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Houston
Interests: Writing, blogging, photography, reading, travel, journal writing, art, Byzantine iconography, spirituality, crime fiction, creative nonfiction and essays
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Vikk Simmons is now following The Typepad Team
Mar 15, 2010
Stretching horizons is good and reading the classics is good. There will be books that turn you off in any genre. For a writer, the important thing is to be aware of what is being written and where and how you fit into the particular pool you're swimming in. I think reading in your genre is equally important.
Many reasons are given for writers to read today's works. For me, publishing is my industry and I want to know what's going on. I may not agree with a lot but it's helpful to understand the dynamics.
Reading for enjoyment is a bit different than reading to be knowledgeable about the industry and where you fit in. And certainly you learn a lot from reading the classics in addition to having the enjoyment of falling into a world you love.
Writing to fill a void is an interesting reason to write and it's not uncommon.
Where have all the well-read writers gone?
Once upon a time reading was the fertile bed for emerging writers. The two were inexorably linked and their natural habitats were public libraries and bookstores. Many came from homes where reading was a priority. Others had teachers or librarians who knew how books could release the imagination...
NEWS: Houston's Sharon Conner is The Phone Angel
Sharon Conner is trumpeting the news about her new business called The Phone Angels. If you know Sharon, you know how great she is with people and how easy it is to talk to her. A genuine people-person and someone who has spent years doing inside sales, Sharon has decided to strike out on her own and offer her talent and skills to Houston business owners. Leave a message and say hello. If you know of any business owner who could use Sharon's talents to reach out to their customers, share the news with them or pass the info along... Continue reading
Posted Jan 15, 2010 at The Phone Angels
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Revitalize customers & reinvigorate sales: Call The Phone Angel.
Keep scrolling for more news and posts about The Phone Angels. Continue reading
Posted Jan 15, 2010 at The Phone Angels
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One more puppy reading is a good thing. I'm sure she will love it and you'll love it even more. Hope you visit my Reading to Dogs blog now and then and let me know how you're puppy is doing. I'm such a dog fanatic. :)
Does your dog read?
Meet Teddy. He dreams of becoming a reading mentor in a READ program. Some call them Reading to Dogs literacy programs, others say Sit, Stay, and Read. Teddy and I learned about these programs a number of years ago and he quickly became immersed in reading to anyone who would listen. Teddy is ...
I agree Kimberly, I think a writer can learn a lot reading out of their genre. And Lillie, until the last ten years or so I would have thought the same thing. But in my classes I had so many new writers confess to never having read and still not reading. It always struck me as odd.
Where have all the well-read writers gone?
Once upon a time reading was the fertile bed for emerging writers. The two were inexorably linked and their natural habitats were public libraries and bookstores. Many came from homes where reading was a priority. Others had teachers or librarians who knew how books could release the imagination...
What a great memory, C. Thanks!
Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be the case today. Even 5-10 years ago I had students in my classes telling me they didn't read. I thought it was strange then. I do think sooner or later it's helpful for those who haven't been interested in reading to embark on a reading program if they want to fully embrace their craft. It always feels like a disconnect when I hear a writer say they don't read. But I guess it's a disconnect for me when someone tells me they don't read or like to read. It's been such a boon in my life.
Where have all the well-read writers gone?
Once upon a time reading was the fertile bed for emerging writers. The two were inexorably linked and their natural habitats were public libraries and bookstores. Many came from homes where reading was a priority. Others had teachers or librarians who knew how books could release the imagination...
I'm so glad folks are still finding my piece on my love for reading. Thanks, essay, for taking the time to read through everything.
Love of Reading essay selected as a Blogcritics' Pick of the Week
When I checked in at Blogcritics a little while I go, I found this nice entry from Asst. Books Editor Gordon Hauptfleisch: Vikk Simmons, in Joy: The Love of Reading Leads to the Joy of Writing convincingly and exuberantly shows how "the constant push and pull between the two processes, writing an...
How adorable. I totally get why you love it. What a poster girl!
My New FAVE Pic of Isabella!
This was from a shoot at Brett Chisholm Photography today! It's my favorite!!!
Thanks for the heads-up about the Institute. I've wondered about them and was glad to read your story about Annie. Good report.
Canine Health Institute - Redefining Rehabilitation and Wellness!
I recently had the opportunity to take a tour and visit with a patient at Canine Health Institute, one of Houston's most unique and needed animal treatment centers! A longtime fan of the Institute and it's founders, Dr. Jeffrey and Vickey Kozak, Isabella and I were excited to see the team in...
Love these apples. Discovered them last year and bought bags of them. Hate the short season, though. Found your tip about the refrigeration part really helpful. Maybe I can stretch the pleasure just a little longer. I was so excited when I found the Honeycrisps displayed last week at the grocery store and at Whole Foods and bought two bags full. Nice to find your article and learn a little bit more about one of my favorte foods.
Honeycrisp Apples
Here in New York, apple season is in full swing. It seems as though everywhere you look there are piles and baskets of crisp juicy fruit, just waiting to be taken home or eaten out of hand. The nice thing about living in an apple producing state is that we can actually get our hands on fresh, un...
Here's the bottom line with writers and reading. Writers, if they want to be published AND read, require readers. If you are not reading, you are not supporting writers and, in that sense, the very creative act you have chosen. Who is going to read your book if everyone would rather sit around and watch a movie? Now, even the writers aren't reading. I think it's a sad thing and a serious problem for all writers who plan to include publishing in their future.
Writers, are you reading?
Do you read? There was a time when I never thought I'd have to ask that question of a writer. Times change and with them writers and their habits evolve. Today you're more likely to hear a group of writers rave on about the latest movie they've seen than talk about their latest read. While I und...
Thanks to everyone for their comments and for taking the time to read my posts. Bryan, happy you found DWP, too.
Who reads Down the Writer's Path?
...I recommend a site where one glance gives writers a feeling akin to what Emily Dickinson said about poetry:...I feel physically as if the top of my head were taken off...." --Arthur Plotnik, author of Spunk & Bite: A writer's guide to punchier, more engaging language & style on reading DWP. Bo...
Hey, C, glad my post gave you some ideas. Thanks for leaving a comment.
I write fiction. I don’t need no stinkin’ social network.
Most writers are solitary souls: they inhabit their own universe apart from the rest of the world. The clutter of life is a distraction. All this new social media network stuff is nothing but quicksand guaranteed to suck your attention away from the important work: the book. So why bother to plu...
It was a matter of hours and the service showed up on my blog. Thanks.
Adding a Twit This link to a Typepad Blog
UPDATE: A number of us are having trouble with the TwitThis service where we get errors when using this technique. My apologies to any of my readers who are a) not running a typepad blog, b) not using twitter and c) not worried about how to add a "twit this" link to their blog entries. It tur...
Thanks, Molly. It's been fun and glad to have you as a reader.
What’s up with all this Twit and Luv stuff?
In the “just so ya know” department, I’ve stumbled across a couple of neat little applications that add some social media flavor to this blog. If you’re a social media maven, you’ll appreciate the addition of TwitThis and I’ll appreciate your ability to use it. If you’re a blogger, then using th...
Thanks for your post. It was a great help. The next thing I had to do was go into the design section of my Typepad blog and go under Content. The feed flare option was listed under the page footer and all I had to do was check it on. Typepad says there is a slight wait so I'm hoping all will be well shortly.
Adding a Twit This link to a Typepad Blog
UPDATE: A number of us are having trouble with the TwitThis service where we get errors when using this technique. My apologies to any of my readers who are a) not running a typepad blog, b) not using twitter and c) not worried about how to add a "twit this" link to their blog entries. It tur...
Hi again, I've been able to have my blog show up in Facebook notes on my regular account and on my blog's fan page using the typepad blog address with the /atomxml at the end. Love the way this works. I've also used the setting in Typepad to send the blog notices, too.
However, I continue to have problems with the feed working great and then stopping. When I look the address no longer has the /atomxml tacked onto the end but instead has something about /index. Can't remember the exact. I have to go back in and change it manually back to /atomxml and then it works. Of course it reposts the last ten or so posts again but that's okay. I don't understand why the feed isn't working consistently and why it changes the address in Facebook. Any ideas?
How to Add Your Blog Feed to Your Facebook Profile
We're kicking off our video series with a quick tutorial on how to add your blog's feed to your Facebook profile. That way, every time you publish a new blog post, Facebook imports it as a Note and notifies your Facebook friends. Hosted by me (Andy) your in-residence TypePad scientist: What els...
My intent was to just show how various writers use the Internet. I didn't mean that sentence as a set up for the next one. Sheesh. Just goes to show. No matter how many times you read something, the flow in your head doesn't always match that in others. I see why you might think that I was setting you up as an example but that clearly was not my intention. It was more like here are a couple of writers who are using the Internet today. Then it was more like that's good but just remember there's a negative side to being on the Internet if you're not careful in how you approach it. Again, my apologies to you and everyone else if you read it the other way.
Internet Tools for Writers: What's your IP Quotient? Assessing your Internet presence
Social networking has changed the way writers present a public face and they must now consider their IP quotient or Internet presence when engaged in online activities. Writers, many who are by nature introverted and wary of any crowd numbering more than two, have long railed against the idea of ...
Heavens no, Lillie, and I'm sorry I left that impression. :) You are one of the writers who does have an IP quotient. We meet up everywhere and it's always positive. Sorry about that. :)
Internet Tools for Writers: What's your IP Quotient? Assessing your Internet presence
Social networking has changed the way writers present a public face and they must now consider their IP quotient or Internet presence when engaged in online activities. Writers, many who are by nature introverted and wary of any crowd numbering more than two, have long railed against the idea of ...
Late the party but, hey, the Flaubert reference had to do with a quote I saw that day. I'm a fan of Dan Simmons so I'm certainly not dissing him or any other contemporary writer.
Thanks to all of you who have stopped by and especially to those who continue drop by to read DWP. It's always great to find and read the comments.
Lee Goldberg, MJ Rose, Maud Newton, Bob Bly, David St. Lawrence and John Patrick continue to blog away
Lee Goldberg, a writer-for-hire for DIAGNOSIS MURDER and for MONK, is at it again with a little bit of dish and a whole lot of other interesting tidbits. One tip led me to Lynn Viehl's blog, The Paperback Writer, for an interesting post on writing for hire. MJ Rose reports that blogger Mad Max ...
Hey Cyn,
Yes, it's the same one but in baby format at the moment. My life swerved when my parent's needs moved to the top of my priority list. I'm slowly trying to recapture my life now. :)
Who reads Down the Writer's Path?
...I recommend a site where one glance gives writers a feeling akin to what Emily Dickinson said about poetry:...I feel physically as if the top of my head were taken off...." --Arthur Plotnik, author of Spunk & Bite: A writer's guide to punchier, more engaging language & style on reading DWP. Bo...
Hi Lillie,
I bought the new Kindle for my mom for her birthday next month so I'll be checking it out and doing a comparison. I can already tell you it's way lighter, although the first one is pretty lightweight. I'll post on my findings later this month.
Writing Tools: Embrace your Kindle
The Amazon Kindle electronic reader quickly becomes a writer's best friend. No one is more surprised than me. I never thought anything would compare to the "book" experience but the Kindle does a great job of simulating the reader's experience in size, weight, and, yes, even page-turning experien...
Thanks, Lillie. It's all so new to me but I'm game to explore. This morning my fan page boasted 137 friends or fans as they call them. I've tweaked the page so it provides what I hope is a nice first impression and immediate information. I'll have to see if it has caused people to click through to the actual blog, although I'm happy just to find people reading whether it's on the FB page or the blog.
Down the Writer's Path launches first Facebook ad campaign
One of the concerns of any blogger has to be readership. But doesn't that become a concern for most writers? The first question generally revolves around defining who the reader is. Once that is figured out the really big question is where to find them. If you've noticed my Facebook profile on t...
Hey, thanks for stopping by and reading my review. I hope you all did well on the essays and reports.
Book Review: Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdoch
I've been playing catch-up with the many ARCs (advanced reading copies) I have around here and have been posting the resulting reviews over at Blogcritics. Dairy Queen is one I found interesting for a number of reasons. First, I never would have believed Catherine Gilbert Murdock’s debut teen nov...
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