Catdude's writing blog |
Ok, this is where I start my blog, I guess. As of the time of writing I've been a member of writing.com for just over a year. I submitted my first item a few months ago, then items 2 and 3 for writing contests late last month. I'm really enjoying this writing thing! |
I guess a 16 day gap isn't too horrible. Lately I have been evaluating writing tools. I have mostly looked at offline tools, like Scrivener. I love Scrivener, really, but I envision a time when I will want to use a tablet to do my writing. There are Android tools out there, but I have yet to find a good one that's cross-platform enough to run on PC, Mac, Android, and Kindle OS (and maybe ChromeOS if I can ever afford to buy one). My most recent choice is the only one I've found yet that offers the platform flexibility I need. That choice is Google Docs. True,, Google Docs doesn't offer any of the jazzy tools like outlining, character references, word counting, etc, but I can run it on any device I get to go online. The biggest drawback is that it doesn't have an offline mode. I think my solution is going to be to create a script that scp's a copy of the latest version to the local hard drive when I log out of GDocs. That way I'll have a (probably up-to-date-ish) local copy that I can edit and add to when I don't have a WiFi connection available. I have three projects in mind right now. The first, which I have actually started, is a for-me-only story that will help me to visualize the kind of life I'd like to live when I'm finally able to retire. It would be horribly boring for anyone other that me. Project 2 is a cat-based work of fiction. it will feature human characters whose life is often guided by the cats around them, though they generally never become aware of the cat factor. A few (2 or 3?) of the humans will be able to communicate with the cats. This story needs definition. The 3rd project is my NanoWrimo entry. I know that I want to write something, but I don't know what I want to write. We'll see what it turns in to. And whether I will FINALLY have the self-discipline to actually complete a story this year. D Mahoney redcat@writing.com D Mahoney redcat@writing.com |
I have NEVER been good about keeping a blog. I just don't have the discipline required to return regularly to post updates. I'll try to do better. We'll see. As to writing: I have a story about Harri Roadcat started, but I'm wrestling with some questions on fundamentals - audience, etc. And I have another story I started recently in which I describe the lifestyle I'd like to be leading - pretty close to reasonable expectations, I think. And I'm fighting the "tools" problem. I don't have a PowerBook any more. I'm writing on a Linux laptop, a Windows laptop, and a Kindle tablet. Some of them have access to Dropbox, some don't. I love Scrivener, but it's not available for the tablet, I like yWriter, but it runs on Linux only under Mono. Writer's Cafe doesn't run on Android/KindleOS. I guess I need to pick a single writing platform and stick with it. D Mahoney redcat@writing.com catdude@gmail.com D Mahoney redcat@writing.com |
Yes, it has been a VERY long time since I've written much of anything. And it's been even longer since I've updated this blog. But I have returned to writing, and hope to be making some of my compositions available soon. |
I haven't given up on Script Frenzy, but I've fallen way behind. I'm so tired when I get home that I have no energy left to write. And to make matters worse, I'm completely lacking story ideas. We'll see if I'm able to muddle though. 9 days to go. |
I've never tried writing a screenplay before, but I stumbled upon Script Frenzy (http://www.scriptfrenzy.org) and thought it looked interesting. I'm now engaged in writing the next episode for Jericho, the CBS TV series that ended it's run last week. |
'tis now Christmas Eve, and all is calm and peaceful in central Iowa. I hope that all who read this enjoy a calm, peaceful holiday season. |
Being new to central Iowa, having just moved here from southern California, winters are a new thing to me. We had an interesting ice storm this last weekend, and we're expecting a snow storm this coming weekend (tomorrow). Some of my coworkers complain about midwest winters, having nothing to do. I love the whole idea - I plan to do a lot of writing over the weekend (when I'm not shoveling snow, that is). |
Life is keeping me too darned busy! Work issues got me pretty bogged down around mid-November, and I allowed that to derail my NaNoWriMo efforts. The month of November ended with my creation sitting around 11,000 words. I do plan to complete it anyway, but I wish I had found the drive to complete it for NaNoWriMo. I did manage to get my writing.com content entry submitted on time - I feel good about that. My entry in the Cafe Diem writing contest might have been a day late. I had read the requirements as saying the submission deadline was Dec. 1. When I reread the rules the afternoon of the 1st, I saw that it said before the first. Oh well - next year I'll know! |