Cloud Technology/Web OS/Online Desktop

Whatever you call it, you’re basically talking about a remote desktop that’s living on the web either house in the developer’s server or on your own website server.

 

Either way it’s a great idea for all of us on the move in this fast paced world; it just needs some more refinement.

 

I decided to check out all the mainstream developers and their products but I approached it from a unique angle: I’m a fiction writer with specific demands.

 

1. Has to have a Word/Document application that’s similar to MS Word in the way you can format your document with indentation, quotations for dialog, and etc..

2. When a document is saved it’s a “.doc” file that I can link to using a browser.

3. Preferably this is a service I can download and install on my own website server.

 

So, let’s see how they stack up.

 

EyeOS is the first one I tried out.  It stood out because (so far) it’s the only one that offers a version that I can download and install on my own web server.  I think that’s very impressive.

The desktop isn’t as 100% similar to a Windows desktop but its close enough to be understood as a desktop.

However, once it came to the document application everything went wrong.  First, the document editor is extremely cumbersome with, as far as I can tell, no way to indent the beginning of a paragraph.  Secondly, you could tweak a setting to get it to save a document as a .doc file but it’s so far buried in the folder system that you can’t link to it.

 

So, I have yet to uninstall this, but it falls short of my needs.  EyeOS is an open source project so people are welcome to make applications to run on it.  I pray that someone develops a better document application.  Currently there is a handful of other applications but be wary; many don’t work right.

 

 

Icloud is the second one on my list and this is purely a service provided by the developer.  Regardless, I thought I might be able to deal with the ‘account’ so long as it provided me with the other two specifics I needed.

The desktop itself is very much like windows.  In fact it attempts to be identical.  However, I run into all the same problems with the document application.  Even though this service has a great file tree and there’s a way to treat it as if it were a USB flash drive, it has the same poor application and no way to link to the files.

 

Cloudo is third and it’s a mirror of Icloud.  There are minor differences in the desktop and applications.  Icloud is 100% like Windows and Cloudo is 90% like Windows.  They seem to be big competitors.

 

I plan to try more, but if you’re like me and looking for a geek version to edit your stories from any computer then so far it looks like you’re going to be disappointed.

 

My current solution?  Box.net.  They are a provider, but they give you 1GB and you can use a REAL version of the Zoho Document Editor to edit your works.  It’s very easy to work with files and if you share a document, you can see that shared version in a great program I use called Ipaper and THAT link can be put on your website.  However, I have run into glitches.  Be careful copying and pasting from MS Word and take your time when saving your work.

 

 

 

Open/Editing/Saving Documents to a Server/Website

Yes, I have tried to tackle this mindboggling problem of how to open, edit and then save documents to and from my website server. 

First off, if you know the ins and outs of PHP or ASP then you’ve probably already solved this problem.  But for the millions of us programming amateurs, we’ve been hunting for some kind of API or third party program we can install and configure to do the same thing.  I’ve decided to publish my findings so that others might be able to benefit.  If someone happens to use my information and finally bridge the gap I HOPE they clue me in on the solution.

 

Here we go…

There are a lot of online MS Word-like document editors out there, but not many are equipped to do the dance we’re talking about.  Google Docs will bring in a hosted document but won’t save it back to that location. Thinkfree did a lot of the same things and looked impressive despite having personal java problems with it; it even had the API option though you had to buy it.  Zoho Online Office was the only option that sprung out at me because everything was free, they had an API that looked tweakable, and they had made improvements on their editor.

 

What are you using it for?

I am a fiction writer and a geek so I have a high demand when it comes to an online document editor.  I need it to keep indentation and formatting.  My goal using this was to keep documents on my server viewable using Scribd’s Ipaper Viewer yet edit them from an office application on the web or my server, which would open and save documents to my server.  This would solve the question of, how do I continue to edit my documents using the same editor all the time no matter where I am.  You, however, might not care as much as I do about formatting but still enjoy the fact that all you need is a computer and the internet in order to work on your papers.

 

Here’s the story…

Zoho has an API and it looks quite malleable.  I was able to create two form submits – one that opens up document from my local C Drive and one that will open up A DESIGNATED web document.  Both opened up the Zoho Editor and allowed me to edit.  Saving is where I came to a problem – I could not for the life of me get it to save the document to my server… I couldn’t get it to save to anything and I will continue to work on this.  Should I succeed I will post about it.

 

Here’s the Solution…

Box.net is a useful little storage website I have been using for a long time.  They have incorporated many other web applications from other services including Zoho.  You can open, edit, save, preview, share documents.  Box.net is also where I learned of Ipaper since they used it as a preview program.  Why I had not used this service to edit and save my documents to their storage site is because the Zoho Editor was unrefined at the time.  It constantly lost formatting, took away indenting, and basically made a mess of my work.  But… the times, they have been a-changing!  Now the editor keeps my format and though the indenting is slightly different from MS Word, it will keep whatever you choose.  Sharing the documents seemed like it might be a hassle because sharing produces a link to be downloaded or previewed.  BUT if you choose preview, you get an Ipaper view of that document and a LINK.  If you were to incorporate that link on your website and set the target as New then you would get a pop up view of your document in Ipaper.

True, I am giving something up by not using MY server but this seems to be the best solution at the moment.

I will write another post on the Zoho Editor API if I figure out it’s saving problem.

 

Departures from a Character's Nature

Now here’s the biggest problem in fanfiction… taking a character who is already defined and having him or her depart from their normal nature or characteristics to fit into the author’s idea.  This is normally accompanied by an original character (or “OC”) that the author created to interact with this established character.

 

This is not always the death of a good story.  It is possible to keep an established character IN character yet have a sudden departure.  This departure needs to have a trigger – I would say a highly emotional one that hits a chord deep in their being.  You don’t need to research the EC for ever in order to find this chord, but it needs to be something believable.  A sudden realization followed by an unsure and slow to adapt response is best – after all, people don’t change over night.

Taking a Break

Hopefully without sounding too overly emotional, I have decided to take a break from many things.  I haven’t been feeling like myself and I think I need to reorganize myself and that requires time to myself.  Thank you for your understanding.  I will still be checking my email: kite@starkite.net.

 

Character Journals

One thing I find helpful is Character Journal Entries.  You can take a day, your day or a day that takes place in your story and write from one of your characters’ point of view.  This makes for a great writing prompt as well.  I currently have a journal entry for a tentative character called Jonathan Astor on my deviantart page.  I am also keeping a written journal of one of my fanfiction characters.  Perhaps someday I will give it as a gift to someone as a memento of all we’ve done together.

Books Do NOT Write Themselves

Books do not write themselves so sitting around thinking about your would-be novel and imagining the characters will not suddenly make the manuscript appear. Don’t think! Write! I know that sounds so cliché and forced. You’re going to look at me and say “I need to be inspired”. But honestly, if you wait around for lightening to hit your noggin you’re never going to finish anything in good time. Sometimes the muse must be forced… prodded if you will. Don’t let it sleep around and watch TV.

Also, it’s true that the average 15 yr old has experienced enough of the world in order to write something worthwhile so don’t park your butt in front of a screen thinking you need to see something particular first. You have it already! Just dig inside your head a bit with only paper and a pencil in front of you. Still can’t find anything? Pick an object in the room and describe your main character using it. That’s it! You might not use the piece but it was good practice.

Tip for the Week

If you or your proof-reader finds that you end up searching for the action in a sentence, then you’re using way too many adjectives and descriptive elements.

You might need to lighten the load and take for granted that your reader has a good imagination and can picture the scene well without so much description. Keep the juicy ones and let the reader imagine the rest.

More Poetry

My guiding star is the 7th one, though she claims it's 8. Such a glittering shining distant world I aspire to but can never reach. How I miss you. I see you when clouds part and time slows down. I still look to your guidance though you'll have nothing to do with me. Are you happy? Have you inspired others? I see a new gazer following your trail.

No, I will not sink into your silence. I will bear my soul this once and risk my naked vulnerable body before you. I love you. I always have. To loose you that day was to loose my will to fight. Without your harsh unyeilding mind my heart fails. I want more than your pity but I doubt I will get that. I am too weak for you and I know it. So here... here is my strength... I love you. Damn the consequences.