Center for Credibility: Book Island

Investigating in-world publishing means spending time on Book Island. Better yet, to have a display there. Study of the booths reveals that most of its residents write fiction: most notably horror and romance. To fit in as mainly a nonfiction writer isn’t the best match. But to be there is important, so I opened a revolving display of my publications. In fact, it is the only place in Second Life where I display only publications, so for that reason, it is unique.

The first display at Book Island showed variety.

Having graduated from two role-play sims, I used those experiences to learn how to create books in-world. Then when Gallery Medier opened, I augmented with two quotations works, Wisdom of Communication and Ways of Creativity.

Although I follow the news of what goes on at Book Island, discussions for nonfiction topics or business approaches are rare. As a portal for my projects, however, it is quite valuable. The community of fiction writers seems vibrant; they have many weekly discussions and readings well attended. There are a number of fiction writers that have built great followings of readers.

Evolving my display, I took out the Chicago 20's series, Murder, Mayhem & Music, for the time-being as I wish to work on the character development side and insert more dialog, per the feedback I received. I replaced those two test-books with my new gallery catalog and my portfolio book showing publishing and design projects.

Evolving my display, I took out the Chicago 20′s series, Murder, Mayhem & Music, for the time-being as I wish to work on the character development side and insert more dialog, per the feedback I received. I replaced those two test-books with my new gallery catalog and my portfolio book showing publishing and design projects.

To be fair, there are a handful of other nonfiction writers who are long-time residents:

Nazz Lane— Journalist display offers clickable functionality, thus maximizing space yet giving the entire profile of his work.

Perhaps the most similar to the way that I use Book Island for display purposes, this journalist has his portfolio and offers reviews of SL as teasers to his work. There are a few other freelance writers that occasionally take out a booth with  shorter longevity.

Integral Psychotherapy and Life Coaching makes me wonder if SL is its own category of study and potential assistance. Exploring SL’s effect on psychology and psychology’s effect on SL are endlessly fascinating!

It is refreshing to see Micca Hedrick, a therapist, keep space at Book Island. Virtual reality seems a perfect place for a therapist to be of assistance. From the therapist point-of-view, the entire world opens up as potential clients! No where are people more themselves than in SL. It is one of the purest places I have ever found to study behavior and choices!

A. Sangorski creates beautiful in-world books from antique artwork.

Perhaps the other most visually exciting display at Book Island is Chapterhouse Books. These exquisite vintage books capture the charm and old-world craftsmanship in a new world setting! Inspirational in design, decorative in illustration, and beautifully composed for in-world viewing, these are not to be missed.

What would Book Island be without a bookstore? Tucked in the corner of the display area, it continues to anchor the community.

Finally there is the Second Nature Bookstore that carries Amazon-available titles and some in-world titles, run by Nathan Roussel. There is a scattering of bookstores in the grid, but in-world publishing is still in its infancy.

Prominent at Book Island are several periodicals as well. Selina Greene, director, has a newsletter for the sim’s weekly events.

Although I complain that there are not very many nonfiction writers present, it is a place of opportunity. Having my booth there is great for visibility and tying into my other projects. As I promote upcoming events, I can evolve and rotate in this space, gaining experience as I learn what works. Because ideas that work here at Book Island can be a test ground for what can work in the larger e-marketplace.

Also please visit these other publishing samples that apply these concepts:

PROJECT LINKS:

• 8 Pioneering Principles— e-portfolio of journey

• Wisdom of Work— project presentations

• Idea Initiator —self-seminar on developing creativity

• Philosopher of Business —PDF article

• Give to Get —PDF article

• Women who Win at Work —book of profiles

• Digital Design Business Practices —book including 700 viewpoints

8 Concerns of Creativity

From leading visionary businesswomen who apply creative thinking to business development.

Andrea March

CURIOSITY
“Start with your own desires and
needs. Invent what you need to
address a grievance, right a
wrong, add a convenience, or
address a confusion. You and
yours become your model.”
—Andrea March, conference leader,
Women’s Leadership Exchange

Suzanne Falter-Barns

EXPLORE
“Brainstorming on a schedule
is undependable. The activities
of wandering and wondering
stimulate good ideas that can
seem to appear ‘out of the blue.’”
—Suzanne Falter-Barns, designer
and association past-president,
Essex, NY

Julie Garella

SPARK
“Perfect is the enemy of very good. Nothing is
ever perfect. In business, as in nature, the most
wonderful things often arise because of slight
imperfections. Perfectionism stickson a single
solution. But there is no one right answer;
there are many.”
—Julie Garella, author and investment banker,
Washington, DC

Linda Listrom

PURPOSE
“Creativity advances lifestyle choices and
often reveals unexpected solutions that can
bring out the best for all participants. Allow
flexibility and choice to workers; free con-
straints and automatically workers will
contribute at their best when goals are shared.”
—Linda Listrom, association executive director
and attorney, Chicago, IL

Gail McMeekin

TALENT
“Change the configuration of your viewpoint
to cut through the haze of having no ideas. Many
inventions were actually mistakes or the result
of a hair brain scheme. Experiment and watch the
solution appear! Allow your intuitive thoughts
to help you and they will.”
—Gail McMeekin, author and
creativity coach, Boston, MA

Stephanie Medlock

MESSAGE
“In nearly every major advance, the individual
who changes a paradigm did not work in the
discipline in which the advance was made.
Imagination, unconstrained by the rules that
dominated that discipline, was free to combine
knowledge from other experiences.”
—Stephanie Medlock, educator,
South Bend, IN

Judith Anderson

STAMINA
“Each gardener decides what is a weed and what
is a flower. Cultivation is not only elimination;
it is also regard for what the creative process
brings forward. Spend time to appreciate what
is in our garden to create enthusiasm and
motivate the creative process.”
—Judith Anderson, author and
consultant, Allendale, NJ

Jill Sebastian

EVOLUTION
“Solutions are creative when the
process to arrive at them blends not-
so-uncommon ingredients. Creativity
is problem solving, acting on the
unexpected, and hard work. Exercise
it regularly so it becomes a habit.”
—Jill Sebastian, artist and educator,
Milwaukee, WI

Original quotations from interviews for my books, Women who Win at Work and the Idea Initiators.

Also visit these other publishing samples that apply these concepts:

PROJECT LINKS:

• 8 Pioneering Principles— e-portfolio of journey

• Wisdom of Work— project presentations

• Idea Initiator —self-seminar on developing creativity

• Philosopher of Business —PDF article

• Give to Get —PDF article

• Women who Win at Work —book of profiles

• Digital Design Business Practices —book including 700 viewpoints

Pioneering Perspectives

Setting out on a journey begins with the greatest conviction for positive change. As e-publishing overtakes traditional for readers’ preferred choices, there is an explosion of modular deliveries.

My goal is to explore various media— driven first by the idea and then by choosing the best application to express that idea. Assisting clients on their communications journey becomes efficient because I have learned new basics, tools, and expanded techniques. I have explored new terrain, identified many options and routes to travel, and hope to help clients meet potentials in this e-creative renaissance. Here are explorative ideas (please see client projects).

PRESENTATION
Educational books and exhibits reach an international virtual viewership.Pioneer Portfolio:
• Artistic Ascent 1957 by Liane Sebastian offers a historical juxtaposition through an in-world format, exhibit, and PDF deliveries, creating an impossible but educational environment.

MAGAZINE
Periodicals blend interactive media more than any other publication bringing in advertising, events, sponsorships, and building a community of contributors.
Pioneer Portfolio:
• Matters of Music Magazine bridges virtual and real worlds. Portraying live music online performances, it is a barometer of an industry transformed through the eyes of those on the forefront.

BLOGS
Expressing an individual personality in a more informal setting challenges the writer to conversational brevity. It is a great platform to discuss creative projects.
Pioneer Portfolio:
• Wisdom of Work blog reflects the pioneering journey of creative publishing ideas and formats.
• Eleanor Medier blog is the voice of my virtual avatar.

TRADITIONAL
Rooted in timeless business knowledge, the principles of communication remain the same but find new adaptations. Although every traditional medium has a reflecting online one for image-building and sales, print has strengths for several kinds of projects.
Pioneering Portfolio:
• Women who Win at Work print book as overview of women business thought leaders. It contains references to highlights from books by professional women and profiles of thirty exemplary leaders.
• Digital Design Business Practices compiles wisdom about the business side of communication. From three points-of-view, it is a handbook for those who are committed to creative enterprises.

EVENTS
Building community is a component of every project. Bringing that community together for a cohesion is the biggest challenge of communication. Best to integrate several supportive media that creates an ambient message.
Pioneer Portfolio:
• Thothica Community bridges philosophy and art, offering virtual exhibitions. library, discussions, and related events.

INTERACTIVE
All the other media are based in the mainstream business networks. But the growing medium and network in virtual reality offers creative ideas that are impossible, though ideal, to do in reality.
Pioneer Portfolio:
Out of the Gallery shows interior design themes based on art. People live with art and virtual reality allows it to set up themes and visual environments not yet possible. It can be a place to prototype new ideas and test against friends from around the world.

PROJECT LINKS:

• 8 Pioneering Principles— e-portfolio of journey

• Wisdom of Work— project presentations

• Idea Initiator —self-seminar on developing creativity

• Philosopher of Business —PDF article

• Give to Get —PDF article

Publishing Pioneer

Thinking about this blog for a long time, I registered this name before really knowing where this can go, but with the conviction that it will be needed. That day has come. Enjoy! Liane