Writer and Reader Comfort Part 2: Comfort at Your Desk - tools to make writing and reading time easier. #amwriting #writinglife #reader #booklover #christmasgift #holidaygiftguide

I wrote this post in April but thought it could be helpful as people look for holiday gifts. Get these for the writers or readers in your life!

I was recently at a writer’s retreat where we spent an evening sharing the tools we found to make our writing and reading time easier. I decided others might appreciate learning about some of these tools. I’ve also added a couple more of my own favorites. (See part 1 of Writer and Reader Comfort here.)

Comfort at Your Desk

If you spend a lot of time at your desk, a good chair is invaluable. I ordered the OFM ESS Collection Racing Style Bonded Leather Gaming Chair in 2020. I like the padded seat, armrests that can go up out of the way, adjustable height and swivel. It’s “currently unavailable,” but this one is similar: Racing Style Gaming Chair 

This version has attached lumbar and neck support and is surprisingly affordable (on sale for about $60 as of this writing): High-Back Gaming Office Chair 

And here’s the “Executive” version if you're feeling fancy: Homall Executive Gaming Chair 

A good keyboard is also key for writers. I was having pain in my right shoulder, likely due to reaching out to use the rollerball mouse. This left-handed keyboard has the number keypad on the left side, which allows me to keep my mouse closer on the right side. (I’m not actually left-handed. The primary difference is the position of the number keypad.) Getting used to any new configuration takes a little time but is worth it in the long run. Ergonomic Left Handed Keyboard 

If you don’t have a problem with the number keypad position but suffer from pain in your hands or wrists, you might prefer a split keyboard. I used this one until I decided to get the left-handed keyboard: Ergonomic Split Keyboard 

I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this seat cushion, and I think most of the people at the writing retreat ordered their own. I have chronic back pain and can’t bear to sit on hard furniture. If you get one thing on this list, I recommend this! WAOAW Seat Cushion 

I wanted something I could take with me when I might be required to sit on a hard chair. Yes, I bring this to friends’ houses and I used it at the writing retreat not only at the desk in my room but at the dining room table. It’s so nice I also use it on my padded desk chair. My husband ordered one too. 

Or if you need more lumbar support, check out the pillow combos that have a back section as well as a seat cushion. Here’s an example: Everlasting Comfort Seat Cushion and Lumbar Support Pillow Combo

It's important to take care of our backs. That might mean yoga, visiting a chiropractor or acupuncturist, pain relief, or some combination of those things. It should also mean making sure you have a great ergonomic desk set up. 

Good ergonomics means you should also have your desk and chair at the right height so your feet are comfortably on the floor. It’s not easy to change the height of a desk, however. Instead you can use a footrest. The first one I ordered was a little too high for my setup, so I passed it on to my husband. This shape adds a bit more flexibility: Everlasting Comfort Foot Rest for Under Desk 

I hope you find something here that makes your life easier. Check out my previous post on tools for comfort, and I’ll be back with a post on “Easing Neck Pain,” and possibly more as I discover useful tools for writers and readers! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Kris Bock writes novels of mystery, suspense, and romance. In the Accidental Detective series, a witty journalist solves mysteries in Arizona and tackles the challenges of turning fifty. Kris’s Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series features the employees and customers at a cat café. In the Accidental Billionaire Cowboys series, a Texas ranching family wins a fortune in the lottery, which causes as many problems as it solves. Sign up for the Kris Bock Mystery and Romance newsletter and get a free Accidental Detective short story and bonus material, a free 30-page sweet romance set in the world of the Furrever Friends cat café, and a printable copy of the recipes mentioned in the cat café novels.

Kris also writes a series with her brother, scriptwriter Douglas J Eboch, who wrote the original screenplay for the movie Sweet Home Alabama. The Felony Melanie series follows the crazy antics of Melanie, Jake, and their friends a decade before the events of the movie. Sign up for the romantic comedy newsletter to get a short story preview, or find the books at Amazon US or All E-book retailers.

Kris has over 100 books for children published under the names Chris Eboch and M. M. Eboch. Her novels for ages nine and up include The Eyes of Pharaoh, a mystery in ancient Egypt; The Well of Sacrifice, a Mayan adventure used in many schools; and The Genie’s Gift, a middle eastern fantasy. Jesse Owens: Young Record Breaker and Milton Hershey: Young Chocolatier are inspiring biographies focused on them as children and young men.

Writer and Reader Comfort: tools to make writing and reading time easier. #amwriting #writinglife #reader #booklover #holidaygiftguide #christmasgift

I wrote this post in April but thought it could be helpful as people look for holiday gifts. Get these for the writers or readers in your life!

I was recently at a writer’s retreat where we spent a little time one evening sharing the tools we found to make our writing and reading time easier. People enthusiastically took pictures and made notes so they could grab these items – most under $40 – when they got home. I decided others might appreciate learning about some of these tools. I’ve also added a couple more of my own favorites. 

Writer and Reader Comfort 

This Adjustable Laptop Table inspired the whole conversation. The adjustable legs mean you can use it over your lap on the couch or you can turn a table into a standing desk. I ordered one immediately after coming home. (You can find a lot of other options if you prefer certain materials or styles, but note that some of them have a flat base rather than legs that can straddle a lap. Also, the width of the legs might not work for every lap size.)  

Here's a picture of the box that shows various configurations:

Next up, I got this Pillow Foam Stand Holder as a gift a couple of years ago and I love it. My mom loves hers too. It holds an e-reader, iPad or tablet at a nice angle for reading, so you don’t have to hold it in your hands and you don’t strain your neck as much as you would with it down in your lap. I keep mine on a pile of pillows on the couch to keep it at eye height. I like this royal blue color, but scroll down and you’ll see lots of options for different styles and designs, including some fun animal heads “for children” (but I won’t judge if you need a sloth, unicorn, or monster book holder for yourself)! 

If you prefer print books, you’ll be better off with a stand that has built-in clips to hold the pages flat when the book is open. I haven’t tried this LUXURISM Adjustable Book Stand, but it says it’s a cookbook holder, so it should work for most books and magazines. 

And if you do want to try an e-reader, I have the Amazon Fire HD 10 inch tablet. The battery lasts for many hours if it’s on airplane mode, I can take dozens of books with me when I travel, and I can adjust the font size to make it easier on my aging eyes. In addition, it’s often cheaper to buy e-books than print books, and you can get books from the library and have them delivered to your Kindle – no need to stop in to pick up your holds! 

Finally, this Electric Kettle might not seem like a “writing tool” but writers and readers who like a nice cup of tea will appreciate the speed and temperature accuracy of an electric kettle. They’re so inexpensive and really handy. This one comes in fun colors, but there are others that give you different temperature options, which might be best if you drink green, white, and oolong teas that should brew at different temperatures.

I hope you find something fabulous here that makes your life easier. I also have posts on “Comfort at Your Desk,” “Easing Neck Pain,” and possibly more as I discover useful tools for writers and readers! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Kris Bock writes novels of mystery, suspense, and romance. In the Accidental Detective series, a witty journalist solves mysteries in Arizona and tackles the challenges of turning fifty. Kris’s Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series features the employees and customers at a cat café. In the Accidental Billionaire Cowboys series, a Texas ranching family wins a fortune in the lottery, which causes as many problems as it solves. Sign up for the Kris Bock Mystery and Romance newsletter and get a free Accidental Detective short story and bonus material, a free 30-page sweet romance set in the world of the Furrever Friends cat café, and a printable copy of the recipes mentioned in the cat café novels.

Kris also writes a series with her brother, scriptwriter Douglas J Eboch, who wrote the original screenplay for the movie Sweet Home Alabama. The Felony Melanie series follows the crazy antics of Melanie, Jake, and their friends a decade before the events of the movie. Sign up for the romantic comedy newsletter to get a short story preview, or find the books at Amazon US or All E-book retailers.

Kris has over 100 books for children published under the names Chris Eboch and M. M. Eboch. Her novels for ages nine and up include The Eyes of Pharaoh, a mystery in ancient Egypt; The Well of Sacrifice, a Mayan adventure used in many schools; and The Genie’s Gift, a middle eastern fantasy. Jesse Owens: Young Record Breaker and Milton Hershey: Young Chocolatier are inspiring biographies focused on them as children and young men.

Bios Made Easy: Tips for writing the perfect author bio for each purpose #amwriting #writing #writetip #writelife #author

Writers need bios, for query letters, on websites, for conference brochures. If we are writers surely we can write about ourselves. Yet while coordinating writing conferences, I discovered that even published authors often write poor bios, whether through modesty, carelessness, or overwriting. Many bios are entertaining, but don’t do their job.

The job is selling yourself and your books. Keep that focus in mind and the rest will follow.

Content: List the genre you write and perhaps name a couple of your publications. If you have many published books, you can mention the number but only go into detail with two or three – perhaps the most recent or popular. Specify the genre, as titles aren’t always clear by themselves. If you don’t have published books, mention your other credentials – “Cub Newshound’s articles appear in Slate,” for example.

Don’t get carried away listing awards. If each book has four or five minor awards, the reader bogs down in dull details. List the most prestigious, or combine them – “Ms. Inkslinger’s books have received five Readers’ Choice Awards from various states.”

Relevancy: If someone is considering buying your book or signing up to hear you speak, they want to know your success as a writer or speaker, not the names of your pets. Put your professional information first. Don’t start with your hobbies or childhood, unless something directly relates to your book. (For example, you’re a nurse and you wrote a hospital drama or you have seven cats and you write mysteries featuring cats.) Don’t thank your family for their support. Save that for your book dedications.

There’s another reason to put the key information up front. If you are submitting news to a media site or a quick bio to a conference coordinator, the editor may cut to save space. Make it easy for them to keep the first couple of sentences and cut the rest.

Style: You may need different bios for different uses – playful on a book flap; professional for a newspaper article; focused on teaching experience for a conference catalog; praising your popularity with readers for a book signing. Regardless, focus on information. Humor and lively writing are fine, but don’t get too wrapped up in sounding “literary.”

In a large conference brochure, the designer probably wants consistent style. A touch of formality may be appropriate – you’re trying to portray yourself as a professional. Pretend you’re someone else writing about you in the third person. “Bard Wordsmith is an award-winning author….” For a query letter, use first person. A website could go either way, but be consistent.

Length: Keep it short and to the point. If your bio will stand alone, on an individual brochure or flyer, try 100-200 words. If your bio will appear along with others, 50-100 words is plenty (or whatever they request). Many people will skim anyway. Include your website for more information.

I keep several versions and cut and paste as needed. A longer bio may have a sentence or two about each of my series. A shorter one may focus on a single series or provide general info on the kind of books I write. If I’m promoting my critiquing/editing business, I would focus on my experience as a teacher and workshop leader, noting that people can get recommendations and rates on my website. The details depend on what I’m trying to sell.

For example:

Kris Bock writes romance, mystery, and suspense. (Seven words)

Sweet romance bio under 150 words:

Kris Bock writes romance, mystery, and suspense. In the Accidental Billionaire Cowboys series, a Texas ranching family wins a fortune in the lottery. Who wouldn't want to be a billionaire? Turns out winning the lottery causes as many problems as it solves. Her Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series features the employees and customers at a cat café. Watch as they fall in love with each other and shelter cats.

Kris also writes a series with her brother, scriptwriter Douglas J Eboch, who wrote the original screenplay for the movie Sweet Home Alabama. The Felony Melanie series follows the crazy antics of Melanie, Jake, and their friends a decade before the events of the movie.

Get a free 10,000-word story set in the world of the Furrever Friends cat café when you sign up for the Kris Bock newsletter. Learn more at www.krisbock.com. (142 words)

Mystery Bio under 100 words:

Kris Bock has lived in ten states and one foreign country but is now firmly planted in the Southwest, where many of her books are set. In the Accidental Detective series, a witty journalist solves mysteries in Arizona and tackles the challenges of turning fifty. Kris’s romantic suspense novels feature outdoor adventures and Southwestern landscapes. Readers have called these novels "Smart romance with an Indiana Jones feel." Learn more at www.krisbock.com or sign up for the Kris Bock newsletter and get a free Accidental Detective story and more. (88 words)

If I’m promoting my children’s books, I have a different set of bios for that name. I can also include the following with my Kris Bock bio if I’m targeting writers:

Kris writes for children under the name Chris Eboch. She is the author of two books on the craft of writing, Advanced Plotting and You Can Write for Children: How to Write Great Stories, Articles, and Books for Kids and Teenagers. Learn more at chriseboch.com. Check out her self-paced writing classes or The Ten-Minute Writer series on YouTube. (58 words)

In some circumstances, I might mention that I live in New Mexico and enjoy hiking, or that my husband and I keep ferrets. Those are nice personal tidbits, but they don’t prove I’m writing books people want to read.

Any of these options keep the bio to under 200 words. I want to make sure I’m including links to learn more if it’s going somewhere online, and beat simplest version of my website URL if it’s in print.

For a digital site, I might give readers the direct links to Amazon in the United States and Amazon in the United Kingdom, plus a “genius” link that will take people to their local site. That means fewer clicks before someone has a chance to buy my books.

So what about you?

To get started, make a list of the facts that you want to share. Then write a simple, straightforward paragraph that includes them. Next, decide if it’s appropriate to dress it up, but as in all good writing, communication comes first.

Earn Money with Educational Publishing: A free #WritingWorkshop to get you started! #amwriting #writing #teachers

Earn Money with Educational Publishing

Nov 19, 2023, 8 AM PST, 11 AM EST, 4 PM GMT: Online event sponsored by SCBWI International Central.

FREE to SCBWI premium members. A recording will be made available to registered participants.

Do you want to make money from writing? Are you willing and able to write on assignment if given a topic, word count, grade level, and deadline? Then you may be perfect for educational work for hire!  

Chris Eboch, author of over 100 books for children, will provide an overview of Educational Publishing: What is it? Why would you do it? What are the pros and cons? What makes a good work-for-hire writer?

Find out if this work is a good fit for you, and how to get started in the field. Register here.