Pen or Pencil? Plotter or Pantser?

Today is National Pencil Day, which got me to thinking about how my preferences in writing implements have changed over the years.

When I first joined RWA, I ordered something called The Prescription for Plotting by Carolyn Greene. (Unfortunately, I can’t find a working link to share here.) It was a 3-ring binder with lots of pre-printed forms, a mechanical pencil, and a Clic eraser. That’s when I came to truly appreciate a good mechanical pencil and learned that I will never ever ever again be without a Clic eraser.

Being an organic kind of writer (some people call us pantsers), I never did fill out all of the forms, although I did give it my best shot. The beauty of using a pencil was the ability to erase something that wasn’t working. Making notes in pencil makes plot point more fluid than writing in ink.

Pencils are for pantsers.

Two of my critique partners are organized writers (some people call them plotters). They fill out index cards by the thousands.  Color coded. In ink. And the process works very well for them.

Pens are for plotters.

When I wrote in long-hand, I used a fountain pen. Then I switched to an Alphasmart. To a laptop computer. But sometimes, when I want to fill out those charts to try to get a handle on a plot point, a character, or just to “think on paper,” I use a pencil.

Do you prefer a pen or a pencil? Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice

The new DC Comics “superhero” movie, Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice premieres on March 25. Ben Affleck is the newest incarnation of Bruce Wayne (Batman) and British actor Henry Cavill returns as Superman (Clark Kent).

Initially, I was upset that a British actor was cast to play the most American of all heroes–“truth, justice, the American way” and all that–until I realized that Superman isn’t American. His Clark Kent disguise is American, but Superman (Kal-El) is an immigrant. He may be the ultimate immigrant.

And Henry Cavill is very very easy to look at.

A couple of items of note:

Superman is not really a superhero. He’s an alien living among us, doing good.

Batman is not at all a superhero. He’s a (well-motivated) sicko with gadgets.

Purse Project: Gayle Callen

Hello, and thanks for having me stop by, MJ! My purse is a utilitarian bag for me—as evidenced by its basic look. It only has to function well and hold up for a few years. I don’t change my purse, even for the seasons (although I will use a cute little cocktail party purse as necessary). But 95% of the time, this is it!

GaylePurse

Notice the lovely pocket on the right side for my phone—there’s actually one on each side of the purse, which I love! Gotta be able to reach the phone quickly, right?

In the many zipper pockets (a necessity), I put things like lip gloss (at least two kinds!), paper, pens, tissues, gum, and reading glasses.

GayleMisc

Inside the main body of my purse, you can find my wallet, a nice long one. It has to fit I.D., money, credit cards, those endless store reward cards, and some photos (although that’s just by habit, since now I have a phone for those!). Let’s not forget the library card, of course!

GayleWallet

I also carry a small makeup bag, but instead of make-up, it has things like a little plastic container for ibuprofen, band-aids, cough drops, and hand lotion. I’m a mom—people always expect me to have everything, even though my kids are grown.

GayleMedical

I’m an author, too, so I carry autographed-copy stickers in case I spot my books in the wild. Instead of business cards, I started carrying postcards years ago, with the covers on the front (I write historical romance as Gayle Callen and contemporary romance as Emma Cane) and on the back, a brief book blurb along with my website addresses. Then people can see exactly what I write and have a way to contact me.

GaylePostcards

Last but not least, is this little handy device. Can you guess what it is? It’s a purse hanger! You know, when you go to a restaurant, and you don’t want to set your purse on the floor, because…just because. Very handy.

GaylePurseHolder

So thanks for taking a peek into my life!

Gayle’s latest release, The Groom Wore Plaid, is available at Amazon.

TheGroomWorePlaidExcerpt

 

Maggie McCallum’s dreams about her new fiancé aren’t the romantic sort. After being bartered to Owen Duff like a piece of property, she’s also haunted by premonitions of his death on their upcoming wedding day. Yet the exasperating Highlander won’t let her call it off, even though his life and clan are both in jeopardy.

Owen has wanted Maggie in his bed since he first glimpsed her years ago. If their union restores peace between neighbors, so much the better. But Owen is falling deeply in love with the one woman he cannot hope to claim…and survive.

Follow Gayle on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/GayleCallen