, it has not negated the need for the other. It has only provided new choices.

For instance, movies became available on-demand on televisions, and  DVD rentals stores opened up.  Netflix demonstrated movies could efficiently be distributed through the mail. Now a full range of movies are at our dispose by downloading them onto  personal computers and digital devices. It did not stop scores of people from going to the cinema each and every year! There is no substitute for the sights and sounds of the BIG SCREEN! Let’s be frank – visual effects are not nearly as stunning when viewed on a computer screen as when they are projected onto the big silver screen, where they are ideally meant to be.

People ask me whether I have a Kindle, a Sony or a Nook digital reader? I have a downloaded Kindle on my computer. I spend every working hour reading and writing on a computer.  At the end of the day I am not done reading but I want to switch gears. I like reading the news and books for pleasure on paper.

I want to clutch the book in my hands, smell the slight scent of ink or the hand cream left on the pages from where I left off.  I want to turn real paper pages. I don’t want to touch one more digital device.  It is as basic as that! In my opinion, there is not a fulfilling substitute for having a real book in hand.

If I asked you “What is your favorite way of having media delivered to you?” The reply would probably be “sometimes I like to listen to music, sometimes I like to read the paper, sometimes I  go to my computer…..It all depends on my mood.”

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Take a Fulfilling Trip

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“We are the facilitators of our own creative evolution.” ~ Bill Hicks

Last month I had the pleasure of interviewing author, screenwriter, performing artist, journalist and songwriter Mara Purl about her book “What the Heart Knows.”  Her hardcover is slated for release on September 27, 2011, about a week from now. 

For each blogger who was a part of Mara’s month-long virtual book tour, she reciprocated by blogging back about each blogger’s site and it’s focus. As a blog writer, I know the intense work that that takes! “Bringing my customers to the world. Bringing the world to my customers” is the blog site theme that Mara Purl has associated with our company blog site, All Things Fulfilling. She hit the mark – that is the aim of our company, Cornerstone Fulfillment Service, LLC! To read the entire text, please visit http://bit.ly/okpGOL. 

I would be presumptuous if I thought that Mara’s quote applies only to a company that specializes in e-commerce and e-marketing for independent publishers. From my perspective, the goal of every author and blog writer in the literary world is to bring your customers (your readers) to the cosmos that you, the writer, created. By effectively communicating a valuable or entertaining message through the medium of a book, film or music, you might bring your customer to a universe of women’s fiction or into a puzzling story of mystery; to the work of a non-profit through an independently published film; or perhaps to the lyrics of powerful and emotive music.

Secondarily, the objective when publishing a book or producing a film or music is to reach customers all over the world. That is now entirely possible and probable all through the power of  internet  selling and e-marketing! 

After years of evolution and revolution, the independent publishing universe is now a force to be reckoned with. Take a quick trip to the new world of publishing through this link http://bit.ly/oIkV2g. You will begin to understand what an historical time it is in the publishing world. The world of books no longer revolves around five or six giant publishing houses. It is an exciting and dynamic era in media.

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