[PART #2] – [PART #3] – [PART #4] We live in a time where almost anyone on the planet can create, publish and sell books (or other media) without any insurmountable technical or financial preconditions. There are already many tutorials out there how to make ebooks. Each one has its own approach. In this short series, I would like…
Lifestyle
What Makes Studying So Difficult?
To many of us, learning something new, from programming a webpage or speaking a new language is a chore. Yes, there are these little sparks of achievement. But more often than not, the process of learning is a strenuous path of pain and frustration. We don’t like to admit it. But let’s be honest for…
Games
Not a Game: Being Indie (a movie)
Free to do whatever and whenever you like: it’s everyone’s dream, isn’t it? Whether you’re in publishing, teaching or web design, once you kiss your job goodbye and decide to brave it out alone you will need a different toolkit. In the employment world it’s all about permission and expectation, and more often than not,…
Grammar
Why German Grammar Is Dead Simple (free download inside)
A while ago these images were making the rounds about how German sounds cruel and gritty compared to other languages. And while the prejudice of Teutonic doom and gloom will probably not come off any time soon (thanks, Wagner) there is another prejudice which is just as widespread, namely that German grammar is impossibly difficult….
Lifestyle
Botanicula: The Return Of Creative Adventure Games
I grew up with adventure games. Without characters like Zak McKracken, Guybrush Threepwood, Roger Wilco or Dr. Fred, my childhood is hard to imagine. Not only did these characters teach me the first meaningful sentences of English outside of an education curriculum, they fed my imagination, humor and curiosity, as well. I still remember the many…
Indie Publishing
How Indie Publishing Could Revolutionize Creative Expression But Often Doesn’t
It was Clay Shirky who said in a recent interview that publishing is no longer a job, it’s a button. In fact, I’m staring at one right now. It’s blue and it says “publish”. It’s simple. Shall I click it? No? But it would make me a world-class publisher, wouldn’t it? Some people will say yes,…
Discover Dino lernt Deutsch: the German story series for beginners that will help you learn German in no time.
learn more Lifestyle
The Role Of Reading In The Age Of Constant Digital Distraction
While some people still entertain themselves with the predictable mudfight of “ebook vs paper book”, I find another question far more interesting, namely the role of reading in the age of continuous partial attention. How do we read in the 21st century? What do we read? Or do we read, at all? As Seth Godin…
Indie Publishing
A Short Story About The Middle East
( tl;dr – wrote a short story, you can download it here) I’ve lived both in the Far and Middle East. Both experiences left strong memories, traces, impressions. And I noticed very early that if I wanted to convey any of my experiences to others in writing, an autobiographical account wouldn’t cut it. Short Fiction…
Hacks & Tutorials
How To Skype Better: 5 Tips For Professional and Daily Calls
Skype is not just a software. It’s a verb. As the Oxford Dictionary informs us, it can be used both with an object “When is a good time to Skype you?” and without as in “We skyped before we met in person.“ Skype is a word that is understood by grandmas and expat toddlers all over the world….
Hacks & Tutorials
Tons Of Kindle Screensaver Fun And Creative Wallpaper Resources
Some of us have learned to love the screensaver images Amazon ships with their Kindle reading devices. Others quietly suffer the rotating selection of dead poets and educational images of fishes and plants. And yet others simply ask: “What if I’d like to see something else?” Whether you want to see your favorite memes, cute…
Other Languages
5 Quick Ways To Bring Languages To Life
Most of the fun of learning a language is the hope that you’ll one day be able to use it to communicate in another country. Having a goal in mind when learning makes the work seem more meaningful and more alive. If you’re looking for ways to help bring a language to life for your…
