Speed Read: Add this list ways procrastinate.

By the way, the cutesy image in the last post is from ReadPal, a software that claims to help people read much faster. It will take out all the words of less importance...the articles and stuff that are necessary for correct grammar but not necessary to understanding a sentence. It will columnize (wow, is that a word? 'Cause my spell-checker says no problem) the text too which is supposed to make reading easier (think newspapers). And it will give you one word or sentence at a time (like one of those bleeding psychology tests where they flash images or words at you and measure your reaction in brain wave patterns) and do it at your speed of reading so you don't have to "find the next word and refocus" each time. Anyway, it sounds awesome to me and I'm hoping it really is free to individuals as they claim on their blog. Trying to download it now...stay tuned/keep reading.

Note from Tomorrow: I downloaded the ReadPal. It doesn't seem to show up on my browser (Firefox) and only showed up on the wordprocessor for a short while and then for some reason disappeared. Anyhow, while it was there I did try it out and liked it very very much. I could get used to reading this way...of course, I tried reading my own writing so there wasn't much mystery about what was coming up next...I'd like to try something authored by someone else and nonfiction at that. If I could grasp the general content of the material then I think this banner reader could help train me to stay focused on what I am reading, since it assumes that you are reading the whole time and only gives you enough time to read the number of words on the screen...no daydreaming time. So, in my opinion this isn't a very good method for reading fiction - I like to go back and read passages over a lot (with everything) and to let the writing sink in - but reading something dry this way could really work. Oh, oh, oh! I know just the text...*off she runs*

When I need inspiration to write, I often start by doing a web search for How to WRite a Novel or Write a Novel or some similar keywords. Today, I hit on a post called, "How-To Write Your Novel While You're On the Clock", and it was just the kick I needed to get started this evening. The idea of being able to write my novel while at work is a very attractive one and one of the reasons why I sometimes wish I did have a less challenging job, an office job like being a receptionist or something. Or a computer technician...I'm sure I'd fix all the computers and have hours left to spend doing nada or rather writing. Dreaming, dreaming.

Anyway, I particularly liked how they related what we need to do to what addicts do when trying to quit an addiction. I will paraphrase what they said in the article: Whereas someone trying to stop smoking might pop some gum in their mouth everytime they think about think about having a cigarette, wanna-be novelists need to write everytime they get the urge to *cough* blog or open their browser for any other non-novel writing and thus lame pursuits.

After the Lightning Storm

I have been delinquent on the writing recently but did come to terms last night with not changing my plot drastically which would basically have meant putting off writing the 1st draft until I'd finished fixing the outline. A few smaller tinkerings and I think the plot will do as is. Basically, the idea is that while the main character is fighting the physical removal of her people, the two primary minor characters stories are the product of a cultural assault (the missionary schools in which native american children were forceably placed). This last piece is not historically accurate since my story is set before the schools were set up but I think it will work nevertheless...it works for the theme of the book.

The Writing Show

Turns out there is a very nice podcast on writing available called The Writing Show. I'm told it's nice anyway. I've been too busy *cough* writing to stop to listen to it. :-)

How to write a novel? I wouldn't bet on it.

This is some amusing advice on how to write a novel. To paraphrase someone's comment regarding this author's suggestions however, "if I tried to follow her advice, I'd probably go crazy." Still, it's entertaining advice nevertheless...just to think, some people actually write this way!

And yet more such amusing advice on how to write a novel...

"They've got mad jokes!"

Check out this character generator. "Way cool." Should help me with description...

Software for the Writer

I'll come back and edit this post later but here are a few sites I was recently recommended by a fellow blogger-writer ;)

Loose Stitch (outlining software)
Mind Meister (mind-mapping software)

They both look very cool. Also, if you like the iPhone look...you might take a look at the widget set-up the iPhone utilizes, Widgetop. It's available for your desktop or for some other (non-iPhone) mobiles like Nokia...good 'ol Finns. I wanted to put it on my PDA but no such luck when it comes to compatibility. Windows Mobile sucks.

If you subscribe to this Netflix-like audiobook site, they will load your selection onto a player, mail the whole thing to you "for free" and then, when you've listened to the thing and maybe downloaded your copy to your computer (they emphasize that it is yours to keep), you can return the whole thing to them (also all postage paid) and then wait for another one on your queue to arrive. The site (from Edinburgh, Scotland) is called VBurny and, in order to promote their new Player-to-Go service, they have offered to reimburse all purchasers of Harry Potter 7 in the world who subscribe to heir book service.

Shortest Stories

Back in their November issue, Wired Magazine published more than 30 stories of famous authors (mostly sci-fi). You might wonder how they were able to fit so many stories in one issue of the magazine. Well, each story was limited to no more than 6 words, using Hemingway's famous, "For sale: baby shoes, never worn," as a model.

Here are some of my favorites, from silly to "too-gosh-darn-true":

We kissed. She melted. Mop please!
- James Patrick Kelly

The baby’s blood type? Human, mostly.
- Orson Scott Card

TIME MACHINE REACHES FUTURE!!! … nobody there …
- Harry Harrison

New genes demand expression -- third eye.
- Greg Bear

Dinosaurs return. Want their oil back.
- David Brin

Bang postponed. Not Big enough. Reboot.
- David Brin

Democracy postponed. Whence franchise? Ask Diebold...
- David Brin

Sum of all fears: AND patented.
- Charles Stross

The Axis in WWII: haiku! Gesundheit.
- Howard Waldrop

Weeping, Bush misheard Cheney’s deathbed advice.
- Gregory Maguire

Parallel universe. Bush, destitute, joins army.
- Steven Meretzky

Amazing - how much you can say with 6 words. I will have to write my own sometime...but for now I'll stick to the easy stuff, the novel.

A Word Meter!

I finally found a wordmeter to track my progress on the novel! See sidebar. You can get one of your own at Zokutou. There are also a number of podcasts on writing that I've recently discovered...although I'm not sure how good they are. One sounded like a straight-up advertisement for the author's book. Anyway, here are the writing blogs and pods I found today.

Plotastic

Writers Talking

I Should Be Writing

The Secrets: Podcasts for Serious Writers


Here's a tale of rejection letters with a happy ending. Doh...I gave it away, didn't I? This is a nice site if you want to see what some of the more descriptive rejection letters look like. Of course, lots of editors/editorial staff will just send you a form letter rejecting your manuscript.

Back to Work!

Back from summer vacation...I might as well go ahead and write the novel I guess...though I keep noting new crucial changes that need to be made to the outline. She is, for example, going to come to a realization regarding what really happened in the past leading to her father's death and this will contribute to her seeing that she might be (somewhat) wrong about her own philosophy of fighting violence with violence.

BBC Writing Site