What’s this? I have a Zune? What’s wrong with me–no ipod?

Well, it took some time for me to make the transition to digital technology believe it or not. I struggle with keeping even  a basic cell  phone, and I hate how every time the contract is up they tempt you into buying a new phone. Wasteful.

I have never owned much music. The number of albums is probably under twenty five over the course of my existence. Mostly classical music.

So why is it that I like my little Zune? I subscribe to the music service which affords me access to a huge range of music that I simply would never purchase. So I try everything. It’s brought me much joy–although truthfully almost 75% of my catalog is instrumental. Crazy experimental stuff along side classical pieces.

I’ve discovered that I have an odd love for synth strings and a passion for soundtracks–or perhaps movie scores would be the better term. Maybe its all about growing up in the seventies and eighties. I like digital music that sounds–well, digital! Synthesized. Space disco…silly, but I do like it.

And it doesn’t bother me that I don’t own the rights. Sure, when I stop my subscription, my collection goes back to my small set of songs–but I have purchased some that I just couldn’t go without. A tune here or there.

Just recently I’ve added some music to my play list. Exciting. Helps me get in the groove to work on my projects. Right now the soundtrack from the video game Mass Effect is totally rocking my world. Never even played the game–yet.

I wonder what changes we will see in the book world with the advent of ebook readers. Would I pay a subscription fee to read whatever I like even if in the end I didn’t own any of it?

Highly possible. It works for me on the Zune. Maybe it could on something awesome like…the ipad…  It’s going to take some convincing though. Remember, when I first started writing my book I did it all by hand–three journals full. Simply could not get around the idea of not having my hand pressing to the page when composing. Same with art–and still would be true if I did not have a Cintiq.

For me, the interface with the technology is the key. The more it feels like the real thing, the faster I can adapt to it. If it’s wholly alien to me, then it has to trade me something for the transition–an experience I might not otherwise get.

I’ve lately discovered there are three distinct parts to doing a manuscript. First, just being able to write freely. For this, I love PageFour. It’s simple, exactly what I need, nothing more, nothing less.

But, to send it out as a manuscript, well, I need a good formatting program. All I really need is the ability to make easy Headers and Page numbers and Page Breaks. Maybe someday I’ll move into Bookmarks and Tables of Contents but not now.

Uh…Word? You are not my first choice. I don’t like you because it’s difficult to cut and paste from different articles and have everything format automatically into my ever growing submission draft.

So I am trying out Word Perfect for a month and see. So far–it’s easier. Compatibility seems to be awesome.

I have both Illustrator and Indesign–but these are end of the process production tools–for book design. Cover and interior pages respectively. The third step in writing. Making it pretty. Got that covered.

After Word Perfect I’ll try Open Office–but I remember that once I tried PageFour for a month I couldn’t live without it. So we’ll see, Corel.

I have this tool up and running down in my kitchen work area. Oh, it is really cool. The best thing though, is you really do work faster. I don’t know why, but it really does cut production time down by half, at least. I ‘m using the art 6-D pen as well, with the felt tip. Another new tool for me, but a nice one. The feel of it in your hand is really good, much more like a brush and its kinder to the surface of your tablet.

Still use the regular grip pen for drawing and very fine detail work. Today I used it to trace over the final image for my next tutorial, one out of Imagine FX magazine. Not my usual subject, but good for making me try something outside of my comfort zone–vampires. Saving those fairies for later.