Writing Contest for the Good At Heart

"And finally, I believe in my whole race. Yellow, white, black, red, brown --in the honesty, courage, intelligence, durability....and goodness.....of the overwhelming majority of my brothers and sisters everywhere on this planet. I am proud to be a human being. I believe that we have come this far by the skin of our teeth, that we always make it just by the skin of our teeth --but that we will always make it....survive....endure. I believe that this hairless embryo with the aching, oversize brain case and the opposable thumb, this animal barely up from the apes, will endure --will endure longer than his home planet, will spread out to the other planets, to the stars, and beyond, carrying with him his honesty, his insatiable curiosity, his unlimited courage --and his noble essential decency."

"This I believe with all my heart."

As read by Mrs. Heinlein received a standing ovation.

If you can relate to this, then there is a short story contest you need to consider.


The Robert A. HeinleinCentennial Short Story ContestThree prizes will be given for the best original short storiesreflecting the spirit, ideas, and philosophies of Robert AnsonHeinlein.$5,000 first prize$2,000 second prize$1,000 third prizeIf you want a short declaration of who the man was and his works, thengo to this link http://www.heinleinsociety.org/rah/thisibelieve.html






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Victorian Erotica

Many people think that this is a new genre -wrong. The Gothic genre blended with French Erotica and grew into Victoria Erotica. In fact, we are still on the 'light' side of what constituted Victorian erotica. I am not sure many of today's writers want to delve into the psychotic states of the human mind to explore what happens when madness melds with passion.

Today's dark genres, such as vampire, are still lighter than many of the Victorian Erotica stories - some of which are so dark and evil that you won't find them in public domain. They are stored on dusty bookshelves in ancient libraries - probably never to be read again.

If you want to 'taste' a light version of Victorian Erotica then read an old French Gothic story.



Pearls in the Raw, Victorian Erotica Rediscovered

Interesting word - voluptuous. It suggests ample or full, and in the broader sense, given over to the satisfaction of sensual desires. That is no doubt why "The Pearl" is described as "A Journal of Faceteia and Voluptuous Reading." "The Pearl," an underground journal published in Victorian England from July 1879 to December 1880, is an erotic treasure chest.

It is one of many such treasures I discovered while writing my erotic novel set in Victorian London.

The research for this erotic novel took me into the shadow of the Victorian libido. Not only did I have to study the Victorian household, the functioning of gas lights, the complex hierarchy of the British peerage and the many layers of clothing (which had to be frequently removed), I also had to delve into the darker side of the Victorian psyche.

The sexual repression of the Victorian age did not repress sexual desire. Quite the contrary. The popularity of erotic literature, the glut of prostitutes and the proliferation of brothels are historical testament to the sexual appetites of the time. Publicly denouncing sexual behavior did not stop the private exploration of intimate cravings.

Such activities as canings, voyeurism, exhibitionism and illicit sex were commonplace, but always hidden. No one spoke of it, but most found partners to indulge their favorite fetish.

Another Victorian classic, "My Secret Life," first published between 1888 and 1894, was banned for a hundred years because of its explicit content. A Victorian gentleman chronicled his lascivious exploits, using the pseudonym Walter.

Walter's erotic stories are still considered perverse and often pornographic, even with its reissue as part of the Wordsworth Classic Erotica series.

The most interesting aspect of my immersion into Victorian sexuality is discovering the similarity to today's avarice and taboos. Here we are, in the 21st century, still struggling with the same desires and the same denial that those desires exist.

Even with the overt use of sexual images in advertising and with the seeming sexual freedom we are said to enjoy, there still exists an air of repression surrounding sexual activity. It is permissible to be titillated by pictures and innuendo, but when the libido demands more, society says uh-uh, shaking their puritanical finger under our noses.

With the current popularity of erotic romance and the explicit nature of the work, we are once again expressing our desire in words. We really want to be doing it. Much like the Victorians, we find our pleasure where we can. Sometimes that is actual experience and other times it is solely within our imaginations. Erotic literature, be it Victorian or contemporary, serves the same purpose. It provides an outlet for sexual feelings which certainly exist, but often cannot be overtly expressed.

We all crave the thrill of a licentious tryst. The danger, the excitement and the titillation of such encounters, be it now or in Victorian London, are the same. Victorian erotica speaks to the modern libido just as surely as it enticed the nineteenth century reader. The intoxicating agitation of sexual excitement is timeless.

P.F. Kozak is the author of the erotic romance novels Passion, and Sins and Secrets. Visit her Web site to learn more, http://www.pfkozak.com/


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Start Your Writing Career at Wikipedia

What is the #8 the sight on Alexandria? Wikipedia. This is not only the world's largest encyclopedia, but it is a user managed forum. Most of the editors are corporations. This is a great tool for anyone who wants to educate the world on a topic.

Wikipedia is written collaboratively by volunteers. Since 2001, Wikipedia has grown into the largest reference Website with 75,000 active contributors maintaining9,000,000 articles in 250 languages. Visitors do not need specialized qualifications to contribute, since their primary role is to write articles that cover existing knowledge. The objective is to create a human conscious, a collection of the worlds knowledge - to move it from books to the web in 'bite sized' easy to read segments.

This is arguably the only downfall of wikipedia. There is not enough room to study a topic in full depth - say 10 000 words.

But there are other resources: http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Main_Page Wiki Books gives away free textbooks .... sort of.

Wikiversity http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Wikiversity:Main_Page offers free education .... sort of. I found a lot of course outlines and syllabus, but almost all the ones I looked into lacked a few fundamental elements - like lessons.

That could be seen in two ways. One, there is a lot of room to grow on wikipedia and there is room for people to build their credentials by editing the encyclopedia. Or, the project is a big bust. Only time will tell.

Editing Wikipedia

Step 1: Register

1. Go to Wikipedia.org,
2. choose a language,
3. create account,
4. follow the instructions.

Step 2: Read the Guides

This will avoid frustration. There are articles on editing, formatting, community rules, About Wikipedia, Editing Wikipedia Pages How to edit a page. If you don't plan to spend a few days reading, yes days, then don't read any farther. This is not a venue for the weak of heart or those who lose interest quickly.

Wikipedia in Brief, spells isn’t acceptable. I would start here.

Step 3: Start Editing.

Okay people, for Pete's Sake, don't write in the text editor. Go to word and do your work. Editing is fairly simple, click the edit link and start making corrections, additions, and rewrites, then click submit.

Like all content management systems, this is NOT WYSIWYG. You'll have to learn a hyroglypic but it won't be any harder than learning HTML. Wikipedia Style Manual. The code is tedious, but it is a very common form of coding - just not a public one.

I doubt you can jump on wiki and start promoting your business. However, you'll be able to have your say, and even though wiki is public, being an editor is something worth putting on your resume, well not being on par with being a DMOZ editor. but you can feel good that you are working for the collective good of all mankind.

Kindle is for US Publishers Only

Kindle is only available to US Publishers.

The current Amazon controversy is confusing. I would think that people were more concerned with the fact that Kindle is only available to publishers who live in the USA. This severely limits the books they can list. It isn’t because they cannot deal with people outside of their country.

The Amazon.com POD alternative works with publishers from around the world. If Kindle went through this venue then they could easily list ebooks from publishers residing in the UK , Canada, and Australia without any problem.

Writers Need To Use an Ergonomic Keyboard

There is only one piece of equipment that every work at home professional cannot do without. That is an ergonomic keyboard. There are many different varieties of ergonomic keyboards. Each has their advantages and disadvantages. But, there are some things you need to consider.

The one thing you want is a split keyboard. The one I use lets me place my hands at a turned position. My shoulders are not forced forward. My wrists are not forced to turn. The palms sit on the support between the back and forward button.

Over the years I've had people ask how I get so much work done, without breaking down, without getting tired. I now have an answer - my keyboard. I proved this just last week. My keyboard broke and although Microsoft has it guaranteed, it will be three weeks before it comes in. I had no choice but to use the cheap flat keyboard that came with my computer.

Within hours I felt tired, there was a pain between my shoulders, and my wrists were 'tight.' After a few hours I grew accustomed to this and kept working, but I was aware of the problem. I also noticed that my typing speed slowed dramatically. I can drop the keyboard into my lap, sit with my feet on a footrest, and with the aid of a proper office chair, I can work about two hours at a shot.

When I used the flat keyboard the pain forced me to take a break or slow down every 20 - 30 minutes to relieve the tension. I needed to get up more often. I am not touting this as a perfect tool for working more. I am stating that my keyboard kept me at a comfortable position - just as comfortable as sitting on the couch watching television.

The difference was so dramatic that I sent my husband 2.5 hours away to buy me another keyboard after only a day - I have a great hubby.

This keyboard (Microsoft Natural Ergonomic 4000) is Vista safe, with a plug-in from the MS website. I have already made back the $70 the keyboard cost me.



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RSI Can End Your Writing Career

In medical terms, repetitive strain injury (RSI) is a cumulative trauma disorder (CTD) caused by prolonged repetitive, awkward hand movements that damage muscles, tendons, and nerves of the neck, shoulder, forearm, and hand, causing pain, weakness, numbness, or impairment of movement. It can be caused by working long periods at a computer, either in a chair with poor support, no foot rest, and using a square or small keyboard.

Typing and clicking a mouse button can be harmful. Injured muscles contract, decreasing the range of motion. As the typist continues to work, the level of stress increases. At first they suffer wrist pain and head aches, but after a while the pain increases.

Professionals that understand the disease know that slowing down for a month or two out of the year, taking breaks, and listening to their body will keep them working. Those who don't listen or make excuses (I can't afford a secretary's chair or ergonomic/split keyboard) end up with a debilitating chronic disorder that can take several hundreds of dollars and more than six months to correct. In effect - they are out of business.

What Happens with RSI?

The sheaths that cover tendons run out of lubrication because they aren't allowed to rest. The tendon and sheath chafe, causing pain. The tendons become inflamed, and pinch nerves. This causes numbness, tingling, or hypersensitivity to touch.

Poor posture can lead to severe neck and back injuries. Repetitive reaching for a mouse can lead to arm and neck strain as well as spinal strain.

RSI is not a medical diagnosis, but a family of disorders, mistakenly called carpal tunnel syndrome. One recent study even reported that frequent computer users are no more likely to develop CTS than non-computer users.

• poor posture


• poor technique


• Do not use a keyboard designed for computer users


• Use a computer more than two hours a day


• Your job that requires constant computer use,


• Don't take breaks


• Use a manager chair, or don't use a secretary's chair


• Don't exercise


• Have stressful deadlines, work 7 days a week


• Work in a high-pressure environment


• Have arthritis, diabetes, or another serious medical condition


• Have long fingernails


• Have an unhealthy, or sedentary lifestyle


• Are overweight


• Don't believe you are at risk

You are at risk of you experience:

• Fatigue


• Weakness in the hands or forearms


• Tingling, numbness, or loss of sensation


• Heaviness Clumsiness in your hands


• You drop things or lack coordination


• Cold hands?


• Frequent self-massage


• Avoid using one hand


• Use your forearm, feet, or shoulder to open doors?


• Not play sports you once enjoyed?


• Have trouble sleeping
• When typing you notice that you are holding one wrist 'up' off the wrist support, or find yourself reaching for keys that you'd normally touch without moving your wrist.

The first sign is often irritability with family members, being short tempered, or having an emotional outburst while working, but without any apparent cause.

When I find myself strained, I wear a fingerless brace like the one above. It supports my wrist and forces me to move in a different patter, it slows my typing speed down, and gives me a chance to retrain my hands to move properly. That said, I haven't worn my wrist braces since buying an ergonomic keyboard.



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Web Hosting For Wordpress

This helps people find the best web hosting sites for people who have wordpress running their blog, or have turned wordpress into a complete website.

They have the best themes I've ever seen. I run seven wordpress blogs and wordpress websites. It is an excellent platform, easier to use than drupal and almost never corrupts. If it does, then I did something wrong. Kaushalshet.com prefers Hostmoster, but I think that Host gator is the best web hosting site on the net.

I even found a few blogger templates to use.

This writer's resource gets 5 stars. I am going to try template #5. I didn't find any 4 column templates. All my sites are set up to take 4 column templates. However, if you use two column wordpress templates and want something different than everyone else, there are some templates here that I'd give a solid 7/10.

But, what gets the full marks is the tutorials that cover more than just 'how to do the basics' and includes full coding in one piece. So many tutorials don't work becuase they ask the user to fill in spaces. These tutorials give all the instructions and don't make assumptions on the user's skills and abilities.

Writing Conference

http://www.dream-realm-awards.net/rules.htm

Or cross-genres of romance, YA or erotic thereof... The Dream Realm Awards are now open for e-books over 40K released in 2007. Entry is $20. You enter with the first 3 chapters or 12K of the RTF file (whichever is shorter)...no art.

If you make the finals, they need the full book. It cannot be a reprint. You can only enter the book in one category (READ the descriptions...though FAIRY DREAMS is sensual romance, it must enter as erotica...their rules), and you cannot enter more than one book per category, though you can enter different books in different categories. There is also a cover art portion, but cover artists have to enter it, AFAIK.

Brenna--

http://www.brennalyons.com http://www.myspace.com/brennalyonsFairy Dreams is the best bar none fantasy romance that I have ever read! The action is non-stop; the deep abiding love so well portrayed that you feel as though you are experiencing it yourself. Regina for Coffee Time Romance






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