This post is just a miscellany of things I’m thinking about. I’ll have an interesting tutorial for you tomorrow!
Backwards is out for now
Well, I tried the backwards outlining and, it’s just not for me. I think perhaps I’m too familiar with the story and the way it progresses to work my way backwards. For both of the outlines I’m working on, I’m building outlines from established plans. Connie J. Jasperson mentions writing the last chapter first in her latest post and I think that will be something I try as well. While I’ve been able to discover a lot about my characters (which changes the sequence of events) the fundamental story stays the same and while the backwards outline will be something I try in December (for the second book), as we near November, as they say in the granola factory, it’s crunch time.
Windows v. Mac
I’ll be spending the next two days working on The Forest Book and making sure the second to last pass on the Snowflake outline is finished. From there I’ll build a scene outline, the roadmap I’ll use during Nanowrimo. I’m keeping all those little details and bits of dialog that pop up in my head in a Notes file in Scrivener, my go to writing software. I’ve been using the Windows beta version, but I’m thinking of getting a second-hand Mac Book and may purchase that version as well. I want to use Vellum too. I don’t know if there are issues with opening the same file in the Windows and Mac versions, I’ll have to look into it. I just can’t justify the full price of a Mac Book, not for two pieces of software.
So much screen time
I work from home and while that gives me more opportunities to write more throughout the day, I’m spending way too much time sitting at my desk. I’ve started incorporating short walks now that the weather is cooler, but eye strain and headaches are becoming a regular thing. I think it’s time for new glasses. I have friends who swear by blue-blocking lenses, but I use F.lux and wonder if that would be overkill. Either way I’m trying to find ways to minimize the aches and pains associated with this much computer work. There’s a lot of information online, but sorting through it takes up too much time right now.
Clickety-click
What I’m thinking about now is a new keyboard. I’ve seen YouTubers swear by the mechanical keyboard (Kate Cavanaugh has a beautiful one), but I wonder if there is something to be said for putting more work into typing and stamina. I’ve found laptop keyboards to be comfortable, if not a but small, but the feel of the “shallow” keys is more comfortable to me. I’ll have to do some research, but if you are passionate about your keyboard, please recommend it in the comments.
I think that’s all I’ve got for today. I mostly wanted to check back about my experiences with the backwards outline. I will definitely try it again when I have more space for experimentation. But right now, it’s full steam until Nov. 1st.
Battle skills
Oops, I started a battle but ended the blog post. I have a cat scratching at the door but I don’t want to get up to let him in because that will take time away from fighting this Frizi. The Frizi is a cutie pie, but must be defeated. I need that dust! Come over to 4thewords.com and be my buddy (or not, it’s ok) and join the battle during Nanowrimo.
