Challenges 2011….
31 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment
in 2011 Goals, 2012 Goals, Accountability, Balance Tags: 2011 Goals, 2012 Goals, Accountability, Balance
Well it’s the last day of this year.
A day to reflect on my goals past and future.
Although I did not make all my goals. I did learn a lot this year.
And I am going into 2012 with a lot of support behind me, much more focus and motivation and people rooting for me. In coming up with my goals list for the coming year I had to make sure I balanced my writing life with work, fun, friends and family instead of school. That’s another major change. I’m finished with school and moving into the next stage of my career path outside of writing. You’ll see that reflected in some of my posts.
And I plan on being more accountable, to myself and my goals. You’ll see that more too. I’m going to update my projects page so that what I want to do is out there in black and white.
I also plan on interacting more online. I know I slacked off a bit. But that’s another part of the balance – writing, writing life, life, work, family/friends and everything else.
You know the “rocks, pebbles, sand and water” time management & priorities analogy? I used that too evaluate my goals this years to make sure they were (there’s that word again) balanced. I’ll post some of my goals tomorrow (for accountability) of what projects and goals I want (plan to) accomplish in January. Then I’ll re-evaluate at the end of the month and discuss the hits, misses, deferred and removed.
Did you set goals for 2012? Or make any resolutions? Or targets? Or whatever you choose to call/name them?
Freebie Web Finds
21 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment
in Freebies, Web Finds, Writing Resources, Writing Toolbox, Writing Tools Tags: Freebie, Web Finds, Writing Resources, Writing Tools
One of my favorite words besides “The End” (yes I know that it’s technically 2 words but go with me here.) is free.
I mentioned some resources last week. Here are a few free writing resources.
1. AntiBrowser – To help you not waste time on the internet.
2. Online Stickies – a free sticky note and canvas/peg board.
3. Springnote – An online notebook.
4. GenealogyJ – A great way to do a quick character outline.
5. Freeplane – A mind mapping software great for brainstorming and organizing ideas and information. You can check out what CNet has to say about it.
6. AiPlanet – A virtual world for artificial intelligence
7. Freebie Notes – A free sticky note software program and it even has an alarm timer. Great for writing notes for yourself so you don’t get lost in your writing and forget to do something.
8. Wordle – is a word cloud generator.
9. Dropbox - online and backup storage
10. RedNotebook – A diary and journal
How I Write – Top Tools & Resources
16 Dec 2011 2 Comments
in How I Write, Writing Resources, Writing Toolbox, Writing Tools Tags: How I Write, Writing Resources, Writing Toolbox, Writing Tools
This week’s topic is: What is your top writing tools and resource you utilize as a writer/author?
My Top Writing Tools:
1. Scrivener for Windows – Helps with organizing and outlining
2. Google Docs – And now thanks to an app on my phone. I can upload a WIP and work on it during my break and save the changes and then come back to it when I get home with the new additions.
3. Chat Challenges – Be it 20 minutes or 30 minutes, these challenges help with getting writing done and I’m often surprised how many words(and pages) I turn out during these little writing drives.
My Top Writing Resources:
1. My very active imagination which is never short on ideas, twists and turns for my characters.
2. The internet – It has helped with research
3. The library – Great for getting some quiet writing done and also for doing research (especially those hard to find and interesting tidbits).
If you want to check out how a few of my writing friends write:
* Alexia Reed * Angeleque Ford * Emma G. Delaney * Kimberly Farris *Kristen Koster *
How I Write – Holiday Edition
14 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment
in Holiday, How I Write Tags: Holidays, How I Write
So the challenge was: With the holidays’ coming up, what are you holiday plans? What are you cooking? Or planning to/looking forward to eating the most if you’re not cooking? And how are you planning on balancing your writing with your real life obligations? Or are you not writing?
Since I’m the one doing most of the cooking in my house this year for Christmas, I made an executive decision and decided we were going non-traditional.
We’re having a medley of favorite foods.
I’m making 2 lasagna’s, bread with homemade garlic butter, salad, beef brisket, smashed potatoes, 7-up cake and peach cobbler.
I’m going to do what I always do. I write when I get a chance. I’m going to write while everything is in the oven. I plan on doing a lot of prep the day before so that should free me up some. Plus my family are late eaters so I will have a huge chunk of time in the afternoon.
So that’s the plan anyway.
If you want to check out how a few of my writing friends write:
* Alexia Reed * Angeleque Ford * Emma G. Delaney * Kimberly Farris *Kristen Koster *
How I Write – Dear Santa
12 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment
in Dear Santa, How I Write, Wish List Tags: Dear Santa, How I Write, Wish List
Dear Santa,
This year my writer wish list is relatively small.
I would like:
1. Continuous motivation and focus so I can complete my writer’s goal and keep improving in my writing and moving forward on my career path.
2. A dedicated office with a comfortable desk chair that is organized and has all my writing supplies I need such as pens, pencils, colored pens, highlighters, sticky notes, index cards, files, a closet full of blank paper and a closet full of printer ink.
3. A new and bigger MP3 player so I won’t have to do the delete shuffle with my audiobooks and cd’s.
4. A new laptop
5. An extra boost of confidence to silence those negative nagging doubt demons wouldn’t hurt either.
6. And for all my writer’s friends wishes to come true.
7. Oh and a dedicated crafting area would be great too that has all my supplies and tools organized so that when I get frustrated or frozen on a scene I can go and do something crafty to take my mind off of uncooperative characters and nonsensical or crazy or overly complicated plots and story lines.
If you want to check out how a few of my writing friends write:
* Alexia Reed * Angeleque * Emma G. Delaney * Kimberly Farris *Kristen Koster *
How I Write – Where am I?
11 Nov 2011 6 Comments
in Goals, How I Write, Learning and Growing Tags: goals, Growth and Progress, How I Write, Learning and Growing
So the question this week involves goals and growth. Basically, where am I at in my writing in comparison to 6 months, 1 year, 5 years ago, 10 years ago as well as with my goals. Also, what would I do differently.
I think the easiest part of the question is what would I do differently. The first thing that comes to mind is focus. I would be more focused. I would be more focused on my writing and more dedicated in my writing time.
As to where I am in my writing, that’s harder for me to answer. I can see growth in different areas. I have my areas that need strengthening.
Goal wise I’m doing okay. I am not where I would have hoped I would be at this point in my writing career. But I do know my goals are stronger and SMARTer than they were before.
If you want to check out how a few of my writing friends write:
* Alexia Reed * Angeleque Ford * Emma G. Delaney * Kimberly Farris *Kristen Koster *
How I Write – Nano Edition
04 Nov 2011 1 Comment
in How I Write, NaNo, NaNoWriMo 2011, WriteorDie Tags: How I Write, NanoWriMo, WriteorDie
So the question of the week is how do you shut out the noise and just write?
For me, I play music.
It can be something heavy if it’s a darker story. Or light if it’s more romantic. Or a mix.
What I listen to depends on what the story is about and the mood.
Pandora is another great option for me. Cause I can create or tune to a favorite station, put my headphones on and get lost in the story.
I mentioned WriteorDie in a previous blog post. That’s another resource I use to help me just write.
If you want to check out how a few of my writing friends write:
* Alexia Reed * Angeleque Ford * Emma G. Delaney * Kimberly Farris *Kristen Koster *
NaNo 2011 – Day 3
03 Nov 2011 1 Comment
in NaNo, NanoWriMo, NaNoWriMo 2011, Scrivener, Scrivener for Windows, Write or Die, WriteorDie Tags: NanoWriMo, NaNoWriMo 2011
Well I am trudging along. I am on track with my word count goals.
I am currently at 5319 words as of 10 pm EST. I may write a little more but I’m balancing the day job with writing.
I will let you know that 2 things that have helped me so far has been Scrivener (for Windows) and Write or Die.
I am loving Scrivener because I breaking down the chapters into scenes so I can just write what comes to me and then move them around later.
I’m still not happy with the title but I’ll worry about that later.
Nano 2011
31 Oct 2011 Leave a Comment
in NaNo, Nano Tips, NanoWriMo, NaNoWriMo 2011
I’m participating in NaNoWriMo again this year. And you will noticed that I’ve finally unstickied the word count meters from the previous year I NaNo’ed.
This year’s story is an update to an idea I’ve had for a while.
It’s a crazy, slightly funny, bit adventurous paranormal story that involves a half-demon, a mix-up at creation, a fall angel and a witch.
I am going to try to update every day but will definitely be updating at least twice (maybe three times a week) about my progress.
NaNo Tips from Scott Westerfeld and Justine Larbalestier
I have a rough (very rough, very sketchy) outline of a plot. So my goal this year is to just write and see what happens.
How I Write – Character Development
25 Oct 2011 2 Comments
in Character Development, Characters, How I Write Tags: Character Development, Characters, How I Write
So every story needs characters. And authors have different ways of fleshing them out and developing them.
What do I do?
It’s a combination of different methods. Sometimes I use spreadsheets or worksheets. Sometimes I just start writing. Other times I get the characters first and they are fully developed. Or I get the plot and develop the character to go with it.
The easiest way for me is the spreadsheets and worksheets. Basic fill-in-the-blank information.
The fully developed characters are a bit more difficult because sometimes the character doesn’t fit the story and vice versa. So it’s more work to flesh out the characters motivations, attitudes and behaviors.
One thing that helps me is to think of the characters and figure out the why behind the actions. Why do they chew gum when they’re nervous? Why do they twirl their hair around their fingers or laugh right before they tell a lie?
That’s the method I use most. The why method.
I’ll post some of my spreadsheets and worksheets later so you can see the crazy process or my plotting and worldbuilding.
If you want to check out how a few of my writing friends write:
* Alexia Reed * Angeleque Ford * Emma G. Delaney * Kimberly Farris *Kristen Koster *
