Recently, I was asked about writing while traveling, and how some of us do not have laptops or notebooks to carry everywhere (and besides, they are cumbersome!). But last year the mini-version of a laptop came out called the Netbook. My husband, being the techno-savvy that he is—immediately devoured as much information as he could about the little, portable brain. He convinced me to buy one because it would help me to take notes in class or write anywhere I wished to write. So far, though, my husband has used it 99% of the time, while I have preferred my larger home PC in the armoire. In September 2009, however, we did bring it along on a weekend camping trip.
We got to the campground in only an hour and a half, and set up a quick camp with our self-contained trailer without full hook-up, and the water came out of a faucet close by. No problem with a two-day visit, though. Anyway, after setting up camp, I pulled out a camp chair and searched for an even, regular terrain in which to plant my seat supporter. There were plenty of smooth spots without shade, and my eyes grabbed onto a small stream flowing close by with trees gracing overhead. The stream was a good dip in elevation, and I found a spot and teetered on a semi-even ledge with my Netbook. It was a little uncomfortable, but I soon swung into motion on the keys. Unfortunately, the keys were a little too close to one another, and I discovered a lot of mistakes I was making. I realized the Netbook is best used for small ideas and thoughts. After a while, I gave up trying to utilize the small keyboard for a jog through story land. But maybe I needed to practice at pulling in my fingers closer together, I don’t know. I still like the idea of using a tiny computer for other things like email, watching DVDs and online movies, catching up with homework, and somewhat for note-taking. I guess it could be okay for the small fingers of children.
Today, Netbooks have gotten larger, a little more useable for the writer in you. Maybe I’ll run out and buy one? Well, I don’t see a need yet to replace the old one, and I’m not going to school right now, and our present one will have to do for traveling or getting alone in a sanctuary, garden, library corner, or whatever. I have a park bench in our backyard shaded by an assortment of trees, with ivy and bark coloring the ground beneath its place, and on a cooler day I’ll venture out with my Netbook and cover some more “ground” tapping out more of my story.
Happy writing to you all! - Linda
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Writing marathon – an update!
Ever have one of those fuzzy days when things do not seem as clear as they should be? When you get up and you teeter-totter because the world looks a little off-balanced? Like, maybe there was a giant earthquake during the night and you didn’t know it but had dreamed you were on a tiny raft in the ocean during a rocking storm? Well, thinking about this writing marathon I realized my intent is good, by my organization is a little scattered!
From now on, all word count for the week ends at 11:59 p.m. on Saturdays, but the postings will take place the next day. I will post the following week’s goal on my blog as well. (I originally stated that I will post my word count before 11 p.m., which is before the ending time.)
Have a good 4th of July! If you can do it, try writing a little today to keep those juices flowing. Maybe you won’t be able to write the minimum 815 words today, but a page or two might not be too bad. Actually, I can’t wait to get back to my writing! I want to know what happens in the next chapter! lol, Linda
P.S. The book shown here is one in which I started using years ago, in fact, as you can see, it doesn't cost much now to purchase it. But it's a good instructional book on writing for beginners.
From now on, all word count for the week ends at 11:59 p.m. on Saturdays, but the postings will take place the next day. I will post the following week’s goal on my blog as well. (I originally stated that I will post my word count before 11 p.m., which is before the ending time.)
Have a good 4th of July! If you can do it, try writing a little today to keep those juices flowing. Maybe you won’t be able to write the minimum 815 words today, but a page or two might not be too bad. Actually, I can’t wait to get back to my writing! I want to know what happens in the next chapter! lol, Linda
P.S. The book shown here is one in which I started using years ago, in fact, as you can see, it doesn't cost much now to purchase it. But it's a good instructional book on writing for beginners.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Writing Marathon
Next week, though, we must put in a minimum 5,705 words plus 2,445 to total 8,150 words by next Saturday.
More sparks to light your flame!
Pausing to reflect in the midst of my busy day, I thought of several key ideas in which to spring forth leads toward a story. Whether short or long, the main theme should be your primary focus in developing your novel.
1. Communication. Whether watching TV, reading a newspaper or magazine article, or passing along tidbits of the grapevine from your neighbors, we hear stories every day for enjoyment or to keep up with current events.
2. Our own drama. Bring up the past, the present or the future to garnish those happy/sad times and alter your own history into a renewed hope of the future or a twisted bleak misery of a life. The choice is yours! Sometimes our current problems in our own lives may add up to reveal a delicious ending or a crippled result, whichever your story may prefer to finish.
3. Write down your ideas. Don’t hesitate to write down those ideas that pop up fresh and inviting into your mind, no matter how ridiculous they may seem at the moment. You can work out the details later when you start writing. Some writers leave a notepad and a liquid writing pen (they flow easily at any time) on their nightstand, and wake up in the middle of the night to write down their dreams.
4. Outlines. Some writers prefer to draw out their story in a simple, numbered outline to assure themselves of a balanced body and clearer aim for their novel’s target.
5. Write fast. Still others like to get their one idea down fast and hard, including simple words into their story’s main focus, and expounding upon the frame with more sweet verbs and adjectives and nouns, interspersed with dialogue to flow the story along.
6. Quiet, please! Next is getting a very, shhhh time for thinking. No children clinging to your legs, no spouse whining for dinner. All is quiet in the household as you are all alone. Don’t let this alone time slip by; take advantage of it. Now sit up straight, breathe heavily in an out several times, and watch the stress flow out of your body. Lovely, isn’t it? After all this, now think up an idea or a problem or circumstance that has hit you between the eyes and you can’t see for anything ahead of you except this one problem. Let go with the words. Don’t stop to fix anything, just let those fingers fly over the keys and your soul weep out the truth.
1. Communication. Whether watching TV, reading a newspaper or magazine article, or passing along tidbits of the grapevine from your neighbors, we hear stories every day for enjoyment or to keep up with current events.
2. Our own drama. Bring up the past, the present or the future to garnish those happy/sad times and alter your own history into a renewed hope of the future or a twisted bleak misery of a life. The choice is yours! Sometimes our current problems in our own lives may add up to reveal a delicious ending or a crippled result, whichever your story may prefer to finish.
3. Write down your ideas. Don’t hesitate to write down those ideas that pop up fresh and inviting into your mind, no matter how ridiculous they may seem at the moment. You can work out the details later when you start writing. Some writers leave a notepad and a liquid writing pen (they flow easily at any time) on their nightstand, and wake up in the middle of the night to write down their dreams.
4. Outlines. Some writers prefer to draw out their story in a simple, numbered outline to assure themselves of a balanced body and clearer aim for their novel’s target.
5. Write fast. Still others like to get their one idea down fast and hard, including simple words into their story’s main focus, and expounding upon the frame with more sweet verbs and adjectives and nouns, interspersed with dialogue to flow the story along.
6. Quiet, please! Next is getting a very, shhhh time for thinking. No children clinging to your legs, no spouse whining for dinner. All is quiet in the household as you are all alone. Don’t let this alone time slip by; take advantage of it. Now sit up straight, breathe heavily in an out several times, and watch the stress flow out of your body. Lovely, isn’t it? After all this, now think up an idea or a problem or circumstance that has hit you between the eyes and you can’t see for anything ahead of you except this one problem. Let go with the words. Don’t stop to fix anything, just let those fingers fly over the keys and your soul weep out the truth.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Sparks to Light Your Fire!
If you need help getting started with a new story, try my webpage, “Writing Prompts.” There are a few writing prompts of my own listed there, but you may also access the web for more ideas. Just a couple to name:
• Creative Writing Prompts http://www.creativewritingprompts.com/
• Creative Writing Solutions http://www.creative-writing-solutions.com/creative-writing-prompts.html
One of the creative writing books I studied in the past suggested playing a game called, “What If.” It is a game one can play most any time of the day, depending on circumstances that arise. You’re driving your car and someone pulls out with their car onto the same street, almost hitting them. If you had been looking down, fiddling with the radio or your CD player, looking up into your rear view mirror or watching a person jogging down the sidewalk, you might have hit the car. With the “What If” game, you visualize what might have happened. Playing the “What If” game is easy, but writing your ideas down soon after you think of them is just as important!
• The newspapers or magazines are full of stories that you can alter and use to your advantage.
• Write a quick description of something. Now play the “What If” game, what if this should happen to the item, or that.
• Don’t try for something too bizarre that has never been done before! Readers like to relate to the stories they read, but if they can’t find a niche or a little scratch of something similar with it, they may bypass your novel and bring back their old favorites. Yes, it’s true there are many popular sci-fi reads out there, but first plant the idea in your head so it rings of a sensible tone before attempting it in front of the populace.
If you have any other ideas on ways to prompt your writing adventure, please feel free to promote them here! - Linda
• Creative Writing Prompts http://www.creativewritingprompts.com/
• Creative Writing Solutions http://www.creative-writing-solutions.com/creative-writing-prompts.html
One of the creative writing books I studied in the past suggested playing a game called, “What If.” It is a game one can play most any time of the day, depending on circumstances that arise. You’re driving your car and someone pulls out with their car onto the same street, almost hitting them. If you had been looking down, fiddling with the radio or your CD player, looking up into your rear view mirror or watching a person jogging down the sidewalk, you might have hit the car. With the “What If” game, you visualize what might have happened. Playing the “What If” game is easy, but writing your ideas down soon after you think of them is just as important!
• Write a quick description of something. Now play the “What If” game, what if this should happen to the item, or that.
• Don’t try for something too bizarre that has never been done before! Readers like to relate to the stories they read, but if they can’t find a niche or a little scratch of something similar with it, they may bypass your novel and bring back their old favorites. Yes, it’s true there are many popular sci-fi reads out there, but first plant the idea in your head so it rings of a sensible tone before attempting it in front of the populace.
If you have any other ideas on ways to prompt your writing adventure, please feel free to promote them here! - Linda
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