Becoming publishable
Featured Articles
You might also enjoy:
Some Nook Books to Read
Write Great Fiction - Plot & Structure
by James Scott BellI can't recommend this book enough. I read it again and again--it's the first book on structure that worked for me.
Review of Barnes and Noble Nook
First a disclaimer--I have affiliate for Barnes and Noble. However, I owned a Nook before I was an affiliate, and my review is not influenced by that.
I got a Nook when they were first released. In fact, I had to pre-order one because it wasn't yet released. I'd always thought I wouldn't like reading ebooks because I love print books. I love the way they feel, they smell, they look. I love the way they feel in my hands. I love that you can display all your books on your shelves for everyone to see, that you can hand them down or loan them out.
However, we moved to a tiny cottage for a little while and I could only have four bookcases. I had to keep getting rid of books and I hated doing that. Finally, I decided it was time to get an ebook reader so I could own as many books as I wanted without worrying about space. I chose the Nook because at the time, it was the only one you could really walk into a store and look at. The Kindle wasn't in stores yet. I loved that I could walk into a Barnes and Noble store, ask for the Nook expert, and get them to help me with my ebook reader. I love gadgets, but I'm not always good at using anything but the computer. If customer service had to be called, they did it for me--I usually don't understand what they're telling me and I hate telephones.
I've had my Nook for a long time now--the original, not the newest one or the Color--and I love it. I still buy and read lots of print books, but I also use my Nook a great deal. I tend to go through stages--all Nook or all paper. Over time, I've learned I prefer comfort books in print and anything else in ebook. My reference books are often ebooks, as are new authors I'm testing out--ebooks are normally cheaper so if I'm testing a new author, I save money. I also buy a lot of my religious books on Nook because they're hard to find locally. In addition, I love classics and old out-of-print books and those are usually on ebook, often free or for a few dollars. Those are on my Nook.
I'd guess two-thirds of my Nook is filled with free books, one advantage an ebook reader has over a print collection. Barnes and Noble offers a free book every Friday and they often offer collections of freebies as well. I've obtained most of the classics that way. My old out-of-print books are usually about two dollars, making them an inexpensive purchase.
I don't have the Nook color. I really only use my Nook for reading, so I want the e-ink, which is much easier on the eyes than the usual back-lit computer screen found on many ebook readers. I'm older and my eyes get tired. I can also pump the font up so high I can even read without my glasses if I've forgotten them. However, since it isn't backlit, I do need light around me to read, although you can buy a booklight to clip onto the Nook.
The pros:
Less expensive books, thousands of books stored in a space the size of a paperback book, great font sizes for older eyes, easy-on-the-eyes technology, ability to take notes and bookmark, access to hard-to-find books, and instant access to books when I'm snowbound or sick. Excellent customer service in-store and on the telephone. I love being able to go on vacation and not having to guess what I'll feel like reading. I love being able to instantly buy and read a book even if it's the middle of the night. I don't like waiting for delivery.
The Cons:
Instant access to books--I buy a lot more books because I can impulse-buy from home, in a parking lot while waiting for someone, or sitting in a park. My current Nook is a bit heavy in my purse, because I have a hard case on it. The new one I want for Christmas is much lighter and smaller. The Nook has broken once soon after I got it--it cracked near the page turning button--but it was immediately replaced by Barnes and Noble.
Page turning is a bit clunky on the first generation--much improved on the new Nook, which is a full touch-screen. The Nook I have only has a small touch screen at the bottom, and while you can swipe to turn pages, I can never get it to work correctly--but my son can, so maybe it's just me. I use the button, which takes a bit of force.
The future:
The newest Nook is so much smaller and lighter and has a full touch screen. I've played with it at the store and I want one for Christmas. The Color doesn't interest me at all. I only use my Nook for reading and never bother with the other features currently available to me.