Focused Fandom Countdown: 5 Weeks To Go

So here I sit, waiting for my editor’s notes.

Weirdly, this is also the point where you realize, “oh hell, it’s happening.”

Suddenly you remember all the extra stuff you have to do, like checking every single link that will be  turned into a functional URL.  Or maybe you remember to update your author profile.

This is when formatting comes into play and you start remembering those little things you did last time to make it all work.  You remember the breaks, or the bullet points (have I mentioned enough that bullet points are  a pain to convert among eBook formats and readers?) or some other trauma.

So many different things to do.  Here’s how I’m trying to deal with it: checklists.

Really.  Checklists.  Think of how much you learn the first time you do something?  So why not write it down and store it somewhere so you’ll remember it?  Or at least find it again AFTER you need it so you can use it the next time.

As strange as it may sounds, this is actually a common in many professional areas, and is advocated by a lot of experts on good organization.

So, make that checklist.  It’ll give you peace of mind, keep you from forgetting things, and will let you get your writing done.

. . . once you find it again.  Just put it in a place that you’ll remember it.

Steven Savage

 

Yahoo Continues To Commit Suicie

Apparently they’re laying off a research team that others want to snatch up.

Now I could go on a usual rant, but let me just note the takeaways here:

  • Don’t send a resume to Yahoo, it’s clear they’re not a good choice.
  • If Yahoo keeps shedding/loosing people it may make employment slightly harder as people snatch up their talent.
  • This tells me they’re giving up on innovation for now – paired with their lawsuit it makes me honestly suspicious they’re looking at some kind of litigation/licensing model.
  • When Yahoo finally implodes one way or another, watch for the reaction.

– Steven Savage

ISP’s playing Content Cops for the RIAA?

Apparently some are, starting July 1st.

I’ve gotten intermittent stories on this, from panic to “meh,” and I haven’t formed an opinion yet.  The RIAA is prone to grandiose announcements anyway so I’m not sure what’s up – and I’m in Silicon Valley, so I’d expect to hear a LOT more.  Though we do have a tendency to kind of brush off the RIAA around here.

Any input is needed – this could be big . . . or not.

Steven Savage