**RESOURCES** For Note-takers (May 2016)

How is it that I am just now hearing about the wonder that is digital writing? You guys have been holding out.

If you are a writer (or student, or other notetaker) whose mind works the way mine does and- Wait. Let me back up. I don't think that anyone's mind works the way mine does. What I should say is that if you are the type of writer who:

• Comes up with the most brilliant ideas ever at the most inconvenient times, and/or
• Tends to write on any and everything when your ideas and thoughts strike, and/or
• Loses some of your amazing ideas/thoughts because of lost notes, and/or
• Sometimes like to write things down (instead of using a keyboard), and/or
• Is sometimes so much of a scatterbrained creative genius that all the mind-mapping software in the world can't help.

Basically, if you are like most writers and/or creative personalities, then you might benefit from gadgets that help you keep better track of your ideas.

Personally, I want one of those digital gadgets that let you take notes on the go, then transfer those notes to you computer. Preferably, the notes will transfer to text format. I'd dance around the moon if I could find something that would do all that and work with MS Word.

So far, I've seen some of the digital pens that sound interesting:

• Livescribe sounds neato. I'm confused about whether it works with a PC or just phones and tablets. This was one of the first "smart pens" I heard about. Thing is, apparently, you need to use a special type of paper. I'm bookmarking this for later reading.
• Equil sounds most interesting to me at first glance because I saw the words "real paper, real ink" and thought of not having to spend so much on refills and such.
• IRISNotes is on my radar because, right off, I see that it's claimed to "type what you write". That is exactly what I need. EXACTLY. 
• Like some of the other pens I've seen, the Neo Smartpen sounds like it might be more for artists than for writers. 
• Bamboo Spark sounds interesting also. I'm a little confused about whether or not it's limited to a Wacom tablet.

By the way, the drool factor was highest for the Moleskin "Writing Set". Who am I kidding though? I can't afford regular Moleskin notepads, no way am I going to get tangled up with a gadget from the brand. Besides, there are too many downsides just to have something with the "Moleskin" name on it. (There's a reason I drive an old, old Honda. Two words: cheap and reliable.)

Since there are so many potential pros and cons for any of these (depending on what the user needs), I'm checking a lot of lists and reviews. This one is where I've started.

So, if you are like me, you might have questions about which gadget would be best for writers to use. If you are more up on all of this than me, I hope you can help ease my confusion. I'm still on the hunt for a pen that will work well for me. I will be back to do another post when I've narrowed down options based on the following:

• Affordable initial cost (I'm thinking most writers I know want a range of $100 - $150), and
• Most affordable upkeep (refills on ink/cartridges/special paper etc.
• Easiest to use on the go
• Reliable at saving & transferring written notes
• An ability to recall stored notes would be nice
• Works with a PC/Not limited to smartphone or tablet. (If it works with only a PC, I'm fine)
• Out of the box "user-friendly" setup and management. (Most writers don't want to have to deal with anything but getting their ideas down!)
• Warranty/Guarantee. Better yet, a trial period.
• Decent online and/or customer support.

Is that asking for too much? I don't know, but it sure doesn't hurt to ask anyway.

Peace

--Free

**REVIEW** Scapple Software

So, this is happening. Finally.

Might be changing the cover. We'll see.

I almost had a mental breakdown trying to deal with CreateSpace's Cover Creator, but that was mostly my fault. (Tip to other users: Don't try to fix cover errors until you've actually uploaded your manuscript. In other words, do things in the order set out by CreateSpace.)

Anyway. Now that I have Volume 1 of the short story collection done (just waiting for my Proof copy before giving the go-ahead and selling on Amazon), I needed to work on two other projects. If I had a lick of sense, I'd work on one project at a time. That's just not how my brain works. I must make my life as difficult as possible. LOL

Since I already have a couple of stories written for Volume 2 of Therapy Sessions, I'm leapfrogging back and forth to work on another set of stories. I only have general ideas for what I want to include in that set. This is where my scatterbrained way of thinking and processing tasks was causing me problems. And this is what I found as a solution.

Those are screen shots of  Scapple boards I put together just for this post.

I've tried out all kinds of software to ease or organize the process of writing. I will test out the Trial version of something and, usually, only get a couple hours in before I'm going nuts. Scapple is so good (and simple to use) that I actually `~ are you sitting down? ~ paid for it. Yeah, I know. I'm such a tightwad that I should be writing a book about being a tightwad.

Thing is, Scapple is such a lifesaver for me. Now that I depend on my writing for extra income, I've been feeling the pressure to not only be productive but to be organized and productive.

As a writer, I am very disciplined. I will give myself a schedule and stick to it. I line up tasks and check-mark them off until I'm done. Actually, when I was working, I was the same way. The only difference is that, before I began struggling with an illness, I had tons of stamina and I could focus like nobody's business. A former manager once called me a "multi-tasking workhorse."  (At the time she said that, I decided to take it as a compliment.)

These days, I still have lots of creativity, but it's very hard for me to focus and organize my thoughts. I spent months working on the 5 short stories that make up "Love & Madness". Whenever I stopped work on a story for the night, my brain would re-set itself so that, by the time I got back to the story, I'd lost track of things.

My solution before now was to handwrite notes and index cards that I'd tack up all over the place. That works, but it is something of a nightmare when you have to change something around or re-think part of a story.

Scapple lets me do all my note-taking and tracking of ideas without the paper and cards. I can pick back up on outlines and ideas easier. When I want to play around with an idea, I can do that.

The best thing about this software is how cheap it is (compared to other stuff I've seen), and how easy it is to start using it right away.

This is not just something for writers. Anyone who thinks better with visual prompts will love this software. Students can use it to organize study notes. There are so many ways this can be used.

If anyone knows of similar software, please share. For now, I'm so happy with Scapple that I expect that I will never want to be without it.

Peace
--Free

Podcasts for Writers (or nosy people!)

For a person who is so anti-Apple that I hate all things "i", this is hard for me to admit: I signed up for an iTunes account.

~sipping coffee to get the bad taste out of my mouth~

Of course, I could listen to podcasts via any player (or "podcatcher", I guess), but I'm lazy. I use something else on my phone, but I (kind of, sort of, maybe - haven't decided yet) like the iTunes store on my PC. I don't love it, but until I find something else, it will do.

That's not the point here. The point is, I found (via iTunes) some podcasts that are useful for writers. Or for nosy folks. I fit both categories.  You can listen to these podcasts however you are able to. When their is no link provided, just search iTunes. Here ya go:

• The Narrative Breakdown
• Writing for Rookies
• Write the Book
• Bailey's Writing Tips 
• Helping Writers Become Authors
• Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips is on iTunes
• The Writing Show
• Writing Challenges

There are others. I saw some that were geared toward specific genres; some were discussions with established authors. What prompted me to even search any of these out was finding Grammar Girl there.

Of course, now that I am discovering podcasts in general, I like finding fun things to listen to or watch while I am exercising. One note: to sign up without a credit card, I followed the instructions shown here. Thanks to them, my cheap ass is safe. For now.)

Now, about the iTunes Store (and podcasts), my main issue is that it's not easy to move back and forth between searches. So, I am off to check out some other "podcatchers".

Peace

--Free 

P.S.: What is up with Blogger's spellchecker? Isn't the plural of "podcast" "podcasts"??? ~face palm~

March *Was* Madness (More Writing Links)

If we had gotten as much sunshine as we did madness, March would have become my favorite month. Instead, we got dumped on with snow, and I got dumped on with self-induced pity. Thank everything holy that this month is just about over!

Today, the writing is back on track (yes!), but I sure wish there had been a March Madness sale on blood and guts because I think I've poured all I have into this current manuscript. If writing a book is like giving birth, I'm praying to be induced early. Seriously, it's been rough.

I'm not complaining (much), though. I love writing and don't think I could live without it. It would be great if there was a way to make money at it - you know, other than actually finishing a manuscript and getting it out there.

Ah well.

I promised links. Here they are (in no kind of order):

• Phobia List
• How to Write Good (thanks for sharing this, Sandy-sis)
• Australian Slang (because I can't find an Aussie to help me out on this manuscript)
• Reverse Dictionary (when you are drawing a big ol' blank!)
• Words: Woe & Wonder (you'll just have to check this one out)
• Obscure Sorrows (because I was in a mood this week ~shrug~)
• Net Lingo
• Resource of Symbols, Signs & Flags
• Your Dictionary (I call it Dictionary for Dummies. No offense. I use it a LOT.)
• Garbl's (Many, many, many resources. I've had this link a long time, so some resources may be outdated.)
• Online Writing Lab
• Urban Dictionary (because I just had to look up "Restless Dick Syndrome". Yeah, U.D. has stuff in there like that.)
• Style Guides (APA, MLA, blah-blah-yay styles.)
• Richard Lederer's great list of language links.
• Diffen (compare anything, if you ever need to. I always do.)
• The People History (Who, what, why and what they wore and paid for it. I use the 1970's section a lot.)
• Occupational Information (when you need to know what that doctor or mortician really does.)

Hope you find these helpful. I think for my next post, I'm going to list information for wanna-be or newbie writers. When I started out, I didn't have much help in understanding the process of writing, or even the different genres. For now, I have to go an eat something. I'm all hopped up on about 6 cups of coffee. Funny to be so tired and wired at the same time.

Peace

--Free

Text-to-Speech Options

I don't know how other writers feel about hearing their work read back to them, but my niece hipped me to the idea. She proofs some of my stuff for readability and says that hearing the stories (instead of reading them) keeps her from trying to edit as she reads. Well, that's my problem too.

Not that I did any real research here, but I found these links after struggling with the Microsoft Narrator installed on my PC. (Some of these are links to links...)

I've used Narrator, which isn't as bad as it is just plain unfriendly to a new user. Also, Narrator doesn't  play nice with all documents. I spent more time trying to de-glitch it than I did listening to my stuff. So...

In the voice of Bill Engvall, "Heeeere's your links!"

• Techovity shares some links I'm checking out.
• Browsealoud 
• ReadSpeaker
• Wikipedia's list of free & commercial readers.

Not a lot of links, but I'll be scouting for more as I  have time.

Peace

--Free

***LINKS*** I'm a Tumbl'n Writer

To the links in just a moment but, in case you needed a smile today:

This is what I woke up looking like this morning. I call it my "crazy writer's hair", better known to other natural gals as "I-didn't-tie-down-the-naps" last night!

Excuse the glamour. I said I'd just woken up!

Look how that mop of mine is growing! Must be all the greens and biotin I'm ingesting. Whatever.

Now, on to the promised links....

Good Stuff on Tumblr

• Apostrophe Shame (just for when you need to be reminded)
• Grammar .net (I love the info-graphics)
• heretoedit (examples aplenty)
• Grammar Girl (because I love her)
• Writing from Books Amino (various nuggets of gold here)
• Resources for Writers 
• Practical Grammar
• Go Ask Yer Grammar (not the Tumblr title, but very cool, so...)
• A Question of Character
• Refs & Resources for Writers (scroll down their site for good info)
• Amanda Patterson (I use her stuff daily)
• Role Player Tips (that's "player", not "playing", you dirty booger!)
• Writers' Resources (varied and wonderful)

Just doing searches on Tumblr ("writer resources", "grammar", etc.) will yield useful info. Enjoy.

Peace

--Free