Wednesday 6 March 2013

IWSG March TWO THINGS

 As always, thank you to Alex J Cavanaugh for inventing this monthly airing of our insecurities! You will find the list of those taking part on his blog.

I've been feeling more torn than insecure, to be honest. It's the blog, don'tcha know? I've made so many good writerly-and-other-type friends through blogging, but I'm finding it hard to keep it going. Anyone who has read my various whinges over the past year or two may remember that TIME is my enemy (I know I'm not the only one!) I try to be diligent about reading blogs and commenting as well as maintaining my own (poorly tbh) but it's all time I could be spending WRITING.

I've come to a decision: I will blog once month unless I've got something urgent to share or have a guest. I know this is no way to be carrying on, but it's going to take a load off my shoulders!

PLEASE COME AND FIND ME ON FACEBOOK IF YOU'RE ON THERE! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1504275251

And secondly...

I'm terrified! I've started the novel and I'm determined to see it through. My mind is spinning with getting voices right, keeping the pace, keeping thread of what I want to happen and when... GAH! I'm using the Scrivener free trial at the moment and I think I like it - especially the ability to drag scenes around and re-order them - but I'd love to hear how you keep track of your plot. Scrivener has a cork-board facility, but I'm feeling that for me a big sheet of paper with actual sticky-notes would be better - I'm very touchy-feely! Please share your method with me.

And don't forget to come and 'Friend' me of Facebook if you're a user.

That's all Folks!

Looking forward to hopping around and seeing who's feeling insecure today and why!

11 comments:

Annalisa Crawford said...

I'd much prefer you to blog once a month than not at all!! You have to use time the way that fits you, and everyone is different in that respect.

As for the novel - yay!! I love having real paper, spread out on the floor, to organise my scenes and plot etc. I've never used Scrivener, but I know a lot of people really like it - it's just again learning what suits you. And you can guarantee it'll be different from most other people :-)

Luanne G. Smith said...

Without the writing you're just a blogger, so...yeah, go write.

And I have no advice on plotting. I'm a complete pantser. I do have a strong ability for seeing connections and tying things together, though. My only saving grace as a novelist. :)

Elizabeth Seckman said...

I agree with Annalisa, a little is better than none at all. I cured my blog/writing dilemma by setting a time amount to each. I read and visit however many I can the time I have. (If I have two hours to write that's one hour on the blog; one on the manny) So far it's working all right, though I always wish I had more time!

Shewmaker said...

If you are interested in interacting with other Scrivener users, there is a public community for Scrivener Users on Google+. We have over 190 members.

Advice is quite generous in this community.

Since this is a public community you can read the community page before you decide whether or not you want to participate or not.

https://plus.google.com/communities/109597039874015233580

Cherie Colyer said...

I think we could all use more time. And you do need to have time to write. I don't have any tips for plotting either. I've tried post-it notes, large sheets of paper, several sheets of paper that I can shuffle around, but I've found that just diving in and writing the scenes I know helps me to fill in what I've yet to learn.

Rena said...

Yeah, I totally have that problem too. I find that blogging takes up a bunch of time, but I really like it. But the writing has to take precedence. I mean that's why you joined the blogosphere, right? I've seen people come and go, so I'd much rather you blogged once a month than go forever.

Patsy said...

I write a plot outline as I go. It's just the chapter numbers and a couple of lines for each giving the main events. It helps.

Vikki T said...

I know what you mean about Blogging Linda, I'll be cutting my posts too soon :(

I went to a Scrivener demonstration last night and I'm going to download it. At the moment I use a notebook, but it's not ideal lol

Xx

Unknown said...

Linda, I can so relate. Maria at Delight Directed Living

Chemist Ken said...

I haven't use Scrivener much. I tend to carry my story around on a memory stick so that I can work on it anytime I find myself next to a computer. So it has to stay in Word format for compatibility's sake. I keep track of my plot using outlines on Word (also on the memory stick) and on sticky notes at home on my desk. Sometimes it's all a bit too much to comprehend, but I've never been an organized person.

Murees Dupè said...

Hey, I just awarded you the Liebster Award on my blog.