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Post by girlyesterday on Oct 7, 2009 20:03:39 GMT -5
Call it curiosity but how do you write your stories? Do you carry a notebook around with you and force yourself to undertake the physical act of writing (pen and paper) or do you prefer to "write" your stories directly to the computer swapping pen and paper for keyboard and screen?
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For me, I use the traditional method (pen and paper). I used to write my stories directly into the computer (where Word makes it easy to edit as you write) but I recently swapped back;
a) Because the physical act of writing makes me want to write more. b) Notebooks are easy to carry around and I always have access to them when I am out and about and am struck with a particularly vivid scene that I must write down. c) I can flip through my notebook and physically see all the work that has gone into a story and how many pages I've filled up, complete with scratching out, little illustrations and footnotes. It makes me feel like I've achieved something. d) When I go to type everything up, I can edit it then and rearrange my sentences but I'll always have the copy of the original narrative without the alterations.
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Post by thelunarfox on Oct 7, 2009 21:28:20 GMT -5
Hmmm.. well in general, I write on notepad first for a very practical reason. I spent six hours of my day at a desk where I have no internet connection. I have a computer at the desk, but I am hesitant about using it for anything other than its intended purpose of collecting rent.
But I can't hand write as fast as I can type, so my hand might cramp, or I'll forget an idea before I get to it. My memory is just that bad.
Plus, physically writing, I actually end up feeling like I'm just slogging through the words. Hand written stuff is usually really really bad because I end up having to take short cuts so that I can get all the thoughts down before I lose them.
But it is handy to have a physical notepad to jot down ideas, make sketches, and plot in general.
If I really just want to fart around and explore an idea, I find that the computer is much better for that. It's easier for me to fall into a groove and type away. And it's funny later to come back and either not remember writing what I wrote or to see some of the crazy typos and spelling errors I make in my haste.
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Post by raquelaroden on Oct 8, 2009 5:59:01 GMT -5
I type it up. In game, when I get ideas from interactions or when I realize I'll have to change my original idea because of limitations within the game, I make notes on a pad of paper near the computer. Sometimes these have little bits of dialogue in it, etc.. If I write at work (which is rare), I save directly to a memory key and do my best to remove all traces of it from that computer. But I like the idea of writing by hand (though I took a midterm yesterday and wrote feverishly for 2 hours and 15 minutes, and I felt like my hand was going to fall off). I was trying to write hand-written letters to people at one time, because I think it's a dying art (and because I wanted to find pretty stationary).
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Post by laura on Oct 8, 2009 16:57:37 GMT -5
I write strictly by keyboard these days, for the same reason you all have stated, because it's faster. There is a certain charm to handwriting though, and I do have a paper journal I'll scribble in from time to time. I'm finding though, the more I write by typing, I can't compose anything worthwhile by hand anymore. I also adore pretty stationary! I keep buying pretty notebooks and notepads, even though I know I'll never write in all of them
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Post by girlyesterday on Oct 8, 2009 18:29:43 GMT -5
I keep buying pretty notebooks and notepads, even though I know I'll never write in all of them
Wow, someone else does that too. I have a stack of pretty notebooks at home and only two are being used right now. I keep looking at my current pile and mourning the waste of money. I don't know about you, but I always feel like I am marring perfectly good paper when I use my notebooks.
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Post by Stacy on Oct 8, 2009 19:58:29 GMT -5
I have my Valley notebook for notes. It has a couple of general outlines for a few updates (the next update's summary is a grand total of three sentences, lol - and the last one is just "The Line") and lists of photo editing steps.
Except for the first bit of Dust, all of the actual writing is done in the caption space under the pic on Photobucket or on the draft in the blog.
I can't write in cursive anymore. I used to write pages and pages of just personal ramblings in my notebooks at school. These days my hand hurts after more than a few words in cursive. So it's messy printed short summaries for me.
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Post by thelunarfox on Oct 8, 2009 20:13:37 GMT -5
I used to love pretty notebooks too until I realized that I then hated to ruin them by writing in them with my boyish handwriting. Maybe that's the next step for this thread- a pic of the notebooks.
Now I just love stationary stores. Highlighters, pens, pencils, and all the spiral notebooks I can afford. Of course, once they're filled, I don't know what to do with them. Now I have a shelf on the book case of notebooks and binders.
And I don't think I can write in cursive anymore either. Course, I don't think I ever really could.
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Post by girlyesterday on Oct 9, 2009 2:03:58 GMT -5
Lunar, what a fantastic idea about the notebook pictures. I went ahead and scanned mine in. This is the one I use for Inside Hope Springs. This is the one I use for Searching for Tomorrow. I picked up both of those from Target. I prefer the soft cover notebooks to the hard cover ones. I am in the process of learning how to make my own notebook. Anyone else? I'd love to see your notebooks.
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Post by thelunarfox on Oct 10, 2009 13:37:49 GMT -5
Your journals match your stories perfectly. They're very unique and pretty. Personally, I prefer the soft hard covers of the mead composition notebooks. When they get a little torn up I feel like I'm accomplishing something. These are the two I'm carrying with me right now. The blue stripe one is finished-- that one is about 98% Michael and Edith stuff. The black one was fifty cents! I love back to school sales. But that one's almost filled too. I think I need bigger journals. And a sample of my handwriting because I think that's fun too. You can see why I don't spend money on the fancier journals.
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Post by laura on Oct 10, 2009 16:59:50 GMT -5
Here are mine.It appears I have a serious infatuation with brown and pink, and geometric shapes, lol! I didn't even notice until I had them all together From the left - The brown and pink rectangles is my novel folder. It's three-ringed, and I keep finished chapters in the rings, and in-progress chapters loose in the folder pockets. I also keep a folder for whatever short story or other project I'm working on, just so I don't have to carry around more than one folder. All typed and printed, because I still like reading drafts on paper, lol! But then I feel bad about all the trees I've killed, so I make sure to use recycled paper and recycle all of my drafts when I'm done, lol! The black and white flowers is my day planner - isn't it pretty?!? The circle comp book is my personal journal. I don't so much write much in those any more, except maybe notes while I'm reading, or something I might turn into a blog entry. I haven't written something meant to be strictly personal in the longest time. Pretty much everything ends up on one of my blogs, or twitter page at the very least, lol! The folder furthest right is also three-ringed, and holds each of my short stories in their most current states of revision. The striped journal out front is my previous personal journal before the circle one. I didn't want to dig out all of my previous journals - just imagine, they're some shade of brown, pink, or green, and some assortment of geometric shapes Carnaxa, yours are gorgeous! Lunar, my handwriting is just as messy. I swear it's completely illegible by anyone but me
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Post by girlyesterday on Oct 10, 2009 20:29:27 GMT -5
Lunar, those books certainly look full! We don't sell those kinds here unfortunately. They look like they have quite a few pages. They might sell them in the bigger cities but I am in a small town so we get the cast offs! Laura, love the designs on your notebooks. I have a few with similar designs too although they are hard covers. I love bright vivid colours. I also meant to add, you're very organised! Lunar, great idea about the handwriting sample. Your handwriting is way neater than mine. I tend to be very very messy in my notebooks. My husband can never read it. He's forever asking me what this or that word is supposed to be. Here's my writing sample.
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Post by thelunarfox on Oct 10, 2009 23:01:39 GMT -5
Laura, those are lovely. I've always been partial to brown and colors like pink or green, and especially geometric shapes. All typed and printed, because I still like reading drafts on paper, lol! But then I feel bad about all the trees I've killed, so I make sure to use recycled paper and recycle all of my drafts when I'm done, lol! Me too! I've been thinking about it a lot because I have quite a few pages I need to clean through, but I'm not very organized at the moment so I don't want to recycle something I might need later. As for the handwriting, I've always felt that bad handwriting has to be a good indicator that you must be doing something right. So long as you can read it later! Carnaxa, you're writing in cursive! That's impressive.
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Post by Stacy on Oct 10, 2009 23:54:13 GMT -5
LJ entry from August about the Valley notebook, with a picOn Tuesday I'll bring in my work camera during lunch and get a pic of a page from it. edit - remembered tomorrow is training day and so no office or camera or lunch. But bus tours and catered lunch and a lecture on "Being the Best Version of You." Yay.
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Post by heredoncove on Oct 11, 2009 17:16:46 GMT -5
I keep my notes in Evernote, so I guess that means keyboard. It's not my usual preference for writing but I find it easier especially when I'm taking notes as I play.
I have Evernote linked to my phone also, so when I get the urge to change something or need a reminder I just jot it down in there and it syncs with my desktop version.
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Post by girlyesterday on Oct 11, 2009 17:49:16 GMT -5
Wicked notebook Stacy. The skull on the front really matches Seth's character doesn't it.
I don't think I've heard of Evernote. Sounds interesting, must google it.
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Post by Stacy on Oct 13, 2009 16:54:00 GMT -5
Thanks Carnaxa. I am rather fond of it. I have inside the pink skull Valley notebook of doom pics now. This is the page for the last two updates. I pretty much dumped everything written within the lines and only went with a bit of what's around the margins. Close ups on my LJ - it's a friends only entry because I don't want the picture of the block to show up on Sim Secrets. If you can't see it and you're on LJ, friend me. notebook closeups
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Post by mdpthatsme on Oct 15, 2009 17:05:49 GMT -5
Wow, you should see my notebooks...when I'm thinking, absent-mindedly, I draw eyeballs alll around my writing......I should post a picture some time. I use both notebooks and the awesome technology of Word. I write a lot faster than I type...though I can type 132 words per minute...I think it's pretty good...but that only works if I know what I'm typing. Notebooks are for safety because technology is not reliable. Can't tell you how many times my computer's crashed. So...that's where the notebooks come in handy. Safe and sound. Of course I have my saving system too so if the computer dies and my house burns down (from the computer dying) then I know my files are some where. I like to save files on my gmail, because it can be accessed anywhere as long as I have internet.
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Post by laura on Oct 15, 2009 19:28:36 GMT -5
mdp, I back up my novel on gmail too, lol! It works! I agree with the fickleness of technology. I always keep hard copies of my stories printed out as well.
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Post by mdpthatsme on Oct 15, 2009 19:43:09 GMT -5
So handy, gmail is ;D
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moondaisy
Full Member
locked in a moonbeam
Posts: 254
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Post by moondaisy on Nov 7, 2009 20:08:49 GMT -5
I have a notebook - pen and paper. I actually changed charcoal for a proper ink roller pen (but still miss crayon). When I start a new character I have to think long and hard about three things. (This is because my characters are created by someone else (for now) and I only play Sim of the Month Challenges (for now). 1. Who is this person, how do personality traits define this person? 2. What is the best strategy for this person to complete her/his challenge? 3. From what perspective will I write the story of this person? As you may know, I love to comment on other people's stories. In fact, seeing so much creativity in others possibly keeps me sane. In a re-worked fashion, these are the three elements I ALWAYS look for in a story. Personality, motive, strategy... Ah! But do I get emotionally involved? Yes, very easily... and it's the emotions that are in the end my greatest drive, whether creating/writing or reading and appreciating other people's work.
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