I continue to learn and it seems to get easier.

I have to confess this surprises me considering my brain has been, according to most scientific studies, in cognitive decline for nearly seven years now.

Why is learning getting easier or am I just imagining it?

No, it's true. I actually figured out how to properly number my new novel Abandoned Dreams in a Word Document. And further still, I realized I could line up the front matter on facing pages by opening the menu "Layout" and pulling down "line numbers" and aligning the type by corresponding line numbers.

I think it's because I've more time, which allows me to be more patient, which allows me to make mistakes, and yes, actually learn from them.

There was a time, and not so long ago, that I would be running behind as soon as I woke up. I had no time for mistakes, nor the patience it takes to learn complex new things. Okay, page numbering is maybe not that complex but you get what I'm saying.

This is a round about way of announcing that my new novel, Abandoned Dreams is now available as a paperback as well as e-book at

http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003DS6LEU

It actually is better formatted than my previous five novels and has the least errors. I'd like to say no errors, but I know at some later date I'll be looking at it and for sure I'll find one - or more.

And if you see any be sure to let me know.

Here's another thing I've learned. On social media nothing is more important than content.

I learned this while trying to find something interesting to tweet to my twenty-seven followers (some are real people). My themes are the environment, writing including literacy programs, author readings, and writing projects, community affairs and events, and photography (mine). If I come up with something original I get more response, which is gratifying but, you guessed it, doesn't translate into book sales.

So is there a way to get more content than setting up a sight that publishes creative writing? I don't think so. Writer's upload their work in hopes of what I'm not sure -some feedback, a connection and it becomes a self-perpetuating thing. Just imagine the numbers of hits, members, whatever, the site's owners can show advertisers.

The best thing is it's all free.

Throw in a contest with a small cash prize, a publishing deal (like that's worth anything in this day of fast and easy self-publishing) and the site lights up.

What I've just been describing is Inkitt. These are the people who claim they have a system using "data analysis to determine and predict the success of a novel." They also claim they "are working together with some of the world’s biggest publishing houses to publish any potential best-sellers we find."

Considering Inkitt's claims and after reading a few chapters of some of the stories posted on the site I was more than a bit suspect. What is actually going on here?

They recently hosted a contest called Swoon for romance novels. Since there was no down side (fee) I entered my novel Loving the Terrorist - Beyond Eagleridge Bluffs as an experiment more than anything else.

The submission deadline was February 23rd. The voting deadline was February 29th.

There were 160 submissions. A novel, Trying to Behave got the most votes at 312. Loving the Terrorist got one vote. I wonder, does this mean I won't win?

It is now March 22nd and the judges: agent Rebecca Friedman and romance authors Laurelin Paige and Melody Grace have yet to announce the winner.

What happened to the formula, the data analysis that could determine and predict the success of a novel? Why are we waiting for mere mortals to read all these submissions (a task I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy) to come up with a winner?

Meanwhile, Inkitt has launched another contest. The Grand Novel contest deadline is June 7th and already there are 198 entries.

Talk about content.