Life and Novel Interruptus

How are you today? I hope you are having a super day, preparing for the holidays and writing projects. (And also a bit of YOU-time, so necessary.)

How’s your writing life? Or rather how is life that can interfere with writing? Or just how is life?

We’re all dealing with busy lives and sometimes it’s just too difficult to continue writing, or ad work, or whatever needs coordinating, etc. I’m just getting back on track a bit after a packed year and a half in which I lost a loved one, moved states, sold a home in one, dealt with my own brief illness, traveled from California to Missouri and back multiple times.

So yes, I’ve experienced Novel Interruptus big time. Every writer has a time like this and when returning to writing and/or the business of writing, the bulk of what needs to be done is intimidating. At the moment, my whole book line-up needs attention, plus my website, and just about everything else.

Cheer up. Take it easy and do what you can do. Do the menial stuff, just to get back into the flow. If you've had devastation/death/sickness in your life, it's no mere jump back into writing and business. I found immense re-start-up help in Kilby Blades book for pros, The Marketing Audit: Get Better Results with a Better Plan. Excellent read, pinpointing how to review and revamp, made on the writer’s individual needs. I am thankful to the author who recommended Blades' book.

My audit showed me what to do, 3 major revamps. I’ve just begun step 1.

And just now, I’m getting into a little business. At the top of last year, I published 2 books of a new series, Fresh Start, and I’m just now lining up and reviewing characters to return to book 3. Thankfully, I have a lot of notes for reference.

Speaking of notes: Today, I dug out my smaller 3-ring binder, cleaned it up, and got ready for notes, which are business notes, separate from my story notes. I'm a list-maker, and my binder includes lots of to-do lists. I found that I just work better with an actual binder than keeping all electronically (tho I do some). Just getting that binder ready, along with notes from a previous binder, provided a chip in the mountain of work that has waited. Yes, back to good old paper notes.

Maybe you’re ready for an audit, too? How you schedule tasks? A redo of covers or retail pages?  Monday is my usual business day, which was waylaid during the last year and a half, but I’m back to trying that now.

The most difficult time of coming back to writing, or the business of writing, is to find those first little steps to get started. Novel Interruptus is just that: a temporary and usually necessary life-brick thrown at you. Find some basic grab on where you were, prior to the life-brick thrown at you, lock onto the simplest task and build from there.

Difficult to remember during stress times, but it's the simple things, right? (Sometimes I off-load with crocheting as on my keyboard. Off-Loading is prime stress relief, but so are the checkmarks placed on my To-Do list. )

Charging on the Go

Note: I’ve traveled/driven about 8k miles this past year and a half, plus have made 4 flights, all from/to CA/MO.

As a traveler, (and I hope that is done for a few months to allow me to catch up), I can really recommend carrying a purse-size battery charger. Then, with recent Red Flag fire warnings in Northern California and electrical shut offs, I’ve used my charger heavily/daily or my cell phone and iPad. I continued to write on my iPad and danger/alert warnings came through the cell’s apps. (My Kindle didn’t need a charge, but this battery charger would work fine. I read books more on the Kindle than my iPad, BTW, this to save battery power and by preference.)

This Anker unit is about 2X3” and has 4 lights to denote how much power is in it. I’ve used it repeatedly in the past several days, and those 4 light-dots have not gone down to 3 etc.

Highly recommend this handy-dandy device or one like it:

On the Go Writng Helpers

Salt Flats Rest Stop

Any traveler knows that it’s best to keep packing light and to a minimum. I’ve packed laptops around airports, but now have switched to an iPad. Laptops are lighter now, but I love my iPad.

While I use a desktop for some things including heavy duty graphics, I’m using my 9.7” iPad more, my new one yet unnamed.

I am unfamiliar with ChromeBooks, but many writers use them as a cheaper and good alternative. I hope to research those and share... But right now I’m using my iPad.

Tunisian Crochet
Is Restful

The biggest helper for my iPad is a Logitech keyboard. The “stand-up” keys really help me go. My desktop setup has an ergonomic keyboard, and I’m not fond of “flat” keyboards, too many typos. !This keyboard was a big deal for me. It runs on 2 AA batteries forever, and only uses them when there is need. It will also work with an Android tablet. Or with a desktop. Settings allow for changes and all you need is Bluetooth.

For pure writing draft, I use Apple’s Pages (writing documents). It saves to the iCloud, or merges with my desktop for final editing on Vellum. New Pages offers the change for co-writers to work on the same manuscript, which is wonderful, or even share with an editor for comment. (So many different kinds of editors...)

BTW, Vellum is wonderful, spinning out all sorts of formats as needed, even Print. To date, I believe Vellum is only available for Mac products.

There are many uses for Vellum, I.e. plotting, writing blogs, articles, etc. 

Graphics for Twitter and Facebook ads are 250X500 pixels, saved them to Photos. I also use Notes to keep info, but ad links for books. Put those together, the graphics and the saved links and you’ve got handy dandy ad work in a moment. (Save your ad tweets and links. So helpful, especially when traveling and doing ad work.)

Canva is available for creating those graphics, but Art Studio has also been good in a pinch. (I really prefer using my iMac for graphic work as it has more Ram. The designs transfer so easily using AirDrop on Mac.) On the run, I needed business cards printed and Art Studio and Canva worked great at a local printer. Procreate is also a good graphic program. Creating memes in advance really help when you’re busy. (Thank you, @DonnaFasano.) 

I also write (sometimes) a WordPress blog at my website, CaitLondon.com. The WordPress App on my iPad transfers seamlessly up to my website.

It’s all about Apps now. Don’t forget Dropbox, which I use, or GoodRX for pricing prescriptions—and the list goes on.

Meanwhile, I’m writing on my iPad with my favorite traveling keyboard. What is your favorite writing set-up?

Is Catching Up Possible?

We're working on another Tallchief. Stay tuned?

After a move and several weeks driving and visiting, I'm deep into resuming work and networking with other authors. I consider myself to be a writer, btw. Author sounds good and is for some people, but I'd rather take the "Writer" label.

With newsletters filling our e-boxes, I'm choosy. One I won't miss is Mel Jolly's (AuthorRX.com). She's upbeat, informative, and friendly, my kind of weekly info. Check her out? And though I haven't heard her speak, and would love to, I know she does conferences.

Also, Carmen DeSousa is terrific, both in her books and as helpful. She has a writing thread I enjoy very much, shared by Donna Fasano. Right now, Carmen has a freebie at Great Books Great Reads and Donna always has great offers at Awesome Romance Novels. They are on Twitter and FaceBook etc., too. Check them out? They are on my Admiration List, along with Marie Force.

Painting the living room is set to start soon and you know what that means... moving/sliding/packing away. Hopefully, once the painter starts, I can stay in my little private office, working away. Or maybe I'll get the road dirt off my car... Poor thing, it performed super through major flooding in the Midwest and navigating all sorts of hazards.

Some writers are set to start conferences now, while others of us are just... you know, catching up.  I'm preparing another blog right now, one at my website, which contains different stuff, i.e. homey, crafts, etc.

Take care and enjoy your summer. And please let me know if "Catching Up" is really possible?

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You can catch the list at my WEBSITE, or below:

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• Apple Blossom Time: Amazon/Others 
• Lady on the Line: Amazon/Others 
• Donovan’s Second Chance: Amazon/Others 
• Maybe No, Maybe Yes: Amazon/Others 
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I'd love to hear from you. Just EMAIL. You can also catch me at Facebook, Twitter and other places.

Writing on Your Time

Tallchief Series: The Cowboy and the Cradle, Tallchief's Bride, The Groom Candidate, Tallchief for Keeps, The Seduction of Fiona Tallchief

Traveling opens new insights. I’ve just visited a local writers group and enjoyed old friends. While seated, I made notes--not about the topic, rather what I would write/story ideas/how-tos. With energy flowing around the room, my pen was busy with opening lines and story ideas, (I’m a fiction writer and have my own methods of getting story ideas.)

One of the fast-flying topics at the meeting was scheduling writing hours, blocking off times. This is highly touted, works for many, but we have to work/write with the lives we are given.

With a busy family life--and it depends on the age group--Writing Around the Corners of My Life was how one writer explained his writing time. This guy had a family, a full-time demanding job, and he wanted to write.

In the same situation, I did the same, writing draft heavily on weekends and editing/researching around those “corners”. I have been a full time writer for years and have just experienced more life changes. Now, with a relocation, new home and life style, I am realigning my writing time to what works for me: Keeping the story warm. Writing in bits/editing, and whole big 5k chunks.

Regimentation is a huge potential success factor, that is working/writing on whatever is a consistent basis. If that story is “hot” in me, I’m not likely to stop because a scheduled hour tells me Time Over. However, I have recently started a timer to insure I get up and stretch/exercise. While moving around, I may make notes on the story.

It is not unusual for me to write 500-2K-5K etc. and most writers write while the story is running through them. Repeat: Keep that story warm. This break-time to exercise is difficult to learn/adjust.

Thus, before leaving the writing flow, I make notes where I stopped to rev me upon return. A paragraph or so, some capped words will take me back into the story flow.

Keeping that story warm and flowing is the most important, no matter the scheduling technique.

While on this cross-country trip, I am exploring a car connect to my electronics, which will allow me to hear my WIPs while driving long stretches. Thus, keeping the story warm....

Whatever scheduling works, working is the best method for storyteller/writers. However you get there--intensive outlines or freewheeling, scheduled hours/around your life/or inspired--is right...  if it works for you.

DIY Writing Prompts

My Favorite Rough Draft Gizmo for Tablets

I am not a fan of Writing Prompts. I am currently amid preparing workshops for beginning fiction writers, and contemplating best approaches. I do not intend to use writing prompts.

It is my belief that fiction writers should learn to create, from the ground up, their stories. This, rather than being fed ideas, to be written in a specific time.

But then. Like others, I did not take creative writing classes, rather read, explored, attended convenient workshops, and studied other works I admired. There are "copycat" writers, but if time is invested in learning, the story depth can be richer. In fiction, one of the most striking helps for me was Dwight Swain’s Techniques of the Selling Writer. Others were 36 Dramatic Situations, Strunk and White’s Elements of Style, 20 Master Plots and How to Build Them, etc. and articles written by others. A conference workshop by Alice Orr almost equaled Swain’s impact on me, as she spoke about Secrets and Lies and Suspense vs Mystery. That workshop opened the door for my suspense. It’s all out there today, so easily to grasp and study. The theory of investing energy--your own--works well in creative fiction. Studying is essential hard work.

Romantic Suspense Covers

Early on in my career, I developed my own Writing Prompts, and continue to use them to generate new work. The first is my Toy Box of Ideas. If an idea for a story came to me, I would keep it in a list to be used later, just a paragraph or two, the essence of the idea. That list of ideas is always at the ready. If I thought of something to add to that particular idea, I would, and stories grow that way.

The second basic is keeping a list of potential titles. Stories can be anchored in a title, growing from it, and I work very hard at turning them. If a phrase comes to me, I store it. Some writers use snapshots or pictures, visuals to generate ideas. Note: I write a variety of fiction, and separate titles into suspect slots.

Revenge, Possession and Escape, Motivations and Needs. Start turning those essentials in a mystery and you’ve got stories, i.e. Revenge for What, Possession of What, Escape from what. Who/What/Why work in fiction, too. I firmly believe that writers staring off into nothingness are really churning stories and that there is no such thing as W.B.

Stay tuned for more writing tips or those already listed here as I work through developing these workshops/presentations…

Writer Helpers

I hope you're set for a wonderful day! After moving, I'm trying to get back into the biz flow and back into a story that has waited. Maybe you are, too? Sometimes one little tidbit of information can really help and that's my intention with this article. The following is take it for what it's worth--from my personal experiences. Good luck!

I've just tried something new: Mel Jolly's recommendation of timing your writing/computer work for 1 hour. (Yes, I am just now trying to time writing, this after a long-long career as a writer.) As writers, we get so into projects that we sit too long, no matter how comfortable the work arrangement. (Oh, how I miss my recliner now, but making-do until getting a new one.) The timer app that I am testing for my iMac is: Smart Countdown Timer. I like how you can change the alarm sounds, if you want it on the menu bar or in the dock. I have yet to find a timer for my iPad, which I really like--very handy gadget, especially with this "stand-up" keyboard.

Highly recommend this set-up, for anyone who prefers a regular keyboard. The batteries on this Logitech keyboard (costs about $24-25) last forever, and you can separate the units which use Bluetooth to communicate. You may wish to place the iPad at eye level, the keyboard lower. That arrangement works just fine and you can get different stands for the iPad. Ergonomics, you know. A friend says her mini-iPad works great, and the keyboard also accepts android. Oh, my gosh. I have 1 min and 26 seconds... 17 secs... The timer pressure is on!

I always pay attention to Mel Jolly's newsletter, very upbeat and helpful. I would love to attend one of her seminars or talks. Joanna Penn is also really great with top marketing information and videos. She is partnered/teamed with others, creating a dynamo of information and also has a top newsletter, filled with information.

Joanna's YouTube video on Vellum is super. Vellum is the go-to for Indy publishers, keeping formatting simple. No more programming for me, I just go to Vellum. A little pricey for the beginner, it can also be used in creating rough draft. With a number of books ready to be published, I truly appreciate Vellum as a top helper. The support is wonderful, too. I have an ongoing project, a collection of my How-to-Write articles in Vellum, which organizes my information.

Scrivener is another top recommend. Many, many features are included and formatting, too. I haven't tried the poetry or scripts features yet, but I do love the easy reference to characters (looks, oddities, etc.), notes (more on ?, tone), time frames, specific/details on scenes, quotes to remember, etc. I am using it more for data, reference information for projects because I have several series loaded with different information. The Con on Scrivener (and I am not the definitive reference on this topic( is that I have had difficulty coordinating it with my iPad, which is older. I've used Dropbox as a cross-over. Highly recommend Dropbox, too.

As for a comparison between WordPress and Blogger (Blogspot.com), etc. I can only say that I developed my own websites since beginning the Net experience, and am currently at Bluehost.com with no complaints after many years. (My website is behind due to this move, but drop over, will you?) I am using WordPress there. However, I have always loved Blogspot.com from the beginning. At one point, while developing/learning Wordpress creation, I switched my name domain to Blogger and it does work well as a Website with the capability to add pages. When my website was finished, I switched my name domain back to Bluehost. There are many website options to choose from, different newsletter options, etc. We're all in trial/error/flux now, it seems.

I have always loved Twitter. Join me there?  I like Twitter because it is fast and sometimes offers new insights off my beaten track/favs. I am not in love with automated posts, however. I'm on Facebook as CaitLondonBooks, too. However, when I'm writing heavily, not so much on social media. Keeping up with social media and ad work does challenge writing time--a problem for most writers. I've written articles on Making Time, Not Finding Time to write.  I prefer the word Writer to Author somehow, not exactly certain why.

In today's electronics ball game, everything changes daily. New services, new techniques. We're in a river of information that sometimes floods us. Keeping up is difficult, but a good basic set-up, regimentation--which I am pretty well regimented (I think) helps. If you're having difficulty with software, go to YouTube, which I call "My university".

If you have time, drop over to my other blog and catch up on my move to a whole new state, changing houses, cooking, trekking poles, no-knead breads, etc.

A Brand New Year

Here we go on a brand new year, 2019! We're setting goals and energized! I hope you're ready to read. Here's my new Fresh Start Series:

Three city women cross country in their RVs for new lives in a western small town.

Kindle: http://amzn.to/2EjupD2

Nook: http://bit.ly/2nqvMYU

iBooks: https://apple.co/2BDqQF6

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2DRumRW 

#romance #FreshStartSeries

Over the holiday, I binged on movies/TV, relaxed with family and tried to catch up from an overwhelming 2018, filled with Life Interruptus. I write about Life Interruptus, because I experience the drama frequently. But it all makes for good stuff to write, right?

Unfortunately, many of my friends also experienced drama/trauma. 2018 was just one heck of a year.

But it's behind us now, right? I was so busy last year that a friend reminded me that The Bride's Basket wasn't in print--so I hurried to get that done. The set is gorgeous.

Despite a somewhat frantic 2018, I managed to write 2 books, the first 2 of my new Fresh Start series. I also managed to get a start on a third, the intended last of the trilogy. Naturally, one of my goals is to get book 3 finished.

While my Basket Series is near/dear to me, my Fresh Start series focuses on three women starting new lives--just as many women, including myself have done. Just You is now in print and Just Love will be, but we are considering cover changes. Let me know what you think?