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This episode is the audio version of the YouTube video https://youtu.be/QkEaGqHN_qc.

This episode contains a paid promotion.

A single sharp keyboard edge led to a lasting radial nerve injury—and it changed how I design my writing space forever. Today, I share the practical fixes that keep me creating without pain, centered on two upgrades that punch far above their weight: a height-adjustable laptop stand that restores neutral posture and a smart desk lamp that protects tired eyes while you write, read, and edit.

We start with the story: long days at Princeton, a rushed setup, and the invisible pressure that built into a chronic problem. From there, we break down the posture chain that causes neck hunching, wrist compression, and forearm pain when a laptop sits too high or too low. You’ll hear how a portable, variable-height stand raises and lowers the screen, keeping your wrists neutral, and how standing intervals reduce contact stress. If space or budget rule out a full standing desk, this simple stand still delivers real ergonomic gains at home, in the library, or on the road.

Lighting gets equal attention. We explain why smart desk lamps with presence detection and dimming reduce glare, squinting, and late-night headaches. The right beam spreads light across keys and notebook pages without washing out your screen, helping you focus longer with less strain. Along the way, we walk through the photo of our current setup—laptop on a stand, smart lamp, Kindle Scribe and Fire, travel cases, and a few beloved books—so you can visualize minor tweaks that add up to big comfort.

If you’re hunting Black Friday or Cyber Monday deals, this is your permission slip to skip the random gadget pile and invest in daily-use tools that protect your body and improve your craft. Ready to build a workspace that supports your best work? Follow the show, leave a quick review to help others find us, and share your own ergonomic must-haves—we’d love to hear what’s made the most significant difference for you.

Amazon Affiliate Links: as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nulaxy LS18 Laptop Stand 360 rotating: https://amzn.to/48vNyAy (Black Friday Deal)

Honeywell Smart Eye Protection Desk Lamp: https://amzn.to/49M05BY (on sale)

Amazon Kindle Scribe 64GB bundle: https://amzn.to/49Mjz9K (Black Friday Deal)

Amazon Fire Max 11 64GB: https://amzn.to/48EE3A6 (Black Friday Deal)

#AmazonBlackFriday #BlackFriday #BlackFridayDeals #AmazonDealsForWriters

#KindleDevicesBlackFridayDeals #KindleDevices #HoneywellDeskLamp

#NulaxyLaptopStand

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This episode is also available in video form at https://youtu.be/19zjd1BJIgk

Hunting for real writing upgrades, not just shiny gadgets? We dig into three enduring craft books that earn their shelf space and happen to be steeply discounted for Black Friday. Stephen King’s On Writing blends memoir with practical rules that keep your prose lean and your routine steady. Anne Lamotte’s Bird by Bird tackles the emotional grind—perfectionism, stuck starts, and the fragile search for voice—by breaking the work into doable steps. Noah Lukeman’s The First Five Pages goes straight to the moment agents decide: hook fast, write clean, remove clichés, and make every sentence carry its weight.

Across the conversation, we weigh paperback joy against Kindle convenience and share why the best format is the one that keeps you reading and applying. You’ll get clear, actionable ideas for the next writing session: set small daily targets, give yourself permission for a messy first pass, then revise with ruthless attention to verbs, rhythm, and clarity. We also touch on building a research habit—reading fiction and nonfiction around your topic—to sharpen perspective and match reader expectations without copying anyone’s voice.

If you’re preparing to query, Lukeman’s checklists can pressure-test your opening; if you’re rebuilding momentum, Lamotte’s compassion can get you to the chair; if you’re trimming flab, King’s principles will keep your pages tight. We even share a quick look at the Kindle Fire interface for those considering a reading device upgrade. Ready to turn discounts into better drafts and stronger openings? Follow along, build your craft stack, and tell us which book helps you most. Subscribe, share this episode with a writer friend, and leave a review with your favorite takeaway so we can bring more practical guides your way.

#BooksOnWriting #StephenKing #AnneLamott #NoahLukemon #HowtoWrite #AmazonPrimeDiscounts #AmazonBlackFridayWeek #CraftOfWriting #WritersBlock

Amazon Affiliate Links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Stephen King's On Writing: https://amzn.to/4l5wmXD

Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird: https://amzn.to/4eKM9c5

Noah Lukeman First Five Pages https://amzn.to/3GiYnf5

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A great deal is only great if it fits your life. I break down how the Amazon Fire Max 11 earned a spot in my daily routine alongside the Kindle Scribe, and why it’s more than a budget tablet when you pair it with the right tools. From the 11-inch 2000x1200 display that flatters ebooks and movies, to an octa-core processor that breezes through browsing, email, and light work, this is a practical upgrade that keeps costs sane—especially when Black Friday pricing sits around 33% off.

I share the moments that matter: how the Kindle app pulls in your entire library for instant reading, when a bright LCD beats e‑ink, and why the magnetic keyboard case changes typing from a chore into second nature. We also talk real-world tradeoffs: folio keyboards can be fragile for travel, so a padded case earns its keep. Thinking about markup and notes? The stylus opens quick annotation and PDF edits, though I explain where I expect it to shine and where it won’t replace dedicated note devices.

If you’re weighing an iPad versus the Fire Max 11, I outline who benefits from each. Need color media, long battery life, microSD expansion to 1 TB, Wi‑Fi 6, and a fingerprint sensor in a durable aluminum body? The Fire delivers the 80 percent most people need at a friendlier price, deeply tied to Prime Video, Kindle, and Alexa. I also map a simple deal strategy so you don’t miss moving discounts or overbuy on bundles you won’t use. Ready to make a smart pick while the clock is ticking? Listen now, then subscribe, share with a friend who’s shopping, and leave a quick review to tell me what device setup works best for you.

Amazon Affiliate Links: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualiying purchases.

Amazon Fire Max 11: https://amzn.to/4ijSqwY

Amazon Fire Max 11 keyboard case: https://amzn.to/3LVqJP1

Amazon Fire Stylus: https://amzn.to/4a8XbY6

#AmazonBlackFridayWeek #AmazonDiscounts #KindleFire11

#Kindle #DevicesOnSale #KindleScribe

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A working title. A family legend. A blank page that won’t wait. I’m kicking off a new novel inspired by my grandfather, a boy abandoned around 1902 and placed in the Australian foster system, whose life bent toward resilience despite a brutal start. The goal isn’t to glorify pain—it’s to explore how a kid with little power learned to build a future, and what those early fractures can teach us about courage, love, and the stories families tell to survive.

I open up the creative plan: how I’ll navigate clashing family memories—my mother’s fierce admiration alongside my aunts’ harder-edged recollections—and turn them into layered, credible fiction. We get into the ethics of writing from inherited stories, the difference between factual certainty and emotional truth, and where to draw the line between homage and hagiography. I also share practical craft choices, from outlining in Scrivener to drafting notes on Kindle Scribe, and how those tools help me track timelines, manage point-of-view, and keep the world consistent with early twentieth-century Australia.

Research sits at the heart of this project. I’m mapping the foster care landscape of the era, the work children did, the schools they did or didn’t attend, and the social stigma that followed state wards. You’ll hear how I plan to weave archival detail into scenes without turning the book into a history lecture, using sensory anchors—dust roads, kerosene light, corrugated tin—to keep the prose human and grounded. Along the way, I make space for listeners to shape the journey with their questions: Which scenes feel essential? Where should the story begin? What truths matter most when facts are scarce?

If stories of endurance, family history, and thoughtful historical fiction speak to you, come walk beside me as this book takes shape. Subscribe, share the episode with a friend who loves craft and research, and leave a review with the one question you’d ask my grandfather if you could. Your notes might light the next chapter.

Podcast on working with the Kindle Scribe and the Scrivener App:

https://youtu.be/CzPW2FNNVuA

#Australia #FosterCare #FosterCareawareness #FosterCareHistory #Grandfatherstory #PTSD #CPTSD #FosterCareAbuse #historicalanecdotes

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Prices are already sliding, and the smartest savings happen before the rush. I flag the early start of Amazon’s Black Friday week on November 10 and explain how to get the most out of the deals that drop ahead of the crowd. My quick win: a heavily discounted Kindle to replace an old device, a simple example of why planning your shortlist matters when prices move fast and stock disappears.

We dig into how Prime can pay for itself if you shop even semi-regularly during sale seasons. Free two-day shipping on millions of items, with one-day and same-day options in select areas, makes a real difference when lightning deals sell out in hours. Beyond shipping, Prime Video, Prime Music, and Amazon Photos bundle streaming and storage perks that can replace separate subscriptions. If you’re cost-conscious, those perks turn a membership into a year-round value stack rather than a one-week splurge.

Younger listeners get extra leverage through student and young adult offers available in some regions, including discounted memberships, limited-time trials, and reduced Prime Video rates. Line up a trial to overlap with Black Friday week, keep a focused list of items you actually need, and use early access to capture the best prices without panic buying. Whether you want a tech upgrade, home essentials, or gifts, a clear plan plus Prime benefits can turn seasonal hype into real savings.

If this helped you plan smarter, follow the show, share it with a friend who loves a bargain, and leave a quick review so others can find it. Your support helps more listeners shop with intention and keep more money in their pocket.

#AmazonBlackFridayWeek #AmazonDiscounts #AmazonPrime #Kindle #KIndleFire #KindleScribe #PrimeMembership #November10

To join Amazon Prime visit https://amzn.to/49m6ROE #ad #commissionsearned

My published books
“The Overlife: A Tale Of Schizophrenia,” by Diana Dirkby (visit https://amzn.to/454WgW6) #ad #commissionsearned The link is an Amazon Affiliate Link. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases)

“Three Kidnapped, Three Siblings, Three Furies,” by Diana Dirkby (visit https://amzn.to/42Z81KY) #ad #commissionsearned The link is an Amazon Affiliate Link. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Kindle Fire Max 11" (visit https://amzn.to/4o0iOx60) #ad #commissionsearned
- A Kindle Powerhouse for Entertainment

Made for Amazon Stylus Pen for Fire Max (visit https://amzn.to/49kH61c) #ad #commissionsearned
- Add versatility to your Kindle Fire

Amazon Fire Max 11 Keyboard Case (visit https://amzn.to/49ZSQX7) #ad #commissionsearned

#AmazonBlackFridayWeek #AmazonDiscounts #AmazonPrime #Kindle #KIndleFire #KindleScribe #PrimeMembership #November10

My Website and Social Media:
https://dianadirkbywrites.com
My Instagram: @dianadirkby_writings (https://www.instagram.com/dianadirkby_writings/)
My Facebook Page: Diana Dirkby Writings (https://www.facebook.com/DianaDirkbyAuthor)
My X-account: @dianadirkby (https://x.com/DianaDirkby)
My YouTube channel @DianaDirkbyWrites (https://www.youtube.com/@DianaDirkbyWrites)

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Ever export Kindle Scribe notes and feel lost in a wall of disconnected comments? We walk you through a simple, fast method to anchor annotations back to their exact lines using the Kindle app—so every handwritten thought and typed remark opens in the right place, instantly. No more guessing which paragraph a note belongs to or chasing page numbers that don’t exist in reflowable text.

We start with the root problem: why reflowable formats break positional context on export. Then we show the fix. Install the Kindle app, open the shared file, and look for the small sticky note icons beside annotated passages. Tap to reveal the note in context, or open Notes and Highlights from the three-dot menu to scan every comment and jump directly to its location. If you receive a document by email, use your phone’s share menu to Send to Kindle, wait a moment for it to sync, and you’re ready to review with full context on iOS or Android.

You’ll hear a concrete example from a website review where a note to add a YouTube link appears exactly before “my Facebook,” making the request obvious and actionable. This workflow scales for long manuscripts, collaborative edits, and academic reading. It speeds feedback, reduces errors, and turns that messy export appendix into a navigable, live index. We close with a quick look ahead at ergonomics for writers—simple adjustments to reduce strain and keep your judgment sharp during long editing sessions.

If this saved you time, subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a quick review. Your feedback helps us make smarter, more useful episodes—what part of the workflow should we dig into next?

To view the Kindle Scribe, visit my affiliate link https://amzn.to/3Jwb3B3 As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualfying purchases.

#KindleScribe #reflowabletext #exportedreflowabletext #recoveringtheexactplacementofcomments #Kindlecommentsreinstated #KindleScribetroubleshooting #Kindleapp #commentreading #commentmatching #matchKindleScribecommentstotext

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If you’ve ever tried to keep your creative life steady while everything around you moves, this story will feel familiar. We split our time between Texas and Alaska, and the distance between those worlds has taught us how to hold a routine, tune our tools, and still leave room for wonder. The secret isn’t a bigger checklist; it’s choosing what must stay the same and what can change without breaking the flow.

We walk through the practical side first: a Mac laptop for drafting, Scrivener to wrangle chapters and notes, and a Kindle Scribe that travels well for outlining and quick markups. Then we shift to the slower, analog layer that keeps us grounded when airline miles pile up. Handwritten letters with wax seals evoke the pleasure of a deliberate pace. A Clever Fox one-line-a-day journal turns vague days into proof of progress, a tiny daily square that cuts through the “I did nothing” fog. Those short entries add up, especially when a big writing push is on pause.

There’s also room for beauty. We discuss choosing a gold Scriveina fountain pen with a fine nib that writes closer to extra-fine, why that precision is helpful, and how a sturdy pen case protects it on short trips without the bulk of a whole box. Not everything needs to travel; some tools are duplicated across homes because habit lives in the exact layout, while others vary just enough to spark fresh attention. With another ten-day trip on the calendar, we set a clear start line for the next book in mid-November, confident that routine, not willpower, will carry us back in.

If you’re balancing two places, two schedules, or just too many demands, this conversation offers a practical way to stay creative: keep the hours consistent, let your tools reduce friction, and honor small daily wins. If this resonates, follow the links in the description, subscribe for more conversations about process and tools, and tell us: which habit keeps your creativity steady?

My Amazon Affiliate Links for products mentioned in this episode. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

My books by Diana Dirkby:

#traveling #fictionwriting #scriveinerpen #fountainpen #diary #dailyroutine #chaos

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What happens when your creativity is pulled between wild coastlines and city grids? I open the door to a life split between Alaska and Texas and show how place, health, and history conspire to shape a writer’s voice. From moose tracks near Kachemak Bay to late-night revisions in a university town, the throughline is simple: geography isn’t scenery, it’s a collaborator.

I trace the arc from research mathematics in Paris and England to publishing fiction under a pen name. That switch wasn’t about hiding; it was about clarity. Precision from proofs now anchors my prose, while lived experience drives story. We talk frankly about schizophrenia and epilepsy, how the right medical team in Texas keeps the creative engine running, and why a dark winter morning in Alaska can spark a chapter faster than any productivity hack.

Along the way, I unpack the practical side of a two-home writing life: duplicating tools across rooms, leaning on Amazon when small-town shelves fall short, and using playlists, courses, and community to lower friction. You’ll hear why Alaska’s artistic scene and wildlife expand my sense of wonder, how Texas’s diversity stretches my cast of characters, and where both places meet in the work: tension, rhythm, and voice. I also share the stories behind my novels. My novels:
“The Overlife, A Tale Of Schizophrenia” (visit https://amzn.to/4qzBnuH)
“Three Kidnapped, Three Siblings, Three Furies” (visit https://amzn.to/4ntcldP). The links are my Amazon Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases..

If you’ve ever wondered whether one environment can give you everything you need, you’ll find a different answer here. The split life isn’t tidy, but it’s fertile. Subscribe, share this with a friend who writes or reads with heart, and leave a review to tell me which place—wild or urban—pulls your best words to the surface.