[nagdu] Ear cleaning techniques.

[Applebutter Hill]

Hi Debby,
Thanks for your note. I'm glad you enjoy my posts and think I have some common 
sense. *grin*

About your writing ... It's a long discussion with many angles. Have you ever 
considered joining the NFB  Writers' Division? We have an email list which is 
free and we share our drafts and discuss publishing, editing and anything 
writing related. It would be good for you to get perspectives from lots of 
sources and figure out what is right for you.

In the short term, if you want to satisfy your Mom without going through the 
process of self-publishing and/or finding an agent/publisher, she might be 
happy if one of your pieces was published in "Slate & Style," which is the 
quarterly literary journal of the Writers' Division. Or, start a blog and 
publish your material online.

I'm copying something below my name that I put together, because I get a lot 
of questions on this.

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Blessings,
Donna
Block quote
As for your writing, here is my advice. Join at least one writing group 
online. I belong to the Writers' Division of the National Federation of the 
Blind. We have a free email list called "Stylist" on which people can post 
their work and receive comments and criticism. Several of our members are 
published authors and we have a wide variety of experiences from traditional 
publishing to self publishing. We also have monthly telephone gatherings which 
often feature professionals from the publishing industry, a quarterly journal 
of writing by blind authors and an annual contest.

I get a lot of requests to talk one on one with writers, and at this point, I 
have had to find a more efficient way of communicating. I have written several 
blog posts about my own writing adventure which I believe would give you a 
glimpse into my perspectives and experiences. I'll put some links to them 
below my name. If you read them and would like me to address a specific issue 
in an upcoming post, let me know.

I suggest the group, however, because there are so many different 
perspectives, and you should be getting the widest range of input so you can 
make your own decisions that will be best for you.

I also recommend you read whatever you can about the publishing industry. If 
you are a subscriber to the NLS Talking Book program and the BARD digital 
download site or to Bookshare, they are good places to start. Marketing your 
book will be a major investment of your time and energies whether you have a 
traditional publisher or do it yourself. The industry no longer provides new 
authors with the same kind of support they once did. Also, editing your book 
thoroughly and often and getting others' input prior to approaching an agent 
or going out on your own makes a big difference. Make sure you've done the 
very best you can.

Hope to hear from you on Stylist. If you'd like to join and can't find it 
online, write to David Andrews and tell him you'd like to join. His email is:
dandrews at visi.com

Posts about writing by Donna W. Hill

A Writer's Wormhole: from novelist to publisher in 3 easy nervous breakdowns

http://donnawhill.com/2013/03/23/writers-wormhole-novelist-to-publisher-3-easy-nervous-breakdowns

 A Writer's Wormhole: eBook Self-Publishing Mistakes, mystifications and 
misdemeanors
http://donnawhill.com/2013/06/20/a-writers-wormhole-ebook-self-publishing-mistakes-mystifications-and-misdemeanors/

Writing Process: The Heart of Applebutter Hill Author Weaves Fantasy & Reality
http://donnawhill.com/2014/06/16/writing-process-heart-applebutter-hill-author/Authors & Marketing: Sensitive Introvert to Shameless Hawker - Abandoning 
Erroneous Expectations
http://donnawhill.com/2014/07/14/authors-marketing-sensitive-introvert-to-shameless-hawker-abandoning-erroneous-expectations/Advice for Aspiring Writers: Get Your Editor On
http://donnawhill.com/2014/09/22/advice-for-aspiring-writers-get-your-editor-on/Novel or Scrapbook: the Benefits of Being a Writer
http://donnawhill.com/2014/10/06/novel-or-scrapbook-the-benefits-of-being-a-writer/Authors, Advocates & the Press: Humiliation, Angst & Recovery
http://donnawhill.com/2015/02/16/authors-advocates-the-press-humiliation-anxt-recovery/Writer's Gazebo: Tips to Improve Your Writing Through Empathetic Thought & 
Precision Editing
http://donnawhill.com/2015/03/30/writers-gazebo-tips-to-improve-writing/Writers' Gazebo: Assumptions & Directions
http://donnawhill.com/2015/04/13/writers-gazebo-assumptions-directions/

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

http://DonnaWHill.com



-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Debby Phillips via 
nagdu
Sent: Sunday, June 07, 2015 12:01 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Cc: Debby Phillips
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Ear cleaning techniques.

Hey Donna! I thought I'd just reply to you as to not add traffic to the list. 
I absolutely agree with you.  I smell my dog's ears every day, since she's a 
lab, and my retired guide's ears, too.
One night a few weeks ago all of a sudden Lamar started shaking his head and 
scratching his ear.  I sniffed and told my husband that it smelled pretty bad. 
Craig got some peroxide and flushed out the ear, and then wiped it out.  There 
was a bunch of black stuff.  But the next day, Lamar was just fine.  So I 
really think that works well.  And Lamar's been fine ever since.

How are you doing? Hope all is well with you.  It's so nice to
read your posts because you have so much common sense.  (Grin).
Peace,    Debby and Nova P.S.  This is totally not dog related,
but I have a question.  As a young person I wrote a lot, had my own column in 
my high school newspaper, and entertained the kids in my neighborhood, 
brothers and cousins with stories that I made up.  Lately my mom has been 
bugging me to write and get something published.  She is 78, and she says she 
wants me to publish something before she dies.  I do enjoy writing, I just 
don't seem to have time, or maybe it's that I don't take time to do it.  And 
after I've written something, what do I do with it? My mom enjoys reading 
things I send her, but she always has wanted more.
(Grin).  Do you have any suggestions? I think I'm afraid that my mom is just 
biased in my favor and that I'm not really that good.

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