Writing and Journaling Tips and Hints {Writing Notebook and Journaling}

Writing and Journaling Tips and Hints {Writing Notebook and Journaling}

2014-09-04 09:44:28

COMPUTERS!$%#$@%@

For the last month, I've had the problem of running out of space on my PC. It's from back in 2010, and I've written a great deal and taken thousands upon thousands of photos. Never mind all of my journaling. However, I've taken essentially all of it off of my PC and even all of the nonessential programs and I'm still having issues. 

Ugh. It's a writers' and photographers' biggest headache, let me tell you. 

I have been able to figure out how to save everything down online, though, so if the computer needs to be dumped, or I need to get a new one, I'm set. My stuff is mostly protected.

So, I'm using my tablet. Thank God for it. It's my Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 8.9-inch, can take it with me everywhere and anywhere tablet that I absolutely adore. 

So, yesterday, decided to see if I wanted to pursue one book angle. Using my fancy-smancy online writing programs--and they didn't work! Ugh. Big ugh. Another ugh. Do I need to stress that--UgH! Frown. 

I'm trying to avoid apps because I don't want to rely on apps. I would rather be able to access whatever I'm writing and journaling from the web alone. So, online programs, emails, and the cloud is the bomb and fits well into my needs.

However...

PENZU.COM

But, Penzu.com continues to be my digital/online/cloud journaling and writing rock--thank God. (Bravo Penzu!!! Again, shameless plug. you can get the free version--which is fabulous. Or, you can get a fancier version, the $19 per year version--plus discount at the link in my previous blog post.)

So, a major blessing to count right now is Penzu.com (Blessing 728).

I've decided to do all of my rough draft writing in Penzu.com and be done with it. Period. It saves the hassle and the headache--and I know my work is saved--period. End of story. No worries. No space taken up on my pc, tablet, or external hard drive. Easy-breezy. (Love it. Again, it's a MAJOR blessing. It's noticed--and has been the last couple of weeks, particularly the last couple of days.) 

The truth is, I've written hundreds of books, some partials and some full-length books. Learning over the last two months that Penzu is the program to use, I wish I would have figured it out years ago. It would have saved a lot of headache and frustration. 

Moreover, I try to save multiple versions of each book as I write it, so I have copyright proof and justification if I ever have to call out copyright infringement on someone, so knowing about Penzu makes all of the difference. I can save as much as I want and not worry about losing my writing. (Whew.)

Why am I writing about this? Because it's a major victory after a string of computer and online frustrations to figure this out and have a solution--once and for all--no matter what computer, tablet, or cell I use--from anywhere in the world and at any time. Yes. This is a major relief.

I say all of this to share with you journalkeepers and writers so you can save yourself the frustration of dealing with all of the problems I have through the years, as well as in the last two weeks in particular. 

#WritingProgram #HowIWrite #Writing #WritingTipsAndHints #JournalingTipsAndHints #Journaling #WritingFiction #RYPStories #RYPJournaling #Journalkeeper #Journalkeeping #HowToWrite #WritingResource 

Journaling Retreat Tips: What do you do?

How is it possible to have enough to do in a journaling retreat that lasts, ideally  12-15 hours a day for 1 day, let alone anything more than that? Is something you might wonder.

It's easy, if we have lots of choices. So, what are the choices?

* Read the blog post from Monday and all of the links I have there and do them.

* Do lots of Stream of Consciousness writing--where you write for a 10-15 minute block anything that comes to mind. The key is to write fast. If you run out of anything to say, either write, "I don't know what to say," or rewrite the most powerful thing you wrote in the session. And keep repeating either, or both, until you know what to say.

* Do several journaling exercises or prompts. Look throughout this blog. Download a free copy of my book, THE JOURNALING AND STORYKEEPING ENCYCLOPEDIA OF 2013 and do anything found there. Look at the other blogs I have recommended and listed on the side of my blog, including THE JOURNALING PATH blog. Trust me between all these, you have enough material to write for a lifetime.

* Make lists. List your memories, all the people in your life, all your favorite possessions, all of the places you've lived and work, your favorites of anything, TV shows you have watched in your life, movies you have seen, books you have read... Then, do a journaling entry about any and all of them.

* Look at your photographs and journal about them.

* What photos do you not have that you wish you had? Write about them, what happened, what you experienced, and why you wish you had them.

* Go to Flickr and find photos to inspire you and write about.

* Look up inspirational quotes and journal about them.

* Journal anything your heart desires.

~ Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Memoir Writer

NaNoWriMo Day 1 Tips

I recommend writing as fast as you can and as much as you can in 15 minute chunks. (I average 500 words when I do this--to help give you an example of word count.)

15 minute writing chunks are the key. Anyone can focus for 15 minutes. It isn't too much and decreases the chances are you'll get sidetracked or distracted. 

30 minute chunks tend to be too long (for the reasons I just mentioned).

Then,a t the end of the 15 minute chunk, get up. Walk around. Move. Do something else for a couple of minutes. Drink a glass of water ( This is not just a suggestion. It helps.). Grab a snack and/or some coffee or tea. Then, go sit back down. Check email, write a blog post, or whatever--for 5-15 minutes (depending on how much time you have to write today). Then, get back at it. Do another 15 minute chunk. Do this until you have reached your word count goal of the day.

This is an approach I have employed for years and it works brilliantly. Give it a try. 

I also recommend this with any time you do writing, even if it isn't NaNoWriMo. It works really well. 

Stacy Duplease

Thriller Historical Fiction Writer
The Chronicler of Roanoke: The Family Treez of the USA Series, Book #1

Email: familytreezusa@gmail.com

NaNoWriMo: http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/participants/familytreezetc

Bookstore: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction

dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA

NaNoWriMo is in 28 days: Writing Tips and Hints

NaNoWriMo is in 28 days.

Re-read that first sentence one more time.

Do you feel your heart race? I know I sure do. Is it nerves, excitement, fear of failure, or (YES!) all of the above? 

I ask again. Have you written 1667 words today? This is the first step to preparing for NaNoWriMo. You might as well get in the habit now. 

A writing tip I want to share with you is this:

DO NOT EDIT.

Allow massive amounts of typo's and spelling errors. Do not use spell check until you reach your goal. Then, do it all at once and use the "change all" option to save yourself time. The chances are if you repeat a typo and repeat the same word, you will repeat the typo. "Change all" will save you time in the end. 

Another writing tip:

Do you hit the delete key to go back and fix something and re-type what you just wrote. Instead, keep typing. You can fix it later. 

Start getting in these habits today--and it will help you with NaNoWriMo. 

Stacy Duplease
Thriller Historical Fiction Writer

Roanoke 1584-1590: The Family Treez of the USA Series, Book 1

Email: familytreezusa@gmail.com

NaNoWriMo: http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/participants/familytreezetc

Bookstore: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction

dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA