Ugh. I had to bite the bullet and buy Word today. I've survived for several years without it, opting instead for the fully-featured (and FREE!) Open Office software. But now we're in the editing process with "Love & Brimstone" and the editor assigned to my manuscript uses the track changes feature. So I have to have it.
For grins and giggles, I looked at an .rtf file of the manuscript and ACK! When I looked at it in OO it looked fine. Looking at it in Word, it looks like *&^%. Totally mis-formatted. Crap. A .doc version looked okay though. Whew!
So now that I have Word, I'll use it for my formatting conversions and editing, but not for my rough drafts. I still prefer OO. I've got Word 2007 (I never activated the "trial" version of 2003 Office on my laptop when I bought it, and when I went to buy the activation tonight, it was the same price to get the 2007.) and the interface is TOTALLY whacked. Ugh. I hate it! I much prefer the "old style" with the clearly labeled menus and none of the extra garbage that's up there. I'll need to do some digging and see if there's a way to make it look like the older versions of Word. (Ahh, the good ole' days of Word 6. Remember those? And Windows 3.x? *LOL*)
Writing Software
at
3:02 PM
Saturday, June 28, 2008
I had a great time yesterday with the interview! Jordana and Stephanie were fantastic, and invited me back after their summer hiatus.
One of the things we talked about was how I write, and I mentioned a software I use. NAYY - I am simply a happy customer.
I use SuperNotecard by Mindola. The way I write is I write whatever comes first - that might be just a title, or it might be a snippet of dialog (in "Love & Brimstone," the whole story spawned from one very brief dialog exchange between Taz and Matthias) or a scene. I write what I "see" when I see it. I don't outline my fiction - I might jot notes if something comes to me, but I don't use outlines.
Before SuperNotecard, I would have to bounce back and forth in a manuscript file (I use OpenOffice, not Word) and try to figure out where I was. With SuperNotecard I can simply create a card for a scene and drop it in wherever I need it in the story. I can write a whole scene or just a snippet or even just title a blank card as a holding place and stick it in. I save countless hours with this software. "Love & Brimstone" was the first manuscript I completely wrote using it, and the rough draft was complete in a little over two weeks, where it would have taken me a month my old way.
Needless to say, I now write all my manuscripts with this software. When I finish, I export the rough draft to OpenOffice and format it as a manuscript and then do my final editing.
They also make a version for script writers.
One of the things we talked about was how I write, and I mentioned a software I use. NAYY - I am simply a happy customer.
I use SuperNotecard by Mindola. The way I write is I write whatever comes first - that might be just a title, or it might be a snippet of dialog (in "Love & Brimstone," the whole story spawned from one very brief dialog exchange between Taz and Matthias) or a scene. I write what I "see" when I see it. I don't outline my fiction - I might jot notes if something comes to me, but I don't use outlines.
Before SuperNotecard, I would have to bounce back and forth in a manuscript file (I use OpenOffice, not Word) and try to figure out where I was. With SuperNotecard I can simply create a card for a scene and drop it in wherever I need it in the story. I can write a whole scene or just a snippet or even just title a blank card as a holding place and stick it in. I save countless hours with this software. "Love & Brimstone" was the first manuscript I completely wrote using it, and the rough draft was complete in a little over two weeks, where it would have taken me a month my old way.
Needless to say, I now write all my manuscripts with this software. When I finish, I export the rough draft to OpenOffice and format it as a manuscript and then do my final editing.
They also make a version for script writers.
Labels:
Love and Brimstone
,
Mindola
,
script
,
SuperNotecard
,
writing
,
writing software
0
reader comments
Interview Anxiety!
at
8:41 AM
Friday, June 27, 2008
I'm so excited! My interview with Jordana Ryan is today at 2pm eastern!
Here's the link: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Jordana-Ryan
And a reporter from our local paper interviewed me this week, the story should be out next week. Eeep!
Tune in and hear me hopefully not make an idiot out of myself! *LOL*
Here's the link: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Jordana-Ryan
And a reporter from our local paper interviewed me this week, the story should be out next week. Eeep!
Tune in and hear me hopefully not make an idiot out of myself! *LOL*
Shoes
at
8:29 AM
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Now, my dh will be the first to tell you that I am NOT a shoe-hound. I'm likely to buy a comfy pair of normal sandals, on sale if I can, in three different colors and wear them until they disintegrate and I'm forced to buy new ones. (No, I have never watched "Sex in the City." Sorry. And I couldn't tell a Manolo from a Made in China.)
I don't have too many instances to wear "dress" shoes. I have few pairs of dress shoes. But in Tar-zhay yesterday I spotted a pair of red patent leather peep-toe pumps. On sale for less than twenty bucks.
Into the cart they went. I can wear them with jeans, and I figure if I'm going to be a romance writer, I need to start treating myself a little better in terms of how I dress. I'll admit I'm jeans (or shorts) and a collared golf shirt kind of girl. I look decent (so dh tells me) when I dress up, but frankly, working at home, my dogs could care less what I look like.
When I caught up with dh in electronics, he raised an eyebrow, asked me where I'd wear them, and I told him anywhere I dang well please.
I think he was pleased. *LOL* Frankly, they could be construed as "fm" shoes (if you get my drift). Hmmm.
I think I'm going to have to invest in a pair of stilettos. (And a pair of hiking poles to help me walk in them.)
But my goal is to go to the big Romantic Times Booklovers Convention in Orlando next April, because I live a few hours away. If I'm going to go (and by then more of my books should be published) I can't go slouching in there like a schlump. (Is that a word? It is now.)
I don't have too many instances to wear "dress" shoes. I have few pairs of dress shoes. But in Tar-zhay yesterday I spotted a pair of red patent leather peep-toe pumps. On sale for less than twenty bucks.
Into the cart they went. I can wear them with jeans, and I figure if I'm going to be a romance writer, I need to start treating myself a little better in terms of how I dress. I'll admit I'm jeans (or shorts) and a collared golf shirt kind of girl. I look decent (so dh tells me) when I dress up, but frankly, working at home, my dogs could care less what I look like.
When I caught up with dh in electronics, he raised an eyebrow, asked me where I'd wear them, and I told him anywhere I dang well please.
I think he was pleased. *LOL* Frankly, they could be construed as "fm" shoes (if you get my drift). Hmmm.
I think I'm going to have to invest in a pair of stilettos. (And a pair of hiking poles to help me walk in them.)
But my goal is to go to the big Romantic Times Booklovers Convention in Orlando next April, because I live a few hours away. If I'm going to go (and by then more of my books should be published) I can't go slouching in there like a schlump. (Is that a word? It is now.)
Ugh.
at
9:00 PM
Thursday, June 19, 2008
So I did something totally not like me today - left the house over an hour EARLY (thank you very much) to take my husband's car to the Honda dealer for a warranty recall check. It was getting ready to storm and I thought I'd miss the worst of it.
Not so much.
I drove through a fricking MONSOON on the way to the dealer. Pouring down rain when I got there. Fortunately I had my MP3 player with me and headphones because the freakishly friendly staff kept asking everyone in the waiting room every ten seconds if they needed coffee or a banana or a bagel or hot tea...
No. I just want my FREAKING CAR DONE.
I'm pounding away on my laptop with the screen turned down as low as I can and folded at an odd angle to prevent anyone looking over my shoulder, because the WIP (work in progress) I was ...progressively working on...has some racy stuff in it. Plus it's rude to read over someone's shoulder.
Difficult to try to put together a love scene with a room full of people around. (Hard enough to do it with the dogs staring at me here at home!)
I admit, I'm a 'tetch' anti-social when I work. A-hem. Okay. So I'm A LOT anti-social when I'm working. I told my dh that if we ever build a house, I want a sound-proofed, land-mined office to lock myself in.
Not so much.
I drove through a fricking MONSOON on the way to the dealer. Pouring down rain when I got there. Fortunately I had my MP3 player with me and headphones because the freakishly friendly staff kept asking everyone in the waiting room every ten seconds if they needed coffee or a banana or a bagel or hot tea...
No. I just want my FREAKING CAR DONE.
I'm pounding away on my laptop with the screen turned down as low as I can and folded at an odd angle to prevent anyone looking over my shoulder, because the WIP (work in progress) I was ...progressively working on...has some racy stuff in it. Plus it's rude to read over someone's shoulder.
Difficult to try to put together a love scene with a room full of people around. (Hard enough to do it with the dogs staring at me here at home!)
I admit, I'm a 'tetch' anti-social when I work. A-hem. Okay. So I'm A LOT anti-social when I'm working. I told my dh that if we ever build a house, I want a sound-proofed, land-mined office to lock myself in.
"Love & Brimstone" cover
at
3:41 PM
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Whoo hoo! I'm so chuffed! I received the cover art for "Love & Brimstone" and I'm tickled to death with it! I love how it came out!
Ironically the cover artist's name is Anastasia, and my heroine's name is Anastazia...coinkydink? I think NOT! *LOL*
Seriously, I love it, and think she did a wonderful job. Feel free to visit her website and take a look at her other work.
Book Promo: "Letting Luce" by Jenny Gilliam
at
7:01 AM
Fellow writer Jenny Gilliam is releasing her book, "Letting Luce" on Friday, June 20. You can buy it from Amira Press.
Here's a blurb:
When Lucy Hollister tried to drop-kick her personal computer out her second-story window, she had no idea it would eventually lead to the seduction of her very hot, very yummy best friend, Rory Carlisle.
After all, she’s the queen of passivity, and he’s the reining king of the non-committed relationship. When a sexy online flirtation leads the couple into some steamy situations, Rory realizes that his cute best friend is letting loose—in the best possible way.
Can this couple get past old hurts and guarded hearts to embrace the passionate love that awaits?
I'm Being Interviewed!
at
7:36 PM
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
I'm going to be interviewed on BlogTalkRadio by Jordana Ryan on Friday, 6/27/08, 2pm Eastern time. Whoo hoo!
Here's the link: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Jordana-Ryan
Hear about my upcoming book, "Love & Brimstone," coming soon from Amira Press.
Here's the link: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Jordana-Ryan
Hear about my upcoming book, "Love & Brimstone," coming soon from Amira Press.
Welcome to Tales from the Snark Side
at
3:18 PM
Monday, June 16, 2008
Hi, my name is Lesli, and I'm a blogaholic...
This blog will be focused (mostly) on my writing and writing-related issues, like plugging other writers, book reviews/recommendations, etc.
You can link to a couple of my other blogs in the sidebar, but my writing-related issues will land here in this new home.
I'll also be adding links to other writers as I build this blog. You can click the link join the e-mail list. No, I'm not narcissistic, but it seemed easier to just name it after me, since that's my name. Hey, if MaryJanice Davidson can do it...so can I. (It's called branding. And to think your local government pays consultants bazillions of tax dollars to work out their branding for them.)
Oops, slipped into a snark there.
So have fun, enjoy, and look forward to hearing from you. Snark on!
This blog will be focused (mostly) on my writing and writing-related issues, like plugging other writers, book reviews/recommendations, etc.
You can link to a couple of my other blogs in the sidebar, but my writing-related issues will land here in this new home.
I'll also be adding links to other writers as I build this blog. You can click the link join the e-mail list. No, I'm not narcissistic, but it seemed easier to just name it after me, since that's my name. Hey, if MaryJanice Davidson can do it...so can I. (It's called branding. And to think your local government pays consultants bazillions of tax dollars to work out their branding for them.)
Oops, slipped into a snark there.
So have fun, enjoy, and look forward to hearing from you. Snark on!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Where to Find Me
- Current Releases
- Series Info
- Coming Soon
- Contact Info
- FAQs
- Tutorials
- Who is this chick?
- Siren Author Page
- Newsletter
- Facebook Links
- Printable Book List
- Chat Group for Readers
- Google+
- Tumblr
- Write Your Ass Off
- BDSM Authors Playroom
- When One Is Not Enough
- Auralingus With Tymber Dalton
Where to Buy
My Peeps
Labels
.380
#amazonfail
#authorfail
#glitchmyass
#Longmire
#MyWANA
#writerfail
50 Shades of Grey
A Wolf in the Fold
Accidentally on Porpoise
Acquainted With the Night
adult excerpt
alligator shifters
amazon
AMC
American Stonehenge
amigurumi
Amira Press
anal sex
apocalypse shmocalypse
Apple
Aripeka
arthitis
asshats
Auralingus With Tymber Dalton
author tools
authors behaving badly
Authors Guild
award
backstory
bad kitty
BDSM
BDSM Bibliophreaks
Bella Juarez
Beltaine
Berengaria Brown
Bersa
Bersa .380 Thunder
Bightmares
Bleacke Shifters
Bleacke's Geek
Blessed Mabon
Blessed Samhain
blog
blog talk radio
blurbs
Boiling Point
book list
book promo
book trailer
books I've read
brains
Brimstone Blues
Brimstone Series
buttons
Calibre
Captiva Press
car repair
Cardinal's Rule
cats
celtic dragon
censorship
characters
charity
chat
Christmas lights
chronic fatigue syndrome
Chuck Wendig
classes
clusterfucks
Coffeeshop Coven
coming soon
concealed carry
contemporary
contest
contracts
Contractual Obligation
convention
copyright
cougar shifters
cover
cowboys
crafts
crochet
Cross Country Chaos
current releases
cyberbullies
cybersecurity
cyberstalking
cyberterrorism
D/s
damn familiars
Dancing on a Tightrope
Dead Moon Rising
Deep Space Mission Corps
demons
Dexter
dialog
diet
disabled hero
DIY
doctors
Dog Walk
Doggy Style
Doggy Tales 1
dolphin shifters
Domme by Default
donation
dragons
Ds
e-books
e-readers
Earth Day
ebook conversion
Ed Wood
edits
email list
EPIC contest
erotic romance
etc
Evernote
excerpts
excitement
exercise
facebook
facebook tips
family
Femdom
FetishCon
fibromyalgia
Fierce Radiance
Fire and Ice
firearm
Florida
Flylady
fmmm
Foggy Daze
food
free read
freebies
Friday frappe
fun
funny
futuristic
gardening
Georgia Guidestones
ghost
ghosts
Gidget's plan for world domination
giveaway
glbt
Good Will Ghost Hunting
Good Will Ghost Hunting: Demon Seed
Good Will Ghost Hunting: Hell's Bells
goodies
Goodreads
Google+
grammar
greens
grief
Grumpy Cat
guest blog
gun review
guns
gym
hacking
Haitian earthquake
Halloween
handguns
Happy 4th of July
Happy Anniversary
Happy Holidays
Happy New Year's
Happy St. Patrick's Day
Happy Thanksgiving
Happy Valentine's Day
hashing
health
herbs
Hernando Heat
historical
home improvement
home improvement hell
homeopathic
homesteading
Hope Heals
humor
hurricanes
Ikea hack
Imbolc
interview
introverts
IOS7
iPad
iPhone
It's a Sweet Life
Johnny Depp
Jon Dalton
Joss Whedon
Karen Mercury
KDP
kindle
kindlegraph
kitchen sink
kitteh
kitten's tale
kittens
kobo
laptop
law enforcement
Lesli Richardson
lettuce
life
Litha
locations
logline
loose leaf tea
Love and Brimstone
Love at First Bight
Love Slave for Two
Love Slave for Two: Beginnings
Love Slave for Two: Family Matters
Love Slave for Two: Reckoning
Love Slave for Two: Reunions
Luna
Lyrical Press
m/m
MacBook Air
Macy Largo
mammogram
Many Blessings
marketing
menage
mf
mfm
mfmm
Michelle Graham
Mindola
misc
mm
mmf
mmmf
mmmm
Monday Mish-Mash
More Than Make-Believe
morons
movie review
movies
Ms
Mt. Rushmore
music
mystery
nanowrimo
new release
news
Noble Romance
nook
Of Boardwalks and Bison
OKC tornado relief
old house
open promotion
Out of Bight Out of Mind
Out of Smoke and Ashes
Out of the Darkness
Overstock.com
paperbackswap.com
paranormal
pegging
pets
pimp your book
Pinch Me
piracy
places
Placida Pod
playlist
Playroom
plot
point of view
politics
poly
Porpoiseful Intent
Porpoisefully Yours
post-apocalyptic
print
publishing
QOTD
quitting Cymbalta
randomness
rant
recipes
Red Tide
reference
release day
religion
remembering
research
reviews
Righteous Perverts
romance terms
RWA
Safe Harbor
sale
Sarasota Steam
save a tree
Scapple
scary
sci-fi
script
Scrivener
self-pubbing
settings
sex laws
sex toys
shape-shifter
shoes
shopping
Silver Publishing
Sir
Siren-BookStrand
skeet shooting
Smashwords
Smutketeers
snark
sneak peek
Snippet Saturday
Snoopy Dancing
software
Sony e-reader
South Dakota
Space Confederation
spammers
spanking
Spider Bight
spooky
stalkers
status update
Steam
Stoneface
Storm Warning
Summer Solstice
Suncoast Society
Sunset Hearts
SuperNotecard
supplements
survivalists
Susan Hayes
suspense
swag
switches
synopsis
taking stock of characters
tarot
Tarpon Springs
technology
Tessa Monroe
thank you
The Big Bang Theory
The Denim Dom
The Great Turning
The Reluctant Dom
The Romance Convention
The Sopranos
The Walking Dead
Three Dog Night
thriller
Tianna Xander
to-do list
trademark
Triple Dog Dare
Triple Trouble
Trouble Comes in Threes
tstl moments
TV
Twitter
Two Geeks and Their Girl
Tymber Dalton
Tymber's Trybe
updates
USA Today
Valentine's Day
vampires
video
vitamins
weapons
weather
weight loss
Weight Watchers
western
What am I reading?
What are you reading?
what NOT to do as a writer
When One is Not Enough
winners
WIP
WIP Wednesday
Without Porpoise
wolf shifters
word
world war z
writer beware
WriteYourAssOff.com
writing
writing how-to series
writing software
writing tips
wtf?
WW
YouTube
zombies
Copyright 2008-2014, Lesli Richardson. Unauthorized Duplication Prohibited (Links Welcomed). No snarks were harmed in the making of this blog. (Although a few were mercilessly tickled until they piddled.)