This and That and More

I meant to write this yesterday and time got away from me. After more than a month when my productivity has been seriously impacted, if not stopped, it exploded over the last four days or so. It feels good, but it also means a lot of things I’d planned on doing took a backseat. So bear with me as I try to get my brain working even as I realize the folly because I haven’t had nearly enough coffee.

First up, one of the reasons for the increase in productivity is the ReMarkable tablet. You can find my first impressions here. And those really were my first impressions, as in I’d had the tablet 24 hours or less. After using it pretty much exclusively over the weekend, I haven’t changed my opinion. If you are one of those who need a pen and paper to unblock the creative channels but want something that will back up your notes and even convert to text if you want, try this. After having used it for five days or so now, I have realized two things are helping me. The first is the “feel” of writing on the tablet. It really does feel like you are writing on paper. (The fact it also sounds like it helps as well.)

The second thing I realizes using the tablet is how different I start a project using the tablet versus using my laptoop. I’ve never been an outliner, or at least not much of one. But I do make notes about each project. Things that make a character unique. World-building notes. Even plot notes that I want to make sure I get in or explanations for things that need to be woven into the story. But, other than that, I usually let things happen organically.

Or at least that’s how I used to do it. But, using the laptop, those notes expanded. Looking back at my last couple of pojects, my “notes” were actually detailed to the point that I’d written the book with the exception of adding dialog and some descriptions. It was no wonder it sometimes felt like pulling teeth to go back and “write” the thing.

But working with the ReMarkable, I was back to what I used to do. Making enough notes to get a feel for the plot and characters, making notes about what I need to be sure to hit or, in one case, loose ends from the previous books to tie up. I’m excited about writing again and it “feels” right.

As a result, I’ve finished the edits for the updated version of Nocturnal Haunts. Those will go live next week. I have finished the plot notes for one novel, almost finished them for a novella and even made a few notes on the plot the muse hit me with for a story I don’t have time to write. Fortunately, making notes has appeased her so far.

All of this is a roundabout–and very long-winded–way of saying don’t get so set in your ways that you stifle your creative instincts. Don’t be afraid to change. And don’t be afraid to take a step back and return to ways that worked earlier but that you’ve since moved away from.

On a totally diffferent note, here are links to two stories over at The Passive Voice. PG, as well as the OPs, pretty much say it all. So I will leave you to read the posts and discuss them.

Blacklists in publishing.

Are publishers leaving money on the table by their refusal to adapt and adopt?

What else? I have a new short story, Be Careful What You Ask For, out. Well, it’s “new” in that it hasn’t been on sale for some time and it has a new cover. But it was written some time ago.

Finally, I played around with cover design yesterday when I was making calls. Here’s what I came up with (still draft version, so changes will be made).

Featured Image by Comfreak from Pixabay