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The Guild Blog - Where Quill Meets ComputerDecember 2011: A twice a year average- not too bad for a non-blogger. Changes being made to the guild for next year- most notably, more contests and the return of the quarterly newsletter. That is, with the help and input of members! Here's to a New Year--- are you ready for it? Rebecca
July 2011
Order and Method or Chaos and Confusion:
How do you keep track of your writing?
Two distinctly different reference points are the offices of Sherlock
Holmes and Hercule Poirot. If you've ever watched Miss Lemon in any of
the Poirot series, she has her files in neat drawers and are all
cross-referenced by alphabet, name, and topic (among other things).
This fits into Poirot's meticulous lifestyle and "order and method."
Sherlock Holmes, on the other hand, tends to throw his papers around his
suite and only he knows where everything is. Watson is at a loss to
find most items. So. How do we as writers keep our writing in order? Whether you are prolific in short pieces or long pieces, or just have ideas scattered everywhere, you have your own system. Today, we have the computer to help us get (and stay) organized. Spreadsheets and databases help the writer to organize, query, and keep track of our works: whether by character, title, genre, or which publisher we sent it out to. It doesn't take long to learn the basics of a simple spreadsheet program (i.e. MS Excel). If you can type into a computer, you can use a spreadsheet. Have fun!Rebecca
January 2011
This bit of commentary replaces the newsletter, in case you were wondering.
This year promises to be better. After all, it is a new year, we have new goals and plans (or new resolve to finish last year's), and some of us have new ribbon in our typewriters and ink in our printers. Write first, then worry about what to do with it later. Worrying first puts you in the procrastinating writers category. If that's you, check out the Procrastinating Writers Blog for thoughts and ideas from Jennifer Blanchard. If you know what the end goal is, there are many avenues to head down. The Writer's Market is one place to start (bookstore or library copy). Join your local writer's group for critiquing or ideas. Don't be shy! You can always sit and listen to learn more. Whether you are focused on one project at a time or have several projects craving your attention, write a little bit each day- if only in a diary or journal or on a scrap of napkin. May you all finish at least one project this year!
Rebecca
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