If it works for me....#2: Scrivener

So 6 months or so back I invested in the Scrivener writing program for Mac. I was seduced playing with the demo by the deep level of functionality, customization, the ability to easily save and restore prior incarnations of your work, the corkboard/index card/storyboarding function and the thought of finally being able to get myself organized without billions of papers, index cards and assorted stuff all over my room and walls. Scrivener is supposed to be excellent for screenwriting too, though that's not my particular forte.

Anyway, I bought it. As I started the tutorial I realized it had a steeper learning curve than I thought to become fairly fluent. I got lazy to learn it (I don't wanna do no stinking tutorial!) and went back to using another program I had as a Beta tester, Jer's Novel Writer (excellent program that I still find conducive for my creative writing and has the best EULA I've ever read.) I would poke at my Scrivener program every now and again, but really I just wasn't ready to dig into the tutorial (I generally learn by doing but in certain areas I do better when I read the instructions. I'm learning.)

Recently, I was introduced to two other powerful writing programs that have virtues definitely worth sharing with others. Storyist (for Macs) which I think is amazing, very user friendly and pleasing aesthetic may quite possibly be the ideal tool for screenwriters and comic/graphic novel writers. It also handles novel writing quite well. Storyist is still fairly new and evolving and I'm excited to see what further updates and changes bring to it's strong functionality. I also checked out WriteItNow (for Windows AND Macs) which frankly has some features that blow my socks off. When I have more money to spend idly I may end up buying that one if for nothing else it's graphical and charting functions which keep track of your character's inter-relationships for you. The add-ons they offer are outstanding too. Though I tend to create my own, the one for character naming and creation can provide ENFP type and a description of traits for that personality. If you plunk in your character's age, it will tell you the major world events that happened during their lifetime up to their current year for various time periods. And there's way more than this - it is very sexy. Both of these programs are really very awesome tools.

But how could I advocate wishlisting either of them when Scrivener just stared at me accusingly on my App bar? Called me a flake when it thought I wasn't listening. Well. I'm not going to stand for that.

So yesterday, instead of working on my new semester of college homework, I dug deep into Scrivener and fell in love with it. By the time I went to bed my current WIP was plugged in and for the first time I've got an outline that I can work with and I'm excited about. I know where I'm going and how it ends, but I don't have to be locked into it. I can be whimsy and Scrivener will adapt with me. I'm very hyped about it.

All of these excellent writing programs in my experience are well worth checking the demos to see what suits your style, if you don't already have something that works for you. I'm just happy that I found one that is working for me. I even discovered Scrivener has some features that I didn't think it offered (printing and visual flow of manuscript related functions as well as full screen functionality). It just makes me very happy to have less steps to do things that ought to be uncomplicated. Now I'm editing (I know, I know I shouldn't yet! I'm stopping once I'm caught up) and I'm writing making appreciable progress in both areas. The index card function gives me the flexibility I desire to create a visual outline (that I can print into a paper one) yet still update it on the fly. It's great.

Do you already use this? Does it work for you? Does it suck? Know something better? Lemme know either way! If it works for me, it might work for you. And if it doesn't work, well no harm done (hopefully).

Dr. King - The Writer

People think of his I Have A Dream speech more often than not and recall his great talent of oration. But people should add to Nobel prize winner Dr. Martin Luther King's fine qualities, abilities and accomplishments "talented writer." He wrote some very persuasive, logical, sophisticated rebuttals and arguments. They supported and explained the view of many who were in favor of Civil Rights. He shared these views with supporters and detractors alike in a respectful way. He just had a way of making an issue clear and conveying the emotion within it so that it wasn't sappy or pedantic - just human and humane.

These are two brief excerpts from his eloquent Letter From Birmingham Jail. He addressed this to various clergymen that criticized his position regarding Civil Rights. He had been arrested for participating in non violent protest and wrote this while incarcerated to a fellowship of clergy and religious leaders who could not understand or opposed his methods. Dr. King hoped to use reasoning and categorical analysis of each criticism of the law defying, non-violent tactics employed to protest the inequalities of race and class. To get the full effect and understanding, I really recommend reading it in it's totality.

Sometimes a law is just on its face and unjust in its application. For instance, I have been arrested on a charge of parading without a permit. Now, there is nothing wrong in having an ordinance which requires a permit for a parade. But such an ordinance becomes unjust when it is used to maintain segregation and to deny citizens the First-Amendment privilege of peaceful assembly and protest. I hope you are able to see the distinction I am trying to point out. In no sense do I advocate evading or defying the law, as would the rabid segregationist. That would lead to anarchy. One who breaks an unjust law must do so openly, lovingly, and with a willingness to accept the penalty. I submit that an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for law.

If I have said anything in this letter that overstates the truth and indicates an unreasonable impatience, I beg you to forgive me. If I have said anything that understates the truth and indicates my having a patience that allows me to settle for anything less than brotherhood, I beg God to forgive me.

Happy Birthday, Dr. King.

If It Works For Me.... #1

It Might Work For You: 10 Minute Daily Journaling:

This new habit (20 days) started because A) I decided to build on a good exercise that I participated in during the Sacramento Writer's Conference 2007 last year and B) I was feeling somewhat inspired after FINALLY starting to read a book recommended to me by a bunch of people, Natalie Goldberg's guide to writing with zen "Writing Down The Bones." Between the two of these, I'm back into journaling and it works for me.

How's it work?: Before I start on my planned writing for the day (flash fic, short story, novel, whatever), I spend a minimum of 10 minutes journaling. I go longer if I want, but never any less. I write constantly whatever is in my head without editing, second guessing or censoring. I do not cross out, correct spelling or revise. So even if it is just,

"I don't have a darn thing to say, it is to freaking early for this stuff, this is stupid and I really want to eat breakfast right now. What is that? Geez that cat snores like a Mac truck."

(Can you tell actual excerpt?) The not editing, revising or censoring has been the hardest part for me as my inner critic is quite mighty and will strong arm my creativity and confidence, if I allow it.

Benefits: It's a great exercise to get my head clear and get "free" of expectations, fears, worries, doubts. It sparks new ideas and has helped to kick my brain and creative thoughts in gear. And when I need a push, it actually helps me to get moving if not excited about writing for the day. I can knock my inner critic into the background no easy task for me. I find also the process helps me to clear my "mental clutter"and focus more on the story I want to tell or my plot, characters - everything once I start to write on my current project. It allows me to get very creative. I didn't think doing this would work for me when I decided to try it out, but so far it actually does. Amazing.

Variations: Riffing off an exercise also learned at the convention, I tried doing this with the radio playing on a talk station. I got a timer and set it for a minute and 5 seconds (extra time for me to reset it). Every minute for ten minutes when the timer went off, whatever word I last clearly heard spoken or the first word I heard after I reset the timer I used as a prompt to incorporate in my writing. Really fabulous things have come out of this. I plan to try this again tomorrow with an audio book. I figure different vocabulary will stimulate thoughts in different directions. Sunday is Ipod on shuffle mode day.

Do you already do this? Does it work for you? Does it suck? Know something better? Lemme know either way! If it works for me, it might work for you. And if it doesn't work, well no harm done (hopefully).

Psst! Wanna See Something New?

For my birthday? Among well wishes and some other fabulous gifts that included down slippers (a big deal, I'm always cold) and dinner at a fabulous restaurant there was something else.

I was given my own website, too! To do with as I see fit! And as a bonus, my blog here is integrated into the site. Fantastic! What a man I have for making this all happen! I'm quite lucky. [Edit: To clarify, he provided domain, tools for website creation and 18 hour tech support (he likes his sleep). I took given tools and made the site from that point. My guy is a professional designer, so his websites are much more dynamic than my little e-place. But this one is something I can maintain myself. :) )

So without further pomp, please to be checking out before it's "official" world debut:

Words That Rattle (www.wordsthatrattle.com)

Let me know what you think if so inclined. Just to warn everyone, I will take overwhelming silence to mean you are rendered speechless by the splendor of my site. This will give me bragging rights. Do you really want that?

=)

This is a test

Please disregard.

Happy New Year!

New year, new opportunities.

Really though, that's everyday isn't it?

Here's to making the most of ours *Orange Juice toast*

Keep writing!

Merry

Holidays!

Christmas?

Solstice?

Channukah?

Kwannza?

Festivus?

Holidays....that's gotta cover it!

I Am NOT Just A Nice Girl...

I would be a liar if I didn't say that I don't care what people think of me to some degree. I was raised to reflect the home I came from and myself in way that commands respect. And I get it. And I'm nice about it quite often. I'm described by others as a nice girl. I'm sweet. I'm intelligent and well-spoken. Sometimes I'm called funny or witty. And I appreciate all of that. I'm grateful for it because it means overall I'm showing the world who I am. Without wanting to sound prideful I can acknowledge I am all of these things.

But...

...this philosophy can only go so far. I am not just a nice girl. Like just about everyone else on the planet I have my angles, edges and dark, twisted, scary places. I have my less "attractive" qualities. I have an emo place and a freaky place and an off kilter place. I have snark and a really, really dirty mind. I can be an ass. I have thoughts of anger and more. I can be thoughtless. Selfish. Calculating. Manipulative. I can curse and be rude. I can be cruel and laugh about it. There's dark and light inside me.

This is good and it's important. Because I've also been raised and come to believe that there is a time and place for everything. And while these other facets generally show only in certain situations in my life, as a writer I cannot and will not constrain them from my stories or creative mind. To breathe the life into my characters and worlds I cannot permit myself to be constrained by a need to be perceived as "a nice girl".

For the longest time, I have had the tendency not to write when I'm in certain states of mind or moods because I thought "Oh.. I'll ruin the story somehow,"or "No one wants to read about *this* feeling/emotion it wouldn't be...interesting."
I've been committing a horrible crime I realize, I've been writing safe. And that is really some BS because while safe topics can work I'm often intrigued by that which is not always safe.
As a wise fellow writer has advised me "Why *not* use it? Purge it on the page. Make it work for you, the story."

This was reinforced when I read Steven King's "On Writing" (Excellent book!), I found out an interesting fact about one of my favorite stories, "The Tommyknockers," (also a great book - not so much the mini-series). When I read that story, something in me responded to the passion in it, a certain intensity, circling darkness. I had a feeling that what I was reading went deeper than the page even if I couldn't quite name it and it intrigued me. Turns out, he was using his feelings and struggle with addiction to fuel the story. And now I can see how those dark places meshed.

I generally realize "nice" is not why most read stories. Most read for the conflict, the plot. The ride. To wonder how there will be resolution or solution. To come to care care about the character in a state. To take the journey and see what will happen or who the character becomes by the end of it. And while I am someone who can write to inspiration, I can make or take my own inspiration as well. If I'm only going to be a "nice" writer...hell I might as well put down my pen and only write poetry about fluffy clouds, pretty dresses and candy. That's needed in the world too. But that's not all I've got to offer.

So, I'm not a nice girl at all when it comes down to it. When you look at all these qualities within me - I'm a woman (I know; womyn, roar, etc., I know, I know...). I own my places within, light and dark. And I'm a writer; so every scrap of emotion or situation, twisted or straight in my life is mine to take, plunder and make my own as I see fit. To gift them in some shade to my stories and characters. See all these facets exposed to your naked eyes and vivid imaginations.

So, that's it. I'm going to use everything. And I won't think twice about it or how it may be received except as it is relative or pertains to telling a great story.

I'm getting free. Feels damn good.

Writing

I am still here and writing.

Obligations keep going and they slow me down but I don't stop. I'm still writing and working on my story idea which I am excited about. I still have moments of doubt (Ahh what is this garbage I'm writing!) but I don't let it stop me because the story feels good and I know this is part of my process. It's all just going very slow, but in a few weeks I'll have an ease of pressure and then I get to focus. I can hardly wait.

And when did the it turn to December? That was fast!

On a Slowboat

Writing is going very slow balanced with essays, school reading etc. But I'm remembering the advice I was given over the summer and even if it is only a little I'm writing everyday. I won't complete Nano this year, but that doesn't mean I can't complete my book. I will persevere.

Nanowrimo Begins...

I'm participating this year but working on a story already in progress...so I'm unofficial, but it's worth it. I agonized about this 'cause I love the Nano, the rush and comraderie. Then I realized, I really love and believe in this story...I don't want to stop. This will help me finish it and I know I will love that feeling equally, if not even more. Winhttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifs all around. I swear Nano gives me another great reason to love November.

If you are participating in Nano, good luck and tag me if you want to buddy up!


www.nanowimo.org

Congratulations Richard!

Excellent writer Richard Crawford won 3rd place in the Fall 2007 24 Hour Short Story Contest By Writer's Weekly!

WELL DONE RICHARD!!! I'm NOT surprised at all! Your story is great!

Details Here:

http://www.writersweekly.com/contest/fall07winners.html

Ooo. Ooo now this is interesting...

I'm writing.

I've got an outline of sorts had a scene in mind, characters, what would happen. I'm typing along and then two of them get into this staring match (not foreseen or outlined) and they were just supposed to sit and check each other out. But my protagonist is surly (for good reason) and this guy, he's impatient (for good reason). Suddenly they both are hijacking this scene, the intentions. Something else is happening.

And it's so much better! It's in line with my original intention but it's much more defining of who he is and it's making my protagonist rise up to the occasion, too. Maybe this happens with other writers I'm sure it must, I've read about it. In certain ways it has happened to me before but...not quite like this. It fits.

So far this story is growing and I'm nervous only because I don't want to hit "this is crap" and give in to a temptation to stop. I have to finish this and push through. I have to do this because I want to do this and I really do. Hmm, I better make sure my loose out line is ready if that happens. Sunday goal methinks.

I'm up to 7K today. I've determined that writing until the scene I'm writing feels complete or writing about 1K on days I write is my minimum goal word count. At least for this story. This pace allows such things to happen like above and makes me feel like I'm making solid progress. I can always write more. I can give myself a break when I need to. But 1K is my goal.

Okay, I'll stop with the every move updates (I really don't mean to) but I had to share this feels...so good. Gosh I hope it is good. Or reads well. Or someone likes it - ahh later! I'll think about that later.

For now, I need to get it out. And I like it.

What am I doing? Writing...

I should probably be sleeping.

But I just finished writing a 1000 words. An idea born from a challenge and a desire to write a little fic (750 words I figured) has blossomed over the last two days and at this moment I'm 4000 words in. This is going to screw with my NaNoWriMo goals - but I'm on to something good. It feels like it. It's rough, so rough but I like it.

Is it a novel? Is it a short story? I don't know just yet. I'm not totally sure what is going to happen in it, but characters are talking and events are shaping. I'm only a few chapters ahead in my planning. I'm just rounding on what I think the climax and ending will be in my musings. I'm completely engaged. Most of all I'm just writing.

All this on a borrowed computer given that my current one with all my luxuries is in the Mac shop. Not bad. Maybe the new comp and keyboard are conducive to my writing? Hmm something to consider.

Alright, I can rest now. Because when I wake up, I'll write.

Follow up to Belated Sunday Meditation Post

Today I woke up and wrote.

This afternoon, I wrote a short fic between classes.

It feels awesome when I make my word worth something and respect myself and my writing.

And now, off to study so I can write even more.

Belated Sunday Meditation: Consistently Persistent

Missed my Sunday meditation...but this does apply in that vein. Belated then it is.

I'm currently a reentry student in college and I have to say, this semester is more intense than I factored. Not the work but the sheer amount of writing is more than I expected. It makes me want to write creatively just to balance all the dry stuff. Since my last post, I've found myself waking up early to write then getting sidetracked by the impending exam, essay or book report . This happens even when I have amply prepared for them but I start second guessing myself. As a result, I'm not prioritizing my passion. How rude I am to myself for doing this?

Thankfully, this past weekend I participated with talented, awesome friends in a quarterly 24-hour Short Story Contest at Writer's Weekly. I've never done something like that before and I really liked it. It was fun even if I now keep thinking of all the things I could have done to improve my submission. But I submitted something I liked, believe can be enjoyed by others and says something. It felt good. It was fun especially sharing the pressure to get it submitted, ideas and general challenges with talented friends (who I think have a FANTASTIC shot at winning the top prizes). Thank you, if you guys are reading this. It was a great experience and you had a lot to do with that too.

Really, I refuse to allow those assignments to continue to get in my way, though I acknowledge they are a priority too. I just have to relax. Lack of sleep right now is probably not helping me either. But I know how good I feel working at one of my passions and I can't continue to improve or get where I'm going if I don't respect my time. Everyone (you know, the mysterious "they") says that one part of writing is persistence and another is consistency. I'm persistent, no doubt. I need to get more consistency. Tomorrow, I wake up and exam or not I write an hour and return to my center again. I also need to submit to my writer's group. That will be good for me too.

I'm going to participate in National Novel Writing Month aka NaNoWriMo in November of this year. I can't wait. Last year I "won" and wrote a 50k novel in 30 days. Please note, I did not provide an adjective such as great, fantastic or in the realm of publishing before the word novel in that last sentence. But I did meet the goal, gain a lot of self confidence and have fun. This year, I'm going to attempt to do it again, but this time write something with the intention to submit it for publishing. If you want to buddy up for encouragement, commiseration and general goofy hi-jinks, please let me know.

Right now, I'm going to have some tea and get some sleep. Then I'm going to wake up and do some fantastic writing. How about you?

Scattered Distracted Writing Thoughts

I have had a hard time with my writing discipline as workload is currently very demanding, so I'm doing minimal effort. But I'm making an effort and writing something, every day. That counts right? Not as lengthy but I'm writing exercising my brain.

And now inspiration strikes as the thunder growls above my head and shakes the house. Quite a way for Mother Nature to announce darn your calendar, Fall is here. Sure, it's probably nothing compared to the East Coast storms, but still it rattles the house and makes the air smell earthy, damp and clean.

There's got to be something I can do with thunder right? That's a good prompt.

Ok work to do... and writing

Sunday Writing Meditation: Hauntings and Sparks

I've been haunted all weekend by a phrase. Phrases can act as writing and/or story prompts for me, certain phrases demand that I write them down and let them feed on my imagination. I'll have slips of phrases that bounce around my head and if I try to ignore them they turn incessant and insistent. Some of the phrases probably aren't all that clever or extraordinary beyond the fascination my mind holds for them. Other times they seem to come from me or conversations with friends, loved ones even overhead by two strangers (strangers can offer some of the best phrases empty of any context but what I create.) Occasionally song lyrics will provide them, too. But from whatever origin, they repeat in my mind and become something more than their original intention. They become sparks to a story. The phrase becomes either the opening words, the plot, the climax, the first indication of a new character's birth. They spark.

Now I love when sparks happen, when I'm feeling sparked inside. The way inspiration slides over my thoughts, warms my confidence. That feeling whenever things are flowing or clicking, when all the words pouring out smoothly like they have always been within me and were just waiting for me to release them. When the story and context feel right. At those moments I feel I am doing what I should be doing and all is right with the world. Harmonious. I love being haunted by words and phrases - it's pleasure.

But I can't let myself get hung up on needing to feel this way in order to write. Because in later review what I actually write during that time may not be all that great (though often it could become better and possibly damn good). The writing's fate lies in my persistence to continue and in the rewrite(s). I must remember not to believe the haunting feeling born from a phrase and coupled with that everything-I-write-is-brilliant feeling while I'm sparked represents the entirety of my ability to write well. My writing comes from more than just random flashes of inspiration. It just takes flight from the flashes.

After all, it's what happens after the spark fades, when I'm pushing through to the other side where my real reward lies, I suspect. That is where the writer in me is tempered. So that's my Sunday meditation: Be haunted, use the spark and enjoy it but don't be discouraged when the feeling fades away. Push through.

I'm going to go write and have some brunch, in the reverse order. What will you do?

Writer: Madeleine L'Engle 11/29/18 - 9/6/2007

Here is a writer who sparked so many at such young ages (myself included). She has always been an inspiration and hero for me. It's no small thing to say A Wrinkle in Time completely changed me. It also opened my eyes to what stories can be if you refuse to let yourself be limited by other's perceptions. So many wonderful lessons. Such a passionate strong writing voice. A quote by her:

"In my dreams, I never have an age," she said. "I never write for any age group in mind. When people do, they tend to be tolerant and condescending and they don't write as well as they can write.

"When you underestimate your audience, you're cutting yourself off from your best work."

What a lovely legacy. I'm glad she was able to share it with so many.

The Other World Descends While I Meet More Writers

Since my last post my non-writing world has arrived, so I missed sharing my Sunday meditation. At this point, it likely would have been a shell-shocked meditation about how much essay writing I've got to do this semester in college. Am I in for a loooong four months. Should be fun in there...somewhere.

Attended my first writer's group meeting tonight (Thank you Richard!). Based on my perusal of "How to tell if the writing group you are attending is awesome or not" articles then just listening/watching the participants, I have to say my first impression is that I like this group. I'm not just saying that because some of them may trip here and find me (hello and welcome if you do). What I really liked about them is how they communicated and supported each other. The fact they offered each other constructive criticism, supported by reasons then offered pertinent suggestions of how to improve that were validated or clarified as opinion. They ended critiques with something positive said or reinforced, which I think is very humane and crucial regardless if one is tough-skinned or not. From the writing excerpts that I read in various stages of development, they've got passion and true sparks. There are some talented writers in this group and the levels of expertise appears to vary from new, intermediate and established. They appear to acknowledge and appreciate growth at any level.

I didn't meet all the members so I'm sure there must be some who speak with a sandpaper tongue rather than a silver one. That is probably a good thing as I'm a fan of balance. Personal preferences should probably be noted too, but they gave an impression that they are serious about wanting to write and grow. Another key point - passionate about writing and reading. We'll see how the next few meetings go and what happens when I submit my first piece for review. Hmm, more milestones ahead for me!

My organization plan is in slow mode as I take another week to get my non-writing world rhythms worked out (is that a good alliteration or just a funky tongue twister?) I'm still writing four days each week, I'm just not worrying about my personal quotas or counts yet. I'm focused on freewrites, a couple flash fics and enjoying writing fun stuff. Maybe its not quite as much as I want to be doing toward plan, but I'm writing consistently so I'm happy.

I'm going to get some rest so that I can wake up early and do some freewriting before the other world descends again. What will you do during your day to feel good or get closer to your writing goals?