The Writing and the Listening

Speaking of a writing world, I can attest to the fact it is a busy one. If one is writing a novel AND a nonfiction book at the same time, trying to post a blog daily—or just a few times a week—and entering writing contests, it is a full-time job. So, what comes first? At the moment, the nonfiction book comes first for me. The novel, which is closer to being finished, takes the brunt, although it is the most interesting on the list. Sometimes one opts to work on the manuscript easiest to finish, though the ending may be far away from where one is.

Other writers may be slaves, of course, to starting something, finishing it as quickly as possible, without looking at another idea. If that work fails, it’s a hard fall. But if another manuscript is already in progress before the first book gets accepted, that saves the day, and perhaps the year. Each writer must decide his method for himself, not necessarily heed what some book on writing proclaims as gospel.

My latest personal news in this territory (just as good a word as “category” here) is that my first novel is about to be distributed by Talking Books. These disks go to only the extremely vision-impaired and to those people unable to hold a book in their hands. So, it seems I will not hear my own book read aloud, at least by this program, and I trust, any time soon. My city has two large recording studios and 700 talking books are mailed out each day! The books my state handles this way are either by authors from my state or are books about the state. The rules are probably the same in all fifty states in the Union.

The plan is simple: the disk goes through the mail, locked in its own CD player. It cannot be played on any other device in the household. Its return necessitates merely that the postcard on the package be turned over. Voila! It’s ready to go, at no expense to the client.

Isn’t this a wonderful program? If you know someone with either of these handicaps, please alert them to the possibility they just might enjoy. More information at http://libraries.idaho.gov/ Click on Talking Book. I just checked this and it works easily. Have a great read!

♥