elizziebooks:

calebjross:

Channel Update - Is Caleb Going Away Forever?

I am going to take the next 2-3 months off of making videos. I promise this is not a precursor to this channel going away permanently. I truly am only taking 2-3 months off. 

The reasons are simple. I have some deadlines that I have to meet as well as some other obligations that I need to take care of. I promise, it’s as simple as that. I don’t have a medical problem. I’m not falling into serious depression. I didn’t get fired from my job. None of that. I simply need to finish some other obligations in my life.

I’ll still be around, commenting on videos, and participating in the bi-weekly BookTube LIVE Hangout with Liz (http://www.youtube.com/elizziebooks.com). Be sure to follow both of us on Google+ to be made aware of the details when we have them (basically, we alternate hosting the event on our channels; the next hangout will be May 8th at 8:30 pm Central Standard Time at my channel).

I’m already looking forward to being back.

Caleb added a .com to the end of my channel.  Typical.

Whoops. Http://www.youtube.com/elizziebooks

Channel Update - Is Caleb Going Away Forever?

I am going to take the next 2-3 months off of making videos. I promise this is not a precursor to this channel going away permanently. I truly am only taking 2-3 months off. 

The reasons are simple. I have some deadlines that I have to meet as well as some other obligations that I need to take care of. I promise, it’s as simple as that. I don’t have a medical problem. I’m not falling into serious depression. I didn’t get fired from my job. None of that. I simply need to finish some other obligations in my life.

I’ll still be around, commenting on videos, and participating in the bi-weekly BookTube LIVE Hangout with Liz (http://www.youtube.com/elizziebooks.com). Be sure to follow both of us on Google+ to be made aware of the details when we have them (basically, we alternate hosting the event on our channels; the next hangout will be May 8th at 8:30 pm Central Standard Time at my channel).

I’m already looking forward to being back.

Week Five of Reading Harry Potter for Babies - THANK YOU! 

This is it, the last video in my Reading Harry Potter for Babies series.

Every year I raise money for March of Dimes, which is a foundation established to study the causes and develop cures for premature birth. This year, rather than simply beg friends and family for donations, I’m taking donations to read Harry Potter. More about this strange donation tactic at the full intro video here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCVBPVLXJAU

I want to thank every single person who donated money to this great cause. In total, we raised over $600, which meant I had enough money to completely finish reading the first Harry Potter book, but more importantly that’s $600 more dollars going toward the March of Dimes effort.

Apologies if I mispronounce names

Special Thanks to

• Simon West-Bulford (http://www.simonwb.com/)

ManArchy Magazine (http://www.manarchymag.com)

• Jesse Wichterman
• Misty Bennett
• Gordon Highland (http://www.gordonhighland.com)

Books and Booze podcast

• Renee Pickup (http://www.books-booze.com/ and http://www.youtube.com/user/BooksnBooze)

Booktubers/Readers

• Chenoa Shannon (http://www.youtube.com/chenoash)
• Martine Svanevik (http://nascentnovelist.wordpress.com/)
• Rincey Abraham (http://www.youtube.com/user/rinceyreads)

Books, Beer, and Bullshit podcast

• Frank Edler (http://booksbeerbullshit.podbean.com/)

Others

• Cassandra Chu
• Warren Mueller 
• Sean Nickerson
• Roxy, Ryan, Kyler and Kailey Marcotte
• Adonna and Christian Thompson
• Karsten Weseth
• Erin Pettit

Pixar’s Rules for Storytelling 8: Finish your story, let go even if it’s not perfect.

Yes, I am going to make a video for each of the Pixar’s 22 Rules for Storytelling (the full list can be found here: http://www.pixartouchbook.com/blog/2011/5/15/pixar-story-rules-one-version.html). Be sure to subscribe to this channel to not miss any of the forthcoming videos. I plan to release one/week.

Rule #8: Finish your story, let go even if it’s not perfect. In an ideal world you have both, but move on. Do better next time.

This time, I’m doing something a bit different: one shot, no cuts. I figure what better way to explore the idea of moving on to new projects than to fully embrace the idea of letting go of a current one.

Pixar’s Rules for Storytelling 7 - Come up with your ending before you figure out your middle.

Yes, I am going to make a video for each of the Pixar’s 22 Rules for Storytelling (the full list can be found here: http://www.pixartouchbook.com/blog/2011/5/15/pixar-story-rules-one-version.html). Be sure to subscribe to this channel to not miss any of the forthcoming videos. I plan to release one/week.

Rule #7: Come up with your ending before you figure out your middle. Seriously. Endings are hard, get yours working up front.

A good outline lays the foundation for a story that honors the core of this rule: you must know your ending of your story so that you can be sure to support that ending with a well-structured beginning and middle.

Vonnegut, too, knew what he was talking about when he said “Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible… Readers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages.”

Pixar’s Rules for Storytelling 6 - What is your character good at? Throw the polar opposite at them.

Yes, I am going to make a video for each of the Pixar’s 22 Rules for Storytelling (the full list can be found here: http://www.pixartouchbook.com/blog/2011/5/15/pixar-story-rules-one-version.html). Be sure to subscribe to this channel to not miss any of the forthcoming videos. I plan to release one/week.

Rule #6: What is your character good at, comfortable with? Throw the polar opposite at them. Challenge them. How do they deal?

Meet my cat, Burrito, which I received as a gift from my caring girlfriend (now wife). I wasn’t expecting to own a cat. I had a certain lifestyle, with a set routine, and established boundaries. How did I handle this change? Watch and find out.

Week Four of Reading Harry Potter for Babies

Every year I raise money for March of Dimes, which is a foundation established to study the causes and develop cures for premature birth. This year, rather than simply beg friends and family for donations, I’m taking donations to read Harry Potter. More about this strange donation tactic at the full intro video here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCVBPVLXJAU

In this video, I discuss my thoughts on the first 295 pages of Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone.

Well, well, well, the book has gotten much better. I never thought I’d say this, but ever since the unicorn scene, the book has been legitimately fun to read. Here’s hoping I can get the next $20 worth of donations to help me read the final 10 pages.

If you think Harry Potter is a great series, and feel that I should read it, please consider donating to March of Dimes by visiting http://www.calebjross.com/potterbaby. This link takes you directly to the donation page.