How to Write a Novel on a Cell Phone

Among the best tools for writing while on the go is my smart phone, and a handy blue tooth device.

I'm not one of those people who wants to carry my laptop everywhere, and even a netbook seemed too heavy when I was contemplating what things to put in a small pack I would be carrying everywhere during my six-week trip in Europe. At the same time, I had just gotten to page 50 in my novel, and I didn't want to take such a long break from writing. I also wanted to be able to update my travel blog from anywhere with a wifi connection. So I went on a hunt for the lightest, and cheapest options for writing on the go.

Luckily my whole family needed to upgrade phones at the same time. So we all got a deal on Android-based HTC phones with all those fun apps and capabilities. Naturally I was excited at the possibilities and went on a hunt for tools I could pair with the phone to help me out. First, the word processor. I wanted to be able to make documents that could be easily transferred to my computer, without paying any money. Microsoft's phone-sized software is actually pretty cheap, but I wound up figuring out something even better. I use a free app, instead, called Note Everything (there are others that do the same thing). In this app you can make a text, voice, or paint note. With an internet connection you can upload whatever text you type to your Google Documents, which is even better than Word because it is accessible from any computer (yay clouds!). For my blog, I got the wordpress app, which automated that process pretty easily.

Then I needed to find the hardware. There was no way I could type 500-1000 word blog posts or whole chapters using the tiny touch screen keyboard on my phone. But as it turns out, there is a great portable keyboard that connects via bluetooth to any android or iphone. The device cost me around $75 dollars and the drivers were free. I'm honestly surprised there aren't more of these types of devices offered. Even now, when you search for wireless keyboards, the only ones that come up immediately are only suitable for desktop computers. The Freedom Pro Universal Bluetooth Keyboard, is the only one that folds, connects wirelessly, and is compatible with phones. It's truly amazing. It may be a bit small or uncomfortable, but overall it works. It weighs less than a pound, and fits in small bags. I got it for my trip to Europe, but now I take it everywhere along with old fashioned pen and notepad for when inspiration strikes.

The perfect (and practically only phone-capable) portable keyboard!
Buy it on Amazon!
More companies should really be making these things....

Do Outlines Work for Writing Novels?

How Far ahead can you really plan when writing a novel?

I'd like to start with a quote I came across that made me think:

"Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way."
E. L. Doctorow

It brought up the question of outlining, knowing what happens next, letting the characters or story take on a life of their own, and everything in between that concerns the process of novel writing. I actually think this quote holds true, even if you meticulously outline, sketch characters, and pre-imagine your story before you actually start to write. Because at the end of the day, if you end up following an outline or plan to a T, you'll wind up going exactly where you expect, and the only real problem with that is that it's precisely what your audience expects as well, and they will be bored.

All the planning and the outlining, however, is still extremely useful. No matter if you deviate from it just a bit, or deviate from it a lot, or scrap it all together at some point. Of course, there are those who work best with no plan at all, but in general this can slow down the process of writing a full novel. It's also possible that this will decrease your motivation. I know this is the case for me. I use outlines to keep me on track, not only in terms of the story, but also in terms of productivity. It lets me know I'm getting somewhere and if I have a sense of progress I am more likely to keep going.

Of course, there is always the point where you better stop planning, and start writing. Otherwise, the absolutely most obvious thing will happen, that is, nothing at all.

"It is good to have an end to journey towards; but it is the journey that matters in the end."
Ursula K. LeGuin

Travel Challenge 2: Get Obsessed

Start learning about the places you want to go, even if you don't know when you'll get there.

This challenge should be fun. From the list of places you want to go at some point in life, pick one -preferably a decent sized city, or a country - and become obsessed with the place this week. Research this place to find out about it's history, culture, and monuments. Look for sample itineraries, reviews of restaurants and hotels, and fun events. From these you will figure out how long you'd need to spend in the place, and possibly what time of year you'd like to go (perhaps there is a festival in June, or something). You can also start looking at the prices: how much will it take to get there? How much are the hotel prices there? What would food cost for the duration of your stay? This will start showing you how much you need to save for your future trip. Besides getting excited and more knowledgable about a particular place in just a week, doing all this research will help you start formulating your plan for how to get there, and that's the perfect first step!

Here are some sites to help:
Lonely Planet
Frommers
Trip Advisor
About Travel

Make your Writing Goals and Accomplish Them

Set specific goals to increase motivation and achieve success now!

With writing, success takes more than just talent, it also takes a lot of work. The motivation to sit and write, especially a long project, can be hard to come by. However, if you set yourself incremental goals, specify how much you want to accomplish in each period of time you work, and keep at it, you will start seeing real results.

One way to plan your steps to writing success is to use page counts or word counts. If you know approximately how many pages/words your project needs to be, this is even easier because you can simply divide it up. This is the technique used in for NANOWRIMO, the organization that challenges contestants to write a 50,000 word novel in the month of november. Divided equally it's around 1,667 words per day, which is challenging, but doable. Even if you don't know your ultimate wordcount goal, however, it can still be useful to set a minimum balance or average daily or weekly word count goal. When you do this you will be able to measure your success, and you will feel like you've accomplished something each day, which can help you keep your motivation level high. That's a psychological fact, by the way.

Another way to do this is to break it up in terms of scenes. If this is your preference, it can be helpful to have a fairly detailed outline so you know how many scenes you need, and where you are in the story.

Personally, I find it helpful to alternate between these two methods of project break down. I'm more likely to base it on wordcount when I don't have much of an outline, or when I'm doing a shorter piece. I base it on scenes when I do have a good outline. I also may combine the two techniques for my longest projects. Trying to get a specific amount of scenes done at certain points in the process, while at other times I just strive to maintain a certain word count. It's up to you because as long as you do have specific goals covering short periods of time, you will accomplish a lot, little by little.

~C.J.

Prep for NanoWrimo Part 2: Character Introductions

NanoWrimo is only a month away. Prepare by getting to know your characters before you start writing.

This week may take a bit more time. You can do as much or as little as you want, or mix and match the following character exercises which will help you prepare to write a novel fast. You can focus on just one character, or you can delve into the mind of as many characters as you feel will be driving forces in the story. Don't waste your time if the character is unimportant.

1. Freewrite from the point of view of your protagonist and antagonist.

2. Get an image of your main characters by drawing or finding pictures online that fit what you think the characters look like. Then write a paragraph or two using the picture to describe the character's physical features.

3. Create a fake profile for your character as if they were signing up for myspace, facebook, or any even a dating site if it's relevant. What would your character want to portray to the world? What would they list as their interests, who would they be friends with? Also keep in mind the things your characters wouldn't put online, and why.

4. Interview your main character. For now stick to questions about back story, likes, desires etc.
Examples:
How is your relationship with your parents?
What were you like as a child?
Have you changed much since then?
What was the best/worst moment of your life?
Who are your closest friends if you have any?
What do you really want out of life?

This will help you find out a lot of information that you don't realize you already have in your head about your character. Later on, if you get stuck on a scene, you can repeat this exercise, asking your character how they feel or what options they have in a situation then answering them as honestly as youc an from the point of view of the character. This can be a big help for writer's block.

Practice Makes Perfect

If you want to improve, write as much as you can, even if it starts out horribly.

If you've been reading the countless articles, letters, and stories written by writers about writing, you know the ever present suggestion that practice makes perfect applies to writing just as much as any other craft. To learn to write you have to, well, write. The more words you put down the closer you will get to being a word artist. The more sentences you create, the better you will be at manipulating their structure. The more stories you craft, the more interesting and dynamic your characters and plots will become.

Right now perhaps you are waiting for an idea, or for inspiration. Maybe you're making up excuses about not having time. Maybe you think you need to take a class first. While a class, more time, and ispiration can certainly help you write. They won't turn you into a writer. Only you can do that, and only by consistantly practicing in one way or another.

You can practice by freewriting, practice by finding prompts, or even practice by copying the style of others. And though all of these things may not be publishable, and actualy likely won't be because they will be sloppy or to similar to another story, you will be learning something. You may also find that ever elusive inspiration.

I will be posting exercises in another section of this blog that will help you start practicing, so stay tuned!

Quick Travel Challenge 1 - Make a List

To Go Anywhere, You Need Somewhere to Go

Here's a simple task you can do in a week that will eventually help you to travel more. Travel to places big and small for long or short trips. Travel on your own, with family and friends, or with strangers. The first step to achieving big dreams is letting yourself dream in the first place. So this week, make a dream travel list. List every single place you want to go, and don't just put generic items like Asia, though this could be included to. Instead include every monument you want to see, event you want to attend, and city you want to explore. If you really have the travel bug, I imagine this list will be long.

After you've made the list, prioritize it. Star the items that would be most desirable. Mark the ones that would be easy to get to because they are close or inexpensive. You can rewrite the list now if you want to reflect these changes. For extra credit turn the list into a dream board, adding pictures and using nice font for even more inspiration.

The nice thing is, that this technique is a great way to define any type of goal, and making lists or dream boards makes people more likely to achieve whatever it is that they desire. So go ahead and allow yourself to dream. It might seem like this task would be too small and easy to actually help you get anywhere, but small things will add up.

Share your lists, or pictures of your travel board by sending them to wewrite2go@gmail.com. Top entries will be featured on the blog each week.

Find the Cheapest Flights with One Check

By being Flexible on your dates of travel, you will find the best airfares

Most websites will allow you to check multiple dates at once when you search for airfare. An example of this is Kayak.com, which will give you a whole chart comparing prices for +/- 3 days of your chosen departure and return dates. The highest and lowest prices are highlighted, and the flight options are displayed below. It's easy and simple,then, to find the best possible price, if you're willing to leave or return on a slightly different schedule.

Fearlessness Gives you the Choice to Succeed

If you want success, you have to stop being afraid and try, because then you will at least have options despite the inevitable challenges.

Perhaps you want to write a novel, perhaps you want to go to Asia, perhaps you want to get published someday, perhaps you want to be a famous travel writer...

Will these goals be hard to attain? Yes. Is it possible you'll never get them? Absolutely. Will you achieve the goal if you don't even try? No way. A lot of people settle for things that are less than what they want in life. Perhaps circumstances just get in the way: you don't have the money, your mother gets sick, you need to work. Circumstances can be valid, they are obstacles to getting our loftiest dreams, and they are hard to overcome. Yet, in most cases where there is a will, there is a way. And in most cases, big dreams are completely achievable despite obstacles.

For the most part, circumstances are just circumstances. They are just excuses. When circumstances get in the way it is because you are making an obstacle into a priority instead of putting your dreams at the top of your list. The thing that is really holding you back is yourself. It's the little voice in the back of your head saying; but what if I fail? What if I make a fool of myself? What if I wind up disappointed? Disappointment is certainly one of the worst feelings, but then again, so is regret. Sometimes you just have to weigh your options. What will you regret more failing or never trying?

If you plan a trip to Greece, for instance, but then your car breaks down and you have to spend all of your money to repair it, you can either decide to start over with saving money again, or you can say, "screw the car, I'll take the bus when I get back". Because you've made the attempt, you have options and you can prioritize. If you never save up, if you never plan to go to Greece in the first place, well then, there are never any options except to never go at all. I leave you with some quotes to inspire you to the path of fearlessness:

There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.

--Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

Do not be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better. What if they are a little coarse, and you may get your coat soiled or torn? What if you do fail, and get fairly rolled in the dirt once or twice? Up again; you shall never be so afraid of a tumble.

--Ralph Waldo Emerson

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

--Confucius

~C.J.

Prepare for Novel Writing Month Week 1

First steps in a plan that will help you prepare to write a great novel in just one month.

This week's quick challenge is about ideas. This should be easy to complete in a week.

Sit and fill at least one whole page with story sentences. Try to include the main character, what he desires, and what he must go against. Pick the sentence or sentences that contain a character are very interested by, you should be able to see this person in your head. Rewrite the sentence involving this character with five different desires and five different conflicts. Pick the one you are most interested in, the one that is the clearest, and the one with the highest stakes. Hopefully one sentence fits all three of these criteria. If not, edit it until it does. Keep the other sentences, find at least one that could make a good subplot. Find some books or short stories in the genre of interest and start reading.

Take a New Route

You don't have to go far to discover somewhere new
You may or may not know your way around the place that you live, but in either case there is almost always more to find out. If you always take the freeway, you may be missing the inspiration of a really unique house on the corner, or the perfect writing place in the form of a park, or maybe just a surprisingly faster route to wherever it is you're going. So explore the side streets, and if you're brave enough, even the alleyways, the windy roads through the forests, and any other new routes that you haven't tried before. When you do, don't be afraid to drive a bit slow, or even pull over (it helps if you're not in a rush) and actually pay attention to your surroundings. You can plan the routes out ahead using the ever handy internet, or go at random without fear (but be sure to have your cell phone, gps, or at least and old fashioned map with you in this case)! And even though you're not going far from home, you are still having the mentality of a traveler and getting out to see new places. That's what  it's all about.

Designate a Writing Place

It must be a place with the right environment for you, and ideally a place where you never go unless you go to write...


As a busy person I always think I'll just write at home, but the fact of the matter is that I'm always more productive out of the house. I just moved to a new city, and thus far haven't discovered any places as peaceful and inspiration as the ones I left behind, but I'm always on the look out. Today I found a park not too far from my house that may serve the purpose perfectly. Right now I'm sitting at a picnic table in this fairly deserted place, with just the voices of a few kids and some far away cars. No access to the internet, no television, no family members interrupting. For me that's perfect, but everyone is different. I also enjoy a coffee shop from time to time, but only if it's just the right level of busy. I highly suggest you find a place close to home that you can walk or drive to and spend a couple hours really writing without distraction.

If you must stay home, it can also help to designate a very specific spot where the only thing you do is write. If you use the desk for other things your mind will not automatically focus on the writing each time you sit there as it does when the place is associated with only that one activity.

An old writing place.

Travel by Bus in Spain

Spain is one of the few European countries with an affordable, convienent and comprehensive bus system. The ALSA network also extends to some other countries including parts of France, Garmany and Italy. The bus in Spain provides a better route than the train on some routes like Granada to Valencia along with access to the smaller cities and towns.

Here is a very cool way to use the bus in Spain. They have a pass called Kmtriko that allows 1-4 weeks of unlimited travel on buses through the country. The current prices are as follows:
1 Week                               99 Euro
7 days within 2 weeks        145 Euro
2 Weeks                            175 Euro
3 Weeks                            240 Euro
4 Weeks                            299 Euro

Depending on how many places you want to visit during your trip in Spain, this could save you a lot of money. Be sure to double check all your point to point fares as it could still be cheaper to buy them separately.
Visit
http://www.kmtriko.com/en/
& http://www.alsa.es/portal/site/Alsa
to for more information, fare prices, and booking.



ALSA Bus Line - Spain



The 3 Things You Need to Be a Writer

Get Writing today with Advice from Faulkner

I have been worried lately that I am not a writer at all, or rather not a very good one. And a quote that I actually received from a new fellow-writer-friend (though he actually misquoted the idea was nearly the same) helped me confirm what I was missing. Here is the actual quote from the great William Faulkner:

“A writer needs three things, experience, observation, and imagination, any two of which, at times any one of which, can supply the lack of the others”

My friend said that there are three things that make a great writer, and you only really need two of them. They are: experience, hard work, and imagination. I feel that I have a lack of experiences that are very far outside of myself, very outside of a life that (thankfully) lacks a lot of hardship and conflict. However, I definitely have imagination. I'd been thinking lately that I know I can be a great writer, if only I will work hard enough. I guess that's not really what Faulkner said, though. So then I must ask myself if I observe enough, and I do think I need to improve on that as well.

In any case to improve, I plan to observe more, especially as I travel the world, but also anywhere and always. I also need to stop being lazy, and work much harder. Look at these 3 things, and see if you can work on being great at least two, or even three of them.