Top Text Editing Software for Writers by a Writer

I’ve dabbled with writing for years, since high school actually. I’m not certain why I didn’t pursue it for a career when I left high school. I think I had so many issues to deal with when I first got out on my own, I didn’t know which way was up. Then I did military service. All through that time until November 2011, when I decided to pursue writing seriously, I penned the occasional something that was more than just a note or to-do list.

Oddly enough, it was when I started reconnecting with high school friends that I started thinking about becoming an author. For some reason, when I graduated from high school, I had lost contact with all of my friends. So, when I reconnected with my old friend A.P., I learned about self publishing. It was no longer a process of putting together a book and spending $1K or more to have it printed. I think paying to have a book published is what is defined as the vanity press of the 80’s.

Now, I self publish. My collection of short stories is out on Smashwords. I recommend Smashwords, hands down, for any author thinking of publishing their work themselves. A Voice From an Inner World is undergoing a revamp, but the first edition is still available. I hope to complete a second collection of short stories, Of Black Holes and Universes, by the end of 2015. It’s not only the reconnection with A.P. that got me going. I discovered Scrivener. Scrivener is a powerful text editing software designed for writers by writer, Keith Blount. I’ve written an article about Scrivener on HubPages. The article includes an interview with Keith.

Though I’d already started on the road to becoming a writer, the discovery of Scrivener became the true catalyst to initiating that quest. I know that for any writer not using Keith’s very useful writing tool, they’re missing out. You can even get Scrivener on Amazon for Windows and for Mac. The home for Scrivener is on Literature and Latté. Don’t forget about Novel in a Day (NIAD), we meet up on Literature and Latté once a year.

Speaking of Novels Written in a Day

NIAD is one of my most anticipated events during the year. This year’s event was no less thrilling. Finally, I’ve done what was going to happen, inevitably. I’ve written a hub about Novel In A Day. The most important part of the article (hub) is the interview with Pigfender, the man behind the mirrors, so-to-speak. The hub of NIAD activities is on Literature and Latté, the home of Scrivener.

I’ve been posting links to my articles in hub pages on my blogger page. There are four novels now in the series. Four novels that represent four years of fun that is over all too soon. Take a moment to download your copies so you can see the culmination of all the effort.

Hopefully, I’ll see you for next year’s NIAD event.

Life Keeps Me Busy

Between work, social media and the rest that real life throws in my direction, I have been MIA from wordpress for a while. Since moving with my work place to temporary digs for about four and a half months and then moving back, I’ve had a number of things on the home front to deal with as well. BION, I’m still experiencing side affects from the surgery, minor ones, but they are there all the same.

I had a local storefront for about four months until the cafe closed down, so I’m working to set up a storefront on storenvy. Storenvy is the best online storefront platform I’ve come across since starting down that road.

I’ve started an account on Tsu, a revenue sharing site, see the post below for more information. The member short code would be ArachneaENTs.  It never hurts to have a few passive earning sources in place.

I have a nice start for hubs (articles) on Hubpages. I’m working a few more to publish this week, hopefully. I’ve revived my blogger account and am currently using it to post information on my hubs and a few other things.

Work is my biggest time thief. I need to set the dogs on him so I can bring him to justice. Changes are in the air, politically and seasonally. The holidays are here. I wish everyone enjoyment in the way they choose. I’m not much of a holiday sort even for the ones I feel obligated to enjoy, but I do at least do something significant for the latter.

Be well, everyone, and enjoy life.

Just Stoppin’ By

Thought I’d wander in to say hi.  I am coming down from an NIAD high.  NIAD aka, Novel in a day, is a fun day I’ve spent about this time of year as far back as 2011.  About 25 authors around the globe get together to do what was, until now, impossible.  We produce a novel in the span of one day.  Yes, that’s one day read 24 hours.

You’ll find this year’s efforts, here, 2013.

I found this year’s effort to be the most fun yet, the most easy to do and the best organized.  I think this has been a learning experience for both the writers and the organizer, the amazing Pigfender.

We hold our meetings on Literature and Latté in the forum area.  I found this quite by accident two years ago when I decided to get serious about writing.  I had just discovered Scrivener software software and was doing a bit more research on it.  So, while tooling way in the forum, I stumbled upon NIAD, as we fondly call it.  So, since then I’ve looked forward to the annual day of camaraderie, lobbed humour, and secret plots.  You’ll recognize my avatar below (or one similar) when you visit the forums.

Montrée Whiles

Previous efforts are found here, 2012 and 2011.

As for my current writing efforts, they’ve been a bit on hold.  Rabiyah is still working on Adrianna, though rather slowly.  Works by Montrée and Satine are all but on hold.  Real life has been a bit of a pisser of late and I’m working fast and furiously around broken crowns and visual challenges to get back on track.