9 Things I Wish I'd Known at the Beginning of My Writing Journey

by Lynn Huggins Blackburn
@LynnHBlackburn

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been thinking a lot about my early years as a writer. I had no idea what I was doing and I was so eager to learn. I took courses and went to critique groups and attended conferences, all in an effort to figure out how to do this writing thing right. And do you know what I remember most about that time?

The Story of With—A Book for All Creatives

by Lynn Huggins Blackburn @LynnHBlackburn

I read a lot of books on writing, creativity, and productivity. I read a lot of writing blogs. I listen to a lot of writing podcasts. At some point, it all starts to run together and while there may be a particular point or concept that sticks with me, it’s often difficult to remember exactly where I read or heard it or who exactly shared the information.

But there is a post I read about eighteen months ago that resonated with me so deeply that I can tell you exactly who wrote it and where it appeared. It was a post about writing with God for seven days, it was written by Allen Arnold, and it appeared on Novel Rocket.

The Price of Books—Still the Best Deal Around

by Lynn Huggins Blackburn @LynnHBlackburn

I am a book lover. Always have been.

I realize that not everyone is. (I don't understand these people, but I recognize they exist).

But one thing I do not understand is anyone who complains about how "expensive” books are.

Really?

When the Writing Gets Tough, Just Keep Pedaling

by Lynn Blackburn @LynnHBlackburn

A few weeks ago, our youngest son decided he was ready to try riding his bike without the training wheels. My husband removed the training wheels and we wrapped him in bubble wrap secured his helmet on his head and found some knee and elbow pads before letting him go on a small slope in our backyard.

He was a natural.

I’m not just saying that because he’s my baby. No. Really. I’m not.

Within minutes he was begging to take his new skill and test it out in the cul-de-sac.

We turned him loose on the road and he did fine while pedaling down the slight slope of our street. The trouble came when it was time to turn around and head up the road. He’d make the turn but then he would reach a point where he needed to dig in and pedal harder.

Over and over again instead of pushing through, he’d put his feet down and come to a complete stop.

Mostly FREE Gifts for Writers

by Lynn Huggins Blackburn @LynnHBlackburn

I love giving gifts.

If I could, I would give gifts to E-V-E-R-Y-B-O-D-Y. My husband argues that I come close, but he has no idea how much effort I put into restraining myself!

In an effort to stick to my budget, I’ve been thinking of ways to give gifts to some of my favorite people…the writers who touch my life in so many meaningful and positive ways.

Most of these suggestions won’t cost you more than few minutes of your time, but will mean the world to the recipient.

(Feel free to share this list with the people in your life who don’t write, but love a writer or two!)

Thursday Review—One Word

by Lynn H. Blackburn

I’m sure many of you have heard of the idea of choosing One Word for the New Year.

Thursday Review—Christmas Writing

by Lynn Huggins Blackburn

With all the things we have to do during the holidays, it’s easy to set our writing aside. But what if we could incorporate our writing into some of our favorite holiday traditions? Here are a few suggestions that will help you “keep calm and write on” during this busy time of year.

Thursday Review—You Know You're a Writer When You Procrastinate by...

by Lynn Huggins Blackburn

One of the best things about NaNoWriMo is that it demands you cease all forms of procrastination and get ‘er done. But since I’m not participating this year, I’ve been thinking about how writers have our own special ways of procrastinating.

So here you go.

You Know You’re a Writer When You Procrastinate by…

Thursday Review—The War of Art

The War of Art

The War of Art

by Steven Pressfield

A guest blog by Lynn Blackburn

Edie tried to let me off the hook this month. She graciously offered to give me an extra day or two, or even to pull up a review from the archives.

As much as I appreciated her kindness, I said no.

Not because I’m anything special—unless you consider stubbornness to be a positive character trait—but because saying “yes” would have been giving in to Resistance.

You may never have heard it put in terms of Resistance, but if you feel called to create anything—a healthier lifestyle, novels, art, music, a new business or ministry—then you have experienced Resistance.

In the War of Art, Steven Pressfield defines Resistance this way . . .  

“Resistance cannot be seen, touched, heard, or smelled. But it can be felt…It’s a repelling force…Its aim is to shove us away, distract us, prevent us from doing our work.”

In Part 1, brief chapters (and I do mean brief—some are less than 1/2 a page) are devoted to the many ways Resistance seeks to defeat us. Here are a few…procrastination (I’ll do it later), playing the victim (my kids were up all night and I’m so tired) and self-doubt (I’ll never be good enough). If you don’t have problems with those things (and if you don’t then I’d like to find out how you do it) I’m sure he’s got at least one or ten that you’ll find applicable.

Resistance puts up a good fight, but in Part 2 he details how we defeat Resistance.

We turn pro.

This doesn’t mean we quit our day job. This means we approach our art as professionals.

Amateurs work when they have the opportunity. Pros show up every day. Amateurs piddle around. Pros finish what they start.

The decision to turn pro requires an act of the will. But even if you turn pro, Resistance will continue to seek to thwart you.

In Part 3, Pressfield talks a lot about angels and muses as he details calling on a “higher realm” to assist us.

As a believer, I agree that there is a higher realm. But rather than praying to “the Muse” I pray to my Heavenly Father for wisdom, creativity, and the discipline to put my butt in the chair and write.

While there were parts of the final chapters that I couldn’t reconcile to my belief system, and while I would not characterize this as a Christian book (the language is quite colorful throughout), the final page gave me pause. He’s talking about what happens if you choose not to do what you were put on this planet to do, and he says this . . .  ”…you spite the Almighty, who created you and only you with your unique gifts, for the sole purpose of nudging the human race one millimeter farther along on its path back to God.”

Resistance is powerful.

But it can be overcome.

And if you believe you’ve been called to write for the kingdom of God, it must be overcome because you have work to do.

The question is, will you do it?

So what about you? Have you “turned pro” and if so, how has your writing changed? 

Don’t forget to join the conversation!

Blessings,

Lynn

Lynn Huggins Blackburn has been telling herself stories since she was five and finally started writing them down. She blogs about faith, family, and her writing journey on her blog Out of the Boat. Lynn is a member of the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild and the Word Weavers, Greenville. She lives in South Carolina where she hangs out with three lively children, one fabulous man, and a cast of imaginary characters who find their way onto the pages of her still unpublished novels. She drinks a lot of coffee.

Thursday Review—Unleash the Writer Within

A guest post by Lynn Blackburn

For my first guest post here at The Write Conversation, I reviewed a talk given by Cec Murphey at our local Cross Way Christian Supply. I was impressed by his approachable manner and his willingness to share his writing knowledge with us.

He’s written more than 120 books and they’ve sold millions of copies. So when he turned his attention to writing a book for writers, it would be reasonable to expect him to provide us with a treasure trove of technique. A masterpiece of method. A page-by-page plan for writing a best seller.

But that’s not what he did.

He did something far better.

He opened the door, not to his writing methods, but to his writer’s soul. Unleash the Writer Within is twenty-seven brief chapters, each ending with a different aphorism for writers.

(Side note: I’ll be honest. I consider myself to be a person with an above-average vocabulary, but I had no clue what an aphorism was. So, just in case anyone else is wondering, an aphorism is a “pithy observation that contains a general truth”).

Here are a few…

#16 - My daydreams teach me what’s important to me. My first task is to pay attention to them.

#12 - The more I know who I am and like who I am, the truer my writing voice and the more faithfully I honor that voice.

#22 - I’ve spent much of my life being like others. Now I want to spend time being like the real me.

With stunning transparency, Cec Murphey covers topics near and dear to the writer’s heart. How do I handle writer’s block and my inner critic? What do I do when my writer friends are experiencing success and I’m not? What if no one likes what I write? Am I a real writer if I don’t write every day?

There are chapters on daydreaming, fear, finding your voice, and discovering your rhythm.

Unleash the Writer Within reads more like conversation than textbook. It’s a chat with Cec—a chat where he asks probing questions and shares his experience, not so you’ll write the way he does, but so you can be free to write the story God has given you.

He begins with a question—Why do you write?

Do you know?

The answer is important, and it’s the first step on your journey to Unleash the Writer Within.

Don't forget to join the conversation!

Blessings,

Lynn

Lynn Huggins Blackburn has been telling herself stories since she was five and finally started writing them down. She blogs about faith, family, and her writing journey on her blog Out of the Boat. Lynn is a member of the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild and the Word Weavers, Greenville. She lives in South Carolina where she hangs out with three lively children, one fabulous man, and a cast of imaginary characters who find their way onto the pages of her still unpublished novels. She drinks a lot of coffee.

Thursday Review—Conflict & Suspense

My fingernails are gone…every last one of them.

I haven’t been watching horror flicks or reading thrillers.

What I have been doing is reading the latest book on the craft from James Scott Bell (@JamesScottBell), Conflict & Suspense.

Unfortunately for my manicure, Bell uses multiple examples from books and movies that—frankly—I have avoided up to this point.

And because Bell doesn’t want to give it all away, I’m now conflicted.

Do I go ahead and read The Silence of the Lambs? Is it worth never being able to take a shower again to see Psycho?

(I won’t keep you in suspense. The answer is NO).

But don’t misunderstand. I’m not complaining.

Conflict & Suspense lived up to my high expectations. The good stuff begins in the Introduction. Don’t skip it. He makes a strong case for “making trouble” for your characters and concludes that no matter what your genre is, “trouble is your business. And conflict and suspense are the tools of the craft that will take your business to the readers.” (p. 2)

He then dives into fourteen chapters on Conflict. He covers inner conflict, ways to lace your dialogue with conflict, methods for structuring your novel with conflict in mind, how to brainstorm for conflict, and much more.

In Chapter 15, he turns his attention to Suspense. (This is where my nails lost the battle). We’re talking cliff hangers, stretching the tension, using your setting to add suspense, and how to include instant suspense in some of your low tension scenes. There’s advice on coming up with twists and how to style your dialogue to heighten the suspense.

The final chapter is only four pages—and those four pages alone are worth the price of the book. And no, I’m not going to tell you what they say. You’ll have to buy the book to find out. My copy is dog-eared and highlighted with particular emphasis on the “Do This” exercises. So if you see me in a Panera with 3x5 cards scattered all over the table, please don’t offer to help clean up the mess.

It’s just me—making some trouble.

Care to join me?

Blessings,

Lynn

Lynn Huggins Blackburn has been telling herself stories since she was five and finally started writing them down. She blogs about faith, family, and her writing journey on her blog Out of the Boat. Lynn is a member of the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild and the Word Weavers, Greenville. She lives in South Carolina where she hangs out with three lively children, one fabulous man, and a cast of imaginary characters who find their way onto the pages of her still unpublished novels. She drinks a lot of coffee.

Thursday Review—The Only Post on New Year's Resolutions You’ll Need!

Prayer for the New Year
by Lynn Blackburn

At the risk of sending you diving into that stash of dark chocolate you hid on January first, let me ask a question.

How did your plans for 2011 pan out?

Did you finish your novel? Land an agent? Sign a three-book deal?

If the answer is, “YES!” then allow me to offer my congratulations!

But for many the answer is, “Well, you see, there was this thing, and then that thing, and everybody knows how tough publishing is . . .”

Indeed. It's enough to make a writer wonder if it's time to try basket weaving for fun and profit. Or maybe to start thinking, “I coulda been a contender . . . ”

Oh please.

Are you done wallowing? No? You've got three more seconds.

Okay. You're done.

My dad had a friend who put it this way, “I'd rather shoot for the stars and hit a stump than shoot for a stump and blow my big toe off.”

It's time to shoot for the stars! I know the economy is lousy, publishing is uncertain, and there are 1,738 things that have to happen for your dream to come true.

But the alternative is unacceptable. I'll grant you that big toes aren't required for writing, but why risk it? Aim high!

Do you long to write a book or devotional? Learn how to do it. Go to a conference. Put yourself in a position for amazing things to happen.

Do you have parts of several novels on your hard drive? Finish one! It may stink, but you'll learn a lot and join the ranks of writers who didn't get their first, second, or third book published. But they didn't quit. They kept shooting for the stars. Sure, they annihilated a few stumps along the way, but they can still wear open-toed shoes!

For 2012, I'm choosing to rest in God's sovereign will for my writing career and I'm praying, “Lord, this is what I desire. Please do it or something better.”

His “better” may look like a stump to me, and that's okay. He’s God and last time I checked, He’s in charge of stars and stumps. He also has a habit of turning what looks like an earthly stump into a star-studded galaxy to brighten His kingdom.

So I’m putting it out there and saying, “Lord, I'd like to have a novel published in the next five years. In 2012, I want to finish a novella, another novel, and attend a conference. Please do it or something better.”

So let's hear it. What’s your big dream and your specific prayer for 2012? 

Don't be shy. Shoot for the stars and don’t forget to join the conversation!”

(BTW – My prayer came from a Bible study called One in a Million by Priscilla Shirer. An excellent study and one I found particularly applicable as I walk the twisty road to publication.)

Blessings,

Lynn

Lynn Huggins Blackburn has been telling herself stories since she was five and finally started writing them down. She blogs about faith, family, and her writing journey on her blog Out of the Boat. Lynn is a member of the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild and the Upstate Fellowship of Christian Writers. She lives in South Carolina where she hangs out with three lively children, one fabulous man, and a cast of imaginary characters who find their way onto the pages of her still unpublished novels. She drinks a lot of coffee.

Thursday Review—Writers on Writing

Writers on Writing

Writers on Writing
 a book review by Lynn Huggins Blackburn

Don't you love it when you read a book and it's so good you just can't put it down?

I do, too. I love that feeling of anticipation that builds with each turned page until there are no more pages and I'm left with a sense of satisfaction—and a sink full of dishes, overflowing laundry hampers, and a family that would appreciate it if I found my way to the kitchen.

Fortunately for my always hungry children, this is not one of those books.

And for once, that's a good thing.

Writers on Writing is a compilation of brief articles from some of the heaviest of the heavy hitters in the Christian writing world. (Can you say Cecil Murphey? Jerry B. Jenkins?)  And they are written specifically with the Christian writer in mind.

The articles are divided into three categories. We start with The Writer and cover what it means to be a Christian writer and how to survive in the Christian publishing world. Then we transition to The Craft and cover everything from basic grammar to writing screenplays, from ghostwriting to editing fiction and non-fiction. Then we wrap up with articles on The Business and hit professionalism, talking to editors and building platforms.

Writers on Writing would make a great addition to any writer's bookshelf. Feeling discouraged? Check out Chapter 2. Worried about running out of ideas? See Chapter 5. Trying to edit that devotion down to 250 words? You'll find Chapter 19 useful.

You could sit down and read it all the way through, but I think it's best enjoyed slowly.

Pick it up. Read a chapter.

Put it down. Process what you've read—maybe while dusting or picking up toys.

Repeat.

Your writing—and your family—will thank you.

Don’t forget to join the conversation!

Blessings,

Lynn

Lynn Huggins Blackburn has been telling herself stories since she was five and finally started writing them down. On her blog Out of the Boat she writes about faith and family while her blog Perpetual Motion documents the joys and challenges of loving and rearing a child with special needs. A graduate of Clemson University, Lynn lives in South Carolina where she writes, reads, knits, takes care of three amazing children, one fabulous man and one spoiled rotten Boston Terrier.

Follow Lynn on Twitter @lynnhblackburn

Thursday Review—Christian Writers Guild Courses

A review by Lynn Huggins Blackburn

Have you ever launched into a project, only to discover months later that you had done it all wrong?

No?

Well, I have. And it was a novel-length fiasco.

Literally.

When I completed the first draft of my novel—110,000 of the most amateurish writing every inked onto the page—I began searching for books on the craft of writing. I came across Writing for the Soul by Jerry B. Jenkins (which I reviewed here) and learned about the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild.

And guess what? The Christian Writers Guild offers classes.

Now, I’m all about going to a conference. Rubbing shoulders with writers, sitting across from faculty at supper and having your work critiqued in person. There’s no substitute for it.

But when I discovered the CWG courses, the chances of me going to a writers conference were about as good as my two year old getting that jetpack he’s been asking for. Sure, I’d written a novel, but I knew nothing about writing. And couldn’t justify asking my family to make sacrifices so I could learn.

But the Fiction that Sells course was doable. I had a real-life mentor, seven assignments and approximately four months to complete them. My mentor gave me my first taste of what it feels like to have someone (not your best friend or your mom) edit your work. Scary stuff!

But guess what? I survived.

She cut me no slack. She even went through half of one assignment, marking it up and commenting along the way, and then sent it back to me and told me to try again. She wasn’t being unkind. She was pushing me. Encouraging me to become a better writer.

When I completed the course, she gave me high marks and told me to get myself to a conference. And with her feedback and encouragement, going to a conference no longer seemed like a dream, but a possibility.

If you’re serious about writing—fiction or nonfiction—you must put yourself in a position to learn everything you can and to have your writing critiqued by others. If a conference is not an option due to finances or timing, consider a CWG course. You’ll be glad you did.

Current Christian Writers Guild courses:

Writing Essentials (prerequisite)

Fiction that Sells (short course)

Articles that Sell (short course)

Building your Social Media Platform (short course)

Apprentice

Journeyman

Craftsman

Are you a CWG member or graduate? Tell us about your experience in the comments.

Don’t forget to join the conversation.

Blessings,

Lynn

Lynn Huggins Blackburn has been telling herself stories since she was five and finally started writing them down. On her blog Out of the Boat she writes about faith and family while her blog Perpetual Motion documents the joys and challenges of loving and rearing a child with special needs. A graduate of Clemson University, Lynn lives in South Carolina where she writes, reads, knits, takes care of three amazing children, one fabulous man and one spoiled rotten Boston Terrier.

Follow Lynn on Twitter @lynnhblackburn

Thursday Review—Writing Fiction for All You’re Worth

Writing Fiction for all You're Worth: 
Strategies and Techniques for Taking Your Fiction to the Next Level
James Scott Bell

A Review by Lynn Huggins Blackburn

I read a lot of books on writing. I have to. I blog about them once a month, right here at The Write Conversation. And so far, I’ve learned something valuable from each book I’ve read.

However, I can’t say they’ve all been page-turners. Useful? Absolutely. Pleasurable reading? Not always. Let’s face it. Some books on the craft of writing read more like a textbook than a novel.

But not all of them. James Scott Bell has written some of the classic writing texts of our time—Plot & Structure, Revision & Self-Editing, and The Art of War for Writers. All of which should be on your shelf if they aren’t already. And all of them downright enjoyable reading.

I follow Bell on Twitter (@JamesScottBell) and I make it a point to stop by the blog, The Kill Zone, every Sunday to read his posts.

So when I heard he had an eBook out that was a compilation of many of his previous posts on The Kill Zone as well as some new material, I was intrigued.

When I found it was available for $2.99 as a Nook or Kindle download, I was sold. Sure, I could go the The Kill Zone and spend hours hunting through months of posts. But I have a life.

Besides, there are more than blog posts included in Writing Fiction For All Your Worth. We get a peak inside Bell’s writing notebook, interviews with successful authors, and “Consider Your Worth” questions to make you think deeper about where you are as a writer.

And this book is funny. I wondered if I found some sections funny because I read them at 3AM while feeding a newborn. And just about anything can be amusing at 3AM. But a quick re-read at a more respectable hour confirmed it. This book is a fun read that’s also packed full of writing wisdom.

After a brief introduction, the book is divided into three main sections. The Writing World delves into the digital revolution and the rise of self-publishing. The Writing Life covers everything from Bell’s personal writing routine to practical and sometimes unusual methods writers use to keep their heads in the game and their fingers flying. The Writing Craft hits on first lines, last pages and everything in between.

While the bite-sized sections in this book make it easy to read in increments, you’ll find yourself wanting to read just one more, and then another. And when you’ve finished, you’ll be itching to sit down at the keyboard and write for all you’re worth.

Note: You don’t have to own a Nook or Kindle to enjoy this or any other e-book. Both Nook & Kindle are available as free downloads to your smartphone, tablet, or computer.

Lynn Huggins Blackburn has been telling herself stories since she was five and finally started writing them down. On her blog Out of the Boat she writes about faith and family while her blog Perpetual Motion documents the joys and challenges of loving and rearing a child with special needs. A graduate of Clemson University, Lynn lives in South Carolina where she writes, reads, knits, takes care of three amazing children, one fabulous man and one spoiled rotten Boston Terrier.

Follow Lynn on Twitter @lynnhblackburn

Thursday Review—ON WRITING

A Review on Stephen King's ON WRITING

by Lynn Huggins Blackburn

I don’t like horror. I don’t read it. I don’t watch it. I try very hard not to think about it.

So it will come as no surprise that I have never read a Stephen King novel.

What may come as a surprise, especially if you also avoid Stephen King’s novels—preferring to sleep without nightmares or a baseball bat in your hand—is that Stephen King is a respected author. His writing—according to people who are much braver than I and who have read his work—is excellent, his storytelling skills exemplary and his technique worthy of emulation.

This poses a problem for me. Because while I’m interested in reading and learning from masters of the craft, I’m not going to read his horror novels.

Fortunately for me—and you, should you happen to share my belief that it is actually possible to be scared to death—I don’t have to. Several years ago, King compiled his thoughts On Writing. No horror. No gore. Just practical writing tips from an author who knows what he’s talking about.

The book is divided into three sections—C.V., On Writing, and On Living: A Postscript. 

In the C.V., King gives a brief autobiography and it's an engaging read. I enjoyed his style and voice so much, I flirted with the idea of reading one of his novels. (I came to my senses when a popping sound made me jump and I realized it was just the A/C kicking on).

The middle section, On Writing, is a tight package of writing tips. After establishing the “Great Commandment”—read a lot, write a lot—King details what should be in your writer’s toolbox, gives suggestions for setting up your writing space and then dispenses advice on dialogue, theme, symbolism, description, characterization and the revision process.

The final section, On Living: A Postscript, is a brief account of the accident that almost claimed his life in the summer of 1999, as he was writing this book.

He concludes by providing a brief sample from a short story. We see the first draft, followed by his revisions and a note explaining why he chose to make the changes he did.

Thankfully, while this passage hints that there is some creepy stuff going on, it’s tame enough for a wimp like me to be able to see the flaws in the first draft and appreciate the revision process without hyperventilating or slamming the book closed, too afraid to read to the end.

In fact, this is a book I will open again and again. My guess is that you will, too.

Disclaimer: This book, while an excellent treatise on the craft of writing, is written in a conversational style, including very raw language.

Lynn Huggins Blackburn has been telling herself stories since she was five and finally started writing them down. On her blog Out of the Boat she writes about faith and family while her blog Perpetual Motion documents the joys and challenges of loving and rearing a child with special needs. A graduate of Clemson University, Lynn lives in South Carolina where she writes, reads, knits, takes care of three amazing children, one fabulous man and one spoiled rotten Boston Terrier.

Follow Lynn on Twitter @lynnhblackburn

Thursday Review—Writer’s Digest

by Lynn Huggins Blackburn

Have you ever felt left out? Ever been told you should do something if you want to succeed—but you can't?

If you've ever contemplated a writers conference with a non-existent bank account, three small children, or a work schedule with zero vacation, then you know what I'm talking about.

If you've been writing for any length of time, you know about conferences. You know you should find a way to get to one, preferably every year. You know your career will benefit.

But you can't go. You can't afford it. You can't leave your kids. You can't get off work.

But could you spare $20?

That's right. $20. The price of two movie tickets. The price of four frappuccinos. The price of five gallons of gas (I know, depressing isn't it).

For $20, you can subscribe to Writer's Digest. Think of it as a little mini-conference that comes to your mailbox eight times a year.

Don't believe me? Let's think about what happens at a conference.

1. Networking - I'll grant you that you aren't going to get the same person-to-person networking from a magazine that you'll get at a conference, but each issue will expose you to new genres, new publishers, new authors, new agents, new websites and new ideas. The May/June issue lists the 101 Best Websites for Writers. You'll find websites for agents, online writing communities, writing advice, specific genres and much more.

2. Classes - Sure, you want to take classes in your field, but you also want to broaden your horizons and take a few classes in areas you know nothing about. Writer’s Digest meets both requirements. The February issue included the article "25 Ways to Improve Your Writing in 30 Minutes a Day" - hmm, sounds like a workshop title to me. If you're a fiction writer, the May/June issue's "Writer's Workbook" focuses on backstory. If you're more the freelance article type, the focus is on Food, Wine & Travel writing. It's fascinating.
  
3. Inspiration/Motivation - Conferences are like pep rallies for writers. So much encouragement, so many new ideas, so many reminders of why you write—you feel exhausted and exhilarated all at the same time.

I'm not going to pretend that reading Writer's Digest will make you want to grab some pompoms or put on some college football fight songs as you write. But, there’s something about having a magazine with the title Writer's Digest landing in your mailbox—with your name on it.

It's a little reminder.

I may not be at my favorite conference this year.
But I am a writer!

What about you? Do you subscribe to Writer's Digest? How has it helped you?
Don't forget to join the conversation!

Lynn Huggins Blackburn has been telling herself stories since she was five and finally started writing them down. On her blog Out of the Boat she writes about faith and family while her blog Perpetual Motion documents the joys and challenges of loving and rearing a child with special needs. A graduate of Clemson University, Lynn lives in South Carolina where she writes, reads, knits, takes care of three amazing children, one fabulous man and one spoiled rotten Boston Terrier.

Thursday Review—Scrivener for Windows Part Two

by Lynn Huggins Blackburn

Last month we explored a few features of Scrivener for Windows that are particularly useful during the draft process, check out Part One of this review here.

This month, we’re going to scratch the surface—barely—of the Scrivener features I’ve come to love during the revision process. It should be noted here that I’m not a huge fan of revisions.

OK. Truthfully, I hate them. Even having a ready-made excuse to eat tons of chocolate isn’t enough to help me enjoy the process. But after a few weeks of revisions, I’m certain Scrivener is going to make this editing adventure go more smoothly than my last.

Here's a quick rundown of a few of my favorite Scrivener features:

First, let’s talk outlines. I’m not a big outliner, but after the draft is finished, having a quick visual of each scene makes it much easier to decide which scenes need to go, which need to stay and which can stay but need to be moved. In Scrivener, you can create “index cards” for each scene and then view them on the Corkboard.

I know some people use this method with actual index cards and their floor or a handy wall and that’s a lovely idea. Except for one thing…I have small children. One of whom thinks all forms of paper (bills, manuscripts, legal documents) have been provided for her own artistic endeavors. Scrivener allows me to have the visual diagram of my manuscript I crave without the added features of random crayon scribblings.

Second is the fabulous Snapshot. If you’re like me, the idea of cutting a huge chunk of your draft makes your eyelids twitch. But in Scrivener, you can take a snapshot of your original work and if you spend a few weeks tweaking a chapter, only to have your critique group tell you the original was better, no worries! It’s saved and is easily accessible.

Third, the Split Screen. There are so many ways you can use this—to keep a research file open as you edit a scene, or to keep a picture in view as you describe a setting. Or say you want to experiment and rewrite a scene from a different POV, you can keep the original open on the top to refer to as you rewrite the scene underneath.

If you enjoy revisions, you’re probably drooling by now. If not, I’m not prepared to say that using Scrivener will make revisions pleasant.

But, easier? Absolutely.

Less tedious? Certainly.

Possibly require less chocolate?

Nah. I can’t go that far!

Don't forget to join the conversation!

Blessings,

Lynn

Lynn Huggins Blackburn has been telling herself stories since she was five and finally started writing them down. On her blog Out of the Boat she writes about faith and family while her blog Perpetual Motion documents the joys and challenges of loving and rearing a child with special needs. A graduate of Clemson University, Lynn lives in South Carolina where she writes, reads, knits, takes care of two amazing children, one fabulous man and one spoiled rotten Boston Terrier.

Thursday Review—Scrivener for Windows

by Lynn Huggins Blackburn

I wrote my first novel in a Word document. It never occurred to me that there might be a better way to do it.

Editing said novel was, shall we say, challenging.

Somehow, I had deluded myself into thinking I would never forget exactly which page the tiniest detail lived on.

Trust me. Write 400 pages and you will forget. You will scroll through chapter after chapter trying to find that detail. You will regret not being more organized.

You might cry.

But there is hope!

I first heard about Scrivener at BRMCWC. I sat enthralled as the instructor — a well-respected, multi-published author — shared with us her approach to novel writing. And then — despair!

Scrivener was only available for Mac.

AAAAGGGGHHHH! I’m a PC. No Scrivener for me. I thought I might cry.

But hope springs eternal! In the fall, I learned that Scrivener for PC was coming to a laptop near me. And, even better, the beta version would be released just in time for intrepid NaNoWriMo participants to test drive it.

Here are a handful of the things I love.

• Video tutorials. I’m very visual and the video tutorials were well worth the time. If you download Scrivener, start here.
• Word count. In Scrivener, the word count is at the bottom of the screen at all times. Trying to meet your goal for the day? A swift glance will tell you how far you have to go. I’m a simple girl and this made me very happy!
• Scene organization. My entire novel is in one file but broken down into however many sections I want. I can label my scenes in whatever way works for me—Chapter 2, First Kiss, Breakup, Vacation, etc. And I can add to or re-organize scenes with ease—no cutting and pasting.
• Notes. My favorite feature for the draft phase. Your fingers are flying, smoke rising from your keyboard, when a plot twist appears on your screen. Your characters decide to vacation in Toronto. You've never been to Toronto. What do you do? Do you stop everything? No! You type on. And in the convenient "Document Notes” section, you leave yourself questions—How long does it take to fly to Toronto? What’s the average temperature in July? The Notes feature is far more user friendly than adding comments in a Word document.

There’s much more, but Scrivener tells me I’m over my word count for this post already. Next month, we’ll talk about the beauty of Scrivener during the revision process.

Side note: This means I’m actually going to have to do some revisions. My internal editor is thrilled!

Don't forget to join the conversation!

Blessings,

Lynn

Lynn Huggins Blackburn has been telling herself stories since she was five and finally started writing them down. On her blog Out of the Boatshe writes about faith and family while her blog Perpetual Motion documents the joys and challenges of loving and rearing a child with special needs. A graduate of Clemson University, Lynn lives in South Carolina where she writes, reads, knits, takes care of two amazing children, one fabulous man and one spoiled rotten Boston Terrier.






*Additional Note - Here's the link to Part Two of the Scrivener Review