EVALUATION OF MY NEW METHOD AND WAY OF JOURNALING

06-07-2015d Personal Journaling, Sunday, 1038 a.m.

EVALUATION OF MY NEW METHOD AND WAY OF JOURNALING

I figured it's time for me to stop and evaluate my new way of journaling. I started it with full-time use on Wednesday, June 03, 2015.
My new method and way of journaling is by doing my entries in a document. I then email the document a couple of times per day to myself and save it on my laptop and tablet, along with the Cloud. I will also save it to my external hard drive once a week or so.
Is it overkill to do all of these saves? Probably.  However, with all of the problems I've had between movers losing ten years of my journaling, and irreconcilable differences with an online journal, I do not think it is. I want to keep all of my journaling for the rest of my life and pass it on, this journal keeping legacy. So, saving my journaling in multiple ways, throughout the day, brings me a piece of mind I wouldn't have otherwise. And, it ensures I do not lose my journaling.
So, what do I think of this way of journaling?
I'm loving it. I have absolutely no complaints whatsoever.
I cannot help but feel foolish as to why I haven't done it like this until now.
I do not need the internet in order to journal or see my past journals. I have all of my journaling saved so I can view it at any or all times on my laptop, tablet, and cell.
It's easy to search and find information.
However, the biggest benefit of the way I am journaling now is how I can email my journal to my tablet and the tablet will automatically then put it into e-book form for me. I can then highlight things and add notes to it. Then, I can print that out, email it, and save it multiple ways in multiple places.
So, on a scale of 1 to 10. I give it at least a 12 so far.
I use a word processing program that is free, so this way of journaling costs me nothing financially either. This is another benefit. (Woo-hoo!)
I cannot recommend it enough.
~*~

​Idea for Tetrad: Four Blood Moons: A Writing Notebook or Journal for a Novel and Camp NaNoWriMo

​

On March 21, 2015, I read how there was a total solar eclipse the previous day. How did I not know this? I wondered and then thought about my life over the last month with moving across country, and living with a relative as hubby and I wait to find a house. Yeah. That is how I didn't know. Interesting. I usually am well aware of astronomy events and news. Huh.

Then, I saw this article:

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2015/03/20/four-blo...

And this got me to thinking, even in spite of my crazy life right now, I should do Camp NaNoWriMo in April. Tetrad is a good idea for a book and possible series.

Maybe 15,000 words for Camp NaNoWriMo?

So, yes. I'm going to try Camp NaNoWriMo.

Pardon me as I start writing.

More in a bit. Stay tuned.

My Personal Prayer Journaling on Saturday March 21, 2015

S.O.A.P. of Jeremiah 17:7-8, Part 2
I keep reading this passage and what to commit it to memory and to each moment of my day.
*~*
Jeremiah 17:7-8 New Living Translation (NLT)
7 "But blessed are those who trust in the Lord
and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.
8 They are like trees planted along a riverbank,
with roots that reach deep into the water.
Such trees are not bothered by the heat
or worried by long months of drought.
Their leaves stay green,
and they never stop producing fruit.
-- New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers: Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
*~*
Observation, Application, and Prayer:
I want to trust in God and have complete confidence and hope in Him.
Okay... That is a great sentiment. What does this look like in practice? How do I apply it? And, not only that, but how do I fully apply this to my life?
Lord, show me the way, please. How do I this? How do I live this way and in this manner?
I do not want to ever worry or be in a spiritual drought again. Instead, I want to be blessed by trusting in You fully, Lord, through having total hope and confidence in You. But, I need to know how to do so. Show me the way, God. I want to live a fruitful life in You.
~*~*~*~*~

My writing: My personal prayer journaling
March 21, 2015
I am still trying to figure out what to write, as far as a book. However, that is not my goal right now. Personal prayer journaling is my focus instead, which also means writing a daily devotional in the process as a result.
What do I want to write about? Or more importantly, what do I want to journal about?
1 Life--in Christ
2 Counting my blessings
3 Taking a Stand against terrorism
4 The end times
~*~*~*~*~
Tetrad: Four Blood Moons
316 p.m.
I have been praying about what I should write.
Is this it?
Is this a fiction book?
April is Camp NaNoWriMo. Should I? Do I?
If so, it will have the title: "TETRAD: FOUR BLOOD MOONS."

AN INDEX CARD STYLE WRITING NOTEBOOK AND JOURNAL

AN INDEX CARD STYLE WRITING NOTEBOOK AND JOURNAL (02.11.2015.W.)

Yesterday, I shared how I am trying a new writing system of outlining and using index cards to do so. I figured I would share my progress and my system so far as I write my epic love story of patriotism, "AUTUMN BLAZE."

I read how some outline a little and how some outline a great deal. Part it depends on your learning style. Well, what does that mean for me? Since I realize I am a visual and a hands-on, touchy feely learner both rolled into one, and I have tried every other method of writing, I decided to go all in with the index cards for outlining and to use as my writing notebook and journal. I am writing everything on index cards.

As of late yesterday afternoon, I had 133 index cards filled. My husband and I bought 500 over the weekend. In one day, I used 133 cards. Uh-oh. This brought on two challenges:
1 I needed more cards.
2 How on earth would I organize them?

I scratched my head and looked around in my house to see what I had:

It's a plastic shoe box or cd/dvd box. Perfect.

I will carry it around with me everywhere, not caring how silly I may look. It's practical and it's for what I do for a living. Some carry a brief case or book bag or laptop bag. Not me. I now carry a plastic shoe box. (Chuckling.) It's so me. Silly.

Now, I know me. I am a klutz and there is a good chance I will drop the box or it will slide off the seat as I drive. That would not be good to have them scatter, get mixed up, and possibly land in a puddle or in my coffee. Therefore, it's a plastic shoe box with handles to lock down the lid. Whew.

I'm moving shortly and all of my stuff may have to be in storage for weeks to months, so I need to make sure to have extra black pens on me, along with some color pens for color coding. Hence, the zippered pencil bag.

There is another angle. You'll see how I folded a couple over to make index tabs and I kept the unopened packages in there as well, so it's all in one place. Easy breezy. Simple. Useable. Organized.

As you can see, I got 600 more blank cards from the store already.

So far, I am blown away by how much I am enjoying the system. It's working really well for me. Each thought, idea, plot point, character, settings, etc. gets its own card. I can shuffle them as needed. If I get an idea for something later in the book, I note it on a card, place it where it should go, return to where I was and carry on. Before, I would have to search for those ideas in my writing notebook and I may forget to do so or it would be hard to find. This way, when I get to that point later, it's already there, and as I review in the morning about what I wrote previously, and where I am headed, it's already there.

Or, if I get an idea and have no idea where to put it, I have a section for that as well, along with an Old Writing section of ideas discarded or that I changed. I have a section for that as well in my index file system. I always keep every idea, for I may need it later, and often times do.

I have a simple one word outline for each of the different parts of the book, I have that in sentence form as well in another section in my index file system for that as well, along with my premise sentence and paragraph, back cover material, etc. It's all there. I have character sketches and character question and answers, etc. I have a section on backstory.

It's all in my shoe box. And, all of it, and I mean ALL of it, is easy to find with this system. I have never been able to say that in 14 years of writing. Never ever.

What was I will thinking before?

Whoever says you can't find stuff easily with this system has never tried this.

I am writing, possibly, a book of 1,000 pages. I need and must be as organized as possible and not lose any, or forget, ideas or facts and figures from my story (who's who and what's what and when and how and why). So, the worst part of my system may be I have to carry two or three shoe boxes. Okay. So? I have no problem with that. This organization is making it easier to write. I am freed.

I will keep you updated.

So far, this may be the best story I have ever written and it is easy and is a joy to do. (Yay!)

WRITING NOTEBOOK: VISUAL LEARNING AND INDEX CARDS APPROACH

Writing Notebook for February 10, 2015, Tuesday

Over the weekend, I read the book, "Outlining Your Novel: Map Your Way to Success" by K.M. Weiland. 

I've read part of it before. I really wanted to see if outlining was my thing or if it could be my thing. That's about as far as it got. I've been a serial pantser for years and have tried to write hundreds of books--nonfiction and fiction (novels). At no avail. I've been all over the place. I've tried to commit and it just hasn't worked. So, it was with this book, when I first read it. However, "Outlining Your Novel" this weekend took on whole new meaning to me. 

I find it interesting how one word, sentence, paragraph, page, section, chapter can finally get something in you to flip on and you have the proverbial AHA! moment. The light bulb comes on and you finally get it. You are no longer in the dark. 

I also find it interesting how it's usually absolute common sense, and is usually something you have thought and/or heard before, but for some reason, this time, the way the words were arranged, something clicked and your brain was able to file the information and retrieve old information and combine it into a new file. Then, you can finally do something with it. That's what "Outlining Your Novel" did for me this weekend.

I count a million blessings for this book and for K.M. Weiland. 

I think, after fourteen years, I finally get it. (Sad. Way too late. But, the timing will be perfect, I have no doubt.)

MY LIGHT BULB MOMENT ABOUT WRITING AND OUTLINING

What was it that created the four by four over the head type of light bulb moment when my slow light finally came on--and at full brightness? It's when she talked about how outlining works really well, through color note cards on a bulletin board, for visual learners. I thought: "Huh. I'm a visual learner." 

This took me aback and flashbacks of junior and senior English in high school came back to me and using index cards to write. I remember that was when I grew in leaps and bounds as a writer. I went from getting C's and B's to A's in a short amount of time. Why did I stop? After all, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. 

I searched my brain and my heart for an answer and quickly discovered an answer that hit close to home and was a painful and in-your-face answer: I went against my firm belief of:

If you ever discover you're taking the easy way, stop, and run quickly in the opposite direction. After all, the easy road is never the best road to take. You think it will save time, and it might to get the first objective accomplished, but it doesn't get the full picture objective accomplished, and it usually takes longer and it isn't your best work. 

I've taken the easy way with writing.

Weiland also talks about how if you haven't outlined and used note cards as a visual learner, you may have several projects you tried, but were never able to brought through to completion. 

Ouch. Double ow. 

She had my attention.

So, bless my husband, I looked over at him after this rolled around in my head for a day and a half, and announced: "We need to go to the store and get me some index cards." 

B (hubby): "Why?"

Me: "For my latest novel."

B: "Haven't you tried that before?" (Not out of complaint or criticism, but out of a genuine heart to get to know my reasoning.)

Me: "No. You're thinking for my art journaling. I haven't tried note cards for writing scone high school."

B: "Oh. Let's go. I need to pick up a couple of things anyway." He didn't hesitate. 

Need I mention how we were in our sweats and it was almost dark--and Sunday night? B humors me. He will do anything he can to support my craft--even as I have spun my wheels on project after project for all of these years. 

So, we went to the store. I stared at the index cards and said, "I have no idea how many I need." I grabbed a couple.

B looked at the price and said, "Well, for that price, you might as well pick up several and I can always pick you up some more on the way home if I need."

I grabbed five packages of 100, and we spent $0.59 per package. And, I said, "I doubt I need all of these, but if I do, I would sure appreciate you picking up more." I really didn't imagine filling in more cards. 

DAY 1 OF USING INDEX CARDS (MONDAY, FEBRUARY 09, 2015)

It took me three-quarters of the day yesterday to finish reading the book, "Outlining Your Novel." I seemed to highlight most of the book, let me add. So, then I started to put what I learned into practice. 

Goosebumps just ran up and down my arms and back. (No joke.)

When B came home from work, he asked me how things went. I told him, "I need more index cards, but still have no idea how many I will need."

He stared at me. I can only imagine what went through his head about his nutty wife. 

"B, my writing has been transformed and revolutionized. I've come up with what I think might be my best idea yet (and I thought how it could be a Great American novel if I do it right). I am not ready to talk about it too much, but I am reading 'GONE WITH THE WIND,' 'THE THORN BIRDS,' AND 'ATLAS SHRUGGED,' if that tells you anything." (But, I thought maybe I should add "THE WINDS OF WAR" and "WAR AND REMEMBRANCE" as well.

Bless him. He just stared at me. 

I think he's been told that with every project and he hasn't, and didn't say, "Sure." Even though he probably thought it and I sure don't blame him if he did. 

Last night, I explained the concept of the book with him and he gave me a slight look that he could tell this really was different and he was curious to see what, if anything, happened with this late great new idea. 

"The index card system has changed things for me." I explained to B earlier.

B: "How?"

Me: "I can see my thoughts in a shorter form and can organize them through moving one card to another place if I need."

B: "You can shuffle your ideas and writing in other words."

Me: "Yeah. It's hands-on. You know me. I'm a visual learned. This really helps me see it, my writing and ideas. But, it also is hands-on. You know me. I learn best through visual learning and through doing it."

B:" That's kinesthetic learning--and yeah. That's you." He nodded. 

Me: "Yeah! That's it."

B: "That makes sense. I'll get you more cards tomorrow."

Me: "Thanks. I've already gone through almost 100." 

He got a smirk and nodded. 

Why haven't I done this all along? What a fool I've been. I think I've finally found how to write, so I can actually start and complete a project. I also think because of it, I've come up with an epic patriotic love story. 

Mind you, I will go against all the rules publishers say. I am going to write a massive novel for my first real book. It will be around 1000-1100 pages. But, if it's tight writing, it will sell. If it's an engaging work that stirs up the emotions and grabs the heart and mind, it will be well received. But, that isn't why I'm writing it. 

This novel, I'm writing because I want to read a book like this. 

So, stay tuned. 

It's called, "AUTUMN BLAZE." 

(Image credit: Stacy Duplease and Remembering Your Present, LLC 2014-2015.)

Writing Notebook and Journaling

Writing Notebook and Journaling

2014-09-21 11:05:44, Sunday

It's been two days since I've done any writing. (Yikes.) No journaling. No writing. It's been a little bit crazy busy. Now, as of this moment, I have a couple of hours or so to rectify the situation. I am a couple of days ahead (or was, I should say), so I am okay as far as that goes, but I feel... What's the word... weird? Like I'm suffering from journaling and writing withdrawal. Never mind how I now need to go back and re-read what I've written so I can remember where I am in the story. 

The one thing I know for sure is I am thrilled to be telling this story. 

I'm writing a series and the first novel of the series. I'm still trying to find the correct titles/names for each. So, far the tentative titles are:

WASP Wings and Prayers in 1943
Book 1 of the American History Journaling and Letters Project

It's both a contemporary fiction book/novel and a historical fiction book/novel. After all, we learn the story of what happened in the past, through the letters and journaling of Connie and we learn about the life of Sara and how Sara's life, and the life of others, are changed through learning Connie's story. 

I've always thought the best way to learn history was to experience it in some way, whether it's going to the place it happened, doing an extensive study of an event or an individual or a time period, or learning through the firsthand or secondhand accounting of a personal story (letters, journals, orally, memoir, biography, etc.). This makes history real and personal. Everything that has happened in the past has some hand in our lives today. 

History is far more important than I often give it credit for and I realize that it's something I tend to take for granted and shouldn't. History has shaped our world.

I will be honest. History was one of my worst subjects in school. After all, every year, I learned about the explorers and rather got into the twentieth century. I wasn't taught by the schools I attended how history impacts my life today. It impacts politics, current events, law, etc. History has great implciations and ramifications we mostly take for granted. If history would be taught in a personal way, I would have gotten so much more out of it in school.

In the last two years, I've learned about my family tree. I learned how I have several historical figures, and several people like you and me--just trying to live the best life possible given where we are, doing what we're doing. My family tree has made history come alive. And, so has where I live, near the Historical Triangle of Jamestown, Yorktown, and Williamsburg, Virginia.

My family tree and location has made me realize how interesting history really is. Reading a textbook does not make it come alive for me. Seeing a historical site or reading a historical fiction or biography or memoir does. 

While the WASP isn't in my family tree, nor is there a historical site around where I live about the WASP, I find their stories fascinating and a pivotal part of the war. The fact of how so little is told about them or is known, makes me passionate to tell the stories of these heroes who helped World War II turn out the way it did. 

Do you know who the WASP are?

I didn't until a year ago. 

I'm writing to tell their stories--and to share how learning their stories can impact our lvies today and how every personal story has shaped our world today. History is more than the textbook facts. History is best understood through personal story of the everyday individual as well as the ones in textbooks. And, their stories have shaped our lives without us even realizing it--and our lives can be shaped all the more when we learn these stories. 

(Image credit: Stacy Duplease and Remembering Your Present, LLC 2008-2014.) 

My Writing Notebook and Journaling September 18, 2014

My Writing Notebook and Journaling September 18, 2014

2014-09-18 08:11:17, Thursday

I'm being pulled to write a different kind of book. It's part historical fiction and part contemporary fiction. It isn't an idea I would have come up on my own, put of the Blue like this. Not now. But, it has. The idea started to come to me last night and it's grown stronger this morning. 

I had the idea originally a while back and did some research on the subject, and even started to write a book on it, but never did anything with it. I'm not sure why I stopped. 

I just looked up when the idea came to me originally and found it was on September 02, 2013. A year ago. Interesting. 

So, I think I'm going to write it now. 

It will be what I write for National Novel Writing Month (aka NaNoWriMo or NaNo) in November, but I will start researching it, outlining it, and writing it this week. 

It will without a doubt be a series. 

Oh, I'm so excited!

(Note to Self: Wings and Prayers) 

So, yes. I've begun to focus my sights on NaNoWriMo. (Yep. Excited about that, too.)

(Photo and image credit: Stacy Duplease and Remembering Your Present, LLC September 2014)

9/11 Writer's Notebook and Journaling

9/11 Writer's Notebook and Journaling 

2014-09-11 09:53:16

At four this morning, Zack Beagle had a round of dementia which led to B and I sleeping on the couch. Or, trying to at any rate. Poor Zack fought several battles of confusion and disorientation, each time, he came running later to my hand as it hung off the sofa, knowing he usually snuggles up to it, even though he might not have any idea who I am or who he is. 

About the time I finally got to sleep, at least for a couple of minutes, my eyes flew open and it wasn't because of Zack Beagle. Rather, it was because several writing ideas started to form in my mind. The more I relaxed and tried not to allow my heart to break too much for Zack, the more the ideas flew into my mind. 

I didn't write any of the ideas down because i didn't want to move around too much and disturb hubby or Beags. But, the longer I played statue, the more ideas came to me like flashes of lightning during a storm. They were just as powerful and just as striking. 

Then, I was finally able to get some shuteye and the alarm went off. Growl. Mumble. Groan. Sigh. Snooze button. 

Finally after several rounds of snooze, i got up to make hubby coffee, then me, then feed all four critters, and then I sat on sofa and Zack snuggled right up to me. I started to journal, watched most of the 9/11 memorial service on Fox News and journaled about that, but still didn't journal about my writing, but about 9/11/2001 and 9/11/2012. 

Then, I actually got out of my pajamas, played under the water, grabbed another round of coffee, I did some journaling/blogging, and here I sit. I still haven't gotten any of the ideas down on the page, but I will. Excuse me. I'm going to go do that right now.