Don’t the days and weeks fly past faster than ever?

At first I thought it was a phenomenon affecting only myself, however this affliction seems more widespread than I imagined. Talking to friends and family across the UK and in Europe, the bemused complaint is ‘where did that week go?’ So I feel about the last three weeks since starting my novel and this blog.

Time has shortened more than ever as I experience a life of duality. It’s as if I’m travelling on a science fiction roller coaster of time travel, warping in and out of worlds. During a few minutes of washing dishes my mind travels decades into the past, creating new lives, experiences for my characters. With a shudder I bring myself back to reality – and if I’ve got any sense dash to my notebook to write down my new ideas.

After one morning’s particularly creative output I suddenly remembered an errand in town. Going straight from my computer I found myself sitting in my car. There I stopped. It felt so weird and wrong. Consciously I had to put the key in the ignition and reverse slowly out of the driveway and carefully navigate to the main road. Something that normally is as natural to me as breathing. The car drive to town was even stranger since there were just too many cars on the roads. In my story cars are few and far between. Once I had exchanged words with the cashier in the first shop was I released from my ‘dream-like’ state and landed with a thud back on Planet Co-op with a basketful of vegetables!

Darn the wheel of the world! Why must it continually turn over? Where is the reverse gear?

By Jack London

What is it about sunlight skittering across the frosty grass that has me racing for my wellies?

Only half-awake and with dawn just  peeping over the horizon, I approach the curtains with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. Will the promised ‘cold snap’ materialise? Or will the weather reporters in all their enthusiasm yet again disappoint? For once not.

A soft white mist envelops the landscape as if a giant icy puff rests all around us. Peering further I spy mystical mirage of white spiky trees, gentle tumbles of frost on fir trees, thin layer of snow covering the road and pavement. A single track of tyres the only mark of activity so far.

Two hours later the sun has warmed the air ever so slightly and I don my boots and head out.

Without moving house I’ve been transported to a village transformed. With relish my eyes feast on the crisp white bushes, with relish I smash my feet through the icy puddles. Without my son by my side to excuse my childish behaviour I take a sheepish glance around. No one in sight and I safely reach for a hefty stick; its damp bark making green blotches along my new gloves. Never mind. With a quick toss I whirl the stick in an arc onto the glacial surface of the lake. Like the sunlight at the break of day, it too skitters along. Frightening a lone duck in its path before coming to a solitary stop. The kid inside me cheers ‘hooray’ and eggs me on to try again. I reign in childish self – for now.

Oh yes, the writing. There is a link, albeit a tenuous one. As part of my story is set during two winters when temperatures dip below -40ºC I felt I should take full advantage of a frosty morn to immerse myself in such dire conditions. I know, -2ºC on a sunny morning is hardly the same. Still…Also, there is nothing like sun, snow and splashes to recharge my fatigued soul after a weekend of birthday parties.

Go ahead, if a frosty morn wakes you, greet it full on. Release the big kid that resides in all of us. Enjoy.

“For happiness, how little suffices for happiness!…the least thing precisely,

the gentlest thing, the lightest thing, a lizards rustling, a breath,

a wisk, an eye glance – little maketh up the best happiness.

Be still.”

By Friedrich Nietzsche

Paper, paper, everywhere!

Early on into this project my ever burgeoning pile of paper filled me with trepidation. Admist those scribblings, there on a scrap of paper on the floor might rest a gem of an idea, a gem that could so easily be accidentally discarded.

Soon I started to type up these ideas as well as the first draft writings onto a pages document, which as the word count increased became harder to navigate. (A quick note for non-apple users: pages is a word-processing programme similar to word.) Quickly I realised the limitations of pages. I ended up with either one long document or I separated the scenes/chapters into different documents. I was now faced with the cumbersome task of opening each document on its own  in its own window. Not ideal.

Furthermore, at no stage could I view the entire document in its entirety without creating yet another document and having to copy and paste from all my other documents. It was time to say thanks and bye to pages for this project. Having served me so well on short stories and normal documents it was just not up to the task.  Surely there must be another option?

To the rescue came Scrivener. A programme created  by a writer, Keith Blount, as he was increasingly frustrated with the limitations of available word-processing programmes for writers.

After watching the ten minute tutorial I felt confident enough to give it a go and have now started using the programme on a 30-day free trial.

My experience so far has been very positive and I’m sure I have only scratched the surface to all of Scrivener’s capabilities.

I started by opening a new project and giving it a name.  On the top left there is a binder and within this all the documents, research papers, etc are kept. By opening a document in draft I was free to add some new writing. The document has full word-processing capabilities such as fonts, colours, set up and the all important word count. I opened a new document for each scene/chapter I had written and then rearranged them in an order that suited me.

As I had written some documents already I transferred these over, although Scrivener for some reason would not accept the pages documents so I had to save them as word first. With each individual document added, I now sorted their order.

One great feature is the possibility  to view all the various documents as one large document with the mere click of a button, giving me the opportunity to read the whole draft seamlessly. Perfect.

Another huge selling point for Scrivener is the cork board. The writer  writes on ‘index cards’ a synopsis of each scene/chapter and when the cork board icon is pressed, they become visible as if posted on a cork board and they too can be arranged to order.

I immediately created another folder, which I labelled  ‘Ideas’, in my binder and after picking up the bits of papers with ideas from my desk and floor, I opened the index carda and on a separate one wrote a synopsis of a scene/chapter. These I then rearranged.

Currently I have ten scenes/chapters fully written and over 25 ideas synopsis others on the cork board, clearly visible and a permanent reminder to me of the way to go.

Furthermore on each document to the bottom right is a document notes section which  I have found useful to add new ideas/changes/additions for the future when rewriting without necessitating a major rewrite yet.

It is possible to split the screen and for instance after taking a snapshot of a document, the writer can have that document visible whilst rewriting it on a new version of the same document.  The split screen is also beneficial as it is possible to view a piece of research whilst writing the document.

This leads me onto the research folder. In here I have placed documents and photos etc which I might need for my writing.

As I have said, I’m finding Scrivener a great help and in a while I’ll let you know if I sign up and pay the $45 fee. At the moment, I feel it is well worth the price.

Once the manuscript is ready for compilation, Scrivener enables the user to compile the book in various formats such as rich text, microsoft word documents, web pages, ebooks or kindle ebook. When I get there, I’ll let you know how easy or difficult it is to use.

The only disadvantage I can see is Scrivener’s inability to link with other devices, such as iPad, through iCloud. This is down to the programme’s multi-layered facility. However it is possible to sync the cork board index cards; although this looked rather time-consuming and not worth the effort. For now, I do not see this as a huge drawback as any documents I write whilst away from the iMac on my iPad can be written on iCloud document and then easily transferred when back at the computer.

So, from paper clutter and pages mania to the calm binder magic of Scrivener.

However, my trusty notebook is never far from my side.

 

It has to start feeling strongly as if it’s happening and I am not pushing it.

Then I write and rewrite.

Alice Munuro

 

Word count of first draft on 16th January 2015: 7,970

Why does no one ever mention the difficulties of setting up a blog?

Everyone makes it seem so easy; one click and hey presto, you’re set to type.

Is there a national conspiracy of silence?

Has everyone signed the Official Secret’s Act, regarding the problems encountered?

Not I. Here is the truth – finally. Creating a blog is tough. Real tough. Hair-pulling out tough. Scrub the bath to within an inch of its life tough. Time to nick your child’s Tangfangtastics tough. Then chew like mad as you click, click, click away.

After a few (read many) fraught hours this novice blogger admitted defeat and meekly approached my teenage son and asked for help. After all the homework had been completed of course. And after lunch. A hungry teenager is no help to anyone.

Following swift fee negotiations with the new ‘IT Consultant’ I happily handed over responsibilities. I scribbled down my requirements, my general feeling on theme and colour scheme and skedaddled away from my son and the computer. From all computers, tablets, phones and got down to some nitty-gritty manual labour in the garden. Not for long I hasten to add as the sun had lulled me into a false sense of security and for a crazy minute I forgot it was winter. Brrr…

Here it is: The new modern design with the all important working ‘comment’ widget (what a great word). Please feel free to comment away. I look forward to hearing from you. Now back to sanity and writing.

Just in case you thought my son got away too easily; don’t worry. I did ensure a years IT help was included in the deal. I’ll be sure to keep him busy as I make good use of his expertise in the future!

You are never given a wish

without also being given the

power to make it true.

You may have to work for it, however.

From ‘Illusions. The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah’ by Richard Bach

Current First Draft Word Count:  5,150  on 12th Janaury 2015