down the writer's path

Not my usual subject: Why I'm not writing

Those of you who come here regularly have surely noticed the sporadic sprays of postings followed by long silence that's become a pattern over the last year or two. For that I'm sorry for my original intent for this blog was always to provide regular postings. However, when you're an only child with two elderly parents in their 90s their personal needs can easily override most other priorities.

During the last few years I've been in a fortunate position in my writing life because I haven't been under contract for any books. Most of my focus has been devoted to story development for a new book project. Five to six years ago I assumed the caregiving role for my parents. At first the demands were few. But as time went on and, in particular, my father's fight with emphysema became harder and harder, the demands on my time and energy grew. The past two years resulted in my gradual move into their home. My dad's battle grew in intensity the past year and finally became all-consuming. He required hospice care here at home April 10th and gave up the fight April 22nd. That explains my absence.

I'm still taking care of my mom and now must take care of all those things that require attention after someone passes away. I've also developed some health issues the past few months, probably as a result of chronic and acute stress, so I don't plan to do much blogging for the rest of the month. I need to rest, gather my thoughts, and let my energy rebuild. I hope to resume posting in June. You can view the tribute page to my dad online and, if you scroll to the end, you can also leave a message and/or sign the guest book, too. Thank you for your continued patience. I'm looking forward to hitting the keyboard once again.

Internet Tools for Writers: Catch it with Stickies

I am old enough to remember life without the Internet, typewriters prior to word processors, and index cards before the dawn of Post-its. I love stickies. Canary yellow, pale pink, turquoise blue, and spring green, the list goes on and on. Now there are Super Sticky notes, ruled notes, sticky index cards, and even color-coded half-index-card stickies. It's a beautiful world for writers today.

My library is littered with flags and notes on stickies. I use stickies as I read through books that I use for research or that I'll review. I arc out a character's life on stickies. I manage a novel visually scene-by-scene using stickies in a blank book I keep close at hand. Notes, ideas, questions all mark up my stimulating rainbow of stickies.

But wait! Let me tell you about my desktop. It, too, is littered with Stickies. I've tried several note-taking software and my favorite is--what else?--a software called Stickies. Offered by Zhorn Software, this is a simple, clean program that will soothe the soul of any stickie manic. You can color-code, alarm, and play hide and seek with them. They can live on your desktop or hibernate in a particular file. They can be huge, tiny, or Post-it sized. Bless them, they can even be printed.

I use my cyber-stickies to capture random thoughts that accumulate during the day, to run ongoing shopping lists, and to capture quick notes for phone calls or emails. They function as terrific reminders. If you prefer to have a clean desktop, hide your stickies until you need them. What's the best thing about Stickies? It's free! Download it now.
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More info: USING FURL; USING OUTLOOK; USING GOOGLE ALERTS; USING GOOGLE DESKTOP SEARCH; USING THE BLOG READING LEVEL TOOL; USING VISUAL THESAURUS; USING JACKETFLAP.COM SOCIAL NETWORK

Internet Tools for Writers: JacketFlap networks people in the children's book industry

Social networking is here to stay. So if you're among the thousands of writers who have not made an attempt to tickle any social networks such as MySpace, Facebook or Twitter, it's time. Anyone remotely connected with the children's book industry should take a look at JacketFlap.com. You'll not only find authors and illustrators, but you'll run across reviewers, librarians, agents, booksellers, publicists, teachers, and even students. This is a growing community with a database of books, just released books, reviews, children's book-related blogs and publishers. If you're already published, you may discover your name and book is already listed. If that's the case, it's time to update your profile before anyone else does. Best of all, JacketFlap is free.

I came across JacketFlap yesterday during a search of my name. The site only had my name and the info on DIVIDED LOYALTIES. So I cruised around the site, read all about it, and updated my profile. It was easy and didn't take long. You can make it as concise as you wish. I was even able to have a feed to this blog show up on my profile page. If you're a writer or illustrator, JacketFlap is one more way to promote your books and your work. In addition you can find other writers and "friends" who will network with you. At the very least your profile is one more page that will show up on a Google Search. The best JacketFlap offers is a connection to the publishing community that may lead to more book sales and possible future work.

In order for the community to grow, JacketFlap awards points when you update publisher information, new contacts, or referrals. The points accumulate and gift certificates are earned. So, don't forget where you first heard about JacketFlap and spread the word. I find the site pretty impressive. Take a look and then come back and give me your thoughts. If you're in the kiddie lit field, why not join me--and don't forget to "friend" me--at JacketFlap.com.
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More info: USING FURL; USING OUTLOOK; USING GOOGLE ALERTS; USING GOOGLE DESKTOP SEARCH; USING THE BLOG READING LEVEL TOOL; USING VISUAL THESAURUS

Internet Tools for Writers: Brainstorm a new word

Next time you want to challenge a writer friend, see if they can spell and define the word "susurrus." That's today's offering in the Visual Thesaurus Word of the Day. I signed up for Thinkmap's daily offering not only for the definitions, spelling, and word fun, but also because this tool offers a mindmapping representation of the day's word. But don't stop there. Make use of the "Look up a Word" feature. I'm a big fan and heavy user of mindmapping. Have been ever since Tony Buzan's book came out in the late 70s. I find mindmapping helpful in every aspect of writing and have been known to mindmap an entire novel's structure or a full day's workshop on writing. For example, when I'm working on some aspect of a character I'll look up the word description and see how other things relate. This simple process stimulates further creative thinking and often reveals hidden and wonderfully layered aspects to the work you're doing. Stop all that cyber susurrus and give it a try.

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More info: USING FURL; USING OUTLOOK, USING GOOGLE ALERTS, USING GOOGLE DESKTOP SEARCH,USING THE BLOG READING LEVEL TOOL

Internet Tools for Writers: Comb through your computer clutter with Google Desktop Search

Several times lately I've needed to find a bit of information stored away in an old email or lost file. What once sucked up hours of time now happens in a blink. Using Google's Desktop Search tool, I'm able to unearth anything tucked away in some obscure file or buried in a pile inside that nest I call a hard drive. Check out this page for all the features and you'll see how helpful this tool can be. It's a handy tool that sits quietly waiting to help you out at a moment's notice. I don't know about you but anything I can find that will free up time for more writing is a good thing.

--UPDATE 04.09.08: This post made MySpace News. Please vote here.
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More info: USING FURL; USING OUTLOOK, USING GOOGLE ALERTS

Write-n-Walk your way to fitness

Okay, I know I've been gone a while. Unfortunately life circumstances are making my ability to write and to blog a bit more difficult. But it's a new year and full of promise, so we'll start back up and see how we do.

The year turns and our hopes and resolutions are renewed. We promise ourselves we'll write every day; we'll complete last year's project this year, we'll take that class, read those books. Some of us may commit to working fitness into our writing life. Well...I'm here to tell you I have found the ultimate writer's exercise machine. The Sit-n-Stroll increases circulation, burns off calories, and reduces leg swelling.

Research I've found on the Internet shows that QVC has sold this machine and customers have given rave reviews. Apparently even doctor's are recommending as a type of physical therapy for patients. Anyone who has sat in a chair, ergonomic or not, for long periods of time can testify to the need to get up and walk around.

We all know it's important to move. We also know how absorbed we get creating new work and how lost we become in revisions. Time speeds by and we're unaware of its passage. At least with this machine, maybe we can counter some of the health disadvantages our work habits incur. Maybe using the machine might lead to more healthy habits.

Mine's on the way, so I'll be providing updates. Do let me know if you tried one.

Vincent Bugliosi, author and lawyer, appears on CSPAN's BookTV's In Depth this weekend

Celebrated lawyer and writer Vincent Bugliosi will be CSPAN's BOOK TV's guest for In Depth on Sunday, November 4 (LIVE from Noon to 3 pm ET). Bugliosi captured the public's attention during the days of the infamous Manson family. He made his mark in true crime with the famous "Helter Skelter" and has followed up with a number of bestselling and provocative books. If you've been a reader of DWP, then you know how much I love CSPAN's weekend BookTV. My favorite programming is In Depth where an unprecedented three (3) hours of uninterrupted programming is dedicated to one author. It's an opportunity to dig deep into the body of work and into the author's life, thought, and creative process. I highly recommend any writer spending three hours of the first Sunday of every month wading deep into the minds and works of celebrated authors. The following is from BOOKTV's write up of this weekend's interview.

Mr. Bugliosi was the lead prosecutor in the case against the Manson Family and successfully prosecuted 105 out of 106 felony jury trials during his tenure as a prosecutor for the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office. He is the author of several books, including "Helter Skelter," "And the Sea Will Tell," "Till Death Us Do Part," "The Betrayal of America," and his most recent "Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy."

Vincent Bugliosi is the author of "Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders," (with Curt Gentry) "And the Sea Will Tell: A Shocking True Story of Murder on a South Seas Island," (with Bruce Henderson) "Till Death Us Do Part," (with Ken Hurwitz) "The Phoenix Solution: Getting Serious about Winning America's Drug War," "Outrage: The Five Reasons Why O.J. Simpson Got Away with Murder," "No Island of Sanity: Paula Jones v. Bill Clinton - The Supreme Court on Trial," "The Betrayal of America: How the Supreme Court Undermined the Constitution and Chose Our President," and "Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy."

Sunday, November 4, at 12:00 PM
Monday, November 5, at 12:00 AM
Saturday, November 17, at 9:00 AM

Write furiously, it's NaNoWriMo time

Yes, it's the annual write-for-your-life marathon, otherwise known as NaNoWriMo, and I've joined the ranks again. I'll be detailing my annual experience once more over at my WHIRLPOOL blog. Will I make the 50,000 words this month? I don't know. Will I have more written than when I started? Of that I'm certain.

NaNoWriMo and other endeavors like it--there's even one for screenplays--are pretty successful tools to keep in a writer's repetoire. At the beginning you're invigorated and full of ramped-up anticipation. Writing on a single project every day is a time-tested way to forge a deeper connection with the material. Having that deeper connection allows you to live inside the story and the characters. Synchronicity is heightened. Synapses fire. Connections appear where there were none. New sides of characters are revealed. If nothing else you excavate the novel's landscape more deeply than you would have had you remained skimming on the surface. It's not too late to sign up for NaNoWriMo, if you dare.

Living a Google-enhanced writing life

Google's impact on writers is growing. The dawn of the Internet search engine forever changed the way writers conduct their daily lives. Today Google's influence and assistance is expanding at a phenomenal rate. I confess: I have become Googlized.

It began innocently enough. Tuesday I began the day firing up my computer while sipping my first cup of coffee and indulging in my latest writerly fantasy. My inbox bulged with its usual conglomeration of junk mail, group posts, friend's emails, business matters, writing-related messages, and Google Alerts. Nevertheless, I intended to write.

I'm still not sure how it happened — my brain in its usual morning slumber — but somehow my fingers tripped me onto a site that asked if I wanted to try Google's Desktop. It was innocuous enough. I obeyed and initiated the download. That was 48 hours ago. Today I am a fully Googlized writer.

Google Desktop and its seductive mate, iGoogle, kept me enchanted for hours. Think cyber-office on steroids. My desktop now hosts the best 4-tabbed To-Do list gadget ever and it sits on top so I can sporadically — 'cause that's how my mind works nowadays --add to my lists. This phantom cubicle contains the to-dos for my computer guy, daily writing goals, reminders, and calls. All I do is click and the next list appears. The sidebar? It's an explosion of tools divinely inspired to feed my inner office junkie and lure my muse out to play.

But wait, I'm not done.

There is this thing called iGoogle. It's like a ramped up, totally personalized Google Desktop. Now an array of gadgets inhabits my iGoogle home page and tabs (additional pages, what a great feature). My homepage reflects my general needs. (Yes, they're all that necessary.) One tab is dedicated to my main writing project (the novel) and another to general writing. A fourth is for pure reading pleasure (it’s research, okay?). I have stop watches, countdowns, alarms, project trackers, activity trackers, progress bars, and stickies — let me tell you about stickies. I never knew there were so many types of note-taking gadgets available. Writers embrace note-taking but its management? That’s another issue. With no end to styles, any writer should be able to find the perfect cyber-sticky. (Have I told you before how much I adore Post-its?)

Of course there are ways to have quick access to Outlook, documents, links, and RSS feeds. But more playful spirits will laugh in delight at the gadgets that feed your inner child and tickle your muse. You can get lost for hours in a Google Gadget jungle. I know. iGoogle. It’s a writer's wonderland.

The result? A vortex of organizational energy swirled pulling my Outlook into view. I've been ill for several weeks; before that, out of town for three; and the two months prior spent dealing with a critically ill dog that required daily visits to the vet. My unread messages had burgeoned to a whopping 18,000. It was time. I attacked the keyboard and waged war. I downloaded and downloaded and downloaded. I set up folders, created rules, and redistributed the lot. Emails flew. Junk mail exploded. In 10 hours I dealt with 25,000 emails.

I wanted more. I searched the web eager for tools, tips and strategies until I finally stumbled onto Gmail. Wow. Let me sing its song. It's perfect for a writer and why not? Gmail is set up to operate intuitively; writers are intuitive creatures. With the labeling and filtering system, their end-of-time archiving, and email subject conversation flow feature, it's a writer's perfect marriage of technology, inspiration, research, and organization. Imagination is the writer’s only limitation. I opened an account.

Now let's get real. Why spend days downloading, researching, and setting up systems when all that’s needed is the discipline to put your butt on the chair, start up the computer (or pick up a pen, pencil, and paper), and write?

Overkill? (Shrug.) Maybe. (You should see me skate the aisles at Office Depot — this was free.) But thanks to my obvious addiction, I now have tools that will make my writing life infinitely more manageable and my writing happily more productive. The mountain of ignored emails simply vanished. Incoming is now a snap. My desktop helps me develop my goals and intentions. My ability to focus is sharpened. When I marry my Gmail account to my Outlook, life will be complete.

What about you? Are you a fully-Googlized writer?
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This article originally appeared on Blogcritics 10/20/2007.

NaNoWriMo 2007 Writers: Sharpen your pencils and plug-in your keyboards!

Once again summer ends, leaves fall, and slumbering writers stir. Across the nation they are responding to the call of the annual National Novel Writing Month challenge commonly called NaNoWriMo. Participants are fondly called Wrimos. My name is Vikk Simmons and I am a Wrimo.

Tens of thousands of Wrimos are making novel choices, charging batteries, signing up as 2007 particpants, posting their 2007 Participant icons, selecting forums, making connections, scoping out writer-friendly cafes, sharing the NaNoWriMo news, and encouraging other writer friends to join them in this annual exuberant experience of writing white-hot. Writers cursed with strong internal editors are dragging out their Alphsmarts. Shed your fears, become a Wrimo. You have nothing to lose and wordcount to gain.

Already have a novel in progress? Pledge to write another 50K words. If you look to the top righthand sidebar, you'll find my NaNoWriMo Countdown. On November 1st the clock will track the countdown for November. Every year I keep a separate blog on my Wrimo experience. VISIT NaNoWriMo and JOIN. You'll find other links below.

ARE YOU READY TO WRITE THAT NOVEL?
Read my NaNoWriMo blog WHIRLPOOL.
VISIT NaNoWriMo and JOIN.
More NaNoWriMo posts:
No Excuses
Check out my NaNoWriMo blog
Still on the NaNoWriMo Train
NaNoWriMo strikes again
No Plot? No Problem
NaNoWriMo ends but the writing continues
Hours away from NaNoWriMo. Are you ready?