This was my sister’s favorite flower. In my new home, I am planting flowers that remind me of certain people. My mother loved roses, treating them with “manure tea”, and they were huge. My mother-in-law loved African violets and I do, too, reminded of how we’d stand together, admiring them, as she carefully picked the dead blooms. I’ve always loved daffodils and though mine weren’t superb this year (just planted) I hope they will do better next spring. And I love, love lavender, lily of the valley, and bleeding hearts, too.
Planting special flowers and herbs are for me, a way of getting back to it. To the life I had, the one I want. It takes effort, though my problems are so minor in comparison to others, to the world. For the first time since my January 18 pipes froze and the ensuing reconstruction, reflooring mess, (insurance claim is still ongoing) I felt like getting back to writing. With two unfinished paintings sitting in front of me now, I chose writing. Rain and thunderstorms are predicted all day tomorrow—probably by the time you read this—and I hope to write more on my iPad throughout the day.
My characters come easily to my iPad now, settling in as cozy as I am in my recliner, feet up and typing away. I had quite the time getting a fix on one character and she kept me awake into the night, her background, emotions, speech patterns. I hope she settles into this last short story of three easily. Mm. I need to give her a favorite flower, to remember someone she loved. See how that works in the writer’s mind? Our life experiences funnel straight into our books.
Because there are previous characters, settings, etc. in the anthology, it’s necessary to keep them for reference. I’ve done this many ways, many times, throughout my long publishing career. Currently, I am using Scrivener, which can cross from my iPad to my Mac desktop, via Dropbox. Because I expect to write more rough draft on my iPad, I am transferring WIPs (works in progress) to it. Writers often keep a “Toy box” of possible story ideas, titles, etc. and mine is large. NOTE: my iPad does not have the full version of Scrivener as does the desktop.
The Creative Penn video presents an interesting AI software (ProWritingAid) and JoAnna Penn’s use/process of it. (Most of our software now contains optional AI.) In the video, JoAnna also uses Scrivener, and then more software, and finally a human editor to go over the completed work. I thought the last process was outstanding—we still need/use human editors.
I highly recommend listening to the Novel Marketing Podcast: AI for Authors 2024, The Good, Bad, and Ugly Episode 412 by AuthorMedia.com This podcast/article is excellent and revealing.
Thank you for dropping in, and if you have time, I’d love to hear from you!
Cait London 