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I’ve
had computers since the days of the ZX Spectrum – mine’s still in the attic (its
rubbery keys gathering dust) and I remember MS-DOS. I’ve gone through ‘Dial-up’
and come out the other end with my nerves in tatters but nevertheless I launched
myself happily into the broadband zone.
The
next step though has me standing on the edge, like a scaredy-cat on the
high-diving board above the deep end at the local swimming pool.
So
many electronic tools seem to have arrived all at once that I’m out of my
depth. There’s ebooks and Kindles. There’s iPads (I always have this urge to
capitalize that ‘i’ when it’s at the beginning of a sentence. What’s the
etiquette?) and their apps. Dare I jump in and buy another machine? They’re
expensive and do I need another computing device when I already have 3?
But
I know an excuse when I hear one and thanks to the Phoenix Writers I’m on the
verge of flexing my knees and leaping out into the unknown. There’s no
pressure, but I don’t think I’ll be able to slipstream in the wake of other
members for much longer without going for it. If nothing else, I’m too nosy.
The
future of publishing is a big pool. A big interesting pool. A big interesting
pool that’s changing shape daily. Do I want to be part of it? Yes, please! And
I know just the people who would be only too happy to help me.
One
of the Phoenix Writers, Mary, has published a collection of comic pieces on
Amazon (Kindle edition). Why should I not follow suit? Mary had help from
another member of the group and I’ll never forget her delighted smile when she
saw the finished product for sale (only £2.96).
I’ll
have no qualms about accepting help when the time is right and if I’m
successful, it’ll be because I’m standing on the shoulders of others. That’s how
the system works.
Glenise Lee
