Last fall I did something I’d been actively avoiding for a long time. I went to a writers’ conference. My arguments against it seemed valid, even felt valid. Why spend that much money? I can’t spend the time doing that. I have other things to do. I don’t want to travel. What can a bunchContinue reading “A writer’s conference?”
Category Archives: Tools
No busywork!
In my college days, I had roommates. Occasionally I learned something from them. I definitely learned that you can look very, very busy without actually doing anything…. I’ve also had my share of substitute teachers. Most of them seemed to operate under the theory of “just keep ‘em busy”. I’ve never met anyone that likeContinue reading “No busywork!”
Want to understand your language? Learn another one…
As a writer, I spend a lot of time thinking about language. It’s something writers do. One thing that’s helping me think about language right now is thinking in a different language. People in high school or college language courses say, “I really didn’t learn English until I tried to learn (insert foreign language).” InContinue reading “Want to understand your language? Learn another one…”
Self-isolating before it was cool…
Over on Words Mean Stuff today I’m talking a bit about how to keep the days from blurring together while we’re under ‘lock downs’, ‘stay at home orders’, and other schedule killing effects of the Covid -19 crisis. As writers, we have a leg up on this. If we writers want to be successful, weContinue reading “Self-isolating before it was cool…”
Controlling the uncontrollable
“One of my characters and I have spent years trying to tell thunderstorms when and where to thunderstorm,” with that thought I realized a big piece of why it irritates me when people try to dictate (or even interfere with) when and where I write. I’ve spent years trying to control this, channel it, andContinue reading “Controlling the uncontrollable”
A modelers tool for writing projects
As a kid I made plastic models. At first, before I knew better, I threw away the leftover bits and pieces. That was before I learned to keep a parts box… One of the best lessons of my years making plastic tanks, jets, and other models was that serious modelers keep a parts box, aContinue reading “A modelers tool for writing projects”
Scrivener… after NANO thoughts (part two)
Last week {link} I started my after NANOWRIMO review of my experience with Scrivener. This week we’ll pick things up where we left off and start with the things I really appreciated about Scrivener during the first draft process. Chapter titles and finding stuff (organizational help) Last week I mentioned that the way Scrivener handlesContinue reading “Scrivener… after NANO thoughts (part two)”
Scrivener… after NANO thoughts (part one)
Last time I talked about Scrivener I said I would get back to it after NANOWRIMO. So, that’s where we’re going today dear reader. Actually, we’ll be talking about Scrivener this week and next week, there’s enough to say just based on my first draft experience. This still won’t be an entire, comprehensive review ofContinue reading “Scrivener… after NANO thoughts (part one)”
Scrivener… Almost first thoughts
Early this year I rehabbed a laptop. I wanted a word processing program on it and didn’t want to pay for another MS Office license. So, I bought Scrivener, and then used my other laptop and desktop instead of the one I just fixed. Then, I learned a few things about Scrivener, and I keptContinue reading “Scrivener… Almost first thoughts”
The 1 ½ pass pass rides again!
Well dear reader, this week I started on a dangerous task. I’m applying new techniques to old work. Recently I submitted my novel Unintended Consequences to a larger publisher. Part of my pitch was that Johnson Farm, my first novel, would be pulled, re-tuned, and updated. The idea is the entire double series will comeContinue reading “The 1 ½ pass pass rides again!”
Forever Mountain Publishing 