Duh Moment

Ever have one of those moments where something should have been obvious to you and yet wasn't? I took a writing class on how to quickly write a manuscript. One thing it requires is for you to do an outline. I'm game to learn new ways to do things, and the teacher suggested using 3x5 cards so you can move scenes around as you wish later on. I thought I was upping the stakes by using 3x5 sticky notes instead of traditional cards, and I've been handwriting them as evidenced by some pictures I've been posting here and on Facebook.

Just so you know, I HATE writing things by hand. I'm much faster at typing plus I have tendonitis and arthritis issues in my right hand. The tendonitis is from too much mouse use (and writing things by hand). The arthritis isn't much of an issue because I don't usually write things by hand.

So this has been a grueling exercise.

As I've agonized over these dang sticky notes, it occurred to me that Word has a label file that would allow me to type each card (quickly) and then print a set of three onto my sticky notes (you have to be smarter than the average bear to know how to print onto the notes themselves).

So how come I didn't remember that until tonight? We're already into day 2 of NaNo, and I'm still working on my dang outline. I probably could have been done with the outline part if I'd typed my cards from the beginning--to say nothing of how much easier it will be to read my notes.

Notice the SIX new cards in the picture on the bottom right--the six NEAT new cards. *sigh*

I should never call anyone a moron again. With me it's too much a case of the pot calling the kettle black.

My Outline

Up to this point, with a 96,000 word manuscript (completed but for editing) and 1/3-1/2 done manuscript of 50,000 I've always been a winger as a writer. This is actually unusual for me, since I'm normally a list maker and very organized. How else can I run an election for a population of 92,000 people or do public speaking? But for some strange reason I've had a hard time doing an outline for writing.

I decided for my NaNoWriMo project that I would try and discipline myself and do an outline. Each of the cards above represent what I hope will be a chapter. Not too shabby! We'll see how it works when I can actually start typing from my notes.

When I finish this project, I will then evaluate the experience and find out if winging it or outlining works best for me.

In My Mailbox

I cannot keep from buying books anymore. I don't know what it is. I used to use my library all the time, but I can't seem to not order books. My collection continues to grow.

My latest Amazon delivery actually included three different media. The first was a newly released first book from one of my favorite authors (I have MANY), Patricia Briggs. I'm a really big fan of her Mercy Thompson and the Alpha & Omega series.









On an editorial comment, I don't like the covers for the Mercy books. My daughter Erin told me about them and said they were very good. They dress Mercy like a skanky ho, which she absolutely is not. She's a mechanic and dresses in jeans and t-shirts. Personally I question the wisdom of putting misleading covers on books. People who are looking for nickle nasties may be drawn to such a cover but will be disappointed when the character doesn't act like the cover implies. If you're like me and avoid the nickle nasties, you will avoid books with covers like that. I think it's stupid.

/endrant

Back to my delivery. Briggs's first book was called Masques. From her bio, it didn't sell well and she nearly quite writing. She's rereleased this first book and a sequel to it will be coming out on Tuesday.

I'm going to need to hurry and get it read, since Tuesday is also the release of the next to the last book in the Wheel of Time series, Towers of Midnight. Can't WAIT for Tuesday!











In my mail also came the DVD of The Scarlet Pimpernel with Anthony Andrews, Jane Seymour, and Ian McKellan. Love this version!

I also received a new Wii Game called Just Dance. Haven't had a chance to play it yet (for exercise, I hope) because I'm furiously trying to write up my outline for my NaNoWriMo project. I should be doing that rather than updating my blog. =D

Halloween

Here's Kelsey, Paul, and Adam (after we tried curls on him):














After this picture, they went shopping and got Adam a pair of matching pants. Then they did his makeup. We all went to Pirate Island, and the waitress asked if they played with a band. Well, of course Paul said they did--which was kind of the truth, since they play Rock Band together, and Paul and Adam write music. They just haven't had any gigs yet.

Adam dyed his hair black last night and also purchased curlers, so he and Paul could compete. Here's Adam taking the curlers out this morning. When we got back from church three hours later, his curls are still SERIOUSLY curly.

Shirley Temple Paul

ROFL - Kelsey sent me this picture of Paul. She said he'd slept in curlers last night. It must be for a Halloween costume.

Witch Palooza

What a crazy week it's been this week. Monday I went right from work to that writing/publishing seminar. Tuesday I took minutes at a VERY long city council meeting (from 4 to 11:30 p.m.--and of course I couldn't fall asleep until 1 a.m. and still had to be at work at 8 a.m.).

But last night I went to Gardner Village with my daughter-in-law Kelsey (Paul's wife), her mom, sister, and grandmother. They got tickets for the dinner theater there called Witch Palooza. Erin and I had talked several years about possibly going but never made it. It was SO fun! They paid extra to get premier seats, and we were dead center up front. It was great. Thanks, Kelsey for inviting me! Maybe Erin will be visiting for Halloween some time ...

Interesting Seminar on Publishing

I attended a very interesting "class" or seminar last night at the local university as part of their continuing education program. The instructor, Bobbie Christensen, takes a very different approach to getting yourself published in one of her books "Writing, Publishing & Marketing Your 1st Book (or 7th)". She's got 13 books in publication right now and is supporting herself on her income from sales.

Something I found particularly interesting was her disdain for agents. I was surprised about this because I've read so much online about agents being how it's done now. When I attended UVU's Book Academy the end of September I was glad to hear that most of the the local publishing companies prefer not to work through an agent.

The instructor said she (not an agent) submitted her first book to a bazillion (obvious exaggeration here) publishing companies. Surprising to her, the publisher who chose her book was one that had said they would only work through agents.