So many stories…so little time

I’m not sure if other writers have this problem but this past week, I’ve had some issues with figuring out which story to write.

It reminds me of how you throw more than one ball to a dog, and it doesn’t catch any of them. Yeah, kind of like that.

Organizing is helping, but I’m a typical Libra who waffles between decisions trying to find the best choices. Should I go with the short story, the non-fiction, or should I finish the stuff I already started?

I suppose I should let the Creative Muse decide for me; this way, I’ll be bursting with words. Or one would hope. She often abandons me without warning.

So far I organize with the following tips;

- I setup each novel with its own folder. All notes, character biographies, and plot outlines get stuffed in there.

- Any file I want to work on, I add the ! (exclamation point) in front of the word. For instance, !ThisBook. Why? Because it puts this at the top of the alphabetized list.

- I don’t always write from the beginning. When I have issues where I’m not entirely sure where the story beings, I just start writing. Eventually, the plot will reveal where the story starts and where it will end.

What are your tips? Post in comments.

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Writing beyond your comfort zone

Comfort zones are comfy. They wrap us into familiarity and safety. However, you may find as a writer, you need to explore outside that comfort zone, to delve into the darker side of our selves, or even explore the unknown.

Try these;

- Write in another genre. Jumping into a new genre of writing strengthens the writing muscle, but also allows you to explore the unknown. You learn about new styles, but also new writing rules. For instance, science fiction follows different rules and expectations than romance or fantasy.

- Write a character that is nothing like you. Pick qualities that you feel are opposite or even conflicting to your own qualities. You can learn about motivation and write outside that comfort zone. Trying to make a character the protagonist give you a challenge as well.

- Don’t skip the parts you normally skip. I tend to avoid the gruesome scenes, or fight scenes. To write outside my comfort zone, I would expand my repertoire to include these less-than-likeable scenes.

- Push your limits. Write scenes that make you scared, angry, or uneasy. This will translate to your readers. Its about provoking feelings, to get the reader emotionally invested in the story.

See where these type of exercises can lead you, and don’t stay within your comfort zone. Be daring! Get out there and write some awesomeness!

Technorati Tags: comfort zone,writing,fictions,character,tips

Top 10 things you should know about word processors

Here are some of the most important things you need to know about word processors, as a writer;

1. Backup. MS Word and Open Office (and I’m sure other programs) offer a setting to back up your work. I highly recommend turning this feature ‘on’. You can set for certain times, such as every 5 minutes. This enables writers to automatically backup while they work.

Backup in MS Word (recent versions). You may need to look up your specific version of MS Word

How to create backup copy in Open office

2. Automatic saves. I know the word processors also provide the feature of automatically creating saves in timely increment. I think the default setting for MS Word is 10 minutes, but as a fast typer, I can lose quite a lot in 10 minutes. I changed it to every 5 minutes. This saves your work automatically while you work.

Autosave in MS Word

Autosave in Open office

3. Templates. Word processors offer tons of templates from the manufacturers but often times you can find users upload these to share on the Web. I’m including some links to writer-related templates; (Check your program version)

Book Manuscript and short story templates for MS Word.

Book manuscript template for Open Office

4. Find and replace feature. The find/replace feature works in nearly all word processing. You can find and replace just one event, or find all words and change as you desire. I’ve also used this feature, to find spacing or even symbols in the manuscript.

- Click Ctrl+F which will open a box to type in the word you wish to find.

Find and replace in MS Word

Find and replace in Open Office

5. Hotkeys or Keyboard shortcuts. I use these a lot when I type because it takes time to reach for the mouse to click and drag things. With hotkeys, you find the same commands do the same thing, and your hands stay on the keyboard. You can save, print, cut/copy/paste, highlight, insert auto text, change formatting, and so much more.

Hotkeys for MS Word

Hotkeys for Open office

6. You can change default settings for font and file format. Some writers find their word processor has the Ariel font as their default. Its better to change this to Times New Roman or Courier. Even Georgia and Bookman works pretty well. And why? Its to help make reading easier for the reader (or editor/agent).

The font size should also be 12 point.

How to change default font in MS Word

How to change font in Open Office

You should also think about the default save format of your document. Most settings for writers include RTF (rich text format) or DOC (MS Word), or TXT (text). Avoid using the default DOCX format.

Change other formatting settings in MS Word

7. Header and Footers. These are essential when formatting for submission. Each page should  include your last name, title, and page number. I find for my writer’s group, we also ask for email address so feedback can be sent to the author.

Headers in MS Word

Headers in Open office

8. Macros. Macros are programmable actions the program will do by assigned keys. For instance, in my journal document in MS Word, I was sick of adding the date, day of the week, and ‘goals’. I created a Macro which adds all of this with the simple Ctrl+PageUP key combo. Very handy.

Macros in MS Word, Macro for Windows XP

Macros for books

Macros in Open Office

9. Dictionary and Thesaurus. Did you know MS Word and Open Office include a built in dictionary and thesaurus? You can even edit words to include character names, settings, or odd words you’ve made up for your story. The thesaurus also helps the writer to find words that mean the same, if you’re at a loss for the right word.

How to remove a word in MS Word dictionary

Custom dictionaries for MS Word

How to use MS Thesaurus

Open office dictionaries- information about Openoffice dictionaries, how to install new ones, add thesaurus and more.

10. Spellcheck and grammar checking. I must preface this feature with a warning that programs are STUPID, they only do what they are programmed to do, and cannot use words in context. That being said, these features should not be the final method used in checking your writing.  The grammar also includes settings for formal and informal styles. For instance, you can choose the program to check for words like contractions (you’re vs you are). In some styles of writing, this is important.

Check spelling and grammar in Office

Top 10 tips for mastering MS Word’s spell check feature

Choose how spell check and grammar check work in MS Word

Spellcheck for Open office

I don’t think Open office has a grammar checker but you can find some online

Technorati Tags: ms word,openoffice,word processor,writing,manuscript,formatting,publishing,authors,tips,spellcheck,autosave,find and replace

Tips for Nom de Plume

Some authors choose a different name other than their own to publish books. Stephen King is also Richard Bachman. Ben Franklin originally wrote articles under the name Silence Dogood, but also Richard Saunders. Charles Dickens wrote under the single name of Boz.

Why bother with a writer’s pen name?

One reason is to change genres. Your reputation as a horror writer can be shadowed by a new name for writing something like fantasy or thriller.

Explore writing from a personae. Ben Franklin wrote under his many pen names with different styles as well as opinions. Silence Dogood wrote from the point of view of a widowed, when at the time, Ben Franklin was a teenage boy.

Your given name might not be easy to remember, spell, or doesn’t sit well with your novel. My last name is Poffinberger- lengthy, difficult to spell correctly (given that we have a Poffenberger road in our local area), and it just doesn’t roll of the tongue. If I select another name, something memorable or one that sparks curiosity in a reader, a pen name offers marketing for an author. The name itself becomes a marketing ‘brand’.

How to find your Nom de Plume? Here are some tips;

Family names. Go through your family history to find names. You can pick and choose the first and last at random, or honor ancestors in a subtle way.

History, local or world. From places to people, you can find tons of ideas by going through history. You can change letters around (as people in the past often misspelled names due to illiteracy).

Change letters or pronouncement of your current name. Stephan Colbert of the Colbert Report(pronounced col-bert, changed it to the French version to col-bare). 

Change the culture spelling or adding something to the name. The last name of Henry can become O’Henry, (which was the nom de plume of William Sydney Porter). You can add or drop syllables, such as McClaren becomes Claren. My maiden name of Ward originally was ‘werd’ meaning marsh.

What are your thoughts or experiences? Will you use your own name, pen name, or consider future incarnations of writer names for other books? Post in comments.

nom de plume,pen name,writer,authors,publish,marketing,tips

And lo, the word of the writing gods have spoken..

Found this over the weekend and thought I’d share. I find many authors have their own commandments, but these pretty much sum up the ones I agree with;

Source: johndufresne.com via Sharon on Pinterest

 

Technorati Tags: writing,tips,commandments,rules,author,novel,fiction

Writer’s Tip for blocks

I happened upon this tip from io9.com that offers the idea of stopping mid-scene. This means you’re not riding the tide of creativity until completion, but deliberately leaving it hanging with the idea that you’ll dive right back in the next day.

I’m not sure if I can even do that. There’s something addictive to writing as much as I can while the muse fairy is with me. When words just flow, I want to stay until I’m tapped out.

My concern would be ‘what if I stop, and that nice flow simply isn’t there the next day?’. Would this tip mean you get in a better habit of writing, or perhaps it naturally sparks the muse in a more natural way? I’m too afraid to try.

So what are your thoughts? Do you think you’d try it? Post in comments.

Technorati Tags: muse,writing,authors,stories,scene,writer’s block,tips