Behind the Tutorials...... Vol 10 |
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Bet you all thought I forgot about this
newsletter! Not so, and I have some very nice interviews coming up.
Look for an interview with a brand new tutorial writer,
Amthyst, in the next issue
as we explore what made her take the leap:) Interview: I am very pleased this issue to introduce you to my long time friend Jeanie. Many of you know her as Helping Hand, and she rightly deserves that name! You won't find a large website, or PSP Tutorials, but you will find the most caring woman on the Web! I am going to present this interview just as it occurred:)
Jeanie,
you owned the first group I ever joined, PSPLisa, so I guess folks have
you to blame for what I do now :) You influenced me more than you will
ever know actually. Could you tell us something about that group?
The PSPLISA group wasn't actually the First group
I opened. The first group was called "PSPLessons". you can blame me for
your influence and I can blame Jae & Wes:-) I saw a stationery in the
newsgroup and tried to save it like I had done previous stationery but
found this method didn't work.I wrote Jae to ask how to save it but when
she wrote back, she told me about Stationery scripts and Paint Shop Pro.
To my knowledge there were no groups to learn PSP and in a short few
months after using PSP,Jae talked me into teaching a group on ICQ :-)
Oh what a disaster that was! I set a specific time for
everyone to meet for ICQ chat to do the tutorials but due to the time in
different states and countries...well, you can imagine the results! That
doesn't include the folks that kept getting knocked off line :-( pssss...I
still have the printed chat sessions of those lessons:-)
I soon learned about groups such as Yahoo groups and
started my First group called PSPLESSONS. It wasn't long before I began
the second group called "PSPCHALLENGE" for the intermediate users of
PSP. next became a group for Advanced Users. By the time I closed all
the groups, there were well over 500 members.
Betty Chambers told me about a program called, "Lisa" to
create stationery. I became so interested in creating stationery the "easy
way" without fooling with scripts that I gave every minute of
my day to learning the program. I joined the group for Lisa users but
found very little help was provided. I had suggested the "Lisa' program
to many of my friends who were in the PSP group and these friends were
asking me to help them with Lisa. I wrote 5 tutorials to show 5
different ways to create stationery using the Lisa program. The members
were having a ball posting their creations :-)
They asked me to start a group to teach Lisa and PSP
because they found my tutorials so easy to follow and understand. That
was just what I did! The PSPLISA group expanded too. I started a new
group called "Lisanovice' for those who had ONLY the trail version of
Lisa. I gave nearly 5 years to teaching PSP and Lisa but due to
problems, I turned the PSPLISA group over to my "Fantastic moderator,
Edna Bernosky" and I changed the name from "LisaNovice" to "
PC_learning" where I help folks solve computer
.
I appreciate your comment about me influencing you in PSP
and stationery. I think each and everyone of us has someone who
influenced us to take that scary for step :-) Jae, if you are reading
this, "Thank You"!
I still
have the instructions on cleaning up my computer from way back then:)
What led you to start putting this type tutorial together?
I am sitting here laughing as I read this question
because I remember the EXACT day and Why I wrote that tutorial :-) It
was during the time we were doing the PSP Lessons on ICQ and it was on
Thanksgiving morning :-) ICQ was not as stable at that time and I was
getting a bunch of Email saying they couldn't connect to ICQ and they
wanted to know if I was able to connect to ICQ . ICQ was DOWN and at the
time, I was cleaning up the PC so I decided to keep them busy while we
couldn't connect to ICQ and I wrote the tutorial in a funny way to make
them laugh and have fun while they cleaned the unnecessary files on the
PC. I had such an enormous reply from them! They were so excited about
the amount of hard drive space they saved! My OWN
brother kept deleting the tutorial then write me asking to send it
again so I finally decided to create a web page so he could bookmark it
:-)
http://www.angelfire.com/fl4/PSPLISA/Computer.htm
I
remember many such type that I have seen from you over the years, such
as OE Mail Rules (a real godsend)..do you a site where they are stored?
No, honestly I don't. I have a few web
pages but not VERY few. Most tutorials require zip files which are not
aloud on most web sites unless you pay a monthly fee and to tell ya the
truth, most people won't take the time to look for the information when
it's on a web site :-( I spent so many hours and years on web pages for
"Lisa" and folks would continue to email me with the questions so why do
all the work when thy won't bookmark the pages?
Now I
see that you have another list, one dedicated to answering computer
questions. I have recommended it to everyone I know, but can you tell
me about the format and any restrictions on this one?
Thank you for recommending the Newsletter ..I
appreciate it :-) The first newsletter was sent on 12/12 and there
are 197 members
:-)
I decided to create the group because I have
a "Need" to help others. I especially feel the need to help folks who
are New to computers because I remember too well what
it was like when I was learning the PC. Learning can be fun and I try to
make it fun for the members. Watching others do something that your
heart cries to do, is a terrible feeling. Asking for help is not easy
for many folks either..I know, I hate to ask for help! :-(
There were several factors that influenced
why I set up the group as a "Newsletter"
1. Members of the group post all questions, tips and
comments to me
PC_learning-owner@yahoogroups.com No one
knows except me who asked the question so they don't have to feel
embarrassed with everyone in the group seeing who asked. I compile ONE
Newsletter with several questions with answers so EVERYONE in the group
sees the question and answer . If I can't find the answer to a question,
I ask for help from the group
2. The Newsletter eliminates many messages
to download as well as bickering back and forth between members. It
takes time to download mail and read all those replies..That time can be
spent on learning.
3. I send recommended URL's in each Newsletter. Most of
these are to help learn additional information about the PC
4. HTML format is necessary because I am a True
believer in doing screen shots to show how to do something as
well as explain in in steps.
5. The Newsletter focuses on Windows 98, Outlook
Express, ICQ, Yahoo and PSP but you know me...if I can find an answer to
a problem, I sure will look fer it :-) I love challenges but there are
some limitations. I can't fix a windows XP problem if I don't use it but
I do try to find the answers fer em. See how they teach me new things
too? :-)
Something I
am sure everyone would like to know, is how in the world do you organize
so much information? What system do you use? I have never known you to
take more than 5 minutes to get back to me with an answer :) I can
spend hours looking for something I know I just had :)
Ahhh but that's not true :-) I have spent over 40 minutes
answering this letter LOL
I have folders in my favorites where I save web sites
that have important information related to the folder. If someone needs
animations, I have many web sites for animations in the folder,
"Animated Gif's" They are looking for a font, I go to my font folder..if
they are new to PSP and want beginners tutorials,"Wa La"
I also use a program called, "Copernic" to find answers
to computer problems or to find tutorials and other things requested.
Jeanie,
you truly deserve the title "Helping Hand" but with as much as you do,
how do you guard against burn-out?
The name, "Helping Hand", was given to me over 10 years
ago when I taught new users of ICQ how to use the features of ICQ. I
would answer questions and get a reply,"Thanks for the helping hand" :-)
My nickname on ICQ at the time was "FloridaNurse". One lady suggested I
change my nickname to "Helping Hand" so that's what I did :-)
Ahh But I DO get "Burnout". Guarding against "burnout"
hasn't seemed to be the problem with continuing to be a "Helping Hand".
There are three reasons that contribute to "burn Out"
I have to be
learning something every day to function. I learn every day that I teach
something. Once you know how to install a Plugin, Picture Tube
...there's no learning involved. Lisa only had so many buttons to push
to create a different stationery. Once I learned it and taught it for
many years, It was not challenging for me.
There is always something new when working with Scripts
because there are always new scripts available. Scripts are very
challenging for me. The
PC_learning group covers a broad area of
questions which I believe will always be challenging. I love learning
and I love teaching but more than anything I love the feedback from
someone who I have helped. I feel the excitement in the Email and it
brings me a lot of happiness. My old motto is, "Helping Other's In need
is the happiness I receive"! It's 100 % true too..
I wish
you much success with your new list, and I know I look forward to each
one:) Thanks for taking the time to spend with us :)
Thank you for asking me to be featured in your next
Newsletter. That meant more to me than you ever know. One thing that
irritates me is people forgetting how they got where they are or people
who forget the first time they tried to learn something. Folks out there
with knowledge sure didn't learn it without the help of others yet they
seem to forget those folks:-( Jae helped me with PSP day after day to
learn PSP and I saved every email and ICQ session she sent me :-) I
would never forget her and the help she gave me.
Each person is unique in their talents and every person
reading this Newsletter knows something I don't know.Sharing the
knowledge to make another person have a great day is what it's all
about! Another favorite quote of mine is:
" Without knowledge,We live in Darkness.
Yet pursuit of knowledge is only the first step. Unless we apply and share what we have learned as we journey along the road of life, knowledge is useless and the future is lost" Michala al'Ayan
I want to wish you and your members, a very " Happy New
Year"!
Tip of the Week -I know this is where I usually put in a PSP tip, and will go back to it next issue, but this week my tip is to join Jeanie's list! You won't regret it and you will learn more about your PC and Programs in an easy, relaxed way than you thought possible. Sites to Visit:Find a virtual card from Answer Pink to send to those you care about. She lists all types of e-cards from around the world, and when her top 10 site is up, it is fun to explore. Is one of your New Year's resolutions to get organized? If so check these out: If you are a quilter, you are going to love Quilter's Cache. And if you aren't, you might be inspired to start:) I have a request for anyone who uses Electric Quilt 4 or Quilt Pro 4. I am getting ready to buy one of these programs and would appreciate any feed back you could give me Now I couldn't totally ignore PSP could I? If you are looking for a tube, the best place to start is here at Karen's Korner. And if you still need more, along with tutorials to help you make your own, visit Kandy'z PSP Tubes. Questions, comments or if you would like to submit an article or special tutorial please contact me, If you would like to have this newsletter delivered to your in-box, please sign up at Behind the Tutorials. Please feel free to pass this to someone who might enjoy it :) If you have missed an issue they may be found at www.pspmadeez.com/Newsletter#.htm (just insert the number of the issue you wish to view). Connie
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