The great thing about NaNoWriMo is that you just write and write and write, damn the structure, just keep writing.
The terrible thing about NaNoWriMo is that you just write and write and write, damn the structure, just keep writing.
Free-writing is good for my creativity. The imagery pours in and the words pour out, and sometimes I feel I am not really writing so much as I am channeling. That’s a high.
Free-writing is bad for my project, because I can’t find anything in the mess of words I’ve written.
Formatting, what? Why is it no tab or tab over half the page? Why?!?
Also, Fuck You Word Template! I hate you!
Yesterday, I said to my work in progress, “I’m serious! You will be organized! Your chapters will flow in chronological order and you will like it!”
My loving, supportive husband put the kettle on and brought me my glasses. He even cleaned them. I broke out my big red notebook and I opened my novel and I flipped and fiddled and wrote for several hours.
I was pleased, except, why can’t I move things around with ease? I mean, you scroll and you skim and you know it’s there, but you’re so sick of looking at it you really wanna scream.
Writers are always talking about Scrivener. As usual, I’m over here under my large rock all, “Huh? Is that like math?” But, when LindaGHill told me her novel, which I read several months ago, was written in Scrivener, well, you know how I do anything she tells me to she inspires me, so I got Scrivener.
And then I spent several hours trying not to break my laptop in two and slit my wrists. I swore. I read instructions that made no sense. I got a beer. I watched tutorials on YouTube. I struggled. I huffed and puffed. My eyes burned. Fury overtook me. I counted my breaths. I forgot Game of Thrones was coming on. I ignored and then yelled at everyone. Why can’t the world be quiet while I think?!? I almost died.
Then my loving, supportive husband, who watched me have at least ten meltdowns an hour, said to me, “You can do this. You do this all the time. You start something new and you figure it out.”
Contrary me said, “But this is too hard!”
“Did you ever think you’d write code?”
“Well no, and I don’t really, I dabble in it.”
“Still, you figured it out.”
AND I DID! I FIGURED IT OUT!
I have transferred my entire novel into Scrivener, and now I can easily find any chapter, any scene, any ol time I want!
Yes, it did take me about six hours.
I do not doubt those six hours will save me sixty, either.
Now I experience the cork board joy that Boyack showed me! CORK BOARD FTW! Y’all, the note cards correspond to the text and you can rearrange them in a matter of seconds! It is a dream, like dishes that put themselves away or children who follow directions!
All those scribbles in my notepad? Now on the cork board. Fleeting thoughts and jots of inspiration? Cork board. Character names and settings? Cork board.
What new thing have you learned lately? Are you a quieter, more patient learner, or do you sputter and scream like I do?
joeyfullystated 
Most of the things I’ve learned lately are things that may someday make the people I work with more productive. They are collaborative tools that I won’t really have a use for because I don’t with with them (I support them). Scrivener sounds pretty cool. I think I’ve read about it beofre, but since the longest thing I am even thinking about writing right now still has a 1,000 word word limi, I can pretty much find everything. As for notes and ideas and junk, I use Trello and Evernote and I love them both because they are always there regardless of what device I am using (and I use a bunch).
I like how supportive the Mister is. That’s a good man, you keep him.
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I will keep him as long as he’ll have me 🙂
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I LOVE Scrivener. And my rare use of capitals should help make that clear. If you ever want to take it a step further, Gwen Hernandez offers great online courses for Scrivener. You work at your own pace, and the tutorials are very doable, even for someone short on time. I got so much more out of Scrivener once I took her basic course. Here’s a link if you’re interested: http://gwenhernandez.com/scrivener-corner/scrivener-training/scrivener-online-classes/
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Thanks, Carrie! Yeah, I really might take the second course. I will seriously consider it before starting a new work.
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Looks like a great breakthrough, Joey.
I get, let’s call it frustrated at myself and the world at certain times when I’m attempted to master new situations.
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Hehe, understood!
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I guess fiction writing eludes me. I have no knowledge of any of this…Never heard of Shrivners either..live and learn and die and forget I say.
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I struggle and scream, but that is at pretty much everything, not just learning.
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That’s awesome. I’ve considered Scrivner only for its corkboard application. I like the stuff I’m using, but my little app is getting tired. I’m afraid I wouldn’t use anything but the corkboard.
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Well, I’m so pleased, and yes, the cork board is awesome! What are you using?
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It’s a tired old app from Apple. It’s called Corkulous Pro. It needs an update, but I don’t think they’re going to do one.
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Oh yes. I miss Macs. Haven’t used one since college. Maybe one day I’ll get one. So nice. So nice.
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I even sent a question to the app provider, and they never answered me. What do I have to do, learn to write my own?
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Heh, maybe.
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Go you!
I become hyper focused when I’m learning something new (or working on writing or website stuff). You could tell me that a meteor landed in the yard and I wouldn’t know.
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MEEE TOOO!
Hah! 😀
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I do the same. Hyperfocus, become obsessed, shut everything out..and then that magic moment just when I start to get a grip on something:
“Wait. That worked?? Why the hell did that work? Id swear that wasnt supposed to work.”
*Spends several days more trying to figure out why that worked*
Lol. 😛
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Like I said last night – don’t buy it! Next NaNo camp join in with a low word count and when you win there’s a good chance you’ll get a coupon.
I enjoyed the tutorial for Scrivener. I found it intuitive – it knew when I needed a cup of tea. 😀 Enjoy your program! I love mine! 😀
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Joey, OH you are too funny! Your husband sounds like a saint. Reverse the roles and you have MY life! LOL *taking deep breath* Are you ready for how I write? Now granted I do not write novels or anything even remotely close to that volume. But I um, well, gee, I *spitting it out as fast as I can type* I use the yellow legal pads and PEN. Yup, I do. Sometimes I write so fast I scribble and then trying to decipher what I wrote, I um well, gee, yup, curse. Fumble, dumble, mumble …. until I can finally make out what I wrote. Hehehehehehe …. Really enjoyed your post. If any of my words are misspelled, my spell check is not working and I truthfully don’t care. GRIN! 😀 Love to you! Amy ❤
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I’m dying over my husband sounds like a saint!
I still write poetry on paper. In fact, I can’t seem to do it electronically, but I can’t construct a novel on paper.
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Hehehehehehe Glad I could make you laugh!!! At least I THINK I did ….. *giggling* …. Yes, there is something about poetry and paper with pen. Novel ….. my eyes just bug out of my head thinking about it. LOL
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Far from a saint I assure you. I just know she is capable, and over time she will figure it out. She returns the favor a lot when it comes to lifting me up when I have my moments as well.
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You’ll get it figured out. Just take a deep breath and go for a walk to clear the cobwebs once in a while.
I haven’t worked with Scrivener yet but now I’m curious…
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You just remember how you told me to take a deep breath and have a walk when you’re learning Scrivener 😉
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Way to hang in there! I fuss and yell, too. It’s worth it in the end. 🙂
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Since you ask, I’ll tell you that I became more patient with my writing. I used to send tons of manuscripts for submission. Retrospectively it was too soon. Now I let them simmer for several weeks before reading them again to decide if they are worth a try or not. I haven’t worked with Scrivener but it looks like it was a good choice for you. Best of luck with your work.
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I knew you would eventually work it out because you always do. As you know all to well I am a bit of a hot head when it comes to things as well. Most of the time I spend my time swearing A LOT while working through something that has presented itself as a challenge to me. I will not quit until I have conquered it. We both have that way about us, it simply manifests itself in different areas Your saintly husband loves you! HEHEHE!
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Haha, my saintly husband, you are so right, which is why your angelic wife loves you so 😛
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I sputter and scream.. I’m no good at new things, and I’ve tried neither of the ones you mentioned but I just might check them out! I think the Mister sounds like a keeper for sure!
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I get really frustrated and usually just walk away from it for a bit but always return to figure it out. I have learned SOOOOO much stuff since I have started blogging and sometimes I even amaze myself that with my old brain I have gotten this far.
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I agree. The ins and outs of this platform have taught me a great deal as well. Old brains unite!
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Good for you Joey, figuring it all out! Hey, wasn’t the ending of Game of Thrones epic?!?! Wait… did you even end up seeing it?
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I DID! It was like midnight when I got to it, but yes! Of course they’re getting soooo good when it’s about to be over AGAIN! I hate being held captive to a series! lol
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I LOVE Scrivener. I don’t think I could write without Scrivener. I love how easy it is to organise everything with it. When I read the start of your post I was thinking ‘Oh I’ll have to tell her about Scrivener in the comments, that should help her out’ and then there it was! Scrivener had already come to the rescue! 🙂 glad the writing is now going more smoothly.
Oh and I’m a total impatient learner, pulling my hair out and yelling and all sorts. I never watch the tutorials or read the manuals, I’m far too impatient. Although really it would be a lot quicker if I did, but why take an easy approach that makes sense when you can frustrate the hell out of yourself?!
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I tried to follow part of the tutorial Scrivener made, but the people on YouTube were way more helpful! They have a great program, but not a great way to teach it!
I’m glad you’re also a fan. 🙂
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Scrivener,huh? I have no idea what that is. Is it anything like Prozac? It seems like a neat tool for organizing your copy. That is too much club for me. I just write a food blog. Hey I have another Blog suggestion for you. http://peakperspective.com/ you might want to give it a look over. I haven’t done any free writing since college;back before the days of 8 track. Congrats for conquering this current demon.
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Thanks, I’ll check out your recommendation.
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Nope. I am 100% a sputterer. I kick and scream, and complain…a lot. And then, I figure it out, just like you. It’s a great, if temporary, euphoria.
Love,
E
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Not a writer myself, but nothing more frustrating than learning new software that doesn’t want to cooperate! It’s my personal experience that it is usually operator error, but I refuse to blame myself and yell adjective laden profanities at my computer.
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I have not used either Scrivener or Cork Board, but then I have never written a book either. 🙂 When I am learning something new that is tricky I rant and rage, get all hot and bothered and swear at my computer, Then eventually I get it and all is calm and wonderful again! 🙂
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😀
In case you’re interested, the cork board is part of Scrivener. It’s all in one place!
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Oh! I am a dunce and didn’t realise 🙂
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No no, not a dunce — I didn’t know that until I used it!
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I am definitely going to look at it now anyway! 🙂
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So, are you saying that there’s harder parts to writing than the actual writing cause I don’t know how much more I can take! I’ve never heard of either, but I have been working (on and off) on a…couple…novels. And I’m a total quitter, so that doesn’t help. But, (allow me to give you a little encouragement), I think if your book is even a tiny bit as good as your blog, it’s gonna be pretty damn awesome. (And for that, I hope send me a signed copy. 😉 ) Good luck!
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Haha! Well thanks for the tremendous compliment!
Yeah, I’m actually a very organized person, physically, with stuff, but when it comes to writing, I tend to let it flow and that creates trouble inside a large narrative, so I think this Scrivener business is aces 🙂
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