#Audiobook: A Stroke of the Pen

[pers-books]

Far away and long ago, when dragons still existed and the only arcade game was ping-pong in black and white, a wizard cautiously entered a smoky tavern in the evil, ancient, foggy city of Morpork...

A truly unmissable set of unearthed stories from the pen of Sir Terry Pratchett: award-winning and bestselling author, and creator of the phenomenally successful Discworld series.

Twenty early short stories by one of the world's best loved authors, narrated by David Tennant, Claire Foy, Steffan Rhodri, Jon Culshaw, Derek Jacobi, David Jason, Katherine Parkinson, Paterson Joseph, Hattie Morahan, Indira Varma, Tony Robinson, Nigel Planer, Maggie Service, Stephen Briggs, Rhianna Pratchett, Jason Watkins, Richard Coyle, Mathew Baynton and Rob Wilkins. With a foreword by Neil Gaiman, and an introduction by Colin Smythe.

These are rediscovered tales that Pratchett wrote under a pseudonym for newspapers during the 1970s and 1980s. Whilst none are set in the Discworld, they hint towards the world he would go on to create, containing all of his trademark wit, satirical wisdom and fantastic imagination.

Meet Og the inventor, the first caveman to cultivate fire, as he discovers the highs and lows of progress; haunt the Ministry of Nuisances with the defiant evicted ghosts of Pilgarlic Towers; visit Blackbury, a small market town with weird weather and an otherworldly visitor; and go on a dangerous quest through time and space with hero Kron, which begins in the ancient city of Morpork...

A STROKE OF THE PEN is a must-have collection for fans of all ages.

Out October 10, 2023.

[baynton]

now on my gdrive in m4b format. enjoy!

[hattie-morahan]

Hattie will be reading one of the stories for the upcoming Terry Pratchett 'A Stroke of the Pen' audiobook. It will be released on the 10th October.

[kvalenagle]

Okay, I've been summoned to Tumblr by cute Satra and Lei fan art, so I should probably introduce myself and my books. Hello! I'm Vale, and I write creature fantasy as K. Vale Nagle. If you like interesting gryphons, you're in the right place: aquatic diving petrel/fishing cat gryphons, poisonous hooded pitohui/tiger gryphons, pretty gyrfalcon/snow leopard gryphons, intimidating Haast's eagle/saber-toothed tiger gryphons, soggy sandgrouse/sand cat gryphons, and a lot more. My series are epic fantasy using mostly real (though sometimes extinct) animals, free of humans but full of queer characters, intrigue, large battles, and ecological apocalypses. My cover art is by Jeff Brown, with interior graphite pieces by Brenda Lyons and gryphon chapter headers by Kittrel (whose chibi hearts you may have seen). I also have a short story collection (best read anytime after Starling, book three) with a beak-cute lesbian gryphon love story with terror birds, a Gryphon vs. Nature blizzard apocalypse tale, a Christmas-y story, and something pretty close to zombies. I've also written a full novel set in the world of Dire by John Bailey called Coldbright which can be found in the Tales of Feathers & Flames anthology. If you like GryphIns but you want something with more mystery, almost horror, as told through the eyes of a snarky little opinicus and his dire gryphon ex-boyfriend, it's a great read this time of year. I love and appreciate all the fan mail, fan fiction, fan letters, and people reaching out about this series. I'm a little slow replying, as I started writing the series right after getting diagnosed with a catastrophic autoimmune system. The treatments are pretty intense, and it's easiest for me to spend my time and energy writing. I used to have a few pen names across several genres, but for the most part, all of my energy goes into finishing up GryphIns. I'm married to dragon author Glenn Birmingham, so if you've seen us posting pictures of our cats and thought it's strange they share a name, they're the same cats. And that's about it. Just a queer author writing gryphony books when I'm not walking my cat. A few common answers to questions: Q: There are sometimes typos in social media, why is that? A: Catastrophic APS means I've had a stroke (and associated memory loss), so when a copy editor isn't coming up behind me, there'll be doubled words and typos from time-to-time. I used to worry about them, since they don't look good if you're an author! But I'd rather reply to fan letters and kind posts. I think if you've read my author notes at the back of my books, you know to expect a few doubled words here and there. Q: When you say a queer author, what do you mean? A: Since people ask about own voices and I have a lot of lgbtqia+ characters in my books, I'm pan, demi, trans, and genderfluid. I'm lucky enough to have a lot of queer friends and first readers who make sure I don't mess up any characters. Q: When's the next GryphIns novel coming out? A: Some years, I spend a lot of my time fighting health insurance battles, and it slows me down. Pridelord (#8) is currently in line edits. It's twice as long as Eyrie and three times as long as Coldbright, so it's a pretty big book! It shouldn't be too much longer. You'll know it's just about time because you'll hear James Scott Spaid talk about narrating the audiobook. Q: How many books will there be in GryphIns? A: I'm famous for underestimating how many books it takes to finish a series. My other pen names all wrote short stories and standalone novels, so my proposal for GryphIns originally had five books. Jeff Brown is wrapping up the cover for Saberbeak (#9) and Nighthaunt (#10). If I end up needing one more book to finish, though, don't be too surprised.

[thelordofthecats]

14 & 24 for the book q!

14. What books do you want to finish before the year is over?

I want to finish The Fragile Threads of Power by V.E Schwab and if im persistent I can even finish it tonight.

i also want to finish listening to the audiobook version of The Silmarillion

i also have the first Raven Cycle book and a Terry Prachett book (A stroke of a Pen) that i know i'll start before the year's end

24. Did you DNF anything? Why?

Yup. a first-part out of two graphic novel called The Extraordinary Part: Orsay's Hands by Florent Ruppert, Jérôme Mulot, (translated from French: M B Valente).

i bought it the day after iCon and afterwards it was to graphic for me and the characters annoyed me

[reluctantjoe]

a stroke of the pen: the lost stories (pilgarlic towers) - narrated by mathew baynton

-> original audiobook release: 10/10/2023 | image credit: audible

"Twenty early short stories by one of the world's best loved authors, narrated by David Tennant, Claire Foy, Steffan Rhodri, Jon Culshaw, Derek Jacobi, David Jason, Katherine Parkinson, Paterson Joseph, Hattie Morahan, Indira Varma, Tony Robinson, Nigel Planer, Maggie Service, Stephen Briggs, Rhianna Pratchett, Jason Watkins, Richard Coyle, Mathew Baynton and Rob Wilkins. With a foreword by Neil Gaiman, and an introduction by Colin Smythe. These are rediscovered tales that Pratchett wrote under a pseudonym for newspapers during the 1970s and 1980s. Whilst none are set in the Discworld, they hint towards the world he would go on to create, containing all of his trademark wit, satirical wisdom and fantastic imagination. Meet Og the inventor, the first caveman to cultivate fire, as he discovers the highs and lows of progress; haunt the Ministry of Nuisances with the defiant evicted ghosts of Pilgarlic Towers; visit Blackbury, a small market town with weird weather and an otherworldly visitor; and go on a dangerous quest through time and space with hero Kron, which begins in the ancient city of Morpork..."

if you have any queries regarding the google drive, reply below or send an ask!

[littleladymab]

M&S ask thingy: remedy, infusion

Remedy: What are your favorite cures for a bad case of writer’s block?

You know how there have been posts going around about "don't '''consume''' media" well I get what they're going for, but also, voraciously consume media. If I've got writer's block, then it's because I simply haven't read or listened to anything that really spoke to me recently. So listen to an audiobook or a podcast, read a book or a comic or a fic, just actually consume media.

And when that doesn't work, if I'm stuck on like a plot or something, I will go grab pen and paper and start talking to myself while asking questions and doing broad strokes for why something is the way it is and ways I can work around it.

Infusion: Where do you find inspiration for your writing?

Going off the previous, I find inspiration in like, well, anything I consume! the way a piece of prose is written or a scene is conveyed.

Also, when I sometimes go into my sandbox world building brain, I absolutely love to look at nature LOL there are so many weird plants out there that it's super fun to use then as inspo and just general VIBES for a thing.

[[feel free to ask about my writing process!]]

[chicagomindedvision]

Are you An overworked Construction Worker?How are you supposed to pursue your passion for writing if you can’t find the time and extra money. 😱Is it actually possible to accomplish success outside of your job and take yourself to the next level without wasting time, money, and energy?! 🤯I bet you’ve tried watching tons of those YouTube videos, attending online webinars, or reading other books..And nothing has quite worked for you, right?The youngins are listening to Audiobooks and Podcasts.How are you going to find the ⏰ TIME ⏰ to be creative with your writing if you are an overworked Construction Worker? How do you justify spending money on any Self-Help material like Courses, Books, Audiobooks, and Workshops, if you don’t have the time?😨 Why is it so stressful and irritating to figure the publishing process out?Is the constant battle to tell your story or convey a message to a group of people worth it?Can you really get your book published without spending a lot of time and money?🤔 And when should you take the time to finish writing your book🤔 Should you get someone to edit your draft🤔 Are you thinking about who will distribute your book🤔 What about finding a professional book design for the front, back, and spine of your bookSTOP.  STOP. CHILLOUT 🤯If any (or all) of the above questions run through your head… day after day… I might be able to help.Hey, it's your man, David L. Hawkins A.K.A DayDay 👋And, while I don't claim to know it all, I HAVE helped 8 people save time writing and publishing: creating a sustainable step-by-step action plan. They call themselves The Royal Writers 💪And yet…Not that long ago, I was in your shoes. I am Super serious and really mean itThose early days were rough roughI'd take a step forward only to take three more back. I was overworked in my skilled trade, with very little time to focus on my passion.Anyways, if that's kinda how you feel right now...Let me give you a road map, so that you stop hitting dead ends or getting lost on back roads, and instead take the fast lane to something that you can be proud of. Let me show you that,” one pen stroke away ” 💪👇 Here is what I’m proposing. 👇 I’ve had a TONNE of overworked construction workers reach out to me asking for my help. So I had this crazy idea to build a step-by-step plan to guide you from being an overworked construction worker to a legitimate Author in 6 weeks.No fluff. No messing around, just a simple plan to take you from being an overworked construction worker to a published Author ✅ If you are interested in claiming one of the 10 spots available, comment below with:“Let the legacy live” 👉 More details to follow tomorrow, on FB @Misterdavidhawkins at 5 pm.Sincerely David L. Hawkins A.K.A DayDay

[chorusfm]

PONY – Velveteen

On the band’s sophomore album, PONY deliver some great-sounding power pop on Velveteen. Named after the book The Velveteen Rabbit, that lead singer Sam Bielanski used the audiobook from to cope with a nine-month struggle with insomnia, Bielanski shared, “I became obsessed with it, but I always fell asleep before getting to the end. The way I interpreted the story was that it’s the love that we give and receive that makes us real or whole.” Through this unique connection to a childhood favorite, Bielanski and multi-instrumentlist/collaborator Matty Morand were able to pen approximately 200 songs that they narrowed down to ten crisp songs found on this record. If you’re into bands like Beach Bunny, Soccer Mommy, and Diet Cig, you’ll definitely find plenty to enjoy on PONY’s Velveteen. Starting things off on the right foot with the electric “Tres Jolie,” Bielanski’s sugary sweet vocal delivery sets the tone for the rest of the LP. The single features some great guitar work from the two musicians, paired with a pulsating bass line that further accentuate each of the lyrics. On the chorus, Bielanski sings “I want to kiss you / I want to make you mine,” in a manner that makes the listener feel right at home and connected with the artist. “Peach” follows the great opener, and showcases the growth PONY have shown since their debut (2021’s TV Baby). Adding some flavor and swagger to their sound on the raucous song “Sick,” this band rocks along with purpose over a frenetic beat. The middle section of the record features some different-sounding tracks, including the vivid storytelling of “Sucker Punch,” the fuzzy guitar groove of “Haunted House,” and the pop bliss of “Who’s Calling?” The album never loses its early momentum gained, and instead paints with wide, colorful strokes on ingenuity in their power-pop sound. What PONY does best on these particular songs is to experiment with different song structures and tempos to make each of the tracks feel truly unique. This restraint is not usually seen this early on in an artist’s career, and it’s a marvel to see it unfold. Other late standouts, like “French Class,” showcase PONY’s personality with a cool, 80’s new wave-esque song that sounds like a combination of the dream pop of Beach House paired with the synth-pop perfection of Tears For Fears. “Sunny Rose” starts off with some crunchy guitar riffs over Bielanski’s soothing vocals that only help to fully balance out the song. All of this leads up to the album closer, “Haircut,” that finds the band taking their life all in stride and features some great lyrical wordplay in the chorus that has a plethora of hooks that lures the listener further into the world the band has created. While some newcomers to PONY may find their sound too similar to the artists that they are influenced by, I’d invite audiences to take more spins of Velveteen before making any snap judgements on whether or not this band belongs with the heavy-hitters in the genre. There’s so much to love and enjoy on this record that is perfectly timed for the beginning of Summer, and I’m extremely glad to have discovered this talented artist that will certainly be in my music rotation for the foreseeable future. --- Please consider becoming a member so we can keep bringing you stories like this one. ◎ https://chorus.fm/reviews/pony-velveteen/

[unahemmingsbook]

(PDF Download) J.R. Silver Writes Her World - Melissa Dassori

Download Or Read PDF J.R. Silver Writes Her World - Melissa Dassori Free Full Pages Online With Audiobook.

  [*] Download PDF Visit Here => https://forsharedpdf.site/59148342

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What if you could write your dreams into reality with the stroke of a pen??Sixth grade is off to a difficult start for Josephine Rose Silver. Her best friend, Violet, returns from camp with a new best friend; her parents refuse to grant her more independence; and her homeroom teacher, Ms. Kline, is full of secrets.?When Ms. Kline unveils a collection of old?Gothamite magazines and tells her students to build their writing skills by crafting short stories inspired by the iconic covers, J.R. discovers a peculiar power: The stories she writes come true. Soon J.R. is getting a cell phone, scoring game-winning goals, and triggering school cancellations. But it's not long before she realizes that each new story creates as many conflicts as it does solutions. And when J.R. tries to write about her fallout with Violet, all of her problems converge.?With a pinch of magic, mystery, art history, and language arts woven into a journey of growth and self-confidence, this promising debut is a

[breemacindoe]

finding  the  words  to  describe  her,  to  put  pen  to  paper  someone  who  has  very  successfully  eluded  definition,  is  a  herculean  task  on  its  own.  she  spent  her  life  identifying  the  secrets  of  others  and  was  careful  to  obfuscate  her  own.  her  childhood,  her  pre-college  years,  her  big  love  affair,  all  of  those  things  were  so  carefully  packed  away  that  the  likelihood  they'll  see  the  light  is  quiet  unlikely  ...  or  it  would  be,  if  she  weren't  open  to  sitting  down  and  talking  herself  in  a  way  that  would  be  much  like  having  an  audiobook  playing  in  the  background.  perhaps  so  many  years  of  holding  secrets  in  has  made  her  want  to  share  them.  or  perhaps,  like  many  things,  this  is  one  of  those  moves  she  makes  on  the  chess  board,  sacrificing  pawns  to  take  knights  and  queens.

〈 we do not all get what we want，some prices are too steep to pay 〉 ───  bree / answered.

〈 stroking her fingertips over her cheek，she wished they belonged to someone else 〉 ───  bree / muse.  

〈 keep your wits about you，ever changing halls hide hideous secrets 〉 ───  bree / thread.    

〈 don’t duck your head when you smile，darling，it is so lovely 〉 ───  bree / visage.  

〈 i pursue the things that，in the end，will destroy me 〉 ───  bree / wanted.  

〈 now isn’t the time to read the last page，we don’t like spoilers 〉 ───  bree / prologue.  

〈 x 〉 ───  bree / chapter one · by candlelight.  

[trademarkblue]

I’ve been tagged by @like-a-whisper x

1. Nicknames: Blue, TM

2. Gender: Female

3. Star sign: Scorpio

4. Height: 5 feet / 153 cm approx

5. Time: 10:28pm

6. Birthday: October

7. Favorite bands: Frightened Rabbit, Jinja Safari, Radiohead, Art Brut, Bombay Bicycle Club, Animal Collective, Everything Everything, Foals, The Strokes, Violens, Washed Out, They Might Be Giants

8. Favorite solo artists: Astrid S, Owl John, frYars, Lucy Rose, Rae Morris, Tame Impala, Roosevelt, Mallrat, Pepa Knight, Baths

9. Song stuck in my head: "Nobody Compares to You" by Gryffin feat. Katie Pearlman

10. Last movie I watched: Prevenge

11. Last show I watched: The Twilight Zone

12. When did I create my blog: April 2011

13. What do I post/reblog: Ron/Hermione, general HP, a smattering of X-Files and Outlander and a few other random things that I find amusing or funny

14. Last thing I googled: yoga classes

15. Other blogs: A few, but not related to fandom. Does my LJ count? Please help me start the LJ revival!

16. Do I get asks: Yep. Crap, I need to answer those...

17. Why I choose my URL: Because someone stole TMBlue on here! The last thing they posted was a picture of watches, and that was 3 years ago... sigh. But, I see what the point of this question really was, and that's why I chose my pen name, I guess. Honestly? I don't really even remember anymore. It's been that long. I just love angst, and Ron's eyes probably played a part ha.

18. Following: skipping...

19. Followers: this kind of question makes me sad, so I’m skipping it (don’t think people should be concerned so much with popularity)

20. Average hours of sleep: 7

21: Lucky number: none... I like 7, 8, and 13, but who doesn't

22. Instruments: piano, violin

23. What I’m wearing: t-shirt, jeans, boots

24. Dream job: travel blogger; run my own cinema, cafe & cocktail bar

25. Dream trip: I have a ton but some specifically on my mind a lot lately are Iceland, Croatia, Antarctica

26. Favorite food: all the cheese, all the roasted vegetables honestly, tarts and quiche and ice cream, all the coffee, all the craft cocktails

27. Nationality: American... but Irish/Scottish ancestry

28. Favorite song right now: "Better" by Mallrat

29. Last book I read: Gosh... I uh, I never read. I tried to work through the fourth Outlander novel, and I'm always dipping in and out of HP audiobooks...

30. Top Three Fictional Universes You’d Want to Join: Harry Potter. Do I have to name two more? Uh. Can I live in the unicorns and centaurs section of Fantasia?? Or maybe Moulin Rouge, or just a Baz Luhrmann world.

I’ll tag --- @wildegreenlight, @theperksofshippingromione, @remedial-potions, @hermionewazlib, @diva-gonzo, @aloemilk, @honouraryweasley12, @otterandterrier

[baynton]

MAT BAYNTON RESOURCES.

(this post is being regularly updated as i aquire more and more content. any specific requests, please let me know.)

tv and film

spy s01 gdrive

spy s02* gdrive

you me and the apocalypse s01 (the swearing editions) gdrive

the wrong mans (s01 + s02) gdrive

murder is easy mega

we have been watching gdrive

hitmen gdrive

1234 (2008)* mega (mkv) / gdrive (mp4)

you instead (2011) gdrive

audiobooks

the truth [discworld] (terry pratchett) gdrive

a stroke of the pen (terry pratchett) gdrive

consent (leo benedictus) mega

last chance to see (douglas adams & mark carwardine) mega

52 times britain was a bellend (james felton) mega

born to be mild (rob temple) mega

the wonderful adventure of nils holgersson (selma lagerlöf) mega

radio

the importance of being earnest (oscar wilde) gdrive

she stoops to conquer (barunka o’shaughnessy) gdrive

reluctant persuaders (the complete series) mega (you can listen without downloading the file) / gdrive

john finnemore's double acts: six bbc radio 4 comedy dramas mega (mat's is the final one)

*i ripped these from my dvds and haven't watched the rips all the way through, so if there are any issues let me know, as i can rerip/reupload if needed.

bonuses (other idiots content)

(ben) the thick of it (s4, specials, deleted scenes, production stills) gdrive

(ben) a kind of spark (s1) gdrive

(ben) loki mega / loki 2 mega

[coffeeandcalligraphy]

11 Questions Tag

So @shaelinwrites tagged me to do this at the perfect time, so here we go! Gonna answer these with as many puns from The Strokes as possible, GO GO GO.

1. How many works in progress do you currently have?

At this current moment in time, I’ve got one that I’m drafting, one that I’m outlining, one that I’m planning, one that I’m editing and one that I’m trying to brainstorm... So 5 total. Though I work more on the drafting/outlining/editing projects.

Fab-tastic amirite?

I can’t believe I just said that.

Oh my god.

Oh well, You Only Live Once.

2. Do you/Would you write fanfiction?

No. Fanfiction’s really not my thing! I’m not against writers who do write fanfiction, I just prefer creating my own original characters, which fanfiction doesn’t (usually) allow. That’s just The Way It Is for me, but if fanfic works for you, what a Happy Ending for you!

3. Do you prefer real books or ebooks?

I prefer books of the audio kind.

lol.

Of these two, I prefer ebooks for sheer convenience and reading at night since I share a bedroom, and the sister sleeps like 4 hours before I do, and holding up a flashlight while lying down and trying to hold up a book isn’t fun... Sorry for the bad description of that, it’s just a little Hard To Explain. Reading hard copy books Under Cover Of Darkness is a little difficult.

I do however love real books because they’re very pretty, and I prefer physical copies over digital copies.

BUT AUDIOBOOKS FTW.

(If you spend 4+ hours a day staring at Photoshop, Audiobooks are the BEST.)

Audiobooks aren’t even Between Love and Hate for me, they’re just hanging with pure love.

4. When did you start writing?

The summer of 2014, which means I was 12!

(...)

Man I remember writing when I was 12 like it happened Last Nite.

We was young, amirite?

5. Do you have someone you trust that you would share your work with?

@sarahkelsiwrites is my go to gal. I mean, we hung out in the womb together--there’s only so much trust one person can gain. Also, my best friend @imdisappointed because 1) she created a tumblr with my book title and 2) she’s the best. :)) We’re all basically Partners In Crime. The Chances that we’re all so supportive of one another is great. Call It Fate, Call it Karma, whatever floats your boat. ;)

6. Where is your favourite place to write?

I used to love writing in bed, but sometimes I just think... What Ever Happened to that? (She says, as she writes this blog post in bed...) I feel unproductive as hell, and am more inclined to go on social media or relax. So I have a couple spots: lately it’s been at my kitchen table where there’s a nice loud CD player and lots of light, but in the summer, it’s usually this huge couch by my piano. (Anything with TONS of light is great.) Anything that’s On The Other Side of the house is cool with me, since that side gets most of the light (minus the kitchen, which I love).

7. Favourite childhood book?

The Faraway Tree. My mom used to read this to my sister and I every night before bed, and to be honest, is probably the number one book I read during childhood that pushed my love for storytelling. Used to read that book All The Time.

8. Writing for fun or for publication?

Both! I kind of like writing/working on a book for publication, and another for personal use because it takes the pressure off for me. Currently, I’m writing the FOSTERED series for fun (rip past me thinking she was going to publish this...), and am editing my YA contemporary, I’M DISAPPOINTED for publication. Hoping that Someday the book’s picked up!

9. Pen and paper or computer?

Both, again. I don’t *like* using pen and paper, but it’s all I have when I’m in class (and I mean IN class, when a lesson is going on LOL), so I take it. Take It Or Leave It, amirite? And you know, this is The Modern Age, so computers are totally the way to go when I have access to ‘em. (So basically most of the time, though this can sometimes be a little 50/50 if you know what I mean?)

10. Have you ever taken any writing classes?

I haven’t taken any technical writing classes, but I have taken an online query-writing class with a couple literary agents from New Leaf which was fun. Fun story: I totally had forgotten to log on When It Started, so I missed a solid 15 Minutes of the class. My bad. I had it all Under Control by the end though.

11. What inspires you to write?

Music. You know, especially this band called The Strokes. A couple favourites from them are: You Only Live Once, The Way It Is, Happy Ending, Hard To Explain, Under Cover of Darkness, Between Love & Hate, Last Nite, Partners In Crime, Chances, Call It Fate, Call It Karma, What Ever Happened, On The Other Side, All The Time, Someday, Take It Or Leave It, The Modern Age, 50/50, When It Started, 15 Minutes, and Under Control.

You’re great if you noticed all of those.

Pretty proud of the puns.

I used 20 song titles from The Strokes in that. That’s, like, Barely Legal.

(21 now)

Man these bad puns need to come to an Automatic Stop.

(22 now)

Meh, maybe I’ll stop at 12:51.

(23 now)

I know what you’re thinking right now: Rachel, You Talk Way Too Much.

(24)

And to that I say I Can’t Win at everything.

(25)

Sorry I guess I’m Trying Your Luck now.

(26)

We can talk about it in the Evening Sun at another time, maybe?

(27)

Oh also, don’t forget, you’re always free to Ask Me Anything!

(28)

Thanks for reading. I’m dying of laughter.

--Rachel

[foursproutwealth-blog]

Why Every Entrepreneur Should Spend Less Time Looking at Screens

New Post has been published on http://foursprout.com/wealth/why-every-entrepreneur-should-spend-less-time-looking-at-screens/

Why Every Entrepreneur Should Spend Less Time Looking at Screens

Chances are, you have a laptop, a tablet and a smartphone. You watch TV, employ an ereader and interact with digital screens to do everything else, from adjusting the temperature in your home to ordering food in (or from) a neighborhood restaurant.

Related: 7 Easy Ways to Save Your Eyes From Smartphone Strain

If you’re an entrepreneur, you probably stare at screens even when you’re in a meeting with colleagues and clients, so as to multitask. In fact, you probably regard as an unavoidable fact of modern life the fact that screen-based interactions are necessary.

But for too many of us, out of our obsession for improving productivity and doing more every day, we may be losing track of how much we do these things.

Your best guess: How long have you spent staring at digital screens today? In fact, you’ve probably been looking at screens of various sizes since you woke up this morning. Last year, according to a Nielsen Company Audience Report, Americans averaged 10 hours a day of screen time.

And, all that staring at screens can have nasty repercussions. If you value your physical and mental health, now might be the time to cut back.

Potential consequences

Staring at a digital screen for too long can have result in a variety of dangerous consequences, such as:

Computer-vision syndrome. Between 50 and 90 percent of people who use a computer as a tool in their work exhibit at least some symptoms of computer-vision syndrome, including a suite of eye-related issues. Because digital screens require our eyes to focus and refocus constantly, as well as contend with sharp contrasts and shifting light sources, over time we may develop symptoms such as blurry vision, double vision, eye irritation, headaches or even neck and back pain.

Related: 5 Things Professionals Should Do to Reduce Their Screen-Related Risk of ADHD and Dementia

Consequences of sedentary living. Though this is not universal, in many cases, staring at a screen means you’re sitting or lying down, and not moving while you interact with your device. If you spend most of your day staring at a screen, then you’re living a sedentary lifestyle, and are therefore putting yourself at risk for developing conditions like obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stroke, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

Social isolation. Depending on how you’re using your screens, your time commitment to them could contribute to loneliness and social isolation. Although you’re interacting with your device, you aren’t interacting with other people, which means your relationships can weaken, and you may be at higher risk for depression. And don’t assume that using your device for activity on social media will spare you from loneliness: Research indicates that heavy social media use is associated with feelings of social isolation as well.

Stress. Prolonged use of smartphones, laptops and other devices is also a sign that you could be working too many hours. If you spend 12 hours a day on work-related tasks on your personal devices, the stress will accumulate relentlessly, and take its toll on your body and mind eventually.

Balancing screen time and productivity

The real problem is that you rely on screens to do your work. Without the software, communications and productivity boosts that screen-based technologies entail, you wouldn’t be able to get much done over the span of the day.

The key, therefore, is to identify new strategies that reduce your screen time without decreasing your overall productivity. For example:

Use your screen time wisely. First, make sure you’re using your screen time wisely. When you go to use a digital screen, make sure you’re employing it to accomplish a goal, rather than wasting time or entertaining yourself between tasks.

Take breaks. The American Optometric Association recommends the 20-20-20 rule; every 20 minutes you spend staring at a screen, take a 20-second break to look at something at least 20 feet away to give your eyes a break. Even the busiest entrepreneurs can spare 20 seconds now and then. In addition, make sure you take a few prolonged breaks throughout the day.

Find alternatives. Instead of relying solely on the digital screen, find alternative ways to engage with people. Could you conduct a phone call instead of a chat session? Might you listen to an audiobook instead of reading the digital version?

Rely on written notes and planners. Consider taking notes and keeping a calendar using pen and paper, instead of a digital device. Paper and pen will spare your eyes, and research shows that writing things down in a tangible format can improve both understanding and recall.

Host walking meetings. If you can, try to host walking meetings, where you and your participants discuss things while you walk around the city, or even just the building. This will make you more active, and reduce the temptation to look at your devices during meetings.

Related: Protect Your Eyes From the Harm of Digital Devices With These 4 Tips

No matter how much you enjoy using your electronic gadgets or how committed you are to accomplishing great things for your firm, there’s no excuse for spending as much time as you do on your digital devices.

Don’t let your mind and body deteriorate because you were too stubborn to take a break.

[reluctantjoe]

another new mat project!!! so excited to hear him in terry pratchett's a stroke of the pen audiobook next month