My New Kindle Scribe and What I Really Think About It

As you probably already know ( because I mention it all the time) is that I like to write by hand.

The only problem with this, of course, is that all my handwriting has to be typed up later. I've tried many times to write straight to the keyboard, but I'm just not comfortable writing that way, and my creative flow is stifled.

So I've been looking around for years now for a device I can handwrite on and have it converted to text automatically.

Years ago, I had a little PDA that I used for writing. The hand recognition software would convert my handwriting to text as I wrote. That was an amazing little device, and I used it every day. Sadly, as computer software changed, I could no longer upload my files because they were no longer recognised, and I had no way to update the little device.

I immediately went in search of another one, or a computer or tablet with handwriting recognition software, but I couldn't find anything.

A couple of years ago, I came across a device called Remarkable that can recognise handwriting, but all the marketing for it suggested that it was more for art than writing. I also saw that Amazon had brought out their latest Kindle e-reader. It's called Kindle Scribe because it's for writing as well as reading. I put off getting one for a while because I wasn't sure it was exactly what I wanted.

I use the Kindle app on my phone and computer to read ebooks, and I’ve been using it for years, so I knew the Scribe would be good for that because it meant I could read my books on a screen bigger than my phone. And with the pen that the Kindle Scribe comes with, I'd be able to highlight and make notes in all my books( they're mostly non-fiction). I read my books over and over, so it would be good to be able to make notes and do summaries.

As the software in the Kindle Scribe improved, I became more and more intrigued by_ it. Last week I took the plunge and ordered a new Kindle Scribe, plus a folio cover for it and a box of extra pen nibs.

The Scribe has what it calls ‘notes' for handwriting, which is great. It also has the option to convert a 'note' to text and email it to yourself or to anyone.

So I tried it out and it works well. No matter how untidy my writing (and it is pretty bad when I'm writing fast), the software converts it quickly and effortlessly to text and emails it as a simple text file.

And I wrote this article about my new Kindle Scribe, on my new Kindle Scribe.

I hand-wrote a note, converted it to text, emailed it to myself, cleaned up the formatting, and I was done. It was ready for uploading and publishing without any typing needed. And it's great to read my ebooks on a bigger screen, and it automatically adjusts itself for brightness and warmth so I can read it in any light, or lack of light.

So far, this Kindle Scribe is beyond useful and is currently my favourite device.

UPDATE: I’ve had my new Kindle Scribe for almost a week now, and I’ve used it every day, both for reading and writing. It is now my favourite device. 😀

How to Earn Money Writing Stories You Love to Write

I’ve recently started spending more time writing short stories, and what I’m finding is that the more I write them, the easier and faster it seems, which makes them a lot more fun to write. And that got me thinking about all the erroneous advice out there about writing, which makes it seem that there are too many rules.  

I sometimes feel that writers put too much effort into writing the “right thing”  or writing “the right way.” It’s no fun trying to write while sticking to rules, especially someone else’s rules. The thing about great stories is just that. They are great stories. You need to be a great storyteller, not a grammatical genius.

The most important thing is to enjoy what you write about. So if you want to make money writing short stories, write the stories you love to write. Forget about the current styles and character bios and whatever else is the latest fad way to write. Just write.

This isn’t just my advice. It’s also the advice of the mighty Stephen King, who said (and I paraphrase), write the stories you love to write and find somewhere to sell them later.

First and foremost, writing must be enjoyable. If you don’t enjoy writing and you hardly ever do it, then perhaps you’re not a writer at all.

The great sci-fi writer, Ray Bradbury, put it best when he said, “Fall in love and stay in love. Do what you love, don’t do anything else.” 

I know that writing isn’t just something I do, it’s something I HAVE  to do. I can’t imagine living a life where I don’t write. Even when I’m not doing my own writing, I’m studying and taking plenty of notes, or I’m journaling or creating a list of ideas for future writing projects. I’m always learning something new and writing something new.

So, if you want to write stories or articles, write about what you enjoy and find a market for it later. Research potential markets and tailor your work accordingly. It’s surprising how many markets there are once you start looking. Begin with a Google search for “write for us” or  “short story submissions” or something similar. 

Or start your own blog about a subject you’re passionate about, or blog about your writing, or collate a book of your own short stories.

Eventually, you’ll know what to do with all the stories you’ve filed away.

And when you do find a market for your work, remember that they like to receive work earlier rather than later in the submission window, so it helps to have a stockpile of stories. Plus, you’ll have a better chance of acceptance if you submit early while there are still plenty of open slots to fill.

But you can’t sell your stories if you haven’t written them.

So relax and enjoy writing stories.

And I’ll leave you with one more quote from the man who loved writing more than anything else in his life, Ray Bradbury:

“For the first thing a writer should be is — excited. He should be a thing of fevers and enthusiasms. Without such vigour, he might as well be out picking peaches or digging ditches; God knows it’d be better for his health.” 

https://www.cheritonhousepublishing.com/books/MCFL.html 

The Key To Overcoming Procrastination

In my ongoing life quest to get more done by managing my time, I read a book by time management guru, Brian Tracy.

The book is called ‘Eat That Frog.’ The premise of the title is that if the hardest thing that you have to do in a day is to eat a live frog, but you don’t want to do it even though you know it’s the most important thing you have to do and that it will benefit you the most, eat it first just to get it out of the way so that you can stop worrying about it.

Although the thought of eating a frog, alive or dead, is a disgusting idea, I can see how getting the most important task of the day done first, can save time and stress.

He also says that no matter what you’re doing you should always ask yourself, “What is the most valuable use of my time right now?” This, he says, is the core question of time management.

Answering that question is the key to overcoming procrastination and becoming a highly productive person.

Every hour of every day, one task represents the most valuable use of your time, at that moment.

Eating the frog and asking the core question may not sound like much, but they are transforming if you use them.

Let’s face it, none of us want to tackle our biggest and most important jobs first. It’s much easier to start with small, easy tasks. Easier, but they don’t help much.

What’s your ‘frog?’

And why aren’t you eating it?

Eat That Frog

Ignore Everyone. Just Write

I read an article recently that said to be a successful writer, you must have confidence and self-esteem to put your work out in the public.

I thought about whether or not that was true. Maybe it is, but it wasn’t my experience when I first began writing.

I just wanted to write, and so I did. The first thing I ever submitted was a short story I sent to a woman’s magazine. It was accepted straight away and I was paid $600. That boosted my confidence. But then again, it wasn’t luck. It was a good story, and I had to write it and submit it.

I later branched out to the max and wrote and published a novel. For that, I was criticized deeply by other writers all saying that publishing my own book was wrong and that I wasn’t a real writer.

Others wanted to know how I did it because back then self-publishing was almost unheard of, and it was scorned and frowned upon by those who had never done it.

So I wrote and published another book called ‘Self Publish Worldwide’ where I explained how I did it. That book was a hit. I was overwhelmed by how many people bought a copy. But I still had those haters all hating on me.

I ignored them all and carried on writing and publishing books and set up several money-making websites that I also wrote content for.

I was busy writing and happier than I’d ever been. I also went on to co-author two books as well.

So was it confidence and high self-esteem that kept me going?

Maybe.

What I do know is that I was on a writing and publishing mission and I had no intention of letting anyone or anything stop me.

Mission Critical For Life