A Hobbyist Writer

A few years ago, I became convinced that if I could only find the right software for writing, I would be able to write my novel and so I went merrily off on another detour, namely a quest to find the perfect writing tool. (Yes, instead of writing.) I tried out several on free trials and even bought one that I thought would do before I discovered *drum roll* Scrivener.

The search was over.

At that time it was only for Macs but now runs on PCs as well. There are so many things I like about it and it has gotten even better over the years. For one thing, it has a handy name generator for those moments when you are whizzing along and a new character suddenly jumps into the scene and things grind to a halt because you can't think of a name. It is those little touches that make Scrivener so good.

Scrivener allows the author to jump around from scene to scene and then reorder them as necessary. It has a research pane where pictures and notes and background material can be stashed and easily accessed. There are several different templates, too, so that I use it for writing articles and blog posts for work and well as my attempts at fiction.

Although it is possible to jump right in with Scrivener, I'd suggest watching some of the tutorial videos about it that are available on Literature and Latte's website or on YouTube. Two ebooks have recently been published about using Scrivener. Take Control of Scrivener 2 by Kirk McElhearn and Writing a Novel with Scrivener by David Hewson. 

Don't take my word for it, check it out for yourselves. A very generous free trial is available.

www.literatureandlatte.com/

The digitalized funeral program collection just won a state award for the library system! They called me today. Yay! They want me to come to a ceremony at the state archives. I hope that will convince everyone of the value of continuing to develop our own resources.

My next idea is for an early 20th century theater exhibit. I'd like other institutions to contribute and help develop it so that it is an example of cross institution co-operation..

I read a book recently where a character was hung up on One Tragic Event that ruled his life. The scarred Viet Nam vet, the woman who had a child die, the cop who lost a partner seems to be a staple in story characters. There motivation after that is ruled by that one event. Sometimes they crawl in a bottle, sometimes they withdraw from life, sometimes they limp along through life. They are emotional cripples.

I'm not making fun of that concept because I think there are a lot of people who have a tragic event that dominates their lives, be it a death of divorce or accident. Or am I wrong about that? Do people heal from it? How do they do that? In books, it is often that they save another child or a new partner, isn't it? How do people get stuck on one event in their lives while other people do not? I've been reading some series in which in every single book the main character gets tortured or hurt, emotionally and/or physically and it has become a problem to read it because I start thinking if all that had happened to me, I'd be afraid to get out of bed at the very least or in a mental institution.

But back to the One Tragic Event. Is there another way to deal with this other than the redemptive event?

In my dream last night, I was on a large brand new space station that had been designed as a luxurious city in space. It was getting progressively colder w/frost, there didn't seem to be anyone in charge and I was attempting to convince people who had just moved in that something was very wrong and they should board a spaceship with me and leave. No, I didn't have very many takers. I finally just made an announcement that I was leaving in 15 minutes and if you were on board by then, good, otherwise good luck.

I think it was a cross between the last Dr. Who I saw and Atlantis.

Today's project was to put a bird feeder and a hummingbird feeder up in the yard. Done! Where are the birds?

Update: There are no birds because Little Dog is on the job of keeping vermin out of the yard. How do I convince him that birds aren't vermin?

A sweet banana pepper plant joined the garden denizens yesterday. Two plants aren't doing very well due to me and the dog playing with the water. He likes to bite the water when it jets out and I'm afraid I wasn't as careful as I should be about where I was pointing the powerful stream. It's hilarious when he attacks the water though. So fierce! And wet dog...is there any other smell quite like it?

In my continuing quest to find a robot to do the house cleaning for me, I've acquired an electric sweeper that promises to make my broom and dustpan obsolete. So far it really works, especially on the dog hair. I'm thinking of a steam cleaner for hardwood/tile floors next. The big question is will I actually *continue* to use any of these things?

I've realized something about myself. If I feel I need to get organized, I buy a new computer program, if I feel I need to clean more and am overwhelmed by the job, I buy a new cleaning product. It is more fun that actually doing it.

It's been a busy week. The director finally saw fit to tell the staff when the old library will close and it was only 5 days after he'd issued a press release about it. One of my daughters was in a car accident (she is okay, sore, and her car was totaled) and I've been to the dentist twice. Once because I chipped a tooth and sliced off the back of another (don't try biting candy in two with your front teeth), once because it was check up time.

Other than that, I replanted the parsley and marjoram. I think that I will try a different type of tomato this year, put it in a big self-watering container and buy one of those tomato fence things. It is time to Get Serious about tomatoes.

And a word about the young hygienist... apparently I have reached the age where they start saying things like "Wow! Your teeth are in really good shape for your age." Meaning "I'm surprised you still have them."

I listened to a podcast with Merlin Mann today

http://macpowerusers.com/2010/03/mpu-023-workflows-with-merlin-mann/

and at one point he nailed me - absolutely nailed me! He started talking about people who feel like if they could just get the right organizational tools or the ones they have set up perfectly, then they would be able to write. They just never get to that point. And that's me. I keep thinking I need more or better organizational tools and I really enjoy learning how to set them up and use them but they just never organize me enough so that I can write. And the advice that everyone gives is to just write. Don't worry about the right place to start, just start wherever and leap around if you need to.

I read The Gigolog Murder by Mehmet Murat Somer, which is a mystery with a beautiful drag queen in Istanbul as the sleuth. She is also a computer specialist and skilled inTai kickboxing. This is a very light and funny read and I hope the author keeps writing. It is a wonderful glimpse at a world I know nothing about.

http://www.amazon.com/Gigolo-Murder-Mehmet-Murat-Somer/dp/0143116290

Just a bit of a warning for those who switch to a front loading washer.

I'm revisiting the "soap for sensitive skin" issue because as it turned out, bath soap wasn't my real problem. It all stemmed from getting a new front loading washing machine. I think I was using too much soap while running the short cycle which wasn't completely rinsing the suds out. Plus I started adding a liquid fabric softener with a dyer softener sheet too. Even tho I was using 7th Generation (but the fabric softener sheet was Downy) something in there, or a combination, gave me problems.

Right now I'm trying to figure out what I can use. I rewashed all my underwear on the long cycle, warm water, minimal soap and they seem fine. I think I will buy HE soap for sensitive skin for the washer. If anyone has any recommendations for that, I'd appreciate it.

I'm busy knocking down the amounts I have to spend for the new library and was congratulating myself on nearly spending all of the audiobook money when I was suddenly given another $5,000! Gah! It is kind of like a bad dream. You get to the end (you think) and then more magically appear in the never ending cycle.

I finished the Percy Jackson YA series and it was great fun. I highly recommend them. Not as literary as J. K. Rowlings series but good solid YA anyway. I don't know the nationality of Rick Riordan but it strikes me that the differences between the two series is the difference between British and American expectations of YA books, perhaps. On the one hand the British expect the children to read thick books with complex sentences and ideas and on the other, American publishers seem to expect YA books to be short and simple. Those are generalities with plenty of exceptions, of course.

I also read A Touch of Dead by Charlaine Harris. I do like her heroine Sookie Stackhouse, especially in one of the short stories, One Word Answer.

Hello, there, DW peeps! :)

I've got a little better journal style/colors now so that it is easier to read. I'm fluffing the nest. And now I can't think of anything to say!