FOREX

FOREX EXCHANGE RATES

2019-03-26T22:32:00.000+00:00

The exchange rate refers to the values of the currencies of the two countries against each other. Any currency
the type of the type, it is in accordance with the level of supply and demand in foreign or free
The currency of the country in which the currency belongs belongs to the market by buying money from the market or
it can be determined within the framework of its interventions.
In international markets, each currency has a generally accepted symbol. The symbols of some currencies are:
Based on these symbols, a symbol of each exchange rate is also formed. Each exchange rate symbol
Contains 6 characters. The first three characters are one of the currency pair, the other three characters represent another pair of currency pairs.
For example, the euro to the US dollar is called the EUR / USD (or EURUSD).
Basic Concepts of Forex
In FX transactions, the market participant who trades at exchange rates and trades at these exchange rates
na called the market maker (market maker). Approximately 20% of world banks market market transactions
has played a constructive role. Approximately 60% of the total transactions in financial markets are performed by market makers such as these banks.
Participants who perform their commercial transactions on the value determined in the market
user (market user).
The exchange rate and the related fiction are as follows:
USD / CHF = 1.3450 / 60 (or 1.3450 - 1.3460)
Such spellings can be purchased with the Swiss franc at US $ 1.3460 and at 1.3450
means that you can sell. Buying a value of 1.3450 in the same way market value (Bid), buying the value of 1.3460
(Ask) is called fyati. Pip value is the smallest rate of change seen in foreign exchange price.
For example: The rise in the exchange rate from 1.3450 to 1.3455 indicates a 5 pips change.
However, in some applications, there are not 5 but 4 digits after the point. In these cases, the
takes points or points. www.investaz.com.tr
For example, the foreign exchange rate increased from 1.34528 to 1.34572 and 44 points in points
Indicates an increase of 4.4 pips.
Spread - The difference between purchase and sale is: 1.3460 - 1.3450 = 10 pips.
In FX transactions, the standard bank spread may vary from 5 pips to 10 pips.
Big Figure - is a 100 pip change of prices.
For example: 1.3460 to 1.3560.
Hedge - is a system of protection against loss risks by taking positions at different exchange rates.
Forex Growth in Turkey:
As the households of our recent history during the high en ’asion periods,
we have shown great interest in gold and foreign to protect our revenues and savings. Physical and
Perhaps most of us did not know that the gold and foreign exchange transactions we performed without leverage were called FX. FX operations despite energy, time, high cost and storage defects
has an important place in our socio-economic identity.
In parallel with the rapidly growing technological developments in the 21st century, FX
we met. The FX market, which was initially demanded for a limited period, reached serious figures in a short period of time where policy makers could not be indifferent. Thus, as of 31.08.2011, the FX market was decided by the Capital Markets Board (CMB).
has been bound by some standard criteria with the authority to regulate and control. Investors' guarantees
Takasbank has been taken under the guarantee. FX service only in CMB-licensed brokerage houses as of 2011
Employees are granted by CMB license. The FX market transactions in Turkey as of January 2014
volume is close to USD 250 billion.9

FOREX LIFTING

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Forex and brokerage activities of intermediaries in small and medium-volume investment in those who have Forex
It was possible to participate in the market. Entered with an investment of 2-3 thousand dollars from many parts of the world
FX markets can be traded through intermediary institutions in a few times that amount.
For example: the leverage ratio of 1: 10 applied to the investment amount of $ 15,000 is up to $ 150,000.
allow the transaction to be made. In other words, only 10% of the total transaction volume
process. By means of leverage within the scope of intermediary activities of intermediary institutions
FX transactions are called in leveraged trading gerçekleştiril.
Leveraged operation; in accordance with the orders imposed by the brokerage houses and in accordance with the orders issued by the client for FX operation.
aims to meet the possibility of any risk in the transactions performed. This system,
sometimes 5, sometimes 10 times the amount of the main investment held as collateral against potential risks
allows for high volume processing.
The customer gains the right to trade over the amount in the account with the collateral deposited by the lever. After signing a contract with the intermediary institution, the client can operate using leverage.
An amount from the client account of the intermediary institution against the damage caused by the transactions made by the customer
allocate money as collateral. The amount of money allocated as collateral to the customer and the leverage ratio
depends on the volume of transactions made.
For example: If the customer is considering making a FX transaction of $ 500,000
In addition, only 500.000 / 10 = 50.000 dollars should be allocated as transaction guarantee. If customer 1: 5 leverage
If it uses, then it should allocate 500.000 / 5 = 100.000 dollars as a transaction guarantee in FX account.
If the customer has suffered losses as a result of the foreign exchange purchase / sale, the total loss shall be
the amount falls. Conversely, if the transaction is profit, the total profit is transferred to the customer's account.
One of the important requirements of the leveraged trading system is to close the damaging positions in time.
It is rarely seen in the FX market that any currency has lost more than 2% of its money against other currencies. Therefore, if the transactions are done by analyzing,
damage is practically impossible.
If the loss of the transactions exceeds the amount of the customer's account, the
it can switch off the position even without damage.
Yatırım The leveraged trading system applied in the FX market is both large investors and small investment
provides attractive conditions for employees. Investment opportunities in other fnans markets are so easy
It is not. "
For example: US Treasury Bonds are an investment that provides a very safe and stable income (an average of 3% a year).
although it is an intermediary, a very high lower limit has been determined to invest in this market and
long-term planning of the investment. Investments in companies' shares www.investaz.com.tr
The profit rate of these companies 'annual balance sheets and other investors' stocks show these stocks
the other is linked to demand. In the FX market, there are no restrictions. So everyone
can participate in the market from all over the world, according to the estimates of foreign exchange price movements
trading, and most importantly, in the calculation of only 1-3% volume of transaction volume
can separate.

Forex

2019-03-26T22:27:00.000+00:00

FOREX
1. Capital (Fund) Markets
· Stocks
· Bond notes
· Company and treasury bonds
The reasons that make the stock investment attractive:
· Share of dividends
· Opportunity to participate in company management
· Speculative earning opportunities
2. Money Markets
· International Exchange Network Prices (Forex)
· Repo-reverse repo transactions
Forex trading reasons:
· 5/24 market access
· Electronic trading platform
· Two-way processing
· Opportunity to handle high volume transactions with small collaterals with leveraged advantage
Low cost99
www.investaz.com.t is
FOREX MARKET
FX Market; (Foreign Exchange Market or Forex) from banks to brokerage houses, fnans organizations
up to individual investors on predetermined terms (fyat,
time, volume) refers to the sum of the foreign exchange purchase transactions. General of the FX market
private banks, central banks, exchange exchanges, companies engaged in international trade
and investment funds.
The most commonly used currency in the Forex market
(USD), Euro (EUR), Japanese Yen (JPY), Swiss Franc (CHF) and British Pound (GBP).
In 1998, it reached US $ 1.982 trillion in global currency trading, namely the Forex market.
The daily trading volume has increased to $ 4 trillion today. The largest trading volumes UK,
It takes place in USA and Germany markets. 70% of total transactions are made in US Dollars. Today, 11% of the total FX transactions are provided by the brokerage services provided in electronic environment.
It is performed.
Forex combines 4 regional markets; Asia, Europe, America and Australia. FX transactions every weekday job
24 hours a day. Transactions in different time zones
Thanks to investors, FX market investors are always available to perform their orders.
The relatively low volume in the Forex market is only seen between 24.00 and 04.00 at night.
This evening recession TSI (Turkey time) and TS closing hours of the session at 24.00 in New York Stock Exchange
Starting from 04.00 on the stock exchange on the Tokyo stock exchange
FX market participants; central banks, foreign exchange exchanges, mutual funds, international trade companies,
brokerage houses and private individuals.
Ilar For both new market entry and professional investors due to the Forex market
It is attractive. "
Forex is a liquid market. The daily total trading volume on the market is very large, so you can trade in large volumes.
Forex is a market where all investors can participate. This market you want 24 hours a day
when you can do the transaction and have to react immediately to any improvement in the market
You do not.
You can join the market online and manage your account. FX market transactions via internet
computer, phone and tablet. FX transactions for a specific term for the future
and fyat, which allows Forex participants to plan their transactions in advance.
gives the opportunity.
The transaction is carried out with the appropriate amount of investment. The principal you invested in the Forex market using leverage
You can perform a large volume of operations a few times. Moreover, these operations
The cost will be the difference between the buying / selling price of the exchange rate.
Foreign exchange rates are the same everywhere. Thanks to the high liquidity feature of the market,
FX transactions are performed in one place. However, futures exchanges and similar
You can only trade in limited quantities on the same market in many markets.
Price movements can be predicted. Changes in foreign exchange rates over time
and you can examine these trend changes at desired time intervals. Each exchange rate affects different factors, so each currency chart follows a special line. Taking advantage of this, investors
exchange rates according to the exchange rate can take the opportunity to profit.
Deutsche Bank, Barclays Bank, Union Bank of Switzerland, City Bank, Chase Manhattan Bank, Standard
Giant banks such as Chartered Bank performs billions of dollar transactions in this market. Spot market
transactions are foreign exchange transactions and delivery (valuation) of such transactions
is the next working day. According to 1998 data, 40% of all FX transactions in Forex were realized in spot markets.
FX transactions between banks are generally carried out in large volumes. But less investment
Forex participants can also benefit from the opportunities in the FX market using leverage effect.
Means of service with leverage

The Perfect Novel...

2012-10-02T21:45:00.000+01:00

Picture taken from here

A really interesting read! I'd love to see an infograph done about the biggest selling novels/best rated novels of all time.

What do you think makes a perfect novel?

Moti... Motiv.... Motivati... Motivation!

2012-09-20T15:24:00.001+01:00

I really need to get myself sorted, it's getting quite bad. I've started writing three big stories now, three possible novels, and each time I write so many words and get bored of it, realise it's so bad I can no longer continue, and give up.

This is my third or fourth attempt and so far it's getting better. I've done proper characterisation, I've got a good supporting cast, a setting, a theme, a moral, a plot...

But still, something's trying to get me to press 'delete' on everything I've got and start over.

Motivation.

Or lack of, to be more precise.

When I should be writing, I find a plethora of other things I could be doing. I signed up to Pintrest, Imgur, Burrst, Daily Mail, Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Angry Birds...

It's ridiculous!

I'm wondering where down the line writing stopped being a fun task to take my mind off things, to becoming work.

From someone who doesn't like sleep because it wastes too much time, wasting so much time on pointless websites is starting to grate. I enjoy being busy!

So I'm going to get motivated. Writing shouldn't be a chore, I love writing!

Time to reignite the spark! I'm going to set myself a timetable and stick to it.

I'm going to finish this story.

Motivation!

Who's with me?!

Review: Feeder's "Generation Freakshow"

2012-09-16T21:35:00.003+01:00

Feeder are an amazing band that have been around for 21 years, and I got this album after seeing them live at Leeds festival. Even then, I knew I'd love the album. Even the songs I didn't know, I enjoyed. I couldn't fault their performance, and they seemed like really nice people too. I got "Generation Freakshow" and with Buck Rogers, Feeling a Moment and Just a Day (to name a few) in my mind, I listened to the album...

It didn't disappoint.

The best new album I have heard since Foo Fighter's "Wasting Light" from 2011. This is my album of the year. I don't like most mainstream music as it's all kind of dance and bland, but this is amazing.

I can't fault a single song, they're all hope-filled songs that are catchy and upbeat apart from one or two slower songs that are still enjoyable to listen to.

A few highlights from the album are "Idaho" "Borders" (it features my name and I can really identify with the lyrics!) and "In All Honesty".

Ambiguous lyrics and easy-to-enjoy chords are a perfect combo for Feeder, who show no signs of slowing down which can only be a good thing if this album is a taster of more things to come.

Definitely worth a listen, give them a try on Youtube!

I can't wait for their next album, a very talented band that I like to like.

Jess

Review: Total Recall

2012-09-15T14:09:00.000+01:00

I'm going to start off by saying I haven't seen the original of this, but after watching the remake I don't think I'll bother either.

One of the most superficial films I have ever seen. If the film makers had spent less time trying to recreate the setting of Blade Runner and had instead focused their attention on writing a less cheesy script, creating characters with actual personalities and giving the story a reason to exist, it would have made for a really good film.

Instead what we have is a shell of a movie that fails to leave an impression at all. Entirely watchable the first time round, if only to have the twists ironed out and to see how it ends, but I would never watch this again.

Everything looks amazing, the actors are good looking, the setting is perfect (even though it's copied), the futuristic devices are impressive, but that's where it ends. Nothing has depth beyond the surface.

Kate Beckinsale was poorly cast. I love her, she plays a great bad-ass in movies and is a believable tough girl but in this film *SPOILER* her overly-posh English accent and predictable lines make her out as a characteur of an evil villain from an old James Bond film. Jessica Beil's character cries a lot. Colin Farrell's character is apparently a shadow of his former self, and they talk about how great he used to be and I ended up wishing he had a personality transplant just to make him a bit more interesting.

All in all, I wouldn't recommend this film.

Review: The Big Lebowski

2012-09-14T21:36:00.000+01:00

In my last post I mentioned how I like to research films after I watch them. This one was no different, apart from the fact I ended up Googling it before it had finished just to stave off some boredom. I was surprised to read it is a 'cult classic'. Why?!

I had really high hopes and big expectations for "The Dude" but the film failed me horribly.

Don't get me wrong, the film is watchable. The characters are unique and funny but the storyline is totally ridiculous and completely drawn out for far too long. In comedies the plot usually requires you to switch off and enjoy it without thinking too much about how unrealistic it is, but that's because the plot is funny and worthwhile in its own way. This one, however, just kept going "oops, something went wrong, go to this guy. Oops, nope, go to that guy."

If the characters, all of them, had been written into a better story I would have loved it. The Dude is great and you know you want him as your friend in real life, and his angry best mate couldn't be faulted for his acting, but I felt they were let down.

I might try watching it again, but chances are I probably won't.

Jess

The Importance of Theme in Story Writing

2012-09-11T21:11:00.000+01:00

I'll be honest. In the past few weeks I've been suffering with a serious case of writer's block. I planned out this series of books and wrote about ten thousand words before I came down with it.

I had some ideas, not great ones or bad ones, but some ideas. I wrote a few stories for my Burrst. It was getting anything longer than a few hundred words and worthwhile down on paper, or Word, that was the problem. The more I couldn't write, the more agitated I got, the more agitated I got, the less I could write. Then...

I read this free ebook by Francis Poretto. In the space of a few days I planned a story and I've written five thousand words, and all of them have meaning and a purpose. All because of one thing: Theme.

Honestly, I'd suggest you download his book. Nothing I say about theme will be as informative as his words but I can tell you that it is so important. More important than I'd ever realised. I'd never had theme before, just a plot and characters and setting. A beginning middle and end. That's like just having butter, ham and cheese. The theme is the bread to keep it all together, to give it purpose and to vastly improve it. You can't have a sandwich without bread, you can't have a story without theme.

When you know what message you're trying to send out to your readers, every word and action and peice of dialogue suddenly gets a whole new meaning. Everything is connected by more than 'just because'.

Theme can be anything. It can be a moral message, like "play with fire and you're going to get burned" or "what goes around comes around" or it can be a 'rule' such as "lies will always be punished" or it can be a feeling, like "love conquers all" or "courage is always rewarded". Whatever you want it to be. It can be a moral message, a political message, a spiritual message, a belief you hold dear. Or you can choose something more ambiguous so the reader can decide their own version of what they think your theme is.

For the story I'm currently writing, the theme is "overcoming fears/courage" - so all the characters have some fear they will overcome by the end of the story, especially the main character.

The more I write, the more I'm realising the need for things I once thought weren't neccessary at all. Of course if I find any more I'll share them with you!

What do you think the most important aspect of a story is?

Let me know!

Jess

Review: The Bone Collector

2012-09-09T22:53:00.000+01:00

I have this weird quirk where I have to research a film after I've watched it, ASAP. Sometimes to understand the plot better, to find out which actors were in it, what critical reception it got, whether a sequel is likely...

For The Bone Collector, it completely shocked me when I looked the film up that not everyone loved it as much as me, and it got mostly bad reviews. Did people actually sit down and watch this absolutely classic film?

In my opinion, it was absolutely great. The best thriller I've watched in a long time. Has you puzzling who's good and who's bad until right near the end, but I'm such a killjoy with twist endings that I kind of guessed who it was halfway through. Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie are perfect for their roles and you really get involved in the movie. It's gripping.

Denzel's character is such a bad ass too, you don't feel sorry for him for being quadraplegic or anything, you just think, "what an inspiring guy." I love that the female is strong too, and we see so much character growth with that character that I couldn't help but like them both.

If you haven't seen it, I'd definitely recommend it!

Jess

Review: The Possession

2012-09-06T22:47:00.000+01:00

The Possession is the first horror film I've seen at the cinema since Paranormal Activity 3 (I can't wait for the next one coming out soon!) and I was a little bit dubious. Horror films seem to be so cliche these days that it's barely worth watching them, as you know exactly what kind of storyline they will follow...

The first twenty minutes of build up.

The catalyst into scary territory.

A slow build up of suspense and horrific events occurring.

The main character realising what's going on.

The main character being persecuted and isolated.

The scariness getting more intense.

A showdown between good and evil, human and non-human.

Potentially a death of a Spear Shaker character or potentially the death of a lesser Marquee character.

Happy ending, OR IS IT?! (Because perhaps the creators would like to drag it out for a few more films to make some more money...)

Although The Possession isn't particularly unique and the whole broken home thing has been done a million times as a way for the main characters to reconnect or whatever, and the story is completely transparent, it's very enjoyable!

I liked how unique the 'catalyst' is in this film, and how well acted it was. Seriously, the main girl is amazing. The dad isn't too bad either, just a bit over the top on occasion. And too similar looking to Javier Bardem. The Jewish guy in the film was great and the least dramatic of them all, definitely my favourite character.

One plot hole is *SPOILER* that they have this annoying step-dad figure called Brett. The possessed daughter makes his teeth fall out so he stumbles into his car and reverses away at top speed. Then, he's never heard of again! We never get any closure, they just fall back in love without a single thought to poor, toothless Brett driving around the streets with blood coming out of his gums like there's no tomorrow. I need closure!

I would recommend this film to those going with a group of friends for the fun of it, for those wanting to turn their brains off and have a good scare, and those going on a date as a reason to cuddle up to their partner.

I'll probably never watch it again but it was good while it lasted.

Jess

How to Get Organised for Christmas...

2012-09-03T21:56:00.001+01:00

I'm going through a phase of being very organised. I've got myself accepted into college for an access to university to course, so I'll be going to university, if I pass, next September! Hopefully Edinburgh uni, but I don't quite know yet. I'll be doing an English degree, or hopefully English with Creative Writing (except Edinburgh don't offer that.)

Anyway... Christmas!

Yes, I know it's only September but unless you'd like to be one of those stressed out people with crazy hair and bags full of last-minute presents nobody wants, here's how to get properly organised for Christmas:

It's vital to plan now! I'm determined to make presents for people this year. I wrote a poem for my grandad's 80th birthday in August and the whole family seemed to love it, so it goes to show that a bit of thought goes down better than an expensive necklace.

Write a list of who you need to buy for. Family, friends, work colleagues, teachers, lecturers, anyone you feel is worthy of a present from you.

I hope no one I know is reading this, because I'm about to reveal what I have planned so far.

I have about 20 really close friends I want to buy for and unfortunately I'm on minimum wage and as much as I'd like to buy them all holidays and lots of lovely booze, my pay cheque won't allow it. So I'm going to buy a few bags of Guatemalan Worry People. For those of you who don't know what they are, they are tiny handmade dolls and the story goes that if you're having trouble getting to sleep because of worries, you tell the worry dolls your problems and they worry for you while you sleep, meaning you get a good night's sleep and feel better for it. I used to love them when I was younger and I'd like my friends to have a reminder to keep their chins up as some of them moved away for university and I don't see them as much as I'd like. The plan is to put one Worry Person in everyone's cards, hopefully one that looks like them, and explain the back story.

Then for my young teen cousin I'm getting a cinema hamper, with popcorn, DVDs, sweets, pop etc. For my nana a relaxation hamper with scented candles, a book, nice tea, maybe a cute cushion or something.

That's as far as I've gotten for now but I'm planning what I need to buy now because some presents I want to make take weeks to do, like a cranberry and orange vodka that takes a couple of weeks.

Here's some useful links to handmade presents:

http://www.momswhothink.com/christmas/homemade-christmas-gifts.html

http://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/searchresults.aspx?type=300&search=christmas%20gifts

http://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/articles/homemade-food-gifts

http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/12/07/the-amazing-frugal-christmas-savings-spectacular/

http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/12/11/five-fantastic-frugal-tips-for-christmas/

Jess

Apologies!

2012-08-29T20:31:00.003+01:00

I've been so busy recently I've barely written a word, whether it be for my ongoing story or Burrst or Blogger and I hate it.

But I'm back now with a lot to tell you.

I came back from Leeds Festival, the greatest music festival in the world (and coincidentally the only one I've ever been to) on Monday.

I've never had such an amazing five days.

I saw the Foo Fighters, my all time favourite band since 2004 and the BEST band at Leeds ever, an amazing band called Feeder from almost the front row, Florence and the Machine as crazy as she is, Billy Talent as hyperactive as he is, Azealia Banks for one song, Young Guns though I'd never heard of them before they were pretty good and Paramore who were actually quite epic.

"Tinny o'clock" was the time (meaning, in English, grab an alcoholic beverage in a can and drink it, chaps) was from 9am til 5am every day. Barbecues weren't my forte (see below) and toilets without a flush should be made illegal.

Anyway I'd seriously suggest if you've never been to a music festival - go! Especially those ones you have to camp in a tent for. Give me Leeds Fest over going abroad any day. Absolutely epic.

Then yesterday, Tuesday, was my nineteenth birthday. So I'll have to change my bios on everything now, annoyingly. I ate about a bazillion and one cakes, cupcakes, sweets. All I'm getting for my birthday is an excess of calories but such is life and it's worth it.

Today I had an interview at college for a part time course I want to do this year, to get into university next year. To do English, of course. No idea how that went so fingers crossed still for that.

So now I've bored you to tears with my life, tally ho!

Jess

Review: Dogma

2012-08-18T20:46:00.001+01:00

Yes, this is probably the newest and least relevant review to exist of Dogma, which was released in 1999. (Scarily, that's thirteen years ago!)

However I'm currently watching it for the second time and I can't find a thing to fault.

From Silent Bob's facial expressions, to the mere existence of Alan Rickman in the movie. The leading lady is funny without trying to hard, a relatable character that ironically works in an abortion clinic.

Perfect, if you get the chance you need to watch the film. I love the way it turns religion on its head, changing beliefs to misconception like God is a 'she' and there was a black thirteenth apostle. Hilarious!

A must-watch that needs to be viewed at least twice to understand all of its subtle humour.

Jess

Review: Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives

2012-08-15T18:36:00.001+01:00

Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives by David Eagleman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Amazing. Thought provoking. Funny. Witty. Imaginative. Submersive. Unique. A collection of words that describe a collection of stories I absolutely loved reading.

The stories are quite short, the book is thin, but I read on the bus a lot and these stories are perfect for that! Each story is told in such detail that every single one has a good right to actually be real!

Touching, funny and depressingly realistic in equal measures but overall entertaining and very well thought out and written. Nothing in this book hasn't been analysed for complete perfection. I would recommend this to anyone.

View all my reviews

Planning Stories Vs Winging It

2012-08-14T22:30:00.000+01:00

What kind of writer are you?

Do you plan everything about your story to the last detail? Character bios that cover every detail of their lives? Plans that include all minor details of the plot like every subplot, conflict, argument, downfalls, outfits worn, weather, strangers they pass in the street, what pants they wear?

Or do you wing it, and have the major scenes in mind and you set on your merry way and bash at your laptop until you have 50,000 words, hoping everything fits together nicely and letting your characters decide what happens next..?

I lean more towards the wing it side. I write maybe about ten-twenty points of the story or scenes I'd like to cover then I let the story naturally flow between these points. For Salvatore, I had about ten pages of points typed up and the first story got so exciting from the first few points that I still had nine and a half pages left. Then Salvatore: Book Two only covered about another page of points. So that shows how vague my plotting is...

Recently I've started writing a possible novel length story. I wrote about 12,000 words with the story in first person, but something just didn't feel right. So I scrapped that, then began writing a second draft. Now I'm at about the same word count I've decided on a more appropriate and intriguing setting that would fit the story much better. So I now have the choice to either start over, yet again, or try to slot in the extra parts and hope for the best. I'm leaning towards starting again, to make sure it's perfect. The more I write the more I realise how important planning is, and when you're as whimsical and annoyingly unmotivated as me it becomes more and more clear how important plotting the subplots and characters and setting is. Setting has always been one of the less important elements of writing a story for me, beneath characterisation and having a good idea, but I'm also beginning to realise that too needs to be top notch for a story to be really submersive.

Let me know what your opinions are!

Jess

j.s.cambrook@live.co.uk

Review: Under Control by Mark McNay

2012-08-09T22:08:00.002+01:00

"Under Control" took a while to get in to. At first it seems like a disjointed series of mini-stories about people who all have very plain, forgettable names and are living plain, forgettable lives. I considered giving up. Then...

Although they are never given much description at all (Charlie: nice bum and pretty, Nigel: big nose and receding chin, Gary: Big.) you begin to care about the main characters. Nigel seems mild-mannered and caring, always trying to help. Charlie is a victim to her violent history, a prostitute from necessity to buy drugs for her and her maniac boyfriend Gary who has a mental illness. A mysterious character called Galileo is introduced too, and although I realised the symbolism and understood the point of having him, I didn't really enjoy those parts and skimmed over them due to them not really adding much to the story. They seemed to be a way to add slight meaning to one of the characters but mainly to add more to McNay's word count.

The story works well because of it's believability, the conversations about the weather and the constant offers of cups of tea. The characters are fleshed out and you really aren't sure whether to hate them or love them and your feelings fluctuate for the flawed characters. All your preconceptions about them are turned on their head in surprising and entertaining ways. The writing style is choppy, plain, not flowery or poetic and for this story it works.

However the ending is very anti-climatic. In my head I pictured a different ending. The final quarter of the book builds up and builds up, to the point where you just know something bad or dramatic is going to happen... and then nothing. If the ending had been better I would have really enjoyed this haunting and thought-provoking book. As it stands, I was left disappointed and I probably won't read it again to go with them through their personal journeys of trying to gain control over the other characters just for a wet and cop-out ending. I hope he didn't sacrifice a better ending just for the possibility of a sequel.

Let me know what you think if you've read this book, I'd love to know your opinions!

Jess x

Can You Self-Publish With Smashwords AND Amazon?

2012-08-07T20:32:00.003+01:00

I've been reading a lot recently about how great Amazon is. Currently, I self-publish all my ebooks using Smashwords and I find they're okay. I get enough regular downloads to keep me happy. I hadn't considered the possibility of self-publishing with Smashwords and Amazon until yesterday. With more readers, more downloads and sales, more profits, why wouldn't you?

Here are some things you need to really think about before doing this...

According to Smashwords, Amazon is around "2000 times bigger" than them. So Smashwords distribute to everyone but Amazon, you distribute yourself separately to them. That way you're selling to everyone. A few people have said Smashwords will die out soon, replaced by Amazon, whereas others say Smashwords is on the rise and they intend to stick with them until they are at the same level or higher as Amazon.

Smashwords have the upper hand as they distribute your work for you to several places like Apple and Barnes and Noble. However Amazon have the advantage of being hugely-massively-distinctively more popular than any other ebook retailer.

Smashwords allow you to set your ebook price as free, but Amazon do not. I understand both but sometimes it's nicer to be able to have free ebooks to entice readers, and set the rest to whatever price you like, to have the choice. However the more ebooks are free, the less reason readers have to buy ebooks and they will expect and then probably demand ebooks for free. It's tricky keeping everyone happy.

If you post your ebooks to Smashwords and fancy having a go at Amazon too (and why shouldn't you?) you need to know that Amazon don't allow you to post ebooks for a lesser price anywhere else. Meaning if your ebook is for free on Smashwords you can't post it to Amazon. You have to go to Smashwords and change the price to whatever price you are selling it for (or more) on Amazon.

As all my ebooks were free, I changed my series book, Salvatore: Book One to $0.99 (77p!) and posted it to Amazon, just to see how it sells. I've heard of people doing really, really well on Amazon with sales. I'm not too bothered how much money I make, I'd happily post it on Amazon for free if I could to reach out to more readers, but I'll see how it goes and of course I'll blog about it so you can know too.

Let me know if you have experience with Smashwords, Amazon or both!

Jess

Links:

Smashwords eBooks

Amazon eBooks

Naming Your Fictional Characters

2012-08-01T20:40:00.002+01:00

Naming your characters is an absolutely vital part of every story you write, no matter how short or long. Like naming a child you must think long and hard about it. Here are some things to consider when undertaking the task of naming your precious child-characters....

Research the Meaning

Often the meaning of a name can inspire you to consider a name you might not have otherwise picked. My eBook Salvatore's main character is a feisty, strong character named Alexa. The meaning of Alexa is "man's defender; noble" and that's exactly what I wanted my sword-wielding heroine to be. A good way to find names is to go on sites like http://www.babynames.co.uk/ where it has the names and meanings side-by-side to stop you getting attached to names with terrible meanings that you wouldn't expect, like Cameron, which means "crooked nose."
In another of my eBooks, Vessels of Existence, I didn't research names as the prisoners have their memories wiped and give each other nicknames instead and I preferred having a good back story for the name than finding one that held some kind of meaning.
'"My nickname’s Obby if you need me for anything. It used to be Gobby but after they beat the guy up who gave me the name, he spoke like he constantly had a sponge shoved in his pie hole. I thought Obby was funnier. I think I’ll name you Shiv, like shiver. You seem more scared than most people do when they first get here.” He chuckles. I don’t really see the funny side.' - Vessels of Existence.

Find Out Connotations of the Name

Some names have people attached to them already, and a reader will automatically think of them while reading it. Unique names mainly, unlike Sarah or Daniel which are quite common, and easy to get away with if the character is meant to be an average Joe, so to speak. Names like Rihanna will conjure an image of a Bajan singer that likes to wear very little clothing or Obama of an American president that seems (to everyone but the Americans) like a pretty cool guy or Madonna of a shameless fifty-something that doesn't know when to stop.
Other times a character might already be associated with another book which can also be dangerous. Writing about a couple named Romeo and Juliet is definitely risky and might just make your readers think about Shakespeare's version and how much they'd rather be reading that. If you have names that haven't been used that much, you can put your own unique stamp on it.
Sometimes that can be a good thing, or a part of the story, for instance if they were named after a particular celebrity/political figure of the time they were born by their die-hard fan parents which then leads into a story of them dragging their little Bono around the country after U2 trying to catch a glimpse of their son's namesake and him growing to accept his parents and as a result himself. Or something.

Names of the Times

In different time periods, certain names were popular and some names didn't even exist yet. Whereas Bertha and Edna were in the top 20 names of the 1890's, they aren't so popular any more. Make sure your name is realistic for when your character would have been born. For example, Britney was popular for girls born late-90's as made famous by Spears. I imagine in the past few years Edward and Jacob have been growing in popularity too, as made famous by Twilight. It's important to know trends. If you have a Victorian child named Shakira, it'll probably take away your story's authenticity.

Names of the Places

If your character is a working class, white boy born to two average, white working class parents, chances are he won't be called Adetokunbo which, by the way, means "he will wear the crown of the sea". Think about where your character was born, where they grew up, how normal/wacky their parents are, where their parents grew up, their ethnicity, their class. Take all of these things into account to make sure that a name doesn't sound odd to your reader.

Family

You want your main character's name to be memorable, yes, but you also need it to be believable. If your MC has brothers and sisters, they have to all sound like they were named by the same two parents. Like if the parents are Tom and Mary, their kids will be like Emma, Paul, Rachel, Harriett, Christopher. Names that fit, that two average parents would give to their brood. If you have parents named Honeybee and Zeezeezacharias then the children are probably more likely to be called things like Fangbite, Kakekikoku and Butterflyantennae.

Nicknames

Whatever you name your character, you have to keep and mind that they will probably have a nickname. Elizabeth - Beth/Lizzie/Lisbeth/Eliza/Liz/Ellie/Ell/Bee/Zabeth. Think of possible in-jokes or connotations of the names, like an annoying younger brother might insist on calling Elizabeth, normally called Liz, Lizard or Scaly Face or Snakey.
For a story I was writing recently, I had a Catherine. To her friends and family she was Kate, which sounds quite young and fun to me, and to her controlling and possessive boyfriend she was Cathy, which sounds more like an older person's name which didn't suit her personality at all and showed how little he knew about her and what he would prefer her to be like, an obedient housewife.

Minor Characters

I probably spend far too long naming my main characters because I actually enjoy trawling through baby name websites to find the absolute perfect name for my main character. Usually when I see a name I just know, I think of a few nicknames and back stories and I'm ready to go. For the minor characters, I'd suggest just using a random name generator which actually sometimes helps inspire main character's names too. My favourite is http://random-name-generator.info/

Hope this helped you!

Jess x

Feedback from Readers

2012-07-31T19:00:00.001+01:00

One of my favourite things about writing (apart from the obvious - actually writing...) is getting feedback! Knowing that someone has read through your work, and liked it enough to say something nice is really wonderful. Every ebook I read I try to remember to comment about it, as I think everyone deserves a confidence boost at regular intervals....

On the Burrst site I've mentioned before I feel bad reading someone's work and not commenting on it, even if it's to say how I thought it could be improved.

If you've ever had a compliment before, you know the feeling. An awkward, blushing buzz you get. If everyone aimed to compliment as much as they could (you know, up and not beyond levels of seeming like a weirdo on drugs) then I think everyone would be more encouraged to work as hard as they could. Gaining recognition and praise for something you're passionate about is a really great thing.

So if I read your work, be prepared for me to give feedback, bad or good.

And probably - definitely - beyond levels of seeming like a weirdo on drugs.

Jess x

Ray Pettibon

2012-07-31T19:00:00.000+01:00

I just watched Red Hot Chili Pepper's music video for Monarchy of Roses, an amazingly creative video and the best I've seen in a long while, and it mentioned it was inspired by the art of Ray Pettibon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOgFHMEJMeY

Naturally, I Googled him and found his site with all of his works of art on. They are thought provoking and ambiguous, which makes them even better to look at as you make your own meanings for them. They are mainly in black and white with occasional bits of colour, and a cryptic caption. You should take a look and see if you agree! http://www.raypettibon.com/main.html

Aurora

2012-07-28T23:14:00.001+01:00

I think everyone knows about the tragic shooting in Aurora by now, during the screening of Batman. So, so sad.

Hans Zimmer has released a song, titled "Aurora", which is truly haunting and beautifully sad. If you want to listen, the link is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIseL1_lIGg

Also on there is a link to donate, https://watertowermusic.moontoast.com/estore/embed/1336

I read in the news that Christian Bale went to see those that had been in the shooting, and I found that a great thing for him to do. Some people were campaigning for him to visit them dressed as Batman, which honestly I didn't understand. He didn't even alert the media.

Another article I read was about how three couples had gone to see the film, and the men had sacrificed themselves to protect their girlfriends by shielding them with their bodies. All three were young couples, the oldest being 27. I find that so heroic, to be in such a stressful and immediate situation and the first thought of those young men being to protect their girlfriends rather than finding safety for themselves.

It's nice that those involved with the making of Batman have been doing so much for those involved in the shooting. It gives you hope in humanity that when tragedies happen, people do care. I hope that whoever committed this crime is rightfully punished and that the families of those involved and the survivors aren't forgotten about and that they find peace. Such a horrible, needless event.

Russia: My Biggest Fans!

2012-07-20T17:00:00.000+01:00

I love looking at the statistics of this blog. It's always so random. Apparently, there are a LOT of Russian people reading it.

Thanks for the page views, Russia, my friend!

спасибо

How to Write and Self Publish eBooks for Free!

2012-07-19T21:07:00.000+01:00

My new eBook! Full of great advice for newbie authors or even authors who are stuck in a rut.

"So, you like writing. Now what? This guide has everything you need to know about becoming successful. I will take you through getting inspired for an idea, how to plan, write and edit, how to make an ebook cover (for free, using Paint or similar), how to make a trailer video for Youtube and how to market yourself to get as many readers (and profit) as possible!"

Download Here!

Let me know what you think!

Jess

How to Make Your Own eBook Cover Using Paint

2012-07-18T18:30:00.000+01:00

I make all my own ebook covers using Paint. The best thing about it is no cost and it's pretty easy once you get to grips with Paint's tools. It can look really effective if done right. And, FREE! No loss to you meaning maximum profit (if your ebooks are for a price. Mine aren't.).

It's easy once you know how, and I'll take you step-by-step through the process with screenshots of an example to help you get inspiration and to actually create your perfect cover.

Here are my ebook covers so far:

It's easy once you've had a bit of practice. Make sure your cover is aimed at the people that will be buying your book. If you're writing a romantic comedy, your cover should be fun, flirty, bright, eye-catching. If it's a horror, you should use dark colours and a scary picture. If it's a children's book, make it bright, bold and (obviously) childish.

You can't just Google a related subject to your ebook and use that picture for your cover for copyright reasons. You must use images that are free for commercial use. For the pictures and photos I use on the covers, I got to www.Flickr.com and go to advanced search. Click all the creative commons boxes like this:

Then you can use those pictures for your ebook covers in most cases, but check individual pictures for specific copyright issues. Usually you must link to the photographer. Add your book's title in an appropriate font and readable colour, and the same with your name or pen name.

Be creative! You don't want a cover that looks like everyone else's. Don't copy other ebook covers too, or you could be infringing copyright laws, the worst thing to do. Be careful, too, because it's a legal minefield using anything of anyone else's. The best thing to do would be to take your own photos or draw your own sketches but this is the second best option.

Example

Let's go through this step by step. Let's say I'm writing a ghost story aimed at young adults.

First, open Paint and make the dimensions 1600 wide, 2400 tall. These large dimensions are a necessity from August when the guidelines are changed, so make sure it's big enough or your cover will be rejected.

Then, go on Flickr.com and find an appropriate image that catches your eye. If it doesn't interest you, why would it interest your readers? Remember to check the creative commons boxes.

I searched for "scary" then clicked on "interesting". I found this:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinksherbet/3366636571/

I thought it was effective and intriguing, so I'll use that. I'm going to keep my ebook cover simple, as horror is often about what the reader doesn't see (or, read).

So copy that to Paint after you've double checked the copyright, and add your title.

Then add your name, in smaller font so you don't detract from the title...

And you're done!

You have the option of adding black blocks so your title stands out like this...

It's up to you and what you find to look most effective, and what kind of photo you have too. Make your own style of ebook up, there are plenty. Or you can hire book cover designers for a fee.

I hope this helped, let me know!

Jess