You must register to attend the event, but registration is free, and you will have access to replays of the presentations if you can’t attend all the sessions live. Registration also gives you access to six pre-event videos.

The event bills itself as “the biggest ever free online conference exclusively for solo professionals.” The lineup of speakers is impressive, and the topics include many important to the success of any freelancer. The Web site includes the complete schedule and speaker bios.

People who buy e-readers tend to spend more time than ever with their nose in a book, preliminary research shows.

A study of 1,200 e-reader owners by Marketing and Research Resources Inc. found that 40% said they now read more than they did with print books. Of those surveyed, 58% said they read about the same as before while 2% said they read less than before. And 55% of the respondents in the May study, paid for by e-reader maker Sony Corp., thought they’d use the device to read even more books in the future. The study looked at owners of three devices: Amazon.com Inc.’s Kindle, Apple Inc.’s iPad and the Sony Reader.

… People report they’re reading more and at times when a book isn’t normally an option: on a smartphone in the doctor’s waiting room; through a Ziploc-bag-clad Kindle in a hot tub, or on a treadmill with a Sony Reader’s fonts set to jumbo.

So those who believe that e-books are detrimental to reading may need to take another look. You don’t have to read print or electronic exclusively. You can choose to read in print or on an e-reader, whichever is most convenient at the moment. 

It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of reading on an e-reader. I’ve had several through the years, and now read on the original Kindle. I’m looking for an excuse to buy the Kindle 3. Maybe I can drop my Kindle and break it? It still works great—I’d just like to add the new features in the latest version of the device.

I have found that the greatest inspiration and the most valuable advice comes from viewing the lives of those who have walked in our shoes because it is those who can truly understand us. It is those who can show us the way. So, as we as writers persevere to write on, why not turn back and gain inspiration from other writers who have struggled and eventually succeeded.

Here are ten tips from writers throughout history that I have compiled to challenge, motivate, and inspire us:

Write Simply

My aim is to put down what I see and what I feel in the best and simplest way I can tell it.
Ernest Hemingway – a Nobel Prize winning writer and journalist whose greatest works include For Whom the Bell Tolls and The Old Man and the Sea

Don’t Underestimate Your Readers

No one can write decently who is distrustful of the reader’s intelligence or whose attitude is patronizing.
E. B. White – a writer who is best remembered for her children’s books Charlotte’s Web and Stuart Little

Do Not Be Verbose

As for the adjective, when in doubt leave it out.
Mark Twain – an American author and humorist best known for his books The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do.
Thomas Jefferson – the third President of the United States and the principal author of the Declaration of Independence

Use Common Words when Writing for the Common Man

Don’t use words too big for the subject. Don’t say ‘infinitely’ when you mean ‘very’; otherwise you’ll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite.
C. S. Lewis – an Anglo-Irish novelist, academic, medievalist, literary critic, essayist, lay theologian, and Christian apologist who is best known for The Screwtape Letters and The Chronicles of Narnia

Tell Your Story – Don’t Worry About Your Writing

If you can tell stories, create characters, devise incidents, and have sincerity and passion, it doesn’t matter a damn how you write.
Somerset Maugham – a playwright, novelist, and short story writer who was reputedly the highest paid author during the 1930s

Be Your Own Critic – Evaluate What You Write
A scrupulous writer, in every sentence that he writes, will ask himself at least four questions, thus: 1. What am I trying to say? 2. What words will express it? 3. What image or idiom will make it clearer? 4. Is this image fresh enough to have an effect?
George Orwell – an English author and journalist who is best known for his satirical novella Animal Farm

Write About What You Know About

When men ask me how I know so much about men, they get a simple answer: everything I know about men, I learned from me.
Anton Chekhov – a Russian short-story writer, playwright, and physician, who is often touted as one of the greatest short-story writers in the history of world literature

Most beginning writers (and I was the same) are like chefs trying to cook great dishes that they’ve never tasted themselves. How can you make a great (or even an adequate) bouillabaisse if you’ve never had any? If you don’t really understand why people read mysteries (or romances or literary novels or thrillers or whatever), then there’s no way in the world you’re going to write one that anyone wants to publish. (This is the meaning of the well-known expression “Write what you know.”)
Daniel Quinn – an American writer and environmentalist who is best known for his award-winning book Ishmael

Make it Original

Observe, don’t imitate.
John M. Ford – an American science fiction and fantasy writer, game designer, and poet who is best known for his Star Trek novels

Your Characters are Key

The test of any good fiction is that you should care something for the characters; the good to succeed, the bad to fail. The trouble with most fiction is that you want them all to land in hell, together, as quickly as possible.
Mark Twain – an American author and humorist best known for his books The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

I try to create sympathy for my characters, then turn the monsters loose.
Stephen King – a horror, suspense, science fictio,n and fantasy fiction writer who is best known for novels such as Carrie, Firestarter, and Christine

Be Passionate about Your Writing

No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader.
George Moore – an Irish novelist, short-story writer, poet, art critic, memoirist, and dramatist
====================================

AUTHOR BIO:  Cathryn Johnson is passionate about writing. She is currently a resident writer for Top Online Nursing Programs 2010, which researches areas of nursing education, online nursing programs, and healthcare. In her spare time, she enjoys travel, theater, and having fun in the sun.

photo credit: The Story Lady

Here is a brief excerpt from the summary:

It’s the demographics of book buyers that make the Report an essential read for any book industry maven. The report reveals income levels, age, generation and more. For example,

• More than 40% of Americans over the age of 13 purchased a book in 2009 and the average age of the American book buyer is 42.
• Women lead men in overall purchases, contributing 64% of sales. Even among detective and thriller genres, women top 60% of the sales. Where do men catch up? Fantasy titles are purchased evenly by men and women.
• Baby Boomers spend. The boomer generation is the largest purchasing generation, making up 30% of sales. Their elders – Matures – contribute 16%.
• More income doesn’t mean more book purchases. 32% of the books purchased in 2009 were from households earning less than $35,000 annual and 20% of those sales were for children’s books.
• Americans like people. The biggest selling non-fiction genre is biography – auto and otherwise.

Do these facts change your opininon about the state of the publishing today?

Every month when I post thanks to commenters, I get questions about how I compile this list. I have explained my system in detail in Compiling Thanks to Commenters.     Top Contributor (15 comments)   Beverly Ellison (My apprentice who will be posting here starting next month responded to comments on her welcome post.) Administrative Support Services     Major Contributor (13 comments)   Christopher Roberts Christopher Roberts Technology     Outstanding Contributors (4-8 comments) Jane Recovering Deleted Files Carolyn Howard-Johnson How to Do It Frugally Holly Jahangiri It’s All a Matter of Perspective Dominique 4 Walls and a View Andrew Heaton Good Honest Dollar Bluestocking The Bluestocking Guide Jeremiah  Yes PDX Krista Krista McCrae Jewellry Nick Luxury Spanish Property Blog Sabrina Sara K Blanco Photography Ron Smart Trading     Significant Contributors (2-3 comments) Cath Lawson Cath Lawson Helen Ginger Straight from Hel Karen Swim Words for Hire Mia Software Business Partners Restuty Yusnita Shopacoholic Robert Pendleton Blue Water Benefits Vinish Parikh Storm Shadow Costumes Aggie Villanueva Visual Arts Junction Angelie Virginia Criminal Lawyer Brian Yo-Yo Books celine Custom Harley Davidson Handlebars for All Chris PDF Electric and Supply Company Ed Affordable Indiana Health Insurance Gibbs Kids Rolling Suitcase Jeanne Dininni Writers Notes Jenny Software Business Partners John Sytek Central MN Julie The Premier Collection Larry Host Nexus Mike Rowan etermlifeinsurance.com Nikolay Absorb the Web  Peter Agriya Sally Sara K Blanco Photography Steve Flower Canvas     Important Contributors   Alex SQL Steps Alfred Bruce Witchel alice Health Insurance Washington Amanda Giving Plants Andrew Keir Andrew Keir Andy Let It Grow Angela In His Name Anne Michigan DUI Defense Anthony Animo Para Vivir April Confessions of a Working Mum Aridne The Premier Collection Arthur M Uncut-Spiele Audrey Squidoo: Razor Pocket Rocket Barbara Stainless Steel Pan Bonnie Resin Wicker Patio Furniture Store Brian The Up Blog Caroline Top Translation Cedric diadema Christina Eden Pure Heaters Corissa Network Marketing Tools Cher Samantha Milner Blog Christopher 8 Walls Real Estate Claudia Villanova U HR Certification Cori  Well Being Universe: Alternative Health Product Craig Williams Adelec Crystal Andrus Crystal Andrus Blog Danielle The Premier Collection Dave Benzomatic Torch Dave Car Sat Nav World Dave Citronella Torches Dave Cordless Straighteners Dave Folding Camping Chair Dave Reciprocating Saw Dave Solar Torches David Garden Candles David Virginia DUI Lawyer Deb S Media by Sistrunk Dennis Cheng Baby Play Mats Store Dina Mother-Ease diocelin Art Viper  Edgar Allen Cinesource Elina Chong Leveraged ETF eric Cambium Works Ernest Giving Plants Fblack EasyIRS.com  Francis Global Matrix Media Fred Black Internet Business Gadi JA Law Geoff Cross Country Running Shoes gnemeno MKT Pro Realty Group Heidi Simpson Bpovia Internet Marketing Henry Credit Card Debt and Debt Consolidation Solutions Heru Kurniawan Golf Swing Mechanics Ian Giochi Gratisq Ian Out of Stress Jack Blog Hosting Jack Electrician Tool Pouch jaycee Living in the Sun Jake FoxPro Answers James Nail Polish Rack James Xpirt Design  Jamie Modern Wall Company Jan Mortgage Sanity Jane Halcyon Days Salons and Spas Jane Outdoor Scene Jane Writing Children’s Books Janet Queen Anne Furniture Jason Cutsa Jean Lassen n/a Jef Law Offices of Jef Henninger Jen M.P. Interiors Ltd. Jennifer Squidoo: Purity Rings Jennifer Taylor Fencing Jenny Button Down Short Sleeve Shirts Jimmy   Gaming 20 Jimmy Cliff Lawyers for Business Johan Gratis Pengar John Ubscure Article Directory John Legend Just in Time Hotels John Sargent Modani Josh Healthish Blog Jovit Sytek Kaitlyn Blacket A&S Gifts Katlyn Halcyon Days Salons and Spas Kelvin Youngman Richardson Kim HGH Works Kyle Downriver Computer Solutions Lee Costley Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Lara Liver Disease Herbs linda Logo Design New Zealand Linde Mother-Ease Lori The Premier Collection Malcolm Bedroom Furniture Shop Marcy Vaniqa Cream Mark Projecting British Culture Mark UK Jobs Guide Matt Lose Weight Daily Mich Marketing with Michael S. Brown Michael   Marketing with Michael S. Brown Michael Stinger Patriot Coach Michelle Tenant Direct Mike   eBay PortoGear Mike B Global Matrix Media Mini Play Poker mithun DBS Infosoft Nathan World of Zune Nick Rajdhjani Nicole wwwFull Novan therapistca.com Parminder Tenant File Patrick Unleash Your Full Potential Paul Funky Fancy Dress Paul India Snacks Paul Sytek Peter Glenn Beck Books Peter   Healing Emotions Peter Harrison Print Buying Direct Philippa Burgess Your Media Brand Mentor Pietas First Central Mortgage Funding rasim muratovic Slow Computer Fix Rhea Sunday Drive Richard Christmas Tree Scented Candle Ricky The X Views River CBS Custom Business Solutions Rob Lester Levenson’s KISS Releasing Sedona Method Robert Mountain Bike Shorts Robert Vessels Skechers Superstore Robin Alley Inspiration Motivation Information Sally Real Estate & Homes for Sale Sally Ferguson Sally’s Words Sam  Folding Camping Chair Sam Hellraiser Costumes Sammy Tiki Oil Torches Samuel Fast Quick Weight Loss Diets Samuel Viagens Online Sandy CBS Custom Business Solutions Sarah Lam Writing Consultation schimdth Blogging with Pride Scott Advanced Web Marketing Scott Between the Lines – BookRix Blog Sean RNB Guitar Academy shabana Thomas Sabo Shane Dayton Master Dayton Shanna The Premier Collection Sheila Walker Maternity Clothes Shirley Kelly Lanterns for Less Spot Spot Cool Stuff Steve Crystal Table Lamps Steve Home Gym Systems Steve Hydration Rucksack Steve Marino Games Live Stewart We Do Web Pages Sylvia Dickey Smith Sylvia Dickey Smith Thalita Sultan Costumes Thomas Texas Home and Lifestyle – Houston, TX tihiro hayasi Blue Water Benefits Tony A Vital Limousine Tori The Premier Collection Valor Avital  Limousine velharth First Central Mortgage Funding vince 10Articles.com Vince Blogging with Pride vinusha Nilayoram Wilhemina Meek Gift Bed William Nilayoram Willy Remote Access Software Zezebel Princess Zezebel Lair