Day: November 30, 2016

The Organized Writer Pt 5

I’ve finally settled on an organization system for 2017.

I’m going to use a combination of Bullet Journal and Google Calendar.

Is my BuJo going to be as elaborate as some I’ve seen on Pinterest or Facebook? No. I don’t have that kind of time to spend even tho’ I love color and images.

My Google Calendar is up and running. I’ve been taking a class on organization with Sarah Wendell (Smart Bitches) and have found several great tricks for making Google Calendar work for me.

Can’t wait to get rid of my bulky Day Runner.

 

Snarky Sunday: Saying Good Morning

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My Day Job is in the corporate world. I have co-workers and colleagues (unlike my writing job, where I have Facebook & Twitter).

Not many of those co-workers/colleagues say good morning, unless prompted.

I don’t get it.

I think starting the work day out on a cheerful note tries to set the tone for the work day.

attitude

So GOOD MORNING!

Pen or Pencil? Plotter or Pantser?

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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?

Goal Check/Goal Set

Time to check my goals for 2015.

Writing:

  • Finish 3rd werewolf book–done, under contract, 1st round of revisions completed.
  • Search for home for Baseball Books–sold one to Loose Id, have a second one ready to go.
  • Novella for anthology with my critique partners–done; final polish done
  • 2 writing retreats–done
  • Critique at least 1x per month–yes
  • Finish & submit proposal for another sports romance: no.
  • maintain and refine my writing space–mantained
  • 30 minutes actual book time 5 days a week–I would say my average for this was 75%

And here are my hopes for 2016:

  • Omega Moon Rising publication
  • submit a second baseball book
  • progress on the critique group anthology
  • 2 writing retreats
  • critique at least 1x per month
  • finish 1st draft of “other” sports romance
  • Maintain and refine my writing space
  • Writing Weekend get-aways whenever I can
  • “Standby” novella for publisher anthology opportunities.

Hope you have a safe, happy, healthy New Year!

Motifs

When I was first learning how to build a website, I read a book on graphic design that said repeating certain motifs would make the site look sharper. The same advice also applies to business cards, newsletters, tri-folds, bookmarks, and other promotional material using graphics.

I started noticing I also used repetitive motifs when getting dressed in the morning–crystal earrings, crystals on my shirt, crystals on my sandals, or mimicking the pattern in my sweater with the shape of my earrings and brooches. This makes me look more pulled together.

While it’s easy for me see motifs in a visual design or a wardrobe, inserting a motif into my writing is a little more difficult. I find myself wanting to explain the symbolism instead of letting it flow into the reader’s subconscious.

In the book I just sold, daybreak plays an important role. I use the colors of sunrise as well as the “starting over” or “new beginning” aspect to further the romance. So now you know what to look for!