BUDS

Me and my writing buddies. Each takes a character and plays out the story as I write.  Great way to do things.  And,  they are able to find what needs to be said or done next to keep the story moving.   The three muses of Witch Well.

Working

Somehow I think no one is watching.

Tell me about what you do and why you looked at this blog.

How bout some ideas for improving this here blog?

I show cud dues it in countrified weighs. huh?

thanks, doug

Question

If you could change anything in the government,  what would it be?  Don't select individuals.   Thanks.

NaNoWriMo 3

YeeeeeeHaaaaaaw. I made it in my first year on NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month. 59,000 words + in the 30 days.

How did you do? One word is a good start on that book that is in you. Old Chinese Proverb - The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. I don't know why we always quote old Chinese Proverbs, but they sure do come in handy when you need an authority for reference.

Okay, so you have some words that were put down in a hurry. What now? You may be so good that this doesn't apply to you, but the rest of us have a lot of editing to do. I looked back over the first five chapters of my effort and realized it is going to take a lot of work, not just in spelling and grammar, but in continuity and just plain prose, to make it work as a story, let alone a book.

The first thing is a time line with the characters accounted for, or else you have a character in two places at the same time or almost dead in one scene and kicking butt in the next, two hours later.  Might work for Batman, but not my heroine.

The second is continuity of location, people, times, clothes, etc. as you go through the story. Notes under your timeline will help with this.

My third thing is dialogue. Make it fit the scenes and keep all the superfluities out of your characters' mouths.

If this helps you, feedback, please.

Keep writing.

NaNoWriMo 2

Did you get into it with a vigor? I finished on Sunday the 25th. What an exercise for any writer to get 50,000 words in 30 days.  I can hardly wait to read what I wrote.  I took one piece of advise very seriously and turned off the editor mode in my brain and stayed within the boundaries of the write mode. Try it you'll like it. 

Till next time, keep writing.

First day NaNoWriMo wordcount

I am hyped. 2923 for a first day word count. I am not done yet,either. If I can go over 3200, that will be a new personal record for one day. Tomorrow, lookout fingers.

Of course my neck and back are killing me. Computer screens and bifocals just don't really mix. Next prescription I get one pair bifocals and one pair with just reading. Oh yeah, my wrist acts like carpal tunnel is setting in. I bashed it two weeks ago and all this typing is killing me.

Does anyone know a really good voice to type program? Every app or program I have tried couldn't keep up with a pronouncer at a junior high spelling bee let alone with on going conversation.

Good writing to the rest of you.

NaNoWriMo

There is a very real possibility that I will not be posting for the month of November as I try, emphasize TRY, to write 50,000 in 30 days for National Novel Writing Month. www.NaNoWriMo.com.

Finished first draft of Gentle Rebellion and have begun the November project, Vengeance. It is already not cooperating. The movie theater in my head is not playing this one as clearly as Blood on the Zuni or Gentle Rebellion.

My theological parable is returning from the first reader today, finally. There were a lot of references and facts to check in that one, Puzzling Theology, and it took by dear friend and critic a while to wade through it. Not that it was dull, just the checking. I hope.

Blessings on you and work out those fingers every day.

The Conspiring of All Others

It seems as if the entire world is conspiring against me as a writer. I say that with tongue in cheek, actually it is stuck between my teeth where the molar is missing.

I no sooner signed up for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) and planned out how I would finish my current project in order to be free for November, how many words I would have to write daily (2275 a non weekend day)(22 of those) in order to complete (WIN) the 50,000 words in November, and began outlining my new project, VENGEANCE, when the other activities I am involved in went from minor time expenditures to much more demanding annoyances.

Then out of the clear blue sky I get writer's block and the ideas just don't flow. The problem was finishing that current project. After spending a year and a half on that project, focusing all my creative (?) talent (?) on those 70,000 words for so long, nothing else would come to mind.

One of the blogs I follow (can't remember which) pointed out in that authors view the hardest thing to do was to shift projects after each draft was complete. That author even stated that it took him/her over six months to start activities concerning a new project. I can't wait that long.

So, I am doing a couple of short story rewrites from the archives deep in the dungeon beneath mi casa. Who knows what will happen. I do, teacher, I do.

NaNoWriMo or bust.  Join me. Now get back to writing.

Rejections

Looking over the Writer's Market it seems like the Publishers (of whatever) really don't want any new writers in their stables.  Either that or they are just trying to keep the agents busy and out of their hair. One book publisher whose website I checked out, as requested in the Writer's Market (WM), stated flatly that any unrequested manuscripts would be trashed and not opened. Another had the comment in the WM they would accept email submissions to a certain editor on their website. The email address doesn't work. There was another one that didn't even want query letters.

I guess it's just like a fella having a stable full of really good horses. He doesn't need to buy any more. Why waste the time and money looking? What happens when the rustlers come and steal them or they die of a rare tropical disease or they just disappear when the UFO comes and beams them up? NO HORSES. Panic time when he needs a horse.

Now, I don't whinny, but I do write. I have been fortunate enough to get published a few times. If I can write a story or article well enough to get them published and get paid, why can't I interest an agent or a publisher with a query letter or a manuscript?

Did you ever go to a used car dealer? Listen to the salesperson's description of the car. Is the car as good as the salesperson says it is? Is it even the same car?

Okay, I'll quit whining and get to work.

Join me for NaNoWriMo. This will be my first try.  50,000 words in 30 days, piece of cake (if I have nothing else to do in November), but I am going for it using my new best seller, VENGEANCE, as the project.

So, keep writing.

Writing

I remember my first piece.  I thought of the premis and wrote it on the same day.  Sent it off the next day.  Received acceptance letter and check 15 days later. $27.  Took me 35 submissions before next piece sold. $100. 50 or so rejections later my biggest piece sold.  $250. My next one sold for $50 as did two more. I currently have over 300 rejections under my belt.  Wouldn't it be nice if they all went like the first and paid like the third. I could retire.  Wait a minute,  I am tired.

NEW IDEAS

AHHH, YES, four days in the God's creation will definitely give you new ideas and clear the cobwebs.

Hiking down the trail from the North Rim toward the river 6000 feet below does two things for you. First is it kills your knees and thigh muscles. The second is a lot of time to think.

Hiking or just plain being parked somewhere in God's creation for a couple of days does wonders for my mental health. It seems to get all my boxes realigned with all the proper ideas in their correct box. Also, it let's me be creative mentally. The killer on this walk in Creation was that my digital recorder was broken and I didn't get a new one before I left. So, I had to stop and write things down, which was a plus. It gave me a break to breathe and a time to see the scenery and smell the flowers, many were in bloom due to recent rains.

Bottom line is that I now have many ideas for the projects in progress and a stack of new ideas for new projects.

This therapy was so good I got over 2500 words written the day after I got back.  IF (terrible word) I could do that everyday, I would have a 100,000 word novel written in 40 days. 40 days sounds good to me.

Now I will get writing. How about you ?

The Grander Adventure

In August while on a vacation I took a chance and stopped in at the BackCountry office at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. On a whim I asked the ranger, "Got any permits for the four day hike north rim to south rim between now and October 15 when you close the north rim?"  His reply was, "You have got to be kidding me. Ain't no way. But, I will check."

Short story long, he checked, there was a trip for two on September 22-25 available, did I want it.

My reply was, "Well, I don't know. That will keep me out of church that Sunday and my dog might need me that weekend."  NO WAY, CAN'T HAPPEN. I screamed, "Yousa."

Consequently, I will be heading downhill from the North Kiabab trailhead on the north rim this Saturday morning around 6 AM.  Please pray for me and my hiking companion.

My wife is not worried, she says that I am biodegradeable, but please someone bring my equipment so she can sell it and recoup a part of the investment.

Writing is tough, no wimps allowed

I have been at this blogging thing for quite a spell, tho not as long as many. I have yet to get on a schedule or a topic.  Really, how hard can it be to sit down two or three times a week and just rattle on.  Therein lies the problem.  I can't just rattle on and two or three times a week is an impossibility with my schedule and enet availability.  I have tried posting with my Droid and the app is crazy.  One moment your writing is there and the next it isn't.  It only seems to work on the wide view and even then it doesn't follow too well.  The keyboard is slow to respond and the spell checker works one minute and not the next.

Anybody know of an App for Blogger that works??????

No thanks,Scrivener

Take this for what its worth.

I will be deleting Scrivener from my computer.  It is to anal for me to handle.  After attempting to use it for well over a week now, I am still lost.

The program is basically multiple files being drafted for a specific project.  It allows you to keep track of characters, places, and scenes in small chunks.  Supposedly you can jump back and forth with greatest of ease.

I get lost in the transitions.

The same thing can be done with three Word files open at the same time and stored in the same project folder.  I have a 17" screen which makes this very comfortable.

Scrivener also has too small a working screen for my tired old eyes.

Last word -- I can see where a more organized individual might be able to use this program to some advantage.  For me, it just doesn't work.

However, with whatever, get writing.

First Try = failure

Gave Scrivener a shot this weekend and yesterday.  After about 6 hours with it total, initial findings follow:

Opened smartly in 10 seconds with the question, "What do you want to write?"  Format options were listed from Novel to poetry.

Chose "NOVEL."

Tried to set up using and existing chapter one from my book "Vengeance."  Ran into problems.  Checked out the ever ready tutorial, cleared up some issues, but I got confused on the 3x5 cards and cork board, or the outline format.

Have not figured out how to use the cards or outline in relation to the ideas I have for writing.  There appears at this juncture to be much confusion in my mind as to the relationships of the parts, chapters, scenes, cards and/or outline.

So, I trashed it all and started from scratch.  Things went a bit smoother.

I was able to get the title page begun (Scrivener gives you the format to fill in) and designed a protagonist and antagonist along with a couple of comedy relief sidekicks using the character format sheets.  I forgot to copy the form and filled it in.  Thus, I had to copy the form and then delete the previous character from the master form to create a new character.  That ate up a lot of time, but won't happen again, HA.

I finished yesterday's session with four chapters outlined on 3x5 cards hanging on the cork board in what appeared to be a good presentation order.  (Enjoyed shuffling the deck to try different options)
After writing this there appears to be no failure just the confusion of an old mind that has used Word for too long.  Could that be why Scrivener gives you 30 days of trial before you have to pay for it.  So far so good.

What are you waiting for? Go write!

On the recommendation of

After hearing about a writer's word processor and much more, and on the recommendation of Mur Lafferty, ishouldbewriting.com, I have downloaded the trial version of SCRIVENER.

They are kindly letting me, and you if you want, use the full version for 30 days before purchasing.  That's any 30 days of use.  (the way I have been writing lately, that could take months)

I will keep you posted on this blog.

As of today, it looks good, but all I have done is the 10 minute vid and the interactive introduction (which I wasn't really impressed with). Saturday will be the next session where I will attempt to start a new story, using the cork board and the outliner.  I might even get into the research file.  Stay tuned.

Scrivener can be found at www.literatureandlatte.com

Let's Try That Again

Did you ever have a really good experience?  Did you ever try to go back and do it again?  What happened?

Most of the time it is impossible to recreate a really good experience.  There is never the thrill that comes with the first time you do something.  I was reminded of that when I finished my second book and again when the third was ready for reviewing and editing.

Try writing the same great scene over again.  It usually turns out not so great.  Why?  There is no surprise in the second time you experience something anything like the first time.

Okay, enough of that.  I need some input here.  Everybody has to comment.  PLEASE? With sugar on it.

How does the idea of a book, published as a Word file, on a CD/DVD sound?  I have found that they are easy to read.

Second hair brained idea, how about an emailed Word file.  I can read those on my smart phone and my computer.

Word has it that many of the Apple electronic gadgets will receive Word files also and allow you to read them with ease.

Comments please.