Tag: #Writing

Obscure Writing Tools #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

 

September 2, 2024

What is your most obscure and favorite work supply for writing?

I will admit, this one had me scratching my head.

The tools I use are commonplace. The basics. Pen, paper, computer. Everyday stuff. Nothing exciting there. Even opening a clean notebook isn’t thrilling to most folks.

I could talk about the landscape that inspires and supports me., the hills and back roads of Pennsylvania. I spotted a bear running across the road going to town a few days ago, and have deer wander through my yard occasionally. (Much to the detriment of whatever flowers are in bloom.) But none of those count as tools.

So, I got to thinking harder. I took a walk outside to check my hummingbird feeder and the answer hit me. I use a tool called LibreOffice for my word processing (like Microsoft Office.) It’s free and has many of the same capabilities as the Microsoft product. 

Its development was a combination of the efforts of thousands of people. The list on their web page is amazing and too long to even screen shot and post here. Historically, it branched off a previous program called OpenOffice, which was the effort of even more people. (For those who love computer stuff, it’s open source software.)

As a side note, LibreOffice is more than word processing. It has additional components that mimic the entire Microsoft Office suite. I’ve mentioned it on this blog before, so it might not be as obscure as it used to be.

I’m excited to find out what obscure tools the other authors are using. You can too, by following the links below.

And, as always, please stay safe until the next time.

 

September 2, 2024

What is your most obscure and favorite work supply for writing?

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Pushing Publish Too Soon #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

Aug 19, 2024

Have you ever regretted ‘hitting publish’ on a work realizing you could have done more or tweak something to make it an absolute banger?

It was never an issue in the Dark Ages when I wrote poetry. Back then, publishing meant sending typewritten copies on higher-quality paper by snail mail to magazines or other paper publications. If I was lucky, they’d send the copies back along with the all-too-often rejection slip in the enclosed self-addressed stamped envelope. The advent of home computers and printers made life so much easier.

I’m always excited to get new work out to my readers.

Now, getting it out ‘too soon’ is another question. With my books, they get seen by so many eyes that I’m confident in releasing them. Sure, there are always tweaks that can be made, but once a book has made it all the way through the process, I like to leave it alone. It’s like setting a butterfly free. You wish it love as it flutters away.

I made small changes to The Marquesa’s Necklace after publishing it. A reviewer mentioned a word that was overused. They were right, and the changes were easy. It didn’t change the story at all. That’s the only time I’ve changed the contents of a book after release. (Covers don’t count.)

My blog is different. I normally write it a day before releasing it. I hit the publish button for this hop just before going to bed on Sunday evenings. Then, as I drift off to sleep, I’m thinking of all the minor changes I should have made or things I could have said. If I remember them in the morning, I can easily add them. (If I remember!)

Social Media posts are different playing field.

I often regret my infrequent comments on social media. Not because of the content, but due to the frequent typos I make, that I don’t spot until after I’ve pushed the arrow. Thank heavens for the ability to edit them. But it bothers me knowing other people have seen the errors.

I work hard to keep my actual posts on social media typo-free. I wait longer and triple-check my work before I publish them. If all else fails, I’m able to delete them and start over.

How about the other authors on this hop? Do they ever regret pushing the publish button? Find out by checking out the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

Aug 19, 2024

Have you ever regretted ‘hitting publish’ on a work realizing you could have done more or tweak something to make it an absolute banger?

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What Makes Me Different? #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

Aug 12, 2024

Tell us the quirkiest thing about you.

What makes me stand out?

I don’t think of myself as average, despite joking regularly about how generic my looks are. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been approached and asked “Do I know you?” or “Aren’t you so-and-so’s daughter/cousin/friend?” Once I was asked by a random man if I was his ex-wife! I should have kept a scoreboard, because I don’t know how often it happened.

But that’s not quirky on my part. Nor is the fact that I didn’t touch my first computer until I was almost 40, yet I retired as a systems administrator. How about the fact that I’ve lived on both coasts? Interesting but not quirky. (It goes deeper than that. I grew up in Pennsylvania, moved to Wyoming, then to Oregon, next to Florida, back to Wyoming and ending up here in Pennsylvania.)

How about the fact that I’m an author and have published eleven books? Now we’re getting somewhere. Still, there are plenty of other writers. So, we still haven’t hit the target.

But that leads to the fact that I have a ‘trademark’ when I go to books signing events.

It’s a hat I bought years ago in a tourist shop in Estes Park, Colorado. I’ve forgotten to take my hat once, and I felt weird signing books with a bare head. People have started recognizing me by the hat.

But the quirkiest thing about me? Purple steps. I decided the perfect color for the front step of our house is purple. Now, I tell local people when they wonder where I live to look for the house with purple steps. I need to repaint them soon, but that will wait until the grandkids are back in school.

Of course, I didn’t choose the color without consulting Priscilla first. Priscilla is the name of the front half of the house. Harold is the back half. Priscilla was build in the early 1900s, and Harold was built in the 70s. Oh, and the name of the house goddess – the whole house – is Penelope. The land it sits on is Henry. Somedays, it feels as if they are siblings who get along most of the time but have occasional arguments.

So, I’ve developed a few quirks along the way.  How about the other authors on this hop? Find out by checking out the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

Aug 12, 2024

Tell us the quirkiest thing about you…

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What Does Your Pet Think? #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

July 15, 2024

Kelly Williams’ dog wants to know: “Why does she spend so much time at the computer and not scratching my ears?’ What does your pet want to know? (If you don’t have a pet, feel free to make up an answer.)

I’ve always been ‘pet adjacent.’

Of all the pets we’ve had over the years, none of them have been ‘mine.’ The dogs, the cats, the birds, the fish – none of them were mine. Even if I was the one responsible for most of their care, somehow they were more attached to other family members. (Except the fish. They lived in a small pond in the yard and didn’t really care who fed them. I can only guess what they thought.)

We currently have two cats in the house. Both are my daughter’s. They ignore me most of the time, and rarely even beg for food. (They will ask my husband!) I have no clue what they think of me. So, this is strictly a figment of my imagination.

We’ll call the cats Calico (Cal) and Tuxedo (Tux). They are rarely in the same room at the same time, so this conversation takes place over long periods as they wander from one place to another.

Cal: (As they change places on the cat tree) She’s still at it.

Tux: (Stretching) Staring at those light boxes?

Cal: Yeah. Does she ever get out of her chair?

Tux: (Later) Well, she played lifeguard when the noisy little humans were taking a bath outside (playing in the pool) and scaring off the birds you like to watch.

Cal: At least she’s good for something besides cleaning up our poop.

Tux: (Curling up on the bed) She feeds everyone else.

Cal: (Later) They ate. Time to go hunt for crumbs. And chase a fly. ‘Cause she’s staring at those light boxes again.

Tux: (Licking her paws) She’ll never even notice.

That’s how I imagine it.

The cats can deal with me as long as I stay out of their way. And I can put up with them, so it’s a fair trade.

I’m looking forward to hearing from other authors’ pets. Just check the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

July 15, 2024

Kelly Williams’ dog wants to know: “Why does she spend so much time at the computer and not scratching my ears?’ What does your pet want to know? (If you don’t have a pet, feel free to make up an answer.)

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

 

Support From The Ones I Love #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

July 8, 2024

What kind of support do you receive (or not receive) from family, friends, and your community?

None of my books have made it into a top 100 list on release day.

No matter how long I stare at it, I can’t get the bar on the sales chart to go higher on a book release day. It makes me wonder who among my large family hasn’t bothered to buy a copy. But support comes in many ways.

But I’ve been lucky. Many of you already know that my sister (one of four) is my cover artist. She also helps me with other graphic needs. Of course, she gets a free copy of the print book. I’ll also give her credit and thanks for helping me hunt for new venues to sell my books. My dear hubby puts up with me ignoring him when I’m deep in writing mode and encourages me to keep at it.

Before I retired, the team I worked with liked to tease me about my books-but in a ‘fun’ way. A few of them even bought physical copies. Of course, those sales don’t show up on sales chart.

Since moving, I’ve had to rebuild a local community. I haven’t been able to locate a local writers’ group, (The nearest one is 30 miles away on 2-lane curvy roads, which I don’t want to drive after dark. In the snow. Uphill both ways.) I have met other authors at events, but none of them have ‘clicked’ as far as a continuing relationship. So, I’m leaning heavily on the connections I make on-line.

But there’s an upside.

I’ve sold my books at several local events and have a new (if small) fan base. I found out one of my brothers buys print copies of my books even if he doesn’t read them. My boss (I’m working a part-time job) gives me all the days off I need to attend events. 

Then there’s this group. It helps to keep me focused, and hearing how everyone else deals with the writing life is encouragement in my journey. Even with oceans between us, we’re in this together.

So, I have lots of support. 

It may not be pushing me to the top of the charts, but it helps me to keep trying.

How about the other authors on this hop? Do they have a support system? Find out by following the links below.

And, as always, please stay safe until next time.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

July 8, 2024

What kind of support do you receive (or not receive) from family, friends, and your community?

.

Favorite Word Processing Software #IWSG

  By IWSG
 
 
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
 
The awesome co-hosts for the  July 3 posting of the IWSG are JS Pailly, Rebecca Douglass, Pat Garcia, Louise-Fundy Blue, and Natalie Aguirre!

July 3 question – What are your favorite writing processing (e.g. Word, Scrivener, yWriter, Dabble), writing apps, software, and tools? Why do you recommend them? And which one is your all time favorite that you cannot live without and use daily or at least whenever you write?

 
The first word processing software I used was Novell’s WordPerfect. (Does anyone use it anymore?) That was back in the late 80s/early 90s, when Microsoft programs didn’t rule the world. It was an easy move to Microsoft Word and the rest of the Office Suite when I switched jobs. With all the changes since then, Microsoft has turned Word into more than a simple letter-writing tool.
 
But they also changed the payment model. Unless you purchase a stripped down-version, you pay to use it either monthly or yearly. 
 
No, thank you. That’s why I use LibreOffice, free software that emulates all the basic functionality of Word. Yes, enough of the commands are different to beat copyright claims, but it’s easy to learn.
 

I have another choice for editing.

 
While LibreOffice is great for a first draft, it doesn’t have all the editing functionality as Word. I have another favorite for that. I’ve tried Hemingway, Grammarly, and several others. The one I settled on was ProWritingAid. The free version was useful, but the full version made a big difference. And I received a lifetime subscription as a Christmas present.
 
One caveat: I’ve noticed more errors getting through ProWritingAid in my current editing. I don’t know if I’ve messed up a setting somewhere or what, but I need to check into it.
 
So, that’s what I use. I’ve used both in the writing of this post. I’m making bets on what the most popular answers will be. Check out a few of the other answers by following the links below.
 
As always, until next time, please stay safe.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Celebrating A Writing Achievement #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book


July 1, 2024

Do you have a special way of celebrating when you finish writing a book?

Or other achievements in your journey? How do you reward yourself?

The day when you write ‘The End.’ Or send your manuscript off to your editor. Have your first look at the cover. Hold a print copy of the book for the first time. All of those are achievements are worth celebrating. How do you do it?

I’ve heard of authors going out to dinner, or enjoying their choice of an alcoholic beverage. Perhaps a bouquet of fresh flowers graces their desk. Some will take a vacation from writing to allow their muse to have a break.

But I’m not good at rewarding myself. I put so much energy into taking care of other people that I don’t leave enough for me. Yes, I know better, but don’t always practice what I preach.

How do I reward myself?

Sometimes I remember I deserve to celebrate, too. My reward? Dark chocolate. Not your standard, every day chocolate, but the pricey stuff. (Not the over-the-top, break-the-bank expensive variety. I have my limits.) A few pieces go a long way. I’m low-maintenance.

The other way I reward myself is with flowers. Not cut ones, but potted ones for outside. (I only plant a few shrubs because I have to protect them from the local deer.) I allow myself to splurge in the spring. The flowers may only last a season, but they bring me happiness every day for those few months. There’s no landscaping plan. I just buy whatever flowers catch my eye when we go shopping.

Now, these rewards aren’t tied to a specific event. I don’t keep a stash of chocolate handy waiting for am opportunity to celebrate an achievement. My willpower isn’t strong enough to keep me from raiding any chocolate I have tucked away. (Unless I bought it for a specific holiday. Then my ability to ignore the goodies is amazing.)

But back to celebrating my writing achievements.

A simple post on Facebook may be the only public acknowledgement I share. And that won’t be seen by more than a handful of people. I’m not good at all the publicity stuff.

How about the other authors on this hop? Do they reward themselves for their accomplishments, no matter how small? Find out by following the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

July 1, 2024

Do you have a special way of celebrating when you finish writing a book? Or other achievements in your journey? How do you reward yourself?

The Good, Bad, And Ugly of Ghost Writers #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

June 10, 2024

Ghostwriters. Let’s talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Her name is Priscilla.

She hangs out in the spare bedroom at the top of the stairs on the second floor. Other times she’s off somewhere, gossiping with the house goddess, Penelope. When she settles in come evening time, the rays of the setting sun caused create a glow around her silver-white hair, styled in a loose bun. She helped me pick out the new color for the front stairs, a deep purple. She also picked out some of the artwork I hung on the walls.

So far, she hasn’t revealed when she moved into this 100-year-old house, or any of the stories she has to tell. But I’m not in a hurry. I figure we have a decade or more to spend together. I can wait.

Oh, not that kind of ghost writer. Sorry, Priscilla, making you the star of a post will have to wait. Have another cup of tea. Peach, this time?

Now on to ghostwriters of the living kind. Let’s start with the bad (and ugly.) 

I hate picking up a book by a favorite author to discover that the writing style is nothing like previous stories by that writer. Sometimes the ‘partner’ author is listed, other times not. I don’t mind as much when the joint venture is listed up front. When it’s not disclosed, I feel cheated. 

Then there’s the concept of a ghostwriter for a celebrity’s book. It’s well-known they aren’t spending the time to type out their stories and perfecting them to make them readable. The publisher is using the celebrity’s name as the selling point. It has nothing to do with the quality of the writing. The person who is doing the actual writing earns little to no recognition, and is normally paid a contracted amount, without regard to how many books are sold.

But there is a good side.

“Normal’ people may want to leave the legacy of their life story to their family, but don’t have the skills to document it. Their view of the war they served in. Or how they earned and lost a fortune selling drugs. They may be your neighbor or the nurse at the hospital. They have no desire to sell the book commercially, but want to make sure their tales are not lost to the winds of time, at least not immediately. Hiring a ghostwriter is their shot at making that dream happen. As an added bonus, the writer receives extra income that may support their creative endeavors.

Now, I’ve never given ghostwriting a shot, because I’m busy enough trying to write my own stories. But some of the authors on this hop may have. Will they tell us about it? Find out by following the links below.

Anyway, until next time, please stay safe.

What’s that, Priscilla? Penelope is out of Earl Grey? (Sigh) I’ll add it to my grocery list.

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June 10, 2024

Ghost Writers. Let’s talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly.

What Comes Next? #IWSG

  By IWSG

 
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support
 
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
 
The awesome co-hosts for the June 5 posting of the IWSG are Liza at Middle Passages, Shannon Lawrence, Melissa Maygrove, and Olga Godim!

Remember, the question is optional

June 5 question – In this constantly evolving industry, what kind of offering/service do you think the IWSG should consider offering to members?
 
Good question. If I could figure out the answer, I wouldn’t be part of this group with other struggling writers. But I can’t see into the future. Heck, it’s hard enough to stay current with what is happening in the writing world on a week by week basis. I feel like I’m always getting in on the tail end of the “next big trend” in publicity.
 
One thing I’ve always wanted to develop is a site where authors can share potential events and opportunities for selling books in person. I’m talking community festivals, local book signing days, and the like. It could be a site where authors share with others about their successes and which ones didn’t pan out. It would take a lot of work, and I don’t think any one person could maintain it. Who would have imagined that the Chugwater Chili Festival was a hot market for books?
 
 
Anyway, that’s my suggestion. I’m looking forward to see what ideas everyone else has.
 
As always, until next time, please stay safe.
 
 
 

Because You Can’t Do it #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

June 3, 2024

What is the worst piece of writing advice you’ve ever received?

I’ve been lucky.

No one has ever told me that my work is so bad I should stop writing entirely. Sure, I’ve had my share of critiques and criticism, but those I can take time to consider if they help me improve,

Plus, I’ve developed a fairly thick skin. It’s gotten easier to nod politely and ignore baseless harsh words. On line, where no one can see my face, I’m free to display my reaction and delete the email or close the web page. Not as satisfying as slamming down an old-fashioned phone receiver, but not bad.

As a result, I can’t tell you the worst advice I’ve received. It’s been wiped from my brain and replaced with encouraging words.

But the journey hasn’t been all roses and sunshine.

Many years ago, when poetry was my passion, I wrote a poem detailing the mix of emotions I felt when leaving on a solo trip. A fellow poet, whose opinion I respected, commented it needed more humor. It wasn’t supposed to be funny. Yes, I gave up on that piece, but that was around the same time that poetry gave up on me.

The move to fiction was made without consulting anyone. There was no one to tell me I couldn’t succeed. I didn’t rely on advice from anyone-I just did it.

Bad writing advice? I’m sure I’ve received it, but tuned it out. On the other hand, I’ve heard plenty of marketing advice that didn’t work for me. But then, there are plenty of authors in the same boat. What works for marketing is short-lived and changes constantly. But that’s a topic for another post.

I know that some of the authors on this hop haven’t been as lucky as me. Check out their stories by following the links below. 

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

June 3, 2024

What is the worst piece of writing advice you’ve ever received?

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