[stylist] An Introduction and newly blind questions

Mon Jul 15 13:54:23 UTC 2013

April I understand your frustration. I lost most of my sight nearly 6 years 
ago, too.
I attended the Blind and Vision Rehabilitation Services in Homestead, PA. 
There, I learned what worked best for me.
I ust Zoom Text, for most things. With that I can see things that I could 
never see without it.
I am also a visual learner and a long time visual artist - so anything I can 
do visually, I will do.

I also have JAWS, and use it to read longer things, like articles and 
emails - so that works for me quite well.

I hope you look into training at a center where you are in-residence and get 
full time help in learning what is best for you. They also set up your 
systems so you don't have the kind of problems you are experiencing.  I am 
getting all my equipment updated beginning next week, and will learn how to 
use JAWS on the internet.
As a visual learner, you will want to use your sight for everything you can 
possibly use it for, I imagine.
Lynda
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "April Brown" <aprilbrownwrite at gmail.com>
To: <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, July 15, 2013 9:13 AM
Subject: [stylist] An Introduction and newly blind questions

> Hello,
>
>     I am a writer who has been writing for several years.  I'm no longer
> waiting to be chosen by agents after querying over 60 in the last years 
> for
> the start of an unexpected series.  I intend to self publish the series, I
> am thinking one every six months (4 of six books are mostly complete and
> three are in edits).  The first will be published mid December, likely
> through Smashwords.
>
>     I am also newly legally blind.  I have had three massive unexplained
> bouts of vision loss since November.  This last one, this last weekend has
> left grey and light blue items with a lavender tint.  Fonts that were easy
> to read a month ago now look spidery.
>
>    I need help choosing the best options as a blind writer.
>
>     I've tried Dragon.  It offered to uninstall Windows for me.  After up
> to 9 hours of training, I can get it to work at about 20% accuracy for 
> about
> an hour at a time.  By third use, it crashes my computer and I have to 
> spend
> a day reformatting it.  I've even tried it on three different computers.
>
>    For a screen reader, I have tried NVDA.  I can get it to read one
> paragraph at a time in Word or Outlook.  It crashes Firefox.
>
>     My vision is so foggy many days, I can barely see the computer screen,
> and editing is a nightmare.
>
>     What suggestions can you offer for a writer who learns visually, and
> can no longer see enough to work easily?
>
> April Brown
>
> Writing dramatic adventure novels uncovering the myths we hide behind.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
> stylist-request at nfbnet.org
> Sent: Monday, July 15, 2013 8:00 AM
> To: stylist at nfbnet.org
> Subject: stylist Digest, Vol 111, Issue 10
>
> Send stylist mailing list submissions to
> stylist at nfbnet.org
>
> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
> stylist-request at nfbnet.org
>
> You can reach the person managing the list at
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>
> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than
> "Re: Contents of stylist digest..."
>
>
> Today's Topics:
>
>   1. Member looking for a Collaborative Writing Partner
>      (Robert Leslie Newman)
>   2. moving (Eve Sanchez)
>   3. Re: moving (Robert Leslie Newman)
>   4. Re: Introducing Myself and Blogging with JAWS (Homme, James)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Sun, 14 Jul 2013 15:46:40 -0500
> From: "Robert Leslie Newman" <newmanrl at cox.net>
> To: "writers nfb" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: [stylist] Member looking for a Collaborative Writing Partner
> Message-ID: <00e801ce80d3$414f8bb0$c3eea310$@cox.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Dear you all,
>
> RE: Member is looking for a writing partner:
>
>
>
> Robert, Can you put out a request for someone to collaborate on a play I'm
> writing. It doesn't have to be someone from New Jersey as we can talk via
> phone and use e mail. They can contact me by phone 908-725-9044 or by e 
> mail
> classemt at aol.com. in subject line writers division. thank you. Angela 
> Perone
>
>
>
>
>
> Robert Leslie Newman
>
> Personal Website-
>
> Adjustment To Blindness And Visual impairment
>
> http//www.thoughtprovoker.info
>
> NFB Writers' Division, president
>
> http://www.nfb-writers-division.net
>
> Chair of the NFB Communications Committee
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Sun, 14 Jul 2013 21:25:59 -0700
> From: Eve Sanchez <3rdeyeonly at gmail.com>
> To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: [stylist] moving
> Message-ID:
> <CACdbYKWhowkYxqP+-sc96mQaSX+pjroJ7=uxZr_dRMG5nWSS3A at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> Robert and all, I am moving tomorrow. I will not be online for a bit so if
> anyone needs to get a holdf me; my number is (208) 339-2430. I do not know
> my address yet, or I should say, I do not remember it.  I will let you all
> know when I am able and will call you, Robert, so that you hopefully do 
> not
> send anything out to this Cottonwood address. Hope I notified in time, but
> finally got word today. Hope everybody stays well. Blessed Be. Eve
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Mon, 15 Jul 2013 06:07:49 -0500
> From: "Robert Leslie Newman" <newmanrl at cox.net>
> To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [stylist] moving
> Message-ID: <013801ce814b$8b6140e0$a223c2a0$@cox.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Okay Eve ---working on the adult winners today. I'll wait for your next
> message from your new address.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Eve Sanchez
> Sent: Sunday, July 14, 2013 11:26 PM
> To: Writer's Division Mailing List
> Subject: [stylist] moving
>
> Robert and all, I am moving tomorrow. I will not be online for a bit so if
> anyone needs to get a holdf me; my number is (208) 339-2430. I do not know
> my address yet, or I should say, I do not remember it.  I will let you all
> know when I am able and will call you, Robert, so that you hopefully do 
> not
> send anything out to this Cottonwood address. Hope I notified in time, but
> finally got word today. Hope everybody stays well. Blessed Be. Eve
>
> _______________________________________________
> Writers Division web site
> http://www.writers-division.net/
> stylist mailing list
> stylist at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> stylist:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/newmanrl%40cox.net
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Mon, 15 Jul 2013 11:29:07 +0000
> From: "Homme, James" <james.homme at highmark.com>
> To: "stylist at nfbnet.org" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [stylist] Introducing Myself and Blogging with JAWS
> Message-ID:
> <BF85B26B8ED7B647ACAD9C68E89DA5544115E7B3 at HMBREXMP03.highmark.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252"
>
> Hi Henry,
> I know of a blind blogger who uses a plug in for WordPress called 
> MarkDown.
> MarkDown is a sort of textual formatting scheme that allows you to use
> symbols in your text. The plug in reads your blog posts as someone reads
> your site and when it sees the formatting marks, turns them into HTML. You
> write the text and put the formatting marks in it. The plug in stores your
> text in the WordPress database with your MarkDown formatting in it.
>
> Here is the page that talks about all of this.
> http://www.vocalbranding.com.au/these-are-a-few-of-my-favourite-themes-and-a
> ccessible-wordpress-plugins/
>
> Here is the page written by the maintainer of the MarkDown formatting
> language. http://daringfireball.net/projects/markdown/.
>
> Speaking of HTML, I feel that if you want to use HTML, that you need to 
> turn
> off the normal editor WordPress uses, so that you can read the HTML 
> mark-up.
> Mark-up is another term for formatting.
>
> As for learning HTML, if you want to do that, and you use a blogging
> platform such as Blogger and WordPress, you can get away with starting 
> with
> a small subset of HTML. MarkDown, though, would probably be a good way to 
> go
> because it covers most of what you would use as a writer, in my humble
> opinion.
>
> I'm starting to play around with WordPress myself. I'd be glad to share 
> what
> I learn with anyone who wants to talk about it on this list. And while my
> coffee is flowing through my veins, if anyone wants to have a look at the
> site I'm using to play with WordPress, and please feel free to send me
> material privately, visit http://www.popciclejokes.com/. Note that the 
> site
> address is misspelled. That joke is on me, because I can't change the 
> domain
> name unless I want to buy a new one, which I don't. <grin>.
>
>
> Thanks.
>
> Jim
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
> stylist-request at nfbnet.org
> Sent: Friday, July 12, 2013 8:00 AM
> To: stylist at nfbnet.org
> Subject: stylist Digest, Vol 111, Issue 8
>
> Send stylist mailing list submissions to
>        stylist at nfbnet.org
>
> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
>        http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
>        stylist-request at nfbnet.org
>
> You can reach the person managing the list at
>        stylist-owner at nfbnet.org
>
> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than
> "Re: Contents of stylist digest..."
>
>
> Today's Topics:
>
>   1. also new on the list (Sophie Trist)
>   2. Re: also new on the list (Vejas)
>   3. Re: also new on the list (Bridgit Pollpeter)
>   4. introducing myself, and blogging with JAWS (Henry Macphillamy)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Thu, 11 Jul 2013 10:41:04 -0500
> From: Sophie Trist <sweetpeareader at gmail.com>
> To: Stylist <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: [stylist] also new on the list
> Message-ID: <51ded211.837f310a.30db.768a at mx.google.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> Hey! My name is Sophie Trist, and I'm also new to the list and to the
> writers' division. I'm sixteen years old, and I've loved to write ever 
> since
> I was a little kid. I love anykind of writing, but my passion is fantasy.
> Right now, I'm working on getting my first book published. I'm still in 
> the
> early stages, but it's coming along! I look forward to getting to know all
> of you!
>
> Yours sincerely,
> Sophie
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Thu, 11 Jul 2013 09:24:39 -0700
> From: Vejas <alpineimagination at gmail.com>
> To: Writer's Division Mailing List <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [stylist] also new on the list
> Message-ID: <51dedc82.aabc340a.18df.ffffca62 at mx.google.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> Hi Sophie,
> My name is Vejas, and I'm also 16.  Actually, I remember you from Braille
> challenge and the NABS list.  Also, quite a while back I saw your review 
> for
> the book Louisiana's Song in Stone Soup.
> We share writing and have discussions about various things related to
> writing.
> I can't really tell you what I'm working on, because I'm kind of having
> writer's block.
> Vejas
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Sophie Trist <sweetpeareader at gmail.com
> To: Stylist <stylist at nfbnet.org
> Date sent: Thu, 11 Jul 2013 10:41:04 -0500
> Subject: [stylist] also new on the list
>
> Hey! My name is Sophie Trist, and I'm also new to the list and to the
> writers' division.  I'm sixteen years old, and I've loved to write ever
> since I was a little kid.  I love anykind of writing, but my passion is
> fantasy.  Right now, I'm working on getting my first book published.  I'm
> still in the early stages, but it's coming along! I look forward to 
> getting
> to know all of you!
>
> Yours sincerely,
> Sophie
>
> _______________________________________________
> Writers Division web site
> http://www.writers-division.net/
> stylist mailing list
> stylist at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> stylist:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/alpineimagin
> ation%40gmail.com
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Thu, 11 Jul 2013 16:13:44 -0500
> From: Bridgit Pollpeter <bpollpeter at hotmail.com>
> To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [stylist] also new on the list
> Message-ID: <BLU0-SMTP302B2D3B1CAFC1C029F6306C47B0 at phx.gbl>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Welcome Sophie. Great, another fantasy lover! I admire your ambition.
> I'm 32 with a degree in creative writing, and I'm finally working on a
> novel. I've written short stories, nothing longer than 30 pages, and lots 
> of
> personal essays, but this will be my first attempt at a novel, at least a
> disciplined attempt.
>
> Look forward to seeing you on the list. Would love to read something of
> yours.
>
> Bridgit
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Sophie 
> Trist
> Sent: Thursday, July 11, 2013 10:41 AM
> To: Stylist
> Subject: [stylist] also new on the list
>
>
> Hey! My name is Sophie Trist, and I'm also new to the list and to the
> writers' division. I'm sixteen years old, and I've loved to write ever 
> since
> I was a little kid. I love anykind of writing, but my passion is fantasy.
> Right now, I'm working on getting my first book published. I'm still in 
> the
> early stages, but it's coming along! I look forward to getting to know all
> of you!
>
> Yours sincerely,
> Sophie
>
> _______________________________________________
> Writers Division web site
> http://www.writers-division.net/
> stylist mailing list
> stylist at nfbnet.org http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> stylist:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/bpollpeter%40hotmai
> l.com
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Fri, 12 Jul 2013 21:15:35 +1000
> From: Henry Macphillamy <henry.macphillamy at gmail.com>
> To: stylist at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [stylist] introducing myself, and blogging with JAWS
> Message-ID:
> 
> <CAD51g5UUQT6nXeamR8CHUjndZ5kR5U8W340S-pN6iVE2-XtOGA at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> Hi all,
> My name is Henry, and I'm a Braille and JAWS user from Australia. I was
> googling for resources on blind writers, and this list was one of the 
> first
> hits that popped up.
> I've been writing a blog at: http://www.macphillamysmusings.wordpress.com
> I know absolutely nothing about editing html, and have been writing my
> entries on my Braille Sense, or with Microsoft Word, and then copying and
> pasting when I think they're publishable.
> I'm wondering if there are any bloggers out there who use JAWS, and if so,
> how on earth do you do it? which blogging sites are most accessible? and 
> how
> do you deal with the presentation side of things... bulleted lists,
> embedding links, etc etc. any tips, advice and or other resources would be
> very much appreciated.
> I would really like to make my entries more professional looking, as well 
> as
> embed links to other posts, articles and such.
> If you want to contact me off list, my email is: 
> henry.macphillamy at gmail.com
> Cheers, Henry
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Subject: Digest Footer
>
> _______________________________________________
> stylist mailing list
> stylist at nfbnet.org
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>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> End of stylist Digest, Vol 111, Issue 8
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> ------------------------------
>
> Subject: Digest Footer
>
> _______________________________________________
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>
> ------------------------------
>
> End of stylist Digest, Vol 111, Issue 10
> ****************************************
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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> http://www.writers-division.net/
> stylist mailing list
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> stylist:
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> 