Publishing as Independence

“Are you published?” It’s the first question an industry outsider will ask, while a fellow writer will get to it eventually, however tactfully. “So tell me about your work!”

But being unpublished in a free land is not the same as being unpublishable in a not-s0-free one. On my nation’s Independence Day, I’m thinking of an international social media “friend” who once shared her anguish with us: as a woman, she’s not allowed to publish in her own country, so she courageously posted her story online.

I’m counting my blessings. And I’m also counting hers. Here online, borders don’t hold long. “Let freedom ring.”

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Text © Gwyn Nichols 2011. All Rights Reserved.

Inertia

Fountain Pen, © Dre Schwartz, iStockPhoto #5330500

You remember inertia: a body in motion tends to remain in motion; a body a rest tends to remain at rest. This blog has been a rest a few weeks, and how heavy it feels!

How often have I suggested to you that it’s easier to sustain a daily writing habit than a weekly or sporadic one? Maybe you can come and go that way, but I’ve had computer access about a week, and I haven’t dragged myself to this particular blank page. If you haven’t heard from me in a few weeks, shouldn’t I say something profound or fascinating?

Sorry, no.

All I can do for you to today is to say again that the only way to begin is to begin. Smear some ink on the blank page, shovel coal into the steam engine, prime the pump, sharpen the pencil.

Much happened while I was away. It was obviously meant to be. Two computer logic board transplants (the second for an attached faulty graphics card), followed by a modem ‘s death and replacement, and today a new Internet outage. A writing retreat, much of it writing by hand, was what I needed, so other projects, connections, and insights could arise.

I can tell I need a running start. Excuse me, I’m going to brainstorm my next blog ideas, maybe surf a bit for ideas, and see you again tomorrow.

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Text © Gwyn Nichols 2011. All Rights Reserved.

Photo © Dre Schwartz, iStockPhoto #5330500

Time Out

My computer has requested a break. It did break.

Bad news: my three years of Apple Care have recently expired, and it’s a defective logic board. “Sounds expensive,” I say.

“Very,” says Zane the Genius. Good news: it’s covered by the supplier NVIDIA because it’s under a recall.

Bad news: Apple and NVIDIA have known this was a bad batch. I even got one of the last of this model. Neither company thought I had a need to know.

Good news for them: they didn’t have to replace all of them, and only if and when our computers suddenly died. The expense to NVIDIA and trouble to Apple got spread out over several years. Very clever.

Bad news for them: I prefer to schedule recall replacements at my convenience, not without warning, so I’m griping about it online!

Good news for them: Zane was actually happy to have his suspicions confirmed by all the testing so he could help me. I suspect he’d find a way to make buying a new computer sound like a happy outcome. Great customer service skills.

Good news:  They had the logic board in stock.

Bad news: If I want the the lower case replaced (just for the defective latch) that part shipment adds a few days.

Good news: They discontinued that latching mechanism on newer models.

Good news: My computer is not dead. I get it back soon.

Good news: I have my data backed up–I think.

Good news: I’ll do more of those handwritten drafts I recently reminded you about.

Good news: I get to laugh about the irony of that.

Good news: The symbolism of having a defective logic board is not lost on me. (Does the one in my head need a replacement, a repair, or only a reinstall?)

Good news: My problems are minor.

Good news: I’ve been one diligent blogger and I’ve earned a few days off. See you around sometime.

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Text © Gwyn Nichols 2011. All rights reserved.

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