My New Love - Scrivener

Sometime in November I stumbled about Scrivener.  I'd heard about it before but never really checked it out.  So I downloaded the free trial and did the tutorial - by the way I REALLY recommend doing the tutorial, it will blow your mind.  On facebook I saw a friend talking about Scrivener and asked her about it.  She loved it.  So after a tiny bit of waffling a went for it.  I also discovered a nanowrimo tie in discount that hadn't expired that i took advantage of.  No, I did not do nanowrimo this year (completing it would  have yielded and even bigger discount at the time) but i did get a % off. 

 

Scrivener, compared to other software coughcoughwordcoughcough is relatively cheap.  And for the tools you receive in return well worth the expense.  Or at least for me it was.  The biggest selling point for me with Scrivener was the corkboard.  That's right folks, an electronic corkboard that as a novel writer in the midst of a restructure that is taking me forever, creates index cards on a bulletin board.  I can type in a sentence or two about the chapter or scene enclosed, color code the card as to the content (chapter or scene for instance).  I tend to get lost in time during my work so I can put what day/time of day it is.  This is a huge help - and this week I identified a point where I had an entire day jump ahead that with the cut of a sentence or two I could eliminate a missing day. 

 

I can also create a list of places.  Lists of people.  I can import photos.  And since I tend to 'cast' my characters I love that ability.  I can create groupings of characters which helps me keep track of who is realted to whom.

 

Scrivener also has Screenwriting templates/tools and nonfiction templates/tools.  So if you're looking for a way to give your writing a kick in the seat of the pants (or maybe yourself a kick in the seat of the pants) give Scrivener a try.   And before you ask if it will work on a Mac - yes but I'm not sure it has all the bells and whistles that the pc version has. 

 

http://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener.php

 

Happy Writing (and revising)

Resolutions

So as the end of the year approaches - And i realize that egads I can't remember the last time I made a blog entry perhaps it time to a) make a blog entry and b) set some goals for myself for 2012. 

 

First let's look back on my 2011.  The year found me back at my writing, albeit in spurts.  It also found me covering another plant's cost accounting position, complete with travel four times, to Aiken, SC from April to early October.  This unexpected busuiness (it's the day career and I need it to pay the bills and feed my writing addiction) diverted my attention (and plans to have the restructred draft of my WIP, Unraveled, completed this year.  I went to the PSWA Conference in Las Vegas in July (Vegas was hot, but arriving back at KC to 100 degree temperatures plus humidity had me wanting to get back on the plane for Vegas) and had such a blast that I joined the organization and already have plans to go to the 2012 conference.  Sadly - 2011 also brought the deaths of two family members, My Aunt Gloria and my cousin Frankie due to cancers in both cases.  I've also spent a lot of time this year working on my dehoarding/purging project I've been working on since I had to pack to move to Columbia, MO in March 2010.  October brought physical inventory.  November and December brought the headache of setting 2012 standard costs.  Again - diversions from writing.   We had a lot of snow last winter - inlcuding one ill timed blizzard that dumped two feet of snow on Columbia smack in the middle of January month end close.  I was forced to work from home on a clunker, loaner, laptop for two days.  I have since been declared 'important' enough to have earned a permanent laptop to prevent such emergencies in the future.  I saw my sister, Marci, a 'record' three times this year:  February for my Aunt's funeral - a trip that brought with it an accident due to inclement weather (it was more or less raining/snowing slush and freezing), June for a family reunion on SE Kansas, and again in November for Thanksgiving.  It was a long year but it wasn't the worst year I've ever had.  OH!  and in August in rejoined Weight Watchers and have as of Monday, December 26 lost 45.8 lbs.  This puts me roughly halfway back to my lifetime status (and not having to pay for WW meetins or etools).   I also found myself first helping then teaching one Sunday a month at my church in Children's Minsitries, had input into changing the curriculum we were/are now using (one that we had used for over 5 years where I lived/went to church before), and became and offical Bright Lights instructor working with girls age 9 to 13 or 14 on Wednesday nights.

 

On to thinking ahead about 2012 and my goals for the years.

First I have to wade my through 2011 year end close and our auditors. 

Next Bright Lights starts backup on January 18 running through either late March or early April.

We have a costing Kaizen event in February (happily - it is here) to talk over issues that came up with standard setting and processes that need to be fixed so we don't have to go through the same issues again in 2012.

I have secured a ticket via my previous church to see Beth Moore live in Kansas City

I have also made reservations, paid conference fees and airline reservations to go to the 2012 PSWA Conference in July. 

We have a family reunion scheduled (I think) in late June (giving me ample motivation to stay on track with Weight Watchers)

Things I need to work on this year/areas of improvement:

Need to establish a set writing schedule so I can slog my way through aforementioned restructure.  I stumbled upon Scrivener late last year, love it and am now using it instead of Word.

Need to get on the exercise bandwagon again.  My sechedule as well as various aches/pains late in the year have me off what I was doing.  No excuses, I'm rethinking some things and have strategies/plans - and a newly purchased Zumba kit so I can Zumba at home withouth having to be reliant on getting out of the office and back to Columbia (I have a 30 minute drive each way).  And the spring/summer/fall will bring walking outside (sorry folks, treadmill walking and my heel spur don't get along).

Bible reading/study/memorization/prayer journaling - years ago when I first started teaching children's minsitry God laid on my heart that I can't expect 'my kids' to do something, If I'm not - so I need to get right in that department.  

Finishing up the dehoarding/purge process - specifically bookshelf purging, filing photos in albums and carting stuff off (i've got a pile waiting for removal - I've just got to move it). 

Shopping for a futon or daybed (leaning toward daybed) for my spare room.  Who knows, maybe my mother will actually come for a visit if I have a place to put her. 

Staying on track with Weight Watchers.  It may take all of 2012 (or longer) to get to that goal (when I lost 104 lbs circa 2005 it took roughly 18 months to get there - so I am expecting a similar timeline with the roughly 90 lb weight loss (beginning on 8/22/11 to lifetime status weight)). 

 

Should be a full/packed year.  And i'm looking forward to it.

--

Yes, You have to stop for the flashing lights & sirens

I seem to be on a peeves bent right now. 

 

So this morning, almost to work flashing lights and sirens approach.  I see them coming a mile or so down the road.  I slow down so I can pull over like I'm supposed to.  The car behind me seems confused.  YES!  You have to stop and pull over for the safety/law enforcement vehicle approaching you.  It passes, down the road I go then an ambulance comes over the bridge that crosses the dual set of railroad tracks.  Again, slow down, pull over stop.  Our first round of this seems to have reminded my follower of 'the rules' (see yesterday's blog for that).

 

Back in mid-April I made a business trip to South Carolina to cross train with a departing cost accountant at another plant.  Due to the Master (golf) tournament, hotels in Aiken where our plant is located were booked the week I was there.  I wound up in a hotel close to Columbia, SC and had to drive 50-60 minutes each way.  Well one day on my way back to the hotel I faced road construction and we were down to one lane.  Then lights, sirens, lights sirens lights sirens.  Anddddddddddddddddddd a whole bunch of people more worried about not losing their place in line because we only had one line than letting safety/law enforcement down the highway.  I did the right thing, pulled over and let them pass.  People seemed confused by this.  Why in my right mind would I pull over?  Why?  Ummmm - because you are supposed to.  Because it is the law.  And because you might be saving the life of someone on the destination end by setting aside your selfish nature for a couple of minutes.  You will get to where you are going.  You might be late.  You might, as I did in South Carolina, even be faced with losing your precious place in line as dozens of cars speed past you.  But, it is the right thing. 

 

About ten years ago I did part of a citizen''s police acadamey (didn't complete due to job change and other complications) but i did get to do a ride along.  I have been in a police car, lights and sirens going as we sped full blast east on 95th street in Lenexa, KS.  Through traffic.  The officer told me he hated going with lights and sirens because people froze, paniced and didn't know what to do and it was a lot of trouble.  I got to witness that first hand from the passenger seat of his car.  People stopped in the middle of the road blocking the path.  People still going down the road.  Honestly folks, you don't know why they are going, you don't know where they are going.  They are there for our protection.  If you can't remember what you are supposed to do, consult the driver's handbook for your state.  It's probably online even.  So PULL OVER, give them a path.  Let them get to where they are going so they can protect us and keep us safe, and maybe save our lives.

 

So be warned, if your following me, and those lights and sirens approach, I'll be pulling over. 

--

Milisa Henderson

http://www.milisahenderson.com/

The Rules

The Rules

I give.  I don't understand.  It's probably me.  It usually is.  But why am I constantly seeing folks breaking rules?  Stupid rules.  Little rules.  Yeah yeah go ahead and call me petty.  I'm used to it. 

 

Point in case.  One of my upstairs neighbors decided to park his shiney, red, Ducati motorcyle under the overhang right outside my apartment door.  There's a rule about this somewhere in the lease.  He then proceeds for days to work on said motorcyle under the overhang - also against the lease rules as I recall.  Motorcycle is now (finally) fixed and parked appropriately as of yesterday.  Grease stains left behind on the cement (freshly painted a month or so back).  I suppose it hasn't occurred to my neighbor to oh say clean up said grease.  (I know, I know, he broke rules to fix the darn thing there of course he's not going to clean up the grease - and besides the grease isnt' outside HIS apartment door). 

 

The road I live on is under construction.  This is brought such joy to my life.  Joy to the extent that I have given up washing my car until said construction is done due to the amount of dirt/dust in the air.  I can wash the car and by evening you can't tell it.  Now due to this construction the entrance next to my building is periodically blocked off.  This morning I watched someone drive around said barrier.  Sorry but I value my car too much to do something idiodic like that.  I drove the long way through the complex and noticed numerous signs posted in the complex so that people trying to use the blocked entrance had a chance to turn around.  Obviously this didn't apply to someone and around they went.  Fine, make your own traffic rules - it's your car not mine. 

 

Anyway - I don't get it.  Maybe I'm just a black and white kind of girl (of course I am - I'm an accountant.  I LIVE black and white, I quote black and white.  is send non-conforming stuff back to folks). 

--

Milisa Henderson

http://www.milisahenderson.com/

Giving

Giving

 

I have a co-worker who has just gone through a horrible situation.  While at work and her son at school, their house was broken into and virtually everything taken.  And I mean EVERYTHING.  Cleaned Out everything.   They're in total shock. 

 

Well last weekend I bought two new pair of shoes and a much needed larger, new handbag (yes larger, I carry half my life with me it seems and I can't break the habit).  I spent enought that I earned a certificate for $10 in Kohls Dollars back.  Yesterday I was prompted to give it to her.  She was stunned this morning.  I told her she needed it more than I do.  I also gave her the weight watcher bar freebie they gave me at the weight watchers meeting last night.  It has coconut in it and I don't like it.  Small thing but to do something small for someone in need - both physical and emotional felt good. 

 

Some days it is the little things.  Some times it is the ittle things.  And it puts me in the right mindframe to be go teach my first session of Bright Lights (a program of spiritual discipleship for girls age 9-14) tonight. 

 

I have another friend in need and my heart breaks for her.  We are too far away in distance for me to do anything.  Due to her circumstances I have lost electronic contact with her.  All I can do is pray and know that God is watching over her. 

 

At a writer's conference I went to this summer, someone said not to put 'religion' on your blog in relationship to promoting your writing.  I can't.  It is who I am.  I cannot be who I am, and be who God wants me to be and write the material God wants me to write without talking about Faith and God.  I understand not all will agree with my perspective.  However I don't believe in isolating myself as a Christian.  As Christians we cannot carry out the 'great commission' of spreading the good news to all nations (by the way panta ta ethnos - as I recall - which means ethnic groups and not nations as we think of it)  if we are hiding in a hole waiting for the return of Christ.  Actually I believe that Christ will not return until all nations (see definition earlier) have had the chance to hear the word in their own language.  While we're getting closer to that, we've got a way to go.  So in the meantime expect a mixture of things on my faith, God, life and writing here.

--

Milisa Henderson

http://www.milisahenderson.com/

Electronic Decluttering

Electronic Decluttering

Probably I can blame Yahoo and it's new! improved! email (that works slower on my work computer despite promises that it faster - go figure) that rearranged things and had me on a hunt yesterday.  But I found myself doing a bit of electronic housecleaning.  

What do I mean by electronic housecleaning?  Well - have YOU taken a good hard look at your email account(s) lately.  How much outdated, useless, no longer needed crap do you have loitering about?   Mine was bad.  I have emails associated with at least three (if not more, I'm only going to state that  when left unchecked and unbalanced I can be something of a rabble rouser) message board blow ups (about reality TV of all things!).  I caught myself reading some of this stuff yesterday and found myself shamed at my behavior and regretting too many burnt bridges and decimated friendships.  Unfortunately at that time I didn't understand, to borrow a phrase from friend and one of my writing instructors, Juliet Kincaid, "life is too short."  

For those wondering - no, I didn't delete those emails, I moved them and kept them as a reminder to myself of how much personal damage I am capable with using mere words on a screen.  

I deleted all sorts of stuff, rearranged and then went to my Gmail account.  I still have work to do there.   Thanks to the labeling (and sub/sub/sub labeling) system there I can file things into small units, I can set a filter to auto flag and such.  While useful, at times I find the achieve button has been a bit overused and I have kept stuff that really I need to analyze what I've got and if it needs to be kept.  

The same probably needs to be done on my external hard drive I use for file storage as well.  Who knows how old that stuff is.  

I will admit at least electronic clutter doesn't take up a lot of physical space.  But it does use a lot of virtual space so it needs just as much attention as other clutter.  Besides, you don't know what you might find.  A reminder of past issues (like above), or reminder of past writing efforts you have put out there (also found, related to two or three message boards).  It gave me a bit of a mental lift to see feedback on things I'd written circa 2003 to 2005 or so.  

it was also a reminder that I had lost opportunity in not creating a brand in my name because at that time I was doing these op /ed pieces, reviews and summaries using board user names.   Today, I know better and would/will use my own name since that is the brand I want to build to support my mystery/suspense writing.  And that is a lesson I'll put out there for folks who might be reading and interested in writing.  yes it is easy to fall under the spell of message board user names for privacy sake, to use creative/cutesy names on Twitter or Facebook, but remember you are building a brand, you are building name recognition and contacts either in the industry or potential book buyers/readers in the future.  So don't hide your light under a bushel like I did.  

Now pardon me - I've got files to sort and delete.

Hunger Games and other YA Lit I find myself reading

So I just raced through the audio version of the second  book, Catching  Fire , in Suzanne Collins Hunger Games trilogy.  I have the third book, Mockingjay, on hold with my library system and am anxiously waiting the email telling me I can download it via Overdrive onto my phone.   I kept seeing Hunger Games around and ignored it.  I'd heard little about it.  On a business trip to South Carolina back in May or June I saw a kid toting a copy.  Then when I recently downloaded the Android app for Overdrive onto my phone and began 'shopping' for audio books to check out and 'read' on my 30 minute (or longer) commute to/from work I spotted the book and put it on reserve.

I am hooked on this series.  Hooked the same way I was when I read the first Harry Potter  book.   Likewise I'm also invested in a series by Ally Carter who writes the Gallagher Girl series about a school  for girls that trains them to be spies.  I have read all four books in this series:  I'd Tell You I'd Love You but Then I'd Have to Kill You; Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy; Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover; and Only The Good Spy Young.

What is it about these books that have a 47 year old aspiring mystery author and cost accountant who is single without children eager to read these novels?  Sometimes I think it is that part of me that I have discussed elsewhere in this blog that never grew up.  The part of me I call '7th grade self'  The girl who  had a box of Trixie Belden books handed to her by her Aunt Francis that had belonged to her older Texan cousins.  (and yes I had one of the books open and read it on the trip back to NE Kansas as I recall).

Or maybe it is that as an author who not only reads but is learning to study novels I find  things that are lacking in my own work but is done so well in these works that I must read them.  I have been told that I write amazing dialogue (thank you to those folks).  And I have put a lot of work into improving characterization (thank you Ronald D Moore - creator and show runner of my beloved re-imagined Battlestar Galactica TV series - if you haven't watched this series with full episode commentary you are missing some excellent coaching/lessons in writing).  But the area I have always struggled with is description.  Or perhaps as is it is put in the world of scifi and fantasy - universe building.  

What both of these series as well as JK Rowlings Harry Potter books do is build a unique, creative environment that you can see, taste, touch and smell.  They are rich worlds and I feel the character's emotions as well.  And through that rich world, and the deep characters I find fiction I cannot put down.  

It helps that these are often short reads that I can zip through and study in a short period of time.  I find that the YA format, at least for studying purposes, is short enough and simple enough that I can also study placement of things like clues, red herrings and suspects.  Or in the case of the Hunger Games Trilogy I can study and think about how the suspense and tension is built.

I also suspect that when I make choices from adult fiction I'm in a zone of reading for pleasure (not that I'm not reading the books above for pleasure) and don't want to break into reading with the editor sitting on my shoulder.  She annoys the heck out of me and it takes longer to read books and she hates everything.