Tools of the Trade

Good to see you, my fellow writers! Pull up a chair, have a cup of coffee or tea-- whichever you prefer, my friend-- and let's talk.

Talk about what? How about the tools of the trade?

There are many programs out there for writers to use. Word processors, novel writing software, and, of course, the age old pen and paper. We can't forget the old fashioned clicky-clack typewriter either!

*sighs dreamily* Ah, the typewriter... How I love thee.

*ahem* Right. Back on track, whether you're traditional or digital, there are plenty of tools you can use to get the job done. Personally, I use a good mixture of Microsoft Word and Scrivener (Windows beta) for my writing.

I also use My Writing Spot for when I'm on the go. I like being able to jot down a few sentences while waiting in line at the store. And all I have to do is whip out my phone instead of digging through my bag for my notebook and pen.

When I'm editing, I prefer the good old red pen on paper and a notebook for my notes. Then everything goes back onto the computer again for more work and polishing. And when I'm outlining, I use a mixture of sticky notes, a notebook and pen, and Microsoft Word (which I usually write my extremely rough draft on-- you know, that draft before your official first draft?). I have a tack board I put all my handwritten notes on while I'm in the outlining and planning process. I just have to make sure I see them all and haven't buried any under the layers and layers of notes...

These are my favored techniques and tools. But my way isn't the only way. There are plenty of different processes and programs out there. So, my fellow writers, I would love to hear from you. What are your favored writing tools?

What are your preferred tools? Do you have a refined technique you use? Do you favor traditional or digital? If you favor digital, what programs do you use?

Who knows? You might even help another writer refine their technique or find a program that works better for them.

Protecting Your Writing Time

   I recently got into a debate with my best friend. She felt as if we had been spending less time talking and hanging out than we usually do. She lives across the country so it's usually time spent sitting on the computer, talking on webcam or instant messenger.

   I disagreed with her and insisted we spent plenty of time together. She complained that I'm always "busy". And that's when it hit me.

   I've heard many writers say it: "Protect your writing time!" and I always shrugged it off. "I write plenty," I thought to myself, puffing my chest up proudly. "I don't need to defend my writing time more than I do!"

   The truth is, I used to let anyone invade my writing time until I realized how much more productive I was when I pushed them away while I wrote and how precious that time really is. "This is what they meant!" I realized. I must have at least doubled what I normally got done. I was shocked by the difference of my accomplishments. So I made a New Year resolution to protect my writing time more fiercely and I've been keeping that resolution going.

   My friend noticed this and while I explained when the year began that I would devote more time to my writing, she isn't happy about the cut back in my time.

   But it made me realize how much time writing takes up. If you're serious about it, then you'll find the time no matter what and you'll protect that time. I know I will even if my friend is upset for a while. Writing is what I do and I'll do it until the end.

   Family, housework, friends, work... All of these things can eat up your time and the next thing you know-- You're out of time to write. On my busy days I juggle things. I'll do some dishes, pick up my room, clean up the living room, and in between those things I'll give myself ten minute writing sessions as a reward. The words you write in those ten minutes add up. They really do.

   Other days I end up so busy that the only time I have to write is right before bed and by then I'm too exhausted to do much else other than sit in my desk chair, staring at that blinking cursor that's waiting to move with each letter I type, and doze off. Those are the days I turn in and decide to start anew the next day.

   But when you get that writing time, or start to make a schedule with your writing, you have to defend that time like your life depends on it-- because in a way, if you're serious about becoming a writer, it does. Learn to manage your time and compromise. I know I'm learning it now and it's paying off already.

   Family and friends might get jealous over the time you're giving to your writing but if you really care about the story you have to tell then you'll muddle through and keep on track.

   Do you have any friends or family that are or have been jealous or feel neglected because of the time you give to your writing? Do you have to protect your writing time more fiercely or make more time? What kind of schedule do you use if you use one?

   Please share your own experiences and advice! : )

Trying Out Wordpress

Now, I'm usually a Blogspot blogger. I have my blog over on Blogspot (http://www.penxsword.blogspot.com/) but a few people I know have insisted that they get more traffic from Wordpress and that it's better than Blogspot. So I'm going to try Wordpress out for a bit while I maintain my Blogger and see which one works better for me.

Everything I post here will be posted on my Blogspot too so don't think you'll miss out if you follow one or the other. All my old post will remain on Blogspot, though. I won't go through and repost all my old post here. Each site has their own perks, I just know Blogspot better and that's what gives it the advantage currently. Though I will admit I like the word count feature here on Wordpress... Of course, because of my addiction to the madness of NaNoWriMo I do enjoy word counts... But since I can see the word count I can see how pitifully short my blog post is. ; )

So! Let the experiment begin and let's see which blog hosting site I'll like more.


( P.S. This is my Wordpress link for those of you interested: http://penxsword.wordpress.com/ ))

You Know You're a Writer...

   Sometimes us writers need a pick me up or a laugh. Our work is hard-- harder than most people would believe. Most people I come across go "Oh wow! It must be great to be a writer!". Well, yeah. But it's also hard. Even though it's hard sometimes I would never give it up. I haven't even reached the most difficult part yet (besides the whole writing thing) but I know what's in store for me and I still would never give up. Us writers can be quite solitary whether we want to be or not. We can be crazy, moody, and sometimes just full of angst. You know what I'm talking about. "Woe is me! Who in the world-- no, the whole universe would be mad enough to read my work?!" Especially if you're stuck on your writing or just plain frustrated.

   So sometimes we have to take a moment, take a breath, spoil ourselves a little, and find a way to relax and laugh. And what are one of my favorite ways to laugh?

   Look up funny things about writers... Such as; "You know you're a writer..."

So I'm inviting all writers-- published and not, fiction, sci fi, non-fiction, romance-- all writers to join in and comment their own "You know you're a writer"s. I know there are some funny ones I haven't heard yet! So let's take a moment from our solitary jobs, take a breath away from our words and manuscripts, and just take one moment to laugh together and share!

You Know You're A Writer...

• When you find yourself arguing aloud with your characters in the middle of a public place (bookstore, grocery store, restaurant...)
• When you see a random person and start making up background story for them (usually tragic)
•  When you edit conversations you overhear from people you don't even know.
• If you overhear conversations or saw something someone you don't know did and think "That'd be GREAT to have in my story!" or "That's EXACTLY what I have to have my character say/do!"
• If you constantly find yourself creating prose in your head, describing your own actions ("She sipped at her coffee, irritation settling in the pit of her stomach as yet another person barged into her office, interrupting her concentration.")
• When you would rather listen to your characters in your head than listen to the person in front of you.
• If you don't write all day long you get twitchy.
• When some of the letters on your keyboard are worn off or you can tell where your hands rest on your desk, laptop, ect because it's so worn down.
• When you cry hysterically over killing a character and your only comfort is that if you're crying then your readers will cry too.
• When your family knows to comfort you over aforementioned character.
• If you've used anything and everything available to you just to write down a note.
•  If your bag/purse/wallet is filled with scrap paper, pens, notebooks, and possibly even a pocket thesaurus and even the apps on your smart phone are all writing based.
•  When you can't help but study your favorite books over and over and over again to figure out the mechanics behind it.
• If you have to warn your family about your Google history so they don't think you're planning to kill somebody, hide a body, blow something up, run away from home, ect...
• If you're afraid of some secret government agency seeing your Google history and showing up at your door because they believe you're planning to kill someone, hide a body, blow something up, ect...
• When you make deals with yourself to get your writing done ("Okay. 200 more words and then I can go refill my coffee, use the bathroom, and grab a snack...")
• If you check your email/Twitter/Facebook/everything else you can think of even though you checked it not even five minutes ago just because you know you should be writing.
• If you force yourself into that chair even though you're gritting your teeth, thinking about how you should have became a doctor/plumber/pilot instead of a writer...
• If you're nodding your head sadly in agreement to almost everything I've listed on this blog post so far...
• If you're/your and there/their/and they're mistakes make you twitch violently.

   So come on, writers! Share your own thoughts and "You know you're a writer"s with us just for giggles. You know you want to share~ 

Back in the Saddle

   It feels wonderful to get back into my desk chair and focus on work. Now that things have settled down my attention can go back to my novel-in-progress. I feel like I'm getting things done and I'm not going crazy because I can't write.
   A little while ago, the Positive Brigade came over to take us out. We went to Little Italy and had a lovely night out, visiting Lake View Cemetery, taking many photographs... It was a wonderful time. My new picture on my profile was taken by Shelby, who is an incredible photographer. We had a lot of fun and will return to Little Italy one day. Especially the bakery that is there.
   I'm still keeping up with my journal. I want to try keeping a 'Morning Pages' journal too but first I have to find a notebook that isn't being used for something else. After I try it for a little while, I'll let you all know how it goes.

   My dad's going to set up my mother's desk in the room connected to mine so my mom has an office she can use. It's one of those big 'L' shape desk. My dad said he'll find a spare piece that he can set up in my room so I have an actual desk instead of using my dresser as a make-shift desk. It'll be nice to have leg room when I'm writing.
   Meanwhile, everyday I'm pushing myself to keep editing and try to get more and more done each day. Some days are good but some days are slow and editing is painful, but the more I do it the more I learn with each sentence. And I have to keep learning to improve myself as a writer.

Keeping A Journal

   One of the most common piece of advice I get from other writers is to keep a journal. "Record everything" they always say. By keeping a journal and recording everything you are learning how to write down emotions, write effective dialog, and describe things which are all needed skills for a successful.
   And keeping a journal is no problem, right? Well, if you're anything like me then it is. I like to keep journals traditional and keep them in book form. I hate digital journals. It just doesn't feel as personal to me. When I see a journal, I see it in a personally chosen book and hand-written. But if you're a busy person then how do you find the time to write a detailed recollection of your day that isn't digital and doesn't keep you up to ungodly hours in the morning?
   You don't or barely do. I would be up until the endless hours of the morning, struggling to write out everything I felt I had to write and half the time my entries were flat, lifeless, and rushed. When I reread them I would give up trying to keep a journal.
   After many tries and failed attempts some advice that finally solved this problem for me came in the form of a simple Tweet on Twitter and it's huge writing community. And now I want to share it with everyone.

   Don't try writing your entire day down in a journal. Pick an incident from that day and write about that but write it in details as if you are writing a story-- include dialog too. Use these daily journal entries as a way to fine-tune your writing.

   So I tried it. I picked one incident that day and wrote it down like a story. And it worked! Suddenly, I'm able to keep a journal when before it had seemed like an impossible task. More and more entries are being filled in and my journal is growing with each new day while my writing skills improve.
   This trick worked perfectly for me and I hope by sharing it that it helps some others out there, writers or not. Even if you're just a busy person trying to keep a journal, I hope this bit of advice I received can help you out in turn.

   Happy Writing, Writers!

- Siddy