If you are like me, you prefer to flesh out your first drafts without any sort of planning, overhead, or even sense of direction about which way your novel will turn the next day. For that, I prefer to use Microsoft Word or some comparable word processor because it allows me to proceed with insane pace and reckless writing.
But for the editing process, there is naturally a good bit of overhead and hindsight planning that needs to take place, and YWriter is the best software I have used to handle that minutia. It has detailed scene breakdowns, POV tracking, timelines, storyboarding, and a whole ton of other features.
Spacejock Software - YWriter
October 6, 2009
October 4, 2009
If you have older versions of Microsoft Excel
Thanks to one of the forum posters over at NaNoWriMo site (Penhaligon29), I got this handy link - if you want to use some of my spreadsheets but I've jumped over to Excel 2007 and you're still on 2003. Hopefully this works for you. If it doesn't, I will try to do "Save As" for you on some of the stuff once I've got the bugs worked out.
Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack
Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack
September 30, 2009
Novel Workplan Spreadsheet
Download >>
From quick word count calculations all the way through final editing process, this is a year-long planning tool to take you all the way through editing. I'll most likely be making some changes myself as time goes on, but it's a bit of an outgrowth of the old word count schedule spreadsheets. This sheet has a writing count, but then walks through various stages of a revision process with the schedule and helps to keep you on track with weekday or every day scheduling capabilities, etc. Hope you enjoy it. As always, leave any comments you have if you have questions or find bugs. Format is Microsoft Excel 2007 .xlsx file.
From quick word count calculations all the way through final editing process, this is a year-long planning tool to take you all the way through editing. I'll most likely be making some changes myself as time goes on, but it's a bit of an outgrowth of the old word count schedule spreadsheets. This sheet has a writing count, but then walks through various stages of a revision process with the schedule and helps to keep you on track with weekday or every day scheduling capabilities, etc. Hope you enjoy it. As always, leave any comments you have if you have questions or find bugs. Format is Microsoft Excel 2007 .xlsx file.
September 29, 2009
September 24, 2009
Harvest - Tomato
Blooming - Bell Peppers
September 23, 2009
Blooming - Jalapenos
Blooming - Heatwave Tomatoes
Have two Heatwave tomato plants caged in the back yard - one of them had a small tomato on it when we planted it (you can see a hint of red through the leaves). The other has had a bit more vigorous growth and is now flowering (see small yellow flowers in foreground). Flowers have been around for about a week. Will see how long it takes for new tomatoes to appear.
Have had a few days of cool and wet weather, so not sure if that is going to affect the plants at all.
Have had a few days of cool and wet weather, so not sure if that is going to affect the plants at all.
September 22, 2009
Current Vegetables/Fruits/Herbs
Since I didn't have this journal started by the time I planted these, I don't know the exact planting dates. But I'll give some high level guesses as to when we planted what we've got growing. Sorry for the dark pictures, didn't have enough light this evening. Also - missing pictures probably have their own post...
Herbs:
Basil - planted in Spring 2009 - having trouble of late - will die out and need to be replanted in 2010 (below in pot)
Oregano - planted 2007 (below in pot)
Rosemary - planted 2007 (below in pot)
Sage - planted 2007 (below in pot)
Thyme - planted 2007 (below in pot)
Lavender - planted 2007 (trimmed way back in Spring 2009)
Vegetables/Fruits:
Jalapeno Peppers - Planted Spring 2009
Red Bell Peppers - Planted August 2009
Green Bell Peppers - Planted August 2009
Heatwave Tomatoes - Planted August 2009
Yellow Onions - Planted 9/20/2009
Turnip Greens - Planted August 2009
Simpson's Green Leaf Lettuce - Planted September 2009
Radishes - Planted September 2009
Broccoli - Planted August 2009
Butternut Squash - Planted August 2009
Citrus:
Navel Oranges - I think the fruits showed up around May
Satsuma Mandarin Oranges
Improved Meyer Lemons - existing fruits in May
Key Limes
All Citrus Trees planted in 2007
Other Plants:
Cascade Hops - planted rhizome Spring 2009
Herbs:
Basil - planted in Spring 2009 - having trouble of late - will die out and need to be replanted in 2010 (below in pot)
Oregano - planted 2007 (below in pot)
Rosemary - planted 2007 (below in pot)
Sage - planted 2007 (below in pot)
Thyme - planted 2007 (below in pot)
Lavender - planted 2007 (trimmed way back in Spring 2009)
Vegetables/Fruits:
Jalapeno Peppers - Planted Spring 2009
Red Bell Peppers - Planted August 2009
Green Bell Peppers - Planted August 2009
Heatwave Tomatoes - Planted August 2009
Yellow Onions - Planted 9/20/2009
Turnip Greens - Planted August 2009
Simpson's Green Leaf Lettuce - Planted September 2009
Radishes - Planted September 2009
Broccoli - Planted August 2009
Butternut Squash - Planted August 2009
Citrus:
Navel Oranges - I think the fruits showed up around May
Satsuma Mandarin Oranges
Improved Meyer Lemons - existing fruits in May
Key Limes
All Citrus Trees planted in 2007
Other Plants:
Cascade Hops - planted rhizome Spring 2009
September 21, 2009
Fall Planning
September:
None left this year
October:
Planting:
Garlic and Pansies.
Other:
Clean, drill holes, and prep large pot for spring
November:
Other:
Bring in citrus trees before first frost
None left this year
October:
Planting:
Garlic and Pansies.
Other:
Clean, drill holes, and prep large pot for spring
November:
Other:
Bring in citrus trees before first frost
Texas A&M Horticulture Page
Click for Link
Link to Texas A&M's resources for Texas gardeners. Pretty thorough with various items.
Link to Texas A&M's resources for Texas gardeners. Pretty thorough with various items.
Neil Sperry
Click for Link
The definitive source for Texas gardeners for years, Neil Sperry is host of a weekend radio show in North Texas and has magazines, etc. all geared towards Texas gardening.
The definitive source for Texas gardeners for years, Neil Sperry is host of a weekend radio show in North Texas and has magazines, etc. all geared towards Texas gardening.
Local Harvest
Click for Link
Website that directs you to local agriculture and farming resources - local CSAs and producers.
Website that directs you to local agriculture and farming resources - local CSAs and producers.
Squeezepenny Sustainable Farm
Click For Link
Local McKinney, Texas based CSA that offers four twelve week produce and agriculture plans to local North Dallas area residents. Pickup locations in Plano, Frisco, McKinney, and Allen.
Very interesting to me, though I see some duplication with stuff I would like to grow myself, this could be a good supplement.
Local McKinney, Texas based CSA that offers four twelve week produce and agriculture plans to local North Dallas area residents. Pickup locations in Plano, Frisco, McKinney, and Allen.
Very interesting to me, though I see some duplication with stuff I would like to grow myself, this could be a good supplement.
Onions
Planted some texas sweet onions this weekend (9/20/2009) along the north side of the house (in the grotto) and some in the flower bed in back by the greens.
Garden Journal
I've been keeping random notes on things for a while, so I thought I would actually start to write stuff down so that I can keep track of what goes on with flowers and vegetables and all sorts of stuff in the garden. I also can use this to keep a nice consolidated set of resources for myself and others on Texas gardening...
September 20, 2009
NaNoWriMo Report Card 2009
Download >>
Updated for 2009 - not a lot of new bells and whistles, though I intend to put some new stuff out for this NaNoWriMo as well...Keep your eyes peeled. This is my version of the original report card (created by Erik Benson) with a few enhancements.
Please notify me or leave a comment if you have any issues with the spreadsheet.
Updated for 2009 - not a lot of new bells and whistles, though I intend to put some new stuff out for this NaNoWriMo as well...Keep your eyes peeled. This is my version of the original report card (created by Erik Benson) with a few enhancements.
Please notify me or leave a comment if you have any issues with the spreadsheet.
September 16, 2009
45ish days until NaNoWriMo
So, while this year I am trying to actually build a few things out (editing one novel, writing another one of a longer length outside of November), I can't neglect NaNoWriMo, which is coming up in a mere 45 days or so.
Keep your eyes peeled, as I will, most likely, update my tracking sheets (for myself if nothing else) and will look for ways to help out where I can. Unfortunately the change in the way I host the site is not convenient for some of the nifty tools I used to provide, but I'll see if there are things I can do otherwise.... utilizing Google and whatnot where I can I may have some neat ideas.
In the meantime, I'll devote a good part of my brainstorming sessions to NaNoPlanning....
Keep your eyes peeled, as I will, most likely, update my tracking sheets (for myself if nothing else) and will look for ways to help out where I can. Unfortunately the change in the way I host the site is not convenient for some of the nifty tools I used to provide, but I'll see if there are things I can do otherwise.... utilizing Google and whatnot where I can I may have some neat ideas.
In the meantime, I'll devote a good part of my brainstorming sessions to NaNoPlanning....
August 20, 2009
Couple of Site Widgets
Added a couple of site widgets over there (fun blog tools). Added the "followers" thing so I can tell how many people do not read this site. Also added the blogroll so I can link to the stuff that I read.
Draft Novel: Title TBD
Currently working on a draft of another mystery novel with a new protagonist. Some different goals for this novel, and we will see how it goes. Tracking my progress in a writing blog which I may eventually link in here. Also trying to get back in a daily writing (or doing something similar to writing) habit.
Cheers!
Cheers!
February 18, 2009
Draft Novel: Complete Bartender's Guide to Murder
Completed first draft of a novel surrounding the exploits of a bartender who finds himself on the wrong side of a murder investigation.
January 21, 2009
Draft Novel In Editing: The Agicon Secret (title TBD)
Another draft novel started up for NaNoWriMo 2006, The Agicon Secret is actually a work-in-progress title as well. The story centers around a young IT worker in Dallas who finds that his small-town friend has been murdered. As he gets caught up in searching for the killer, he uncovers a web of corruption.
Site Reboot take two
Going through another set of growing pains...
I apologize for the mess. Doing all this in an effort to get this a little more flexible for my use. Hopefully most of the navigation stays the same.
I apologize for the mess. Doing all this in an effort to get this a little more flexible for my use. Hopefully most of the navigation stays the same.
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