Knock Knock. Jon here.

[JonBabcock]

First, I would like to thank AbsoluteWrite.com and its members for creating an online community where, during my last couple weeks of lurking, I found answers to several of my questions as well as questions I hadn't thought about.

I finished my "first" novel a month ago and have been preparing to self-publish it since. "First" is in quotes because I wrote another novel, 49 years ago, only to be struck dumb by a gigantic writer's block until September 4, 2010, when I realized I should write exactly what I want, no more, no less, and do it every day. This is obvious to me now, but for 49 years I had attempted to write to a different drummer, any drummer other than mine.

I'm having my second "first" novel edited now, been working on the cover design for both a POD version and an ebook version, and am learning the simple HTML needed to format it for the Kindle. I look forward to joining in the conversation on the self-publishing and POD and novels forums, although I might just pop into the poetry forum to scratch an itch first. <g>
Jon

[alleycat]

Welcome.

I notice you're from Montana. I was re-reading Travels With Charley by John Steinbeck earlier this week (for about the fourth time). He'd traveled all over, but he said Montana was the most beautiful state in the union (as an old Tennessee boy I might politely disagree slightly); that's quite a recommendation.

[JonBabcock]

I don't leave the ranch much any more, but when I do, I am always blown away by the stern beauty of the mountains, and the old log cabins and barns for sure, but even a junky old trailer sitting on a barren hillside with storm clouds moving in brings tears to my eyes. This place is the embodiment of Japanese wabi, and even though I've lived here since I was three (with a decade or so overseas), I never, never get enough of it.
Jon
PS I hope I didn't screw up not entering a Title above. Still learning the ropes...

[Nickie]

Hi there, and welcome to the Cooler.

[CACTUSWENDY]

Welcome to AW. Hope you enjoy your stay with us.
How do you like your popcorn?

If you go to the bottom of the page to the 'forum jump' you can scroll down and find all the areas of this place. After you post 50 posts you can use the SYW areas to get help there. The password for some of the areas is…..vista. A word to the wise, it would be a good idea to participate first in helping others before you think about posting your own work. After you have been around here for awhile, then post something of your own for help. Good luck.

[JonBabcock]

Thanks, Nickie.

Jon

[JonBabcock]

CactusWendy, Thanks for the headsup: critique for a while, then perhaps post a chunk of your work.

Ah, finally found it, SYW = Share Your Work.
Jon

[Deizelcore]

Welcome to AW!

[JonBabcock]

Deizelcore, thanks. The closest I got to Latvia was a woman in Seattle once, then I met her again in Boston, but wait, that's another story...

[regdog]

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l117/regdog/hello.gif


Take some time and read the Newbie Guide (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66315) and the Stickies found
at the top of Forum pages. They are your best guide to learning about
Absolute Write.

Don’t forget to read the FAQ (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=217563) regarding posting pictures at AW.


Members who want to start a thread in Share Your Work to have work critiqued need
50 posts. Don’t make a mad dash to reach your 50 posts. Take some time to greet fellow newbies,
critique other members’ works, or join a discussion.

[Tepelus]

Hello, and welcome!

[JonBabcock]

Thanks, regdog, it's a pleasure to be here. I did check out the image FAQ.
Jon

[JonBabcock]

Thanks, Tepelus. My pleasure.
Jon

[KatieJ]

always blown away by the stern beauty of the mountains, and the old log cabins and barns for sure, but even a junky old trailer sitting on a barren hillside with storm clouds moving in brings tears to my eyes. This place is the embodiment of Japanese wabi

You have put your finger on the exact joy of living within nature. I feel the same way. Welcome to AW, this is a great place for us old returning writers.

[PorterStarrByrd]

Welsome aboard

You might be interested in the Old Farts place on the office party forumm... not saying you are past 29 of course ...

[JonBabcock]

Thanks, KatieJ.

In Taipei, Tokyo, San Francisco and Seattle, always figured I'd return to the ranch. Found the gap between urban and country life deeper than between cultures.

Jon

[JonBabcock]

PorterStarrByrd, Thanks and it's good to be here.

Now the Old Farts forum wouldn't be a time sink, a black hole in the realm of AbsoluteWrite, perchance? <g>

Jon

[goldhorse]

Welcome to the cooler! :)

[plumsink]

Welcome from another new person!

If you find a way to get Kindle to play fair with tabs, let me know. Actually I gather that it isn't that hard if you use Microsoft Word, but I use OpenOffice.

[JonBabcock]

Thanks, goldhorse. Interesting handle, reminds me of a famous Tang Dynasty essay on Huayan Buddhism called "Gold Lion" which I've been trying to translate for about 20 years.

Jon

[JonBabcock]

Thanks, plumsink. Actually, I've been an OpenOffice Writer user since StarOffice days, but recently I've had, kicking and screaming, to run MSWord in a virtual machine running Windows 7 on my Linux box in order to interface with my editor. But, as I get into the HTML coding for Kindle, when I address the tab problem, I'll try to remember to let you know. (My first target is to get a handle on how to tame MS's so-called "smart quotes" with compliant, Unicode friendly HTML.)

[thehairymob]

:hi::hooray:

[CinthiaX]

Welcome, Jon! Your story sounds fascinating....49 years, wow! Good luck:)

[JonBabcock]

Thanks thehairymob.

Like your mug shot. Reminds me of a builder I worked with in Japan. He'd pull out his false teeth, make a face that transported us all to the Unspaced Hells, and then return his facial muscles to their normal, handsome state, leaving us spellbound.

Jon

[JonBabcock]

CinthiaX, Thanks for the welcome.

Yep. In September of 2010, when I finally, got the right view of writing, I was dancing in the streets happy. I wouldn't say it was like Zen satori, but I figured it was close, very close. <g> And then when I put it to the test for fifteen months and produced my almost first first novel, I was pleased, very pleased.

Jon

[Mark G]

:welcome: Welcome to Absolute Write!

[JonBabcock]

Mark G, Thanks for the welcome.

Jon

[dryland]

Welcome from a fellow newbie!

[JonBabcock]

Thanks, dryland.
Notice your About Me says 'creative non-fiction'. Sounds interesting, hope to see more.

Jon

[bluntforcetrauma]

Howdy, Jon!

[JonBabcock]

Howdy, bluntforcetrauma. Thanks.

Jon

[Mik]

Wow! Good luck on everything.

[Silver-Midnight]

Welcome to AW!

[Griffin Hayes]

Nice meeting you. Welcome to AW!