Great Expectations

What I seek as a writer:
1. That I enjoy writing.
2. That I enjoy my writing.
3. That others enjoy my writing.
4. That I be able to live off my writing.

Somewhere between 2 and 3 is where reality bumps into great expectations.

If I don't have 1 and 2, I might as well give up writing. But I do. I enjoy writing. And I intensely enjoy reading my own writing. The bridge from 2 to 3 lies in a change of medium, I believe. The internet is not a place to search for fame and appreciation. You, I, need to get published in print. In 2007, I pledge to do whatever it takes to get immortalised on paper. This bridge might lay the foundation for the next bridge between 3 and 4. I'm convinced that I can live off my writing. All I need to do is convince a publisher.

What brought about this introspection was that this is the last day of 2006. I was thinking about where my life is headed. What's my career? I make money off the internet. Enough to live off it. But it's not what I want to do. What I want to do, what I need to do, is write, in print - An ink stained wretch.

It hit me, rather hard, that I really am no good at anything else. I will never make it big in anything except writing. Because I love to write, and it's the only thing I'm good at. I realize that I can bear the burden of being a failed writer, but I won't be able to live with not being a writer. So, my resolution for 2007, with great expectations, is to roll the dice, and gamble my future, on being and becoming a full-fledged writer. And let the chips fall where they may.

Ebook Publishers

Comprehensive listing of ePublishers ( electronic publishers ) and resources for e-book writers. If you are an e-book writer or publisher and want to have your site listed on this page, send me an e-mail.




  • Echelon Press Publishing - Offering unique stories for exceptional readers in both e-book and paperback. Submission guidelines posted on website.
  • agoodbook.com - E-book publisher that includes work by Valerie Hardin.
  • American e-Book Factory - Site offers full range of services for e-book authors, including professional 3D e-book covers, niche market analysis, e-book eCommerce hosting, and e-book Ghostwriting.
  • Artemis Press - Electronic publisher of feminist and lesbian fiction and nonfiction e-books in Acrobat PDF and Palm formats for the worldwide women's community.
  • Atlantic Bridge - An e-publisher which publishes original work in various genres by previously unpublished and published authors.
  • Beckham House - Publishing house offering books online in electronic or paper format. Also helps promote Black authors.
  • bob-e-books - An online Internet publishing site.
  • The Book Den - Denlinger's Publishers, Ltd.: primarily publishes eBooks and print-on-demand paperbacks.
  • Books Unbound - Publishing ebooks in a wide range of formats. Royalties paid to authors.
  • Brown Bear Press - Brown Bear Press is an independent ebook publisher, dedicated to providing a venue for thought-provoking, original material that is overlooked by the larger publishers.
  • Browzer Publishing - Site offers free ebook publishing of approved materials only and lists some classic literature for download.
  • C & M Online Media - Publisher of electronic books under the imprint Boson Books.
  • California Ebooks - Creates and publishes virtual 3-dimensional electronic publications such as brochures, catalogs and manuals.
  • Cappuccino & Success For Everyday Living - Motivational and inspirational stories with proven Success Principles.
  • Cardinal Books - Offers online books, mini-reviews, and recommends bookstores and sites.
  • Central Europe Review eBookstore - Publishing electronic books dealing with the Central and East European region.
  • Charm Write E-Book Publishing - E-book sales, author promotion, entertainment and marketing.
  • Cool Publications - Offers a range of fiction, non-fiction and novellas in PDF and CD formats.
  • CORAT Publishers - Publisher and supplier of books/eBooks written by Peter Rudge including theological, management, gardening & croquet books. Free downloads available.
  • Crowsnest Books - Publisher that is best known for e-books and print-on-demand novels in the science fiction, fantasy and horror genres. Other genres covered include crime, thrillers and historical.
  • CustomGuide, Inc. - Offers print on-demand courseware and quick references suitable for instructor-led training courses and as self-paced tutorials. They cover most Microsoft subject matter.
  • Cwpublishing - Dedicated to electronic publication / republication of out-of-print Civil War and family history documents.
  • 3D Effect Web Books - Low cost web books for brochures, resumes, technical manuals, catalogs, news letters, and unique fund raisers.
  • Dailey International Publishers - Free ebooks covering WWII history, memoirs and technology.
  • Dead End Street - Cutting-edge "Alternative" Ebooks, including works by Valerie Hardin
  • Dewara's Free eBooks - Free classical eBooks in Microsoft Reader format..
  • Dungan Books - Independent publisher of full length classics on disk.
  • eBook Conversion Services - We produce ebooks for all platforms. Our eBooks clients include a number of the World's Largest International Publishers and Leading Authors.
  • e-Book e-dition - Electronic books for the Windows platform.
  • eBook Generator - Windows based software used to create e-books.
  • E-book Publishers - Publishing books in PalmPilot, eBook Reader, Rocket format and others
  • eBook Publishing - Knowledge Download provides a single, convenient and effective source for sellers, writers and potential authors to self-publish and sell your ebooks.
  • Ebook Publishing Tools - Site offers a suite of tools to successfully write, publish and market ebooks.
  • eBook Wholesaler Guide - Work at home eBooks and software info products exclusively for you to sell.
  • eBookery.com - Publishes ebooks for a variety of subjects.
  • eBookMall Publishing Center - E-book publisher for Microsoft Reader, Adobe PDF, Palm, and Instant eBook formats.
  • EbookSites.Org - Online publisher of fiction and nonfiction.
  • eBooks-Online - Independent ebooks in a variety of categories.
  • eBookTime Publishing - Publisher of ebooks in most popular formats. Site offers an e-bookstore for sale of published e-books.
  • eCover Generator - Easy-to-use software that lets you create professional looking ebook covers.
  • E-Digital Books, LLC - Offers downloadable e-books in PDF format.
  • Electron Press - E-book publisher
  • eLibrary - Site offers wide range of ebooks organised by category or popularity.
  • Embiid Publishing - Purveyors of electronic science fiction and fantasy reprints . Proprietary and Rocket formats.
  • Extensive eBook Selections - We carry an extensive selection of ebooks that are all available for instant download.
  • Fitton Books - Online books by Robert P. Fitton. Genres include science-fiction, mystery, fantasy, thrillers, and pop novels.
  • Franklin Electronic Publishers, Inc. - Producer of handheld eBook readers and publisher of eBooks. Includes online ordering, company and product information.
  • Free Marketing eBooks - Directory of marketing related ebooks and resources all free to download.
  • Gate Way Publishers - Electronic publisher of science fiction, paranormal, metaphysical and UFO stories in Acrobat PDF and Palm e-book formats.
  • Glastonbury Archive - Publisher of free online books in spiritual and humanitarian matters.
  • GNAAK Enterprise - Publishers of spiritual and inspirational poetry by a local author in PDF format.
  • Good Idea Creative Services - Ebook publishing, ghostwriting, cover design, art and illustration services.
  • Hidden Knowledge - eBook publisher that not only publishes new authors but also re-publishes old books.
  • How To Promote Concerts and Festivals - Most inclusive manual on concert and music festival promotions. Authored by promoter with 25 years experience.
  • IndependentBook.com - An e-book publishing and e-library. Self-publish your electronic document and read or download e-books here ... for free.
  • InfoClearinghouse - A marketplace for downloadable technical information on any subject. Authors may sell their information or use our platform to distribute their information for free.
  • Information eBooks - How-To eBooks on a wide variety of subjects- also available is a free self publishing e-book.
  • Integrity Tech City Publishing Division - EPublishing since 1997, romance, science fiction, fantasy, horror and nonfiction. Offers writers 50% of cover price, international promotions and professional web sites.
  • Literary Lights - Publishes inspirational Christian literature including fiction, essays, non-fiction, poems, and lyrics.
  • Magpie epublishing - Epublishing firm specializing in science fiction/fantasy and adult fiction in Microsoft Reader format.
  • Maithuna Publications - E-book and paperback book publisher of new age, metaphysical, occult, astrology, alternative spirituality, health and erotic titles.
  • Maxit Publishing - An online publishing company also market a book to its full potential.
  • mittymax.com - Subsidy e-book publisher and seller.
  • NetImpress, Inc. - Offering ebooks on computer technology.
  • Online Originals - Online publisher of literary e-books. Charges a small submission/review fee.
  • The Peanut Press - E-books for PalmOS or WinCE devices.
  • Phoenix Books / Publishers - Full-length e-books on business, entertainment, and a variety of cultures, languages and travel. Also special interest topics such as face-reading principles.
  • Pocketmanager - Management ebooks for the Psion or Palm.
  • PoeticJava Publishing - Offering fixed fee self publishing options for authors.
  • Poseidon Books - E-book publisher accepting new submissions. Also offering online sales.
  • Quellheart Books and Publishing - Gives users the ability to read online books and offers publishing services to unpublished authors.
  • Raven ePublishing - Committed to finding new authors and new ways to express their ideas.
  • Romance Novels ePublishing - Published and unpublished authors invited to submit completed manuscripts of 60k words or more.
  • RosettaBooks - Classic book titles available viewable in Microsoft Reader and Acrobat formats.
  • Saga Books - Historical fiction with Celtic flavor and historical romance. For sale by download.
  • Scorpius Digital Publishing - Free and Premium eBooks for Microsoft Reader. Specializing in science fiction, fantasy, and horror.
  • Sensory Publishing, Inc. - Offering Fiction, non-Fiction and Technical books in Print, PDF, and Microsoft Reader formats. PDA format will be offered soon.
  • Silent Partners - A full-service electronic publishing bureau in Austin, Texas, specializing in medical, scientific, and high-tech publications.
  • Stone Garden.net Publishing - Discount e-book publisher. Searchable online catalog.
  • SunnySide Up Publishing - An e-publishing website with various contests, freebies, e-books, print books, movies and merchandise for sale plus an Author Program.
  • SynergEbooks - ePublishing site dedicated to both authors and readers.
  • Tangyblue - Provides informational eBooks, focusing on how to get freebies of value for the small business.
  • Taylor and Francis - Features an extensive collection of academic digital books in multiple electronic formats.
  • Treeless Press - Electronic publisher supporting Rocket eBook and SoftBook
  • Tyborne Hill Publishers - Electronic book publisher that specializes in fiction, poetry, and reference.
  • Web Book Publications - Site offers free eBooks including over 400 classics and contemporary works.
  • Webscriptions - Web-based recreation of the serialized novel using science fiction published by Baen Books.
  • Wheelock Mountain Publications - E-book publisher of all types of non-fiction and fiction, including arts, science, technical, alternative energy, hobbies, do-it-yourself, romance, and adventure.
  • Wind River Press - Includes design, ghostwriting, and editing services, advertising guidelines, and submission guidelines.
  • A Write Shop - Editing, publishing, and marketing literary materials in traditional and ebook formats.
  • Writers Closet - Site publishes eBooks in various categories and research papers.

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Paying Markets For Writers

This is a list of paying markets for writers. Publishers who will pay writers for articles, submissions, fiction, non-fiction, poems, true stories, cookbooks, chicklit, romantic musings and more. Personally speaking, I have neither need nor time for pursuing publishers. That's a discreet way of saying that my writing is trash and I'm scared of putting my thoughts to paper and submitting it to publishers. Doesn't mean that I can't list these publishers.


  • AA Independent Press Guide - A free, online writer's resource, with detailed listings of over 2000 literary & genre magazines, and links to over 700 internet magazines.
  • Absolute Markets - Paying market guidelines for freelance writers, writing contests, and interviews with editors, publishers, and agents.
  • Avalanche of Jobs for Writers - Employment opportunities for writers and journalists in reporting, feature writing, reviewing, editing.
  • Bonnie Mercure's Guide to Writers' Markets - Market listings for speculative fiction, science fiction, fantasy, horror, slipstream, mystery fiction. Divided into paying/non-paying markets and print magazines/ezines.
  • The Critter's Workshop Market List - Market list from Critter's Workshop. Targets science fiction, fantasy, and horror.
  • Duotrope's Digest of Fiction Fields - Free, searchable list of fiction markets (mainstream and genre). Also offers a calender of themed publication deadlines.
  • Every Literary Magazine - A list of literary magazines, zines, and online publications. (Some link rot).
  • Foreign Language Market List - Douglas Smith's market list for multilingual writers.
  • Forwriters.com - This is an all-purpose site with links to such writer's resources as markets, agents, groups, conferences, forums, and workshops where writers can have their works critiqued.
  • FTP Directory of the news.answers/writing Newsgroup - Contains a listing of market information under Resources.
  • ITI's Literary Market Place.com - Searchable database of the book publishing industry. Search by subject, type of publication, city, state, zip, and even by number of publications issued in the past year.
  • Just Markets - Markets from travel writing to freelance newspaper jobs. Subscribe for $9.95 a month.
  • Kimberly Brown's Writing Page - Contains links to writing markets.
  • Literary Magazines Reviewed for Writers - Short descriptions of literary magazines for prose writers: typical stories, story length, when to submit, typical contributor's background.
  • The Market List - "A resource for writers of science fiction, fantasy, and horror."
  • Mastheads.org - A website dedicated to updating hundreds of magazine mastheads, with information for freelancers on how to contact magazine editors.
  • Media Bistro - A website connecting journalists and new media professionals to jobs and each other.
  • Online Content UK: Jobs List - The job list of Online Content UK, the national organization for new media editorial professionals in the United Kingdom. Jobs cover editorial roles, including writing, editing and other content-related jobs.
  • The Paper Journey Press - Links to writer's guidelines for various literary journals.
  • Paula Fleming's Market List - List of markets for speculative fiction.
  • Publisher Database - Offers a submission tracker, forums, and a member-maintained database of magazines looking for writers and poets.
  • Ralan's Webstravaganza - Writing market listings by genre. Also a spec. fiction newsletter.
  • The Rose & Thorn Writer's Market Info - Paying and non-paying market listings; links to other sites offering market listings; on- and offline contests and competitions; links to additional market sources.
  • Sally Stuart - Market guide targeted to Christian writers, including periodical, book, greeting card, poetry, and specialty markets. Also links to conferences contests, and agents.
  • SciFi Editor: Paying Markets - Paying markets for writers of science fiction, fantasy, speculative fiction, and horror.
  • Speculations - An online resource for writers who wish to break into or increase their presence within the science fiction, fantasy, horror, and speculative fiction subgenres. Subscribe for $20 a year.
  • Speculative Fiction Markets - Paying markets for short science fiction, fantasy, horror, and speculative fiction. Categorized by pay rate.
  • Submitting to the Black Hole - Links to science fiction/ fantasy/ horror magazine and book publishers including market information. Site reports statistics on average response times for submitted manuscripts, the theory being that markets with very slow response times are akin to black holes. Only paying markets are tracked.
  • Wooden Horse Publishing - A news and market resource site for nonfiction periodicals writers.
  • Word Dragon - Markets for writers to send their work to.
  • Worldwide Freelance Writer - Global directory of markets for freelance writers.
  • The Write Market - Online writer's market list, containing listings for print magazines, book projects, contests, webzines, and publishers.
  • Writerfind.com - Global freelance and telecommuting jobs for writers.
  • The Writers' Desk - A service query desk which allows authors to send multiple queries, pitches, manuscripts, articles and screenplays to syndicates, agents, magazines and publishers.
  • Writer's Digest - Writer's Digest features daily writing and publishing updates, writer's guidelines, ranking of places to get published, courses and contests.
  • The Writers Place - Market database, Chicken Writer daily cartoon and a humour column. Home page of the Writing for Dollars newsletter.
  • Writers Write: Paying Markets - List of paying markets and writer's guidelines from Writer's Write.
  • WritersMarket: Market Watch - Searchable database of publishers and agents. Offers features such as the Submission Tracker, the Tips Library, Your Writer's Market, Web Resources, the Market Watch section, the Spotlight Market and the Ask the Agent column.
  • WritersWeekly.com - Free listing of paying markets for freelance writers. Also includes links to various resources for writers.
  • Writers@Work - Job board and market database.
  • Zongoo - Writers submit their articles, publishers get their free content.



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Freelance Jobs 28th Dec

Here's the jobs, freelance, telecommute, work at home, sit on your butt and earn money:

New York, food, writing. Mix 'em up, throw in craigslist and a sprinkling of telework and what'd you have? A food writing gig in NYC. Click here.

Forum posters wanted for NYC forum. I know which forum the ad is talking about, but the very thought of posting there again sends cold shivers up my spine. Dead forum. Still, if you're a sucker for punishment, click here.

Got pipedreams of being a hot-shot journalist? Well, this may not be exactly what you had in mind, but it's a start. Specially if you're not willing to get up off that comfy chair. Click here ( news content writing job )

Love politics? Want to express your partisan rants? And get paid for it? Nope. This ain't a blogging gig. Political bloggers are totally unemployable. What these people need are real writers, who can write lengthy features, with facts and analysis and history lessons and quotes from famous politicians, analysts and regional experts. If you can do that, click here.

Ghost writer wanted. Click here.
Freelance copywriter wanted. Click here.
Teen weblog looking for freelance writers. Click here.
Uh...Parrot forum posters wanted. Click here.
Medical proof-reading gig. Work at home. Click here.
Freelance web copy writer. Click here.
PR firm looking for a freelance writer. Click here.
Marketing copy writer wanted. Telecommuting is A-Ok!! Click here.

From now on until the 2nd or 3rd of Jan, there won't any job postings. That's not because I'm going to be punch drunk ( well...maybe a bit...), but because the people who post the jobs on craigslist likely won't be around for the next few days. I will be posting, in the brief periods of clarity, when the haze of alcohol induced stupor lifts a bit and allows me to see one screen, instead of a couple. A happy new year to every useless scum of a writer and all the fine freelancers who visit this page!!!!

Write For Rights - Write-A-Thon

Want to write? Here's what you need. A central idea, a set of ideals, which propels the writer to a logical conclusion. The hero? Someone the reader wants to be. End of the day, it's a must that your words inspire change in the reader - Whether it be picking up some of the slang, a change in lifestyle or, in the best of circumstances, a transfer of ideas and ideals from paper to mind.

An example would be non-fiction writers who catalog human rights abuse. The writer has this feeling that he or she is fighting to correct some wrong. It's less about writing, and more about the subject matter. Meaning that you, the writer, are part of a crusade. And this gets transferred into paper and shows up as the central idea. Couple this with some moving and graphic pictures, detailed research and citing of facts and what you have is that the sense of fighting on behalf of the oppressed is transferred from the writer to paper and crawls into the reader's mind.

Look up a few articles and features written Nicholas Kristof for the New York Times, and you'll realize what I'm blabbering about. He's not a great writer. What he does have is an unshakable sense of conviction and a quixotic impulse to fight for the downtrodden. He doesn't play with words like say, David Brooks. I'd say that he's more of a human rights activist than a writer. Every other day, he's slam-bang in the middle of a new mess. He turns up in remote and oppressed parts of the world, and the local two-bit dictator starts quaking in his boots thinking about the backlash from a Kristof article in the NYT. Womens' rights in Pakistan, the Orange revolution in Ukraine, Rose revolution in Georgia, Darfur, call-girls in Cambodia....

You don't have to be a Kristof or an NYT columnist to be able to do this. You can sit on your butt in your parents' basement and write about it. By participating in Amnesty International's annual Global Write-a-thon. Every December, AI activists from countries all over the world write letters during the Global Write-a-thon. The letters and postcards they write effect powerful change in the lives of individuals, help stop violence against women and contribute to the release of Prisoners of Conscience around the world. "The candle burns not for us, but for all those whom we failed to rescue from prison, who were shot on the way to prison, who were tortured, who were kidnapped, who ''disappeared'. That is what the candle is for." - Peter Benenson ( Founder, Amnesty International )

End of the day, your writing is better because you care. And you become a better person because you write about things which concern you. Your writing holds you up to a certain standard, and it's difficult to run away from those standards. Alcohol helps, but there really is no escape. As a rule, writers are like water - Always looking for the path of least resistance. Write for rights, and you'll not only be a writer, but also a better person.

The American Title

No, this isn't another post about stealing titles for your doodling. This is about the American Idol for writers. The "American Title Contest". The Philly has the inside dope. "By winning American Title, the stay-at-home mom of three would get her romance novel published by Dorchester Publishing... 'Life interferes with my writing,' Fennell said." She's gonna win it, all right.

The film Freedom Writers is making waves, for all the right reasons. Normally, this kind of stuff would be inspiration fodder for budding writers to wring their hankies over, but by adding Hillary Swank to the cast, the film is headed for a far bigger audience share. The Republican has the details. "The film is an adaptation of Erin Gruwell's 1999 book, 'The Freedom Writers Diary: How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change Themselves and the World Around Them.' "

I've often bloviated on the need to be a 'life writer'. Write about what you do, your life, your thoughts, your ideas, your mom, your cat....Beats writing about the vietnam war, when you have absolutely no clue how it feels to be hunted by a sniper in the Cambodian jungle. Anyway, Juanita Riedel a.k.a. "The Basket Lady" has a unique way to help writers stretch their imaginations.

Journalist? Nope. Holy Terror

"Just imagine a young journalist who knows how to write and has also studied forensic accounting. He or she would be a holy terror. Politicians and executives alike would quake in their boots at the mere mention of the reporter’s name. And when they hear who is in the waiting room, they’ll hide everything in sight. It would be like having a secret weapon in your pocket." - Attribution, Plagiarism and Lies - Part 2 - Hot Copy, by Del Marbrook

I like the thought of people quaking in their boots at the mere mention of my name. But as of speaking, my 4 year old nephew starts rolling on the floor with uncontrolled mirth whenever I'm the subject of discussion. So there's a bit of work to be done, before I can hope to become a holy terror. Moving away from navel gazing, I'll list a few scribes who do manage to induce a few beads of sweat:


Bob WoodwardBob Woodward : Nothing much to say about Woodward that hasn't been said, discussed and dissected on the net. Starting off with a navy career, Woodward moved over to reporting, broke the Watergate scandal, had a movie made about his exploits, regularly churns out best-selling and meticulously researched books. Has a great job with the Washington Post, which gives him a lot of freedom to write his books. His latest book was one of the turning points in the shaping of American opinion about the Iraq war. You can say that it started going downhill for the Bush administration after Woodward's book came out. In short, he's everything that defines the concept of a journalist as a 'holy terror'.

That said, there's something more about Woodward that needs to be said. He's a sellout. He cultivates friendships and flushes them down the loo when he's done. He has a long trail of bitter friendships, starting from Mark Felt to Carl Bernstein right up to President Bush. Modus operandi: Snuggle up to people, listen to what they have to say, flatter them, make use of their information and access and then shut the door in their face. He's done it all his life, and I don't see a shred of emotion or remorse in him. A real cold-blooded fish. Or a successful journalist and investigative reporter. Take your pick. I guess it means the same...


Seymour M. HershSeymour Myron Hersh : Exploits? Investigative reporting on My Lai, the C.I.A.'s bombing of Cambodia, Henry Kissinger’s wiretapping, and the C.I.A.'s efforts against Chile's Salvador Allende, among other topics. In 2004, Hersh was responsible for exposing the Abu Ghraib prison scandal. He then moved on to the Bush administrations plans to deal with Iran and with a single article effectively blew the bottom out of any Iran buzz.

Seymour Hersh's main assets include an unshakable conviction that as a reporter, he's entitled to the truth and a deep pipeline into the armed forces, which helps him dig up and write about the dark side of war and its ravages. If you're in the middle of a war, have something to hide and you find Hersh sniffing at your heels, it would be a good time to break out in a sweat.


Matt DrudgeMatt Drudge : If you don't read the Drudge report, you're one news cycle behind anyone else who does. The secret of his strength is his unshakable reader base, which he cultivates with a very simple formula. Breaking news. If I'm following a story and expect some breaking news, there are only two sites I keep open - The NYT and Drudge. Every single time, it's either one of these that breaks the news first. And if you are the headline in Drudge, you would be well advised to go on a vacation, a long one.



Flawed as they are, these are the representative icons of journalism and news reporting. Ultimately, they must be thanked for doing their job. Which is to break news and bring out the truth.

The Gift Of Hope - Bill Gates

Time may have made an astute marketing choice by nominating you as the 'person of the year', but I'd like to shine the spotlight on an unlikely candidate. Bill Gates. Anything the man does, was and is an unqualified success. He wants to be charitable. So he sets up the Bell & Melinda Gates foundation. Fine. Nothing special. World's richest guy. World's biggest charity. $30 billion. Usual stuff.

But then, with the Google boys nipping at his heels, Bill Gates decides he's had enough and turns his cold eye to really 'doing' charity. And this is where it gets interesting. He cons Warren Buffet ( Or maybe it was the other way around, as Alan Sloan brilliantly explains in Newsweek ) into handing out another $30 billion, which makes the foundation good for $60 billion. And that's just the simple math.

What Gates did in that one week of blanket media coverage was to turn philanthropy from something which Madonna and Angelina Jolie did into something which you and I can do. He made it fashionable, and cool, to give away a fortune. His actions and words are attracting talented graduates fresh out of college into the world of charity and non-profit research. A chance of getting a grant from the B & M Gates foundation is spurring non-profits and drug companies to venture into fields which they would normally avoid like the...like the...All right. This line was a mistake.

On this Christmas day, when Santa brings joy to millions of kids around the world, he has the King of the Geeks as a new intern. For bringing the gift of hope to those most in need of it, to those who have been forsaken by state and society, for lighting small sparks of charitable spirits in the hearts of millions, I give to you my 'Person of the Year 2006'. Bill Gates.

Addicted To Chaos

When normal people hit a roadblock in life, they put their heads down, struggle through the storm and then live happily ever after. When a writer bumps into tragedy, he breaks out the champaigne. Do writers invite tragedy and turmoil, consciously or otherwise, in order to be writers? I have here a collection of links, quotes and facts to shed more light on this affliction.

"It is often tragic to see how blatantly a man bungles his own life and the lives of others yet remains totally incapable of seeing how much the whole tragedy originates in himself, and how he continually feeds it and keeps it going." - Carl Gustav Jung

Sharon K. West, writing for Suite101 ( Contract writers on Suite101 get paid based on page views, so I'm helping her out here by linking to her article ) lays out the facts.
"What do we know of the tragic afflictions of historical figures?
Some who have suffered from depression include Beethoven, Ernest Hemingway, Jack London, Judy Garland, Claude Monet, Norman Rockwell, and Edgar Allen Poe. Winston Churchill called depression his "little black dog."
Of course, depression is not the only tragic affliction. What of the afflictions of Joseph Merrick, also known as the "Elephant Man," or blind and deaf Helen Keller, or Franklin D. Roosevelt with polio?
We certainly would consider dyslexia to be a tragic affliction. Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell and Albert Einstein had this affliction. Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Pablo Picasso had it as well."


Well, that rules out at least one thing. This affliction of the "tragic" can't be a co-incidence. Which means that someone, somewhere, probably has a study on this, or a thesis and has all kinds of statistics and data to back it up. Well? Uhh.....yeah. There is. "A portrait of the artist as a nutcase".
A perspective on the biological basis of aesthetic preferences from neuropsychological study of artistic creativity by Anna Lee Strachan.
Go figure...

And just when I was patting my back at this excellent analysis and dissection of writers, tragedy and creativity, I bump into the word "art therapy". Which basically means that I must flush my entire post down the loo. But no, I must hit 'publish', close blogger.com, shut down the computer, get drunk and try and forget about this tragedy of a post.