S. Kyle Davis.com - Latest Comments

Re: WINDOWS WEEK: Anyone who uses a PC should care about Windows 8

S. Kyle Davis — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 11:08:57 -0000

John, it depends on the app you mean. Apps like Mail and People are probably not removable, but they are fairly integrated into the OS. I'm not sure about the Bing apps. On Windows 8 (not RT. I'll explain that later in the week), you can get Google's version of search, maps, etc. So, I'm not sure if you could get rid of those apps, or if you are stuck with them like you are with Internet Explorer.

In fact, that's the best way I'd describe it. You can't really get rid of IE, but you can not use it. Same thing. It doesn't come with tons of bloatware, but it's not open source. There is some functionality you are stuck with. ;-)

Re: WINDOWS WEEK: Anyone who uses a PC should care about Windows 8

JohnD — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 11:02:06 -0000

Can we remove apps that we don't like (e.g., Facebook, most of the Microsoft stuff) or are we stuck with them (ala Apple and Nexus)?

Re: WINDOWS WEEK: Anyone who uses a PC should care about Windows 8

S. Kyle Davis — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 15:19:34 -0000

Thanks, Chris! It is definitely the same interface as the XBox or Windows Phone. That's sort of the point. ;)

As for the search feature, they have that in Windows 8. I forgot to mention that. You don't even have to pin every app you have to the start screen. You click on start and begin typing "Pre" for example, and Premiere comes up. I'm not sure what you mean about the drag and drop thing. Clarification?

As for ease of use, there was a good quote from the president of Microsoft's Windows division recently. He said, "Once you invest a short amount of time in learning those, the system becomes way more powerful than the opposite end of the spectrum, where anyone can walk up and touch it and do something because it is easy."

This is very true, I think. You may need to learn some new stuff, but when you do, those operations open the world to doing much more than the simple to use path. Simple to use often equates to less powerful.

Re: WINDOWS WEEK: Anyone who uses a PC should care about Windows 8

Chris Hatchett — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 14:19:35 -0000

Good write up man! It even makes me a little interested in windows 8, even though there's nothing that Microsoft can produce (in my opinion) that will compete with the ease of use as Apple OS. I will say, that I do like the ease of use of the start screen. It reminds me of the new setup that they made for xbox. I like how everything is right there and easy to use. However, when using Mountain Lion, and any OS of the past, I tend to know my software and apps I use the most by name, and simply hit command space bar to pull up and launch any of them in two clicks. I also wish they'd figure out the drag and drop solution without stealing any of Apple's patented features. They've come a long way, but again, the thing that has created the cult following to apple is the "ease-of-use" simplicity. I think this is a giant leap towards said simplicity. They've finally begun to catch on, and I look forward to seeing where they take this new concept :)

Re: Are you a writer thinking about about getting an iPad? Wait for Windows 8.

Silver T. Rader — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 16:19:16 -0000

Great layout, great overview. Look forward to more of the same as October 2012 approaches along with the new hardware. I am personally interested in the new HP portable computer where the screen detatches.

Re: Why Different Genres Trend Differently

acmcclellan — Tue, 29 May 2012 22:00:54 -0000

Very good discussion. It took me a long time to understand that vampires/witches set in our world are not considered urban fantasy, but paranormal. I thought only ghost stories were considered paranormal. How about horror? Is that considered a genre on its own or would you say a paranormal horror? And what makes a novel a horror novel? Do so may people have to be killed or so many body parts hacked off? The reason I ask is my current project UNLEASHED would be considered paranormal, but, because t it's sort of like a YA version of Jekyl and Hyde, it's also very dark, and sometimes violent/scary. So maybe it's horror. I don't get scared reading books, so I have a hard time calling any book a "horror" book, but the other day I noticed Anna Dressed in Blood is considered a YA horror. It was a ghost story, but not uber scary. I'll stop now since I'm ramblng. Curious as to what your opinion is, though.

Thanks!

Re: What are the worst author offences? (I need suggestions!)

S. Kyle Davis — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 20:51:48 -0000

Those are great suggestions! I might steal one or two of those. That's crazy about the editor actually asking to hear the pitch. Could probably tell you were young and confused. Very nice of them, and awesome that they actually requested soothing. I would have loved to get a request at that age!

Re: What are the worst author offences? (I need suggestions!)

Jane Lebak — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 19:40:59 -0000

This may not work for your character: "God gave me every word of this book!"

There's the arrogant writer: "You're an idiot if you don't recognize that this soon-to-be-bestseller is going to sell more copies than Harry Potter and the Davinci Code combined!"

There's the thin-skinned-writer: "I EXPECTED NARROW-MINDED BIGOTS LIKE YOU NOT TO GET MY WORK! WELL I DON'T CARE IF YOU THINK I HAVE COMMA SPLICES! YOU CAN JUST GO DIE!!!"

(Er, not that I met this writer...not that she still hates me...)

Calling an agency can be a well-intentioned beginner mistake. I did that myself (well, a publisher) because I was verifying the listing in the Writers Market 1989 and figured I'd get the receptionist. I got the EDITOR. Like, the main editor. Who said, "Well, why not just pitch me right now?" I was 17 and totally unprepared, but he was kind and asked me to send him my manuscript, which I did. (And three months later, a nice rejection.)

The biggest mistake a writer can make, though, is not to listen. We're so used to being different from all the people around us that we don't always "get" that we're not so different from other writers. So when we hear the rules, we're so used to not fitting in that we just ignore them because we know what we're doing. Except we don't. The bad-writer-thing is not to learn when we're given the chance. The manifestation of that is only incidental.

Re: What makes a good villain?

Rachel — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 18:58:53 -0000

One of my favorite villains is Moses in The Angels are the Reapers by Alden Bell. It's an excellent book and the author did an amazing job creating a villain that's almost identical to the protagonist, Temple, yet they are different. I know that doesn't make sense. You'll just have to read it. It really is a brilliant book.

Great post. :) And thanks for the Rowling tips about plotting. I needed to hear that.

Re: VLOG 3-28-12: Slide, Kids, and TNMT

Ishta Mercurio-Wentworth — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 21:22:59 -0000

I followed the link here from your tweet earlier and tried to watch your Vlog, but I got a message saying it had been removed. :-( Have you moved it? I look forward to your next one, anyway. :-)

Re: Website Update!

Melissa — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 14:44:44 -0000

Welcome to Wordpress, Kyle!

Re: JK Rowling and Plot Planning

S. Kyle Davis — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 21:25:40 -0000

Thanks Amie! Glad you found it helpful!

Re: JK Rowling and Plot Planning

Amie Kaufman — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 10:29:00 -0000

Hi, new follower here! This is fanastic! I&#39ve been using this approach today to finish outlining my NaNo, it&#39s great!

Re: JK Rowling and Plot Planning

therockingfeelings — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 19:20:13 -0000

Thanks for the post, Kyle. I remember when I read those books I would get headaches trying to figure out how a human being actually wrote them. After reading the spreadsheet I might STILL get a headache though! Thanks again. Good work!

Jeff Grant

Re: JK Rowling and Plot Planning

Casey McCormick — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 17:14:14 -0000

Love this, S. Kyle! I&#39m totally an HP geek. Have you read this?

http://www.cherylklein.com/...

Re: Love You Something Fierce: She’s Here!

E. Arroyo — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 18:15:14 -0000

Congrats!!! I&#39m sure you have your hands full.

Re: Love You Something Fierce: She’s Here!

salarsenッ — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 21:21:38 -0000

I just paid your wife&#39s blog a visit. So neat!! Love the photos! Best of luck, proud papa!!

Re: Getting the DFWcon Banner

E. Arroyo — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 21:39:31 -0000

Hi Kyle, I would love to go and am now scheming of a way to get out of the house to go. LOL. Thanks for the info. and for stopping by my blog.

Re: First Impressions and Why I Changed my Title

mshatch — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 01:40:44 -0000

I like the new title. And I tend to agree, shorter is usually better.

ps loved Incarceron, both the title and the book.

Re: Getting a Thicker Skin

selestiele — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 22:23:19 -0000

You said many of the things I considered and deleted because my post was getting too long. LOL.

Good to see I&#39m not alone.

Re: Love you something FIERCE!!

Buffy Andrews — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:55:14 -0000

I&#39m following. Here&#39s mine to follow if you and your wife aren&#39t already.... http://buffyswritezone.blog...

Re: Getting a Thicker Skin

Morgan Ives — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:03:16 -0000

Yes! This!

Amie&#39s tweets have been incredibly helpful to me (I removed tons of gerundive phrases from my novel after she mentioned them...I didn&#39t realize I had such a problem with them!) And like you say, the arrogance behind the query quotes on Slushpile Hell is hard to imagine.

Writers are upset about agents being snarky, but I don&#39t see them owning the real problem: those query letters are rude, unprofessional, or just plain awful. Why should writers feel entitled to shovel crap at agents and expect a polite "thank you, may I have some more?"

Well-written queries earn contracts, not irritation. If all the sensitive writers want the satire to stop, they should put more effort into their writing and less into their whining :)

Re: Getting a Thicker Skin

Annie McMahon — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:31:15 -0000

I read Amie Cortese&#39s query comments on Twitter, and I love them. I don&#39t think she&#39s being mean either, especially since she doesn&#39t name the writer whose query she&#39s critiquing. I learned a lot through her. So glad she didn&#39t decide to stop posting just because of a few complaints.

Re: Love you something FIERCE!!

Annie McMahon — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:22:24 -0000

Nice blog, Kyle! I know you from WriteOnCon and Twitter. I love your blog layout. Will be back for more reading.

Re: Getting a Thicker Skin

Bethany — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 15:47:12 -0000

Totally agree.