You probably gathered this from the title of this post, but I made a vlog! I set up my webcam, chose a nice background in my apartment, and just went nuts. Thus, without any further ado:
How’s my vlogging technique? Any tips? I used Windows Movie Maker to edit the video, so hopefully it isn’t too mind-bogglingly terrible.
Now, what silly picture from around the interwebs shall I share with you today? How about … this!
Photo courtesy of Nakai SZH. Source: engrish.com
Copyright law states that images can be used on your blog if you are using them to parody or review. Thus, a review of the picture above:
I find it very amusing. Mistranslations are an excellent source of comedy.
Boomshakalaka.
Michelle Proulx - Author 
Good job!
Thanks 🙂
I had attempted a vlog when I started up this blog. I was going to do both. I love Tobuscus-you should check him out. He actually sparked the idea of doing it. But when it came down to being in front of the camera, my mouth grew dry and my words seemed jumbled into an awkward mess…so I tossed that idea to the back burner. Kudos to you for going for it.
I’ll check out Tobuscus. And as for jumbled words — that’s what multiple takes are for! Lol. I really had fun making it, although the editing process was a pain. You should try making a vlog again! I would watch it 🙂
Aww, so encouraging! Oh, and I nominated you for the One Lovely Blog award. Rules are on my page. 🙂
Thanks! I love winning things 😀
Great vlog! I’ve always wanted to do one, but I’m pretty sure I would stare unblinkingly at the camera for half an hour and then just post it. Or I’d mumble. Anyways, good job and that review of that mistranslated picture was spot on. 😛
Lol thank you.
Hi Michelle. Loved the vlog.
$2200 to ‘copy edit’ your book? In my opinion, way, way, way too much. The difference in US and other punctuation isn’t that great and most could be quickly corrected with a ‘search and replace’ in a word processor.
I thought the words limit was about paper books, ie considerations of production costs and shelf space. In terms of the reader surely it’s only about how many words are needed to tell the story and if that’s 120,000 that’s fine surely? I just reread the Grapes of Wrath – about 180,000 I think. My most influential book and, I think, Steinbeck’s best story but not, in parts, his best writing. But I doubt a cut of any more than 5,000 words would have been an improvement.
The thing with the word count is that it’s a YA book, which are typically shorter. That’s not saying there can’t be YA books (look at Twilight), but the vast, vast, vast majority of publishing houses won’t take on a YA project if it’s over 100k words (due to print costs, I believe). For an eBook, length doesn’t matter, but because I’m getting the book printed as well, it’s a concern. That being said, I’ll try to cut down things, but if I can’t reach 100k… oh well, lol.
And as for the copy-edit, yeah, it’s extremely pricey. As you can see in my vlog, yesterday, I was gung-ho about doing it. Now, I’m not so sure. It seems to me that it would be easier to just buy an American style guide and do it myself. I dunno. I still have to trim the manuscript a bit, so I haven’t yet reached a decision on the copy-editing conundrum.
Awesome Vlog! I am actually very excited to read your book! I can’t wait to hear when it comes out!
Huzzah!
I don’t think I could do a vlog on a bouncy ball. I just wouldn’t sit still at all. Your book sounds fun and you have great energy on your vlog.
FYI: in looking for copy editors, most will do a few pages for free. Look around before you decide to go with iUniverse.
I love, love love love, Popular Soda and their advice for authors. Here’s a great one about finding editors:
http://popularsoda.com/2012/06/27/five-signs-of-bad-editors/