Some Cool Sites & Apps to Help You Write

So a long time ago, I wrote about the wonderful power of Scrivener [post] Just as Scrivener pretty much saved my bacon, there are some other websites and apps that are amazing and uber helpful in certain situations.

Rainy Mood: [click me!]

I don't know about you, but I love the sound of rain. It is soothing, exhilarating and somehow manages to bring my creative juices bubbling to the surface as it beats out a tattoo on the roof and pavement outside. Many of my more intense moments of deep thought have occurred on a rainy day. From studying to research to writing, having the sounds of rain and thunder in the backdrop somehow helps to propel everything forward. If you love the sounds of a summer storm and need some white noise in the background that isn't going to distract you from the task at hand, open a tab and surf on over to Rainy Mood.

Ommwriter: [click me too!]

Sometimes, you've got a thought sitting there on the tip of your brain. It's a shy thought that is easily startled my loud music and too many facebook and twitter tabs. Even your usual writing program is too cluttered and messy to allow you to coax out this timid thought. Sometimes you hate distraction and need a pure digital environment to clear the air. Whatever it may be, if you need a program that is simple, uncluttered, free of adds and temptations, and has some soothing sounds already plugged in as a part of the package, Ommwriter is the way to go. I've used it a few times, and there's something sublimely pure about writing when you're working in the program. The fear of a blank page is gone, thanks to the pretty, ethereal backgrounds. The focus is on the words you type and such a thing frees you to work in near stream of consciousness without the judgement of the overhanging toolbars. I still remain a Scrivener lover at heart, mainly because my projects are so vast and the ability to have all of my notes in one giant project file is a godsend, but when I do need the simplicity of UI, Ommwriter is my tool.

I hope these two nuggets of awesome help you with your writing quests!

Hugs & Cookies,
Quinn

When Someone Else's Dreams Eclipse Your Own

It's been a while since I've written, mostly because I'm helping my father self-publish for the first time. [I'm by no means anywhere near an expert at it, but there it is.] He's been published in magazines and has co-written numerous books in the past, but this is his first stab at publishing his own work and it's rather overwhelming for the both of us.

Him for the entire world of self publishing that has opened up to him. Me because I've only ever self-published once and have never gone the print route. So it's been a series of starts and stops, editing, image correcting, formatting and headaches all around. 

So the past few months have been stressful and I haven't had the time or means to work on my own projects without feeling guilty that I'm not working on his. 

But I'm taking today and what I can of this week to scratch the writing itch that has been bugging me for a long while. Going from writing 3,000 - 4,000 words a day to zip for months has kinda left me bereft. 

I'm almost finished with Chapter 5 of The Welkinbane, my steampunk novel, with another 13 on the docket. I want to re-visit Thistledown and streamline it for re-publication. Thinking of going the POD [Print On Demand] route for it as well. Plus, I've got Thistletorn sitting on my hard drive half-done, twiddling it's thumbs while I try to get my act together on the plot of the trilogy.

The silver lining of helping my father on his project is that I'm learning a lot about self-publishing, POD, and E-Publishers. Not to mention the Daddy Kudos Points I've been racking up.

I know that I can't ignore his project, but I can't ignore mine either...so finding a balance is going to be a challenge so that we can both reach our dreams. Alternating weeks seems like a good way around the problem and I'm planning on giving it a shot.

Having your dreams eclipsed by someone else's isn't a basket of funfetti and banana cupcakes, but it does feel good, at the end of the day, to help someone else out with theirs.

The Welkinbane: On A Roll

Hey All!

So I haven't yet finished chapter 5 of the Welkinbane, but I have been doing the perspective paragraphs for each character for the rest of the book...Yeah I'm nuts.

I started working on the perspectives for chapter 6, seeing that chapter 5 is almost over. Then I started on chapter 7...then 8....then I just kept going, added two new chapters and wound up doing perspectives up to chapter 15 with three more to go.

I'm really happy with how things are working out in the story, especially considering I've had to really get creative to puzzle out a few plot points as my bare bones outlines weren't great. So even though chapter 5 isn't complete, I'm looking at 10 more chapters already fully ready for me to write. Plus 3 more I have to work on perspectives for.

At any rate, I've been very productive this past week despite not having a finished chapter to show for it.

It is on my list to do and I'm debating on working on the perspectives for the last three chapters, or giving myself a break and finishing chapter 5.

As it stands, either would do me good, so it'll mainly just be a toss up. I'll be sure to let you know how things progress!

Love & Cookies,
Quinn

Writing Chapter 5 & Laying Out The Rest of The Book

Happy Monday!

So it's Monday and I'd mentioned in my last post that I would start my new regiment today....I ended up starting it Saturday, lol. I've already written over 4k words and am currently trying to finish the rest of the chapter today, if possible. The tracking log I've created is seriously helping me out as I can actually get a visual on my progress. It'll also make me feel uber guilty when I don't write for a day as there will be blank spaces.

With Chapter 5 soon coming to a close, I realize that I haven't really laid out Chapter 6 or any of the upcoming chapters. Oh, I have basic bullet points and whatnot, but I haven't done the point of view paragraphs that really break up and flesh out each chapter.

And what with so many changes to the series and this story in particular, I'm going to need to really get the layouts right. So I'm going to be spending some time printing out each chapter's perspective paragraphs and then figuring out what needs to go where in upcoming chapters. Kind of like a mini arts and crafts project to help me get my ducks in a row. Good thing I've got some blank wall space I can fill up!

I swear, one day I want to have some writing studio space with either a giant chalk board, dry erase/magnet board, or pinboard on one whole wall....or some mix of all three. I can't imagine how authors like George R.R. Martin keep things straight otherwise. I guess I'm weird and need tactile visuals to reference in helping to keep things straight.

Well, I'm off to write more, wish me luck and I'll post when I've completed Chapter 5!

Love & Cookies,
Quinn

A New Year, A Fresh Start

Hello All!

It's been a month and a half since I've moved and it's been interesting. I literally took a month off of everything to sleep and re-charge after not sleeping and being overworked for a couple of years. Then the itch hit...I'm Irish and German - essentially bred to work - so not having a job [though self imposed for the time being] is beginning to drive me up the walls.

So I'm taking it upon myself to stop being so sporadic about writing and blogging about the books I'm reading and make it systematic. Make those two things my job.

That being said, I did try to compete in NaNoWriMo....not very well, mind, but I did try. I was moving at the time so most of my free time was taken up by packing and such.

Good news, is that Chapter 4 of The Welkinbane is complete! Huzzah! [I've posted it on Wattpad for your reading pleasure - please comment and vote! I would love to hear your feedback!]

And I'm halfway done with Chapter 5! Huzzah!

And I'm realizing I'm having to add a bunch of stuff I wasn't anticipating and, consequently, more chapters! Hu....zzah...?

Yeah, my crazy manic brain strikes again! I've already added two chapters to the 14 that were before...more probably on the horizon. I am insane. Sometimes I feel like this book will never be finished. But I'm having a ton of fun writing it so it's okay.

In my attempt to become more regimented in my writing, I've gone ahead and begun a log in which I track my progress. I've had to create such things and manage them in my last work position, so I have plenty of practice. This will make it easier to see how I've been doing on a  daily and monthly basis as well as act as inspiration - since I can visibly see how things are progressing.

I'm planning on initiating this plan of attack the beginning of next week. The Holidays will be over, I'll have time on my hands, a kitty to keep me company and I now have a desk and chair to work from.

Oh yes! The Mythical Man Beast and I have adopted a kitten. His name is Ra'koun and he is so named because he sounds like a chittering raccoon when he purrs.

Well, until Monday, I will say Adieu. I'll be sure to let you all know how things are faring with writing and how I'm surviving the single digit New England cold that next week will bring. Oh fun. Have a wonderful weekend!

Love & Cookies, 

Quinn