Sometimes all it takes is a new laptop & writing software
Up at 6am + trip to Apple Store + quick bite for dinner + baby asleep before 9pm = Happy Mother
Well, at least one that got a late afternoon (all right, really an early evening) nap in and is raring to go at midnight. Too bad the baby will be up before sunrise. Again. But I'm not here to complain about the rigors of motherhood. At least today. I do that enough every other day of the week.
Today, I'm gonna talk about writing and technology. Once a long, long (long) time ago I took a pen to paper to write. In fact, boxes that have moved more than a dozen times sit in my basement proving my point. I wrote long-hand about all of my story ides, my plots, my dialogue. God awful poetry. And anything else that came to mind. These notebooks and journals were gold--the prized possessions of my naive teenage life. One might even argue that they still are--I mean, I've moved them how many times? But today, when I am writing my novels, I'm all computer. Hell, I don't think I can have a cohesive thought, let alone think of an entire sentence, with out the keypad under my fingers.
And so, I am sharing my latest little fun--I'm getting a new laptop. Sure, it's not new, new (that was husband's well deserved present today and trip to the store-that-makes-me-swoon). But it is new to me. It's my husband's old Macbook! My trusty iBook G4 that I am typing on now has done me well-- a few novels here and there, too many blog posts to count, short stories, essays... it's been a good little buddy. One I'm still keeping around for my coffee shop runs. Because I can't beat my battery life on this one. Nor the nostalgia that notoriously follows one of my prized possessions.
But it is time to upgrade. I'm dying for a bit more screen space. Especially for more extra-special new software toy: Scrivener by Literature and Latte. I'm in love with the cork board feature. And that I can write in WHATEVER FONT I WANT! Seriously, writing a manuscript in Times New Roman or Courier hurts my eyes. This little beauty of a software program lets me use Comic Sans if I want (I don't. I'm a bit partial to the default font they chose Optima). And when I'm done, I just compile the manuscript in DOC format and go. Sure it has Full Screen Do Not Bother Me With E-mail and Internet Messages mode and outlining galore--again FABULOUS features--but I'm in it for the virtual cork board. It isn't like I can dedicate a wall in my bedroom for my plots. Though it's a thought...
Which brings me to my real point... new technology tools always brings on a spurt of writing. And in this case it is expanding the writing I was already doing. In fact, I can't get the new laptop up and running fast enough. Which also means, right now, at midnight(ish) I am writing. And writing some more. And in a flurry of creativity that has me laughing at my own jokes (in the story of course), fine tuning some dialogue, and for once in a long, long time, feeling almost confident in this book and writing.
Sure, I wouldn't write if I didn't love it (that is what every writer says). But some days, you wonder if you have the juice to make it. Today, thanks to the thrill of new technology, I believe I do.
This post brought to you by Two Writing Teachers and their Slice of Life Story Challenge. Most posts here are a slice 'o life, but I wanted to give these ladies some props. And likely will give a few more through the month of March. Hey, they are teachers (love 'em!), writers, and women. I like to help all three. Go on... join up. It should be fun!
Well, at least one that got a late afternoon (all right, really an early evening) nap in and is raring to go at midnight. Too bad the baby will be up before sunrise. Again. But I'm not here to complain about the rigors of motherhood. At least today. I do that enough every other day of the week.
Today, I'm gonna talk about writing and technology. Once a long, long (long) time ago I took a pen to paper to write. In fact, boxes that have moved more than a dozen times sit in my basement proving my point. I wrote long-hand about all of my story ides, my plots, my dialogue. God awful poetry. And anything else that came to mind. These notebooks and journals were gold--the prized possessions of my naive teenage life. One might even argue that they still are--I mean, I've moved them how many times? But today, when I am writing my novels, I'm all computer. Hell, I don't think I can have a cohesive thought, let alone think of an entire sentence, with out the keypad under my fingers.
And so, I am sharing my latest little fun--I'm getting a new laptop. Sure, it's not new, new (that was husband's well deserved present today and trip to the store-that-makes-me-swoon). But it is new to me. It's my husband's old Macbook! My trusty iBook G4 that I am typing on now has done me well-- a few novels here and there, too many blog posts to count, short stories, essays... it's been a good little buddy. One I'm still keeping around for my coffee shop runs. Because I can't beat my battery life on this one. Nor the nostalgia that notoriously follows one of my prized possessions.
But it is time to upgrade. I'm dying for a bit more screen space. Especially for more extra-special new software toy: Scrivener by Literature and Latte. I'm in love with the cork board feature. And that I can write in WHATEVER FONT I WANT! Seriously, writing a manuscript in Times New Roman or Courier hurts my eyes. This little beauty of a software program lets me use Comic Sans if I want (I don't. I'm a bit partial to the default font they chose Optima). And when I'm done, I just compile the manuscript in DOC format and go. Sure it has Full Screen Do Not Bother Me With E-mail and Internet Messages mode and outlining galore--again FABULOUS features--but I'm in it for the virtual cork board. It isn't like I can dedicate a wall in my bedroom for my plots. Though it's a thought...
Which brings me to my real point... new technology tools always brings on a spurt of writing. And in this case it is expanding the writing I was already doing. In fact, I can't get the new laptop up and running fast enough. Which also means, right now, at midnight(ish) I am writing. And writing some more. And in a flurry of creativity that has me laughing at my own jokes (in the story of course), fine tuning some dialogue, and for once in a long, long time, feeling almost confident in this book and writing.
Sure, I wouldn't write if I didn't love it (that is what every writer says). But some days, you wonder if you have the juice to make it. Today, thanks to the thrill of new technology, I believe I do.
This post brought to you by Two Writing Teachers and their Slice of Life Story Challenge. Most posts here are a slice 'o life, but I wanted to give these ladies some props. And likely will give a few more through the month of March. Hey, they are teachers (love 'em!), writers, and women. I like to help all three. Go on... join up. It should be fun!
Labels: me, slice of life story challenge
