[stylist] Donna, Robert, Computer experts, help, and other four letter words

Mon Jul 21 05:14:41 UTC 2014

I'm by far no computer expert, but I agree with Donna. Having multiple
copies of JAWS on a single computer shouldn't cause problems, nor should
current versions of JAWS with current versions of Windows. Maybe there
really is something to all this, but I've never heard of it myself, and
I've experienced quite a few problems through the years with JAWS and
computers in general.

Side note, it's getting to a point where I'm just ready to throw in the
towel and go with an Apple computer even though I will have to learn an
entirely new computer system. With Apple providing built-in voice-over,
you don't have the constant problems you tend to find with JAWS and
operating systems. Plus, from what I understand, the Apple voice-over
can be more accessible and compatible with certain programs and the
internet. I've come to really like my I Phone and I Pad, so mulling over
the whole computer question.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Applebutter Hill via stylist
Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2014 9:45 PM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] Donna, Robert, Computer experts, help,and other
four letter words

Jackie and all,
I am sending this to the list now that I realize that it had been posted
-- I got a copy from Jackie but not to the list. Anyway, here is an
addendum to my comments below.

Jackie, I just downloaded Jaws 15, and I have Windows 7, 64 bit. There
was nothing on the site about it not working on anything but Windows 8,
and the installation went smoothly. I'll try it out tomorrow, but I
don't think that's the problem. If you have a 32 bit machine and
downloaded the version of Jaws for 64 bit or vice versa, that could be a
problem, but that's the only thing they want you to be sure of.

Now, for my original response *grin*
Jackie,
Just a quick thought and I hope to help more later, but when I want a
word count using Word 2010 and Jaws 12, 13 or 14, I use Alt+t+w, which
is the old command from Word 2003. I've heard of the one you're using,
but I never tried it. In order to read it (and this may be different
with later versions of Jaws) but I have to root the Jaws cursor to the
PC cursor (that's the lower left key on the calculator and the upper
right. Then, I downarrow through the different counts -- pages, lines,
all that. When I'm done, I reroot the PC to the Jaws cursor (that's the
same key on lower left and the second key down from the top on the right
- the plus key.

Anyway, I never heard such a load of crap (pardon my French). Lots of
people have more than one version of Jaws installed. As for 15 not being
for Windows 7, I would have to check, but FS has never restricted a
version like that before. Maybe they had to because of the differences
in Windows8, but it sounds fishy to me.

I'd try resetting your virtual cursor. If you're having problems anyway,
it can't hurt to try it, and you can always uncheck it, if it doesn't
help. There is a way of restoring Jaws to its default settings, but I'd
have to go looking around to find it.

As for your sound card? That also sounds like a load of bunky. One way
to tell is to play some music on your computer and see if you hear it.
If it works for music, it should work for Jaws. I'm assuming you're
hearing something in Jaws, aren't you? There's probably a way to defeat
the sound altogether for those who use Braille displays.

Another suggestion is that you could complain to your state reps about
this. Anyway, got doctor appointment for Rich tomorrow, so let me know
how far you get. Donna

-----Original Message-----
From: Jackie Williams [mailto:jackieleepoet at cox.net]
Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2014 7:03 PM
To: 'Applebutter Hill'
Cc: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: RE: Donna, Robert, Computer experts, help, and other four
letter words

Donna and all,
I have wondered about the virtual ribbon. The instructor  I hired said
she installed it. She also put in some directions for it. AT some point
she changed it saying  I could handle the regular. But I have typed all
of these instructions. She said they would work on either one. Then the
state instructor said that he was individualizing it for various
operations because of some of my prior knowledge, and some big gaps. The
result is that I do not know which settings all of my little notes on
hot keys work or not, and I still have a terrible time with making them
work. An instance, for page numbering, Alt, N, then N U. It is supposed
to bring up that menu that I can open. It does nothing. Both instructors
went through and changed many individual settings I am tempted to now
change it back to virtual ribbon. My question is: Will it change back to
the original settings before they were changed by anyone, or will it be
the virtual ribbon with some of the settings still changed? Will I find
the complete list of settings under options in the JAWS menu? I know you
do not have time for this, but it looks like I am on my own with
this.   When he left last week, he said that perhaps I had trouble with
my
motherboard, or my sound card, and that perhaps because I had not used
it for two years except for installing the software by Cox, after buying
it, it had deteriorated. He also said that JAWS 15 should not have been
installed with Microsoft 7, for it was geared to 8.  Also that Freedom
Scientific could not keep up with the fixes for my combination, and that
is why my attachments will not open. He said JAWS was not installed
properly, and since 13 and 15 were still on my computer, and the older
one not removed first, He could no longer hope to reinstall it and get a
pure result. It goes on and on. If I hire anyone else at my own cost, I
go broke. I waited 8 months to be approved by the state. Now he does not
want to return until I get my computer fixed. Right now, I have to get a
line count for all of my poetry before submission, and Alt, R, then W
does not work for the word count. It goes on and on. Still, I will get
twenty poems ready to post by next Friday when I have a driver hired.

Jackie Lee

Time is the school in which we learn.
Computers are the fires in which we burn.
After Delmore Schwartz

-----Original Message-----
From: Applebutter Hill [mailto:applebutterhill at gmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2014 3:18 PM
To: 'Jackie Williams'
Subject: RE: [stylist] Authors & Marketing: Sensitive Introvert to
Shameless Hawker - Abandoning Erroneous Expectations

Hi Jackie,
Thank you so much for all of your observations and support. I'm sorry
you're having such trouble with Jaws. Sounds like your instructor might
have messed something up. If Jaws isn't reading the ribbons, the setting
for Virtual Ribbons in the Settings Center may have gotten unchecked. If
you want to check, go to the Jaws window, alt+f and right arrow to the
utility menu and down arrow to Settings Center. It opens on a search
field, so type in "virtual ribbon" and enter. Down arrow to the results
(I only had one), and it should say "Use virtual ribbon checkbox ...
Either checked or unchecked. If it's unchecked, use the spacebar to
check it, tab twice to OK and spacebar to confirm the change. If that's
not it, I'm at a loss.

Yes, the whole marketing thing is a major drain on my time and
creativity, and I appreciate you saying that you almost resent my having
to spend so much effort on it instead of just writing. That's the way it
is though and it's good to know that low percentages of success is the
norm in sales. I admit that I am not very good at deliberately setting
aside time to just write. That should be my challenge going forward. I'm
trying to blog once a week, so that's something, though it's still part
of the marketing formula.

I'm also glad you wrote in, because I was beginning to think the post
didn't go through. I guess there just isn't much interest on this list.
Best of luck with getting your poems together and dealing with all of
the technical stuff. Donna

-----Original Message-----
From: Jackie Williams [mailto:jackieleepoet at cox.net]
Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2014 4:02 PM
To: 'Applebutter Hill'; 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: RE: [stylist] Authors & Marketing: Sensitive Introvert to
Shameless Hawker - Abandoning Erroneous Expectations

Donna,
I opened the link in your e-mail and heard the entire website excluding
the cloud of music. I just get overwhelmed, and my computer has a
mini-crash whenever I do something unusual. I found your article most
fascinating and it was particularly interesting in the percentages of
people needing at least 8 prompts of one kind or another to read a
particular book, and other such research you presented. Every time I
read a posting of yours,  I find more things about your life, the books
and articles you have already written, and the hurdles you have
surmounted to get where you are. Although I am approaching page  200 in
Apple Butter Hill, I have had a series of setbacks  with my computer and
the lessons I was supposed to get from D E S, I have been trying to get
my entries ready for Minnesota, and JAWS simply does not work, or talk
for the ribbon commands, and my teacher changed everything just before
this happened. I took refuge in reading Catherine the Great which I
could not put down for 26 long hours. Now, I am just trying to keep up
with the list, and back at trying to get my poems ready with a seeing
aide, and again looking forward to finishing "The Heart of Apple Butter
Hill." I almost resent that you have to spend so much effort and time
marketing instead of just writing what you want to anew. All of your
efforts have benefited those of us who were not aware that now, no
matter which way we choose to publication, we will have to be involved
in the marketing. With my utmost gratitude and respect for your body of
work.

Jackie
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Apple
butter Hill via stylist
Sent: Monday, July 14, 2014 8:18 AM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: [stylist] Authors & Marketing: Sensitive Introvert to Shameless
Hawker - Abandoning Erroneous Expectations

Hi Friends,

I'm copying this post below just in case any of you are interested in
self-marketing. At the end of the post, there is a Sound Cloud player
with an accessible play button, but it doesn't translate to email. If
you want to hear "The Rules of the Game" or leave a comment using the
link to "Accessible Comment Form for Screen Reader Users," you will need
to go to this link:

http://donnawhill.com/2014/07/14/authors-marketing-sensitive-introvert-t
o-sh
ameless-hawker-abandoning-erroneous-expectations/

Enjoy,

Donna

***

Authors & Marketing: Sensitive Introvert to Shameless Hawker -
Abandoning Erroneous

So, you succumbed to that craziest of temptations and wrote a book. Now,
whether you are one of the "lucky" ones who landed a publishing contract
or you did it yourself, you're starting to realize that you're the one
who has to do the marketing. The problem is that marketing is totally
foreign to your innermost nature. There are lots of suggestions out
there about building an online presence, developing niche markets,
mastering SEO (search engine optimization) and snuggling up to industry
professionals, but how do you get to a place where you're at least
halfway comfortable doing that stuff?

The Writer's Mindset

Whether we're embroiled in research or lost in our private worlds
conjuring up scenes and scenarios, the writer is motivated by a few
simple principles, and truth is at the bottom of each of them. We stare
into our characters, and using our accumulated understanding of
humanity's flaws and foibles, we fashion plots and conversations that
shed some light on something that matters to us.

When we're done, we want to show off our baby and have people coo about
how beautiful it is. We've put so much of ourselves into our work that
it takes a monumental effort to steel ourselves for criticism of even
the most benign nature.

But, steel ourselves we must -- and not merely to function in the role
of hearing out our critics. The truth is that getting the public to read
our work is no easy task, and there has probably been little in our
lives to prepare us for the realities of marketing. Some writers will
feel like they're pimping out their child. Others will be easily
discouraged by the lack of enthusiasm from a public that doesn't seem to
care.

A Head's-Up

Here I am giving you advice, but who am I? Is my advice worth taking?
First, I'm not a successful novelist -- not yet anyway. My book's been
out a year, and for the first six months, I couldn't lift a finger to
promote it. My husband was feeling terrible when The Heart of
Applebutter Hill came out as an eBook, and mere weeks after the print
edition hit the market, he was in a full-blown crisis of extreme and
unmanageable pain.

I was in fulltime research and advocacy mode. Six months later after a
myriad of complications and medical snafus, he was diagnosed and treated
for Neuro-Lyme disease (Lyme of the central nervous system). He has
permanent nerve damage. As of late November, I was able to start
spending some time promoting the book.

I don't have an issue with doing my own marketing. I had a head start.
Most of my career was spent as a singer-songwriter and recording artist.
No booking agent wanted to take a chance on a blind woman, so early on I
started doing my own booking and PR. I learned from my mistakes while
working as a street performer in Philadelphia's Suburban Station, a
center-city commuter train and subway hub. When they didn't want to
assign a writer to cover my happenings, the Philadelphia Inquirer and
other papers often published my press releases -- without any changes.
That's still happening and I'm still grinning about it.

I also learned about motivation and sales from tape recorded programs
from Nightingale Conant. The actual statistics may have changed, but the
principles are the same. People don't generally buy something after
hearing about it for the first time. The rule of thumb in the '80s was
that it took eight times for the average buyer to respond to an
unsolicited pitch. Sales is a matter of high volume and low percentages.

Failing Your way to Success

Most of us have at least twelve years of experience with schools, and
we're used to the idea of success (aka grades) having something to do
with percentages. To get an A, you probably needed 90%, and if you had
less than 60%, you failed.

There are many things that require accuracy that borders on one hundred
percent. It's not acceptable, for instance, for a surgeon to take out
90% of a cancerous tumor. Fittings for machinery have to come within
tiny fractions of being perfect. To bring it closer to home, a book that
has only 95% of its words spelled correctly isn't considered  to be
properly edited or well-written.

With all of this totally reasonable obsession with perfection, it is
understandable that writers are flummoxed by the results they get from
everything from letters to their friends and families to paid
advertisements. Coping with the realities of marketing requires that we
abandon our preconceived and thoroughly vetted expectations about
success.

An Example & a Suggestion

When I started thinking about doing school assemblies, I wrote letters
to the headmasters of twenty-five private schools in the Philadelphia
area. 5 of them hired me. Five is 20%. This was a targeted solicitation,
so we'd expect higher percentages than something random, but 20% is
still high. For random solicitations, I learned that even 5% was rare
and cause for elation.

I built on that initial success by obtaining reference letters and
including them in mailings to every school in the area. Now that I'm
promoting my novel The Heart of Applebutter Hill, I use the same basic
formula -- cast a wide net, rejoyce in small percentages, and use what
you catch to create your next net.

So, take heart, recalibrate your expectations and power up with a shot
of wisdom from "The Rules of the Game," a little song from <i>The Last
Straw</i> that I wrote to nudge myself onward and upward.

-- The Heart of Applebutter Hill - a novel on a mission:

http://DonnaWHill.com <http://donnawhill.com/>

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