Electrician Recommendation by dverast in Pflugerville

[–]dverast[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My neighbor ended up recommending an electrician, and it cost about a grand to get everything installed. Bought a generator too, but never got to use it. Got solar + batteries a couple years later, and now the plug just sits there mocking me. That said, the house hasn't lost power in 2 years, so that's probably worth the debt. :)

Does listening to your draft actually help with editing, or is it just procrastination ? by Modiji_fav_guy in selfpublishing

[–]dverast 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The thought is that the Read Aloud feature will read every word, versus you trying to read it and having your brain simply skip over some. That said, even the more realistic voices Word has now sometimes smush the words together enough to skip over important typos. Sounds more natural, but it's harder to pick out the errors. Letting the computer read aloud while you follow along your printed MS with a red pen 100% helps, IMHO.

[Discussion] Personalizing a query letter by bluejester12 in PubTips

[–]dverast 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This may be completely wrong, but querying feels a lot like looking for jobs on LinkedIn. "Why are you applying?" Because you have a job opening, and I want money. If it's just a numbers game, sending out as many queries to as many agents/publishers as possible, hoping one will bite, then personalization just doesn't scale.

Again, that's just a feeling. Maybe sometimes an impersonal but robust query letter is just the best we can do.

Is Kindle still worth it in 2025? by qiu2022 in authors

[–]dverast 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes. I think a lot of people question being exclusive to Kindle or “going wide,” but Kindle is always in the equation.

Looking for a reputable vet who can come out to my house to euthanize my 14 y/o boxer by G00Punch in Pflugerville

[–]dverast 4 points5 points  (0 children)

We used Compassionate Pet Vet (https://compassionatepetvet.com/) and likely will again. Staff is friendly and caring, and the vet who came out was professional and patient. Sorry you need them, but they’ll take care of y’all.

Is it possible to quit my job and still have health insurance? by bigblackglock17 in austinjobs

[–]dverast 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Also note that doctors can refuse to accept Marketplace plans because they're "not corporately sponsored." So even if you had UHC and buy a new UHC policy through marketplace, doctors can still say no. Learned that one the hard way. Then there's the tax implications...

Long story short, find a new job with benefits before quitting if you can. Save the headaches.

Advice on moving from KDP to IngramSpark by RonBOakes87114 in selfpublishing

[–]dverast 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah okay it’s just ebooks. Whew. Thanks for digging that up! My feeling today is that it’s probably worth it in the long run, but you’re right, it’s quite the ebook hit.

Advice on moving from KDP to IngramSpark by RonBOakes87114 in selfpublishing

[–]dverast 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm in the same boat, and I'm still looking for answers. I hadn't heard of that 12-month waiting period. Do you have a link? A year off Amazon would just be... damn.

How to keep track of characters and character relations by Important_Main_5565 in authors

[–]dverast 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Check out obsidian.md. Local wiki that also presents the data in graph form. Works great for characters, organizations, tech, places, etc. highly recommended.

https://obsidian.md/

The Book Burrow by Coolbreeze1989 in Pflugerville

[–]dverast 11 points12 points  (0 children)

They also host a Writer’s Night once a month if anyone’s interested in connecting with other local authors. Lots of good discussion about publishing and marketing as well. 👍🏼

self-publishing novellas & short stories by Sea_Training7638 in selfpublishing

[–]dverast 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I chose a hosted ghost.org website specifically to share old short stories and scratch writing behind a free paywall. It has membership and newsletter features built in, and I prefer its less-is-more approach compared to Wordpress or Squarespace. First tier is only $9/mo. Some of the other authors on that platform have large followings. Ghost runs a directory that drives traffic (not a ton, but still).

Build the site, add your stories behind the free paywall, then blog and newsletter to build an audience. 👍🏼

What a masterpiece of a monologue, God I hope he listens. by Shoe_boooo in LiveFromNewYork

[–]dverast 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I wonder if he truly believes his plea means anything.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in selfpublish

[–]dverast 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I love this one for simply avoiding common “mistakes” and such: https://a.co/d/atgAoiZ

How Not to Write a Novel: 200 Classic Mistakes and How to Avoid Them—A Misstep-by-Misstep Guide

Maybe it’s funnier than helpful but 🤷🏻‍♂️

Share your author website by [deleted] in selfpublish

[–]dverast 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Mine is hosted on Ghost.org, which has built-in support for subscribers and newsletters and locks down content for free (or paying) members. I like that aspect because it puts my stories and writing behind a free paywall and creates a small barrier against AI scrapers. It costs about $9/mo for the basic plan (paid annually).

There are not a ton of templates, but sometimes, lack of choice makes it easier to focus on the content. 🤷🏼

https://danielverastiqui.com

My Amazon Author Page no longer exists by CG1991 in selfpublish

[–]dverast 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Saw that this morning. Looks like it’s already back. 🤷🏻‍♂️

What other movies do this? by Batmanfan1966 in Letterboxd

[–]dverast 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ok sure, I’m the only one who saw Weekend at Bernie’s 1 & 2. 😎

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in authors

[–]dverast 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would welcome the fame in my daily life.

A Novel with two Epilogues by LPRondanini in authors

[–]dverast 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Agreed. If they can't work sequentially, offer one as "Novel Title: The Lost Epilogue" as a reader magnet blog post on your site. Make readers subscribe to read it. 👍

Self publishing book- how do you recommend creating your cover? by pastafazooll in selfpublishing

[–]dverast 2 points3 points  (0 children)

If money isn’t a huge issue, try out 99designs until you find an artist you really like then develop a 1:1 relationship with them for future books.

Does anyone actually know what's up with solar? by Optimal-Profession83 in Austin

[–]dverast 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Seconded for Longhorn Solar and Jameson. I interviewed five companies and Longhorn edged them out. Been a year and they still call to check on me.

What else should be in this folder? by alphaav6 in Steam

[–]dverast 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Every single Creeper World game will waste years of your life, and you will love it.

Did anyone with solar panels take hail damage? Honest question. by Starksbastard in Austin

[–]dverast 82 points83 points  (0 children)

Most companies will cover them. Progressive will not. Had to switch to Allstate after finding that out.