Writerly Tools: Pinterest

Yes, this is a Pinterest post.

If you've been following pretty much any blog for the last six months, you've already seen at least one version of this post, so you're welcome to move on. If not, stick around an I'll tell you how Pinterest can be useful to you (and your writing).

Now the idea behind Pinterest was to create virtual pinboards for everything that you as a user thinks is worth pinning. Get it? Pin + Interest = Pinterest. Haha.

At first glimpse, Pinterest looks a whole lot like Tumblr because the entire website is an explosion of pictures. This is why it took me so long to get interested. What was the point of dealing with another social website when it was so close to Tumblr? The answer to that question is because Pinterest is a bit more self-centered than Tumblr.

At its core, Tumblr is just another blogging platform, though it does have a huge emphasis on sharing content. Pinterest, on the other hand, is an easy way to organize online content that you enjoy. Tumblr uses want followers because they want to share their content, while Pinterest users seems a bit more focused on collecting things they like.

Make sense? Maybe a little interested to hear more? Good, since this is the part where I cut to the chase and tell you five reasons why using Pinterest might be in your best interest:

1. Pinterest is your inspiration board
   Remember when I did a WIP picture spam post? Well Pinterest allows you to easily cultivate images and ideas for your writing . . . or anything else really (and if you're curious, here's a link to my WIP board).
2. Pinterest is a haven for writers
   So many authors have Pinterest accounts that it's not even funny. Want to see what kind of things that Laini Taylor associates with Daughter of Smoke & Bone or Beth Revis's with her mysterious new WIP? Well now you CAN.
3. Pinterest lets you organize like a champ
   You can definitely have more than one pin board, which allows you to organize everything your heart's content. Want a board for every WIP? For the tastiest looking recipes? For everything related to comics books? Totally doable.
4. Pinterest makes browsing easy
   Of course Pinterest has the standard search function, but you can also scroll through pins based on genre/category. Better yet, you can follow other people's boards and let them find all of the best content online.
5. Pinterest is only what you let it be
   Maybe you'll use it for WIP inspiration, or maybe you'll use it to procrastinate from working on your WIP. Maybe you'll get some new hobbies or save every beautiful picture you find online. If nothing else, Pinterest is versatile.

5 nifty, homemade bookmarks

I'm pretty sure that we can all agree that books make awesome gifts. But if you've ever given a book someone, you've probably noticed that it's not the most personal present. Especially if they specifically requested the book. So, I was thinking . . . why not throw in a homemade bookmark?

In the spirit of this idea, I've put together a list of some of my favorite bookmark tutorials on the internet. Just in case you're feeling a little crafty. Check it:

Page corner bookmarks

Bow-tie paperclip bookmarks

Scrap saavy bookmarks

Easy-peasy ribbon bookmarks

Jumbo clip bookmarks

See, don't those seem like they'll make your gift-giving a little more exciting? A lot of them look pretty easy too! But if you're interested in even more bookmark tutorials, check out this list at Tip Junkie . . . it's a bit intensive.

Have you ever given anyone a book (or a bookmark) for a gift before? What book was it and why did you pick that book for them? Also, do you have a hefty bookmark collection like me? Tell me in the comments.

Writerly Tools: Hazel

Huh, it's been a while since I've done one of these, hasn't it?

Today I'm going to talk about a delightful little program called Hazel, and unfortunately it's only for the Mac. Sorry PC users. *shrug* I've heard that Belvedere is the PC equivalent, so maybe try that out?

Anyway, moving on. Hazel is an automated organization program. As its creators at Noodlesoft have so elegantly said, Hazel is "your personal housekeeper."

The idea is that you set up a bunch of different parameters called "rules," and Hazel follows those rules to do the computer equivalent of housework for you. It takes a little work to set up all the rules, but it's ultimately worth it in the end.

I know, it sounds nice, but you're wondering how this is relevant to writers. Tell me, how many times have you forgotten to back up your manuscript? How many times have you ultimately suffered for that faux pas? With Hazel, NEVER AGAIN.

Interested yet? If so, good. Because now I'm going to give you five reasons why I think you might adore Hazel:

1. Hazel is your backup ninja
   Like I said above, you never have to worry about backing up your manuscript again--just set up some rules for Hazel to follow, and everything will be taken care of. I prefer the double-whammy combination of Hazel and Dropbox.
2. Hazel can do other things too
   Maybe you get Hazel for the automated backups, but the possibilities are endless. Hazel can keep your trash bin clean, organize your downloads, or even label files as certain conditions are met. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
3. Hazel works in the background
   Once you get Hazel set up, you never have to worry about it again. Everything is automatic, seamless, and behind the scenes. But if you do want updates, it's easy-peasy to set up notifications with Growl.
4. Hazel has depth
   At first glance, setting up rules in Hazel looks super intimidating. However, Hazel is only as complex as you want it to be--which allows your automated rules to be as simple or as complex as you need them to be.
5. Hazel makes your computer happy
   Writers spend a lot of time on the computer. Writing, networking, wasting time on the internet--the important thing is that Hazel's organization rules make your computer happy by removing the clutter.

5 fabulous favorite foods

Knowing what kind of food a person likes says a lot about them. Are they a traditionalist rooted in meat and potatoes, or do they prefer things made out of foam? Keeping this in mind, what are the favorite (and maybe even least favorite) foods of the characters you write about? Easier question: can you list five of your favorite foods? I sure can! And now I'm going to:

Chips and Salsa
This might be the result of growing up in a community with a fairly large mexican population, but I don't care. Not only are chips and salsa delicious, but they're relatively healthy. I mean tortilla chips are a step above other chips *cough*potato chips*cough* and salsa is made from delicious, delicious vegetables.

Image credit to mooshee85

Eggs in every shape and form
It's called the incredible, edible egg for a reason. They're a protein goldmine and considering that breakfast is my favorite meal of the day . . . well, it all just compounds to awesomeness. Eggs can be fried, boiled, saladed, baked in a quiche, thrown on top of a hamburger, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.

Image credit to myheartbehaves

Bagels with cream cheese
Okay, yeah, I know, this one is kind of weird. But I really like bagels and I really like cream cheese. And I'm not even talking flavored cream cheese or interesting bagels. Both of those things rock, but I seriously start salivating for just a plain, toasted bagel with boring, ordinary cream cheese. Just. So. Good!

Image credit to Birdny123

Sushi
I don't how or why, but sushi rice, assorted veggies, and sea critter bits wrapped in seaweed is tasty, tasty stuff. Also, there's nothing else like it. I enjoy the classic rolls, but I really get excited about recipes that take traditional ingredients and twist them into something new. Blue Hashi's Sleepwalker Roll is delightful.

Image credit to Wes_AW

Ice cream!!!
Hahaha, you know those people who can finish off one of those huge cups at Coldstone Creamery? Umm, yeah. That's me. It's creamy and made from milk and sugar . . . what's there to dislike unless you're lactose intolerant? Nothing. Because ice cream is always good. Especially cookies and cream. Yum!

Image credit to ivan.leung

Keep in mind that this is only five of my favorite foods . . . the, uhh, things I would want on that deserted island with me, you know? But there are still a bunch of other things I love. Like corn chowder and mashed potatoes and peach pie. *drools*

Oh crap, talking about all of this is making me hungry. >_> But before I run off to the kitchen, tell me, do my favorite foods tell you anything about me? If so, what? And, even better, what are your five favorite foods and why do you love them so? Are they things you have regular access too, or are your favorites something special? Tell me in the comments!

5 MORE webcomics writers should read

Hey, remember the last time I talked about webcomics? The basic gist was as follows: Writers love stories. Webcomics are home to all sorts of awesome stories. Unfortunately, I don't know of so many writers that profess the joys of webcomics. So, here, five awesome webcomics for you guys to check out.

And today? Well, today is a sequel to that post! Because, frankly, there are a ton of webcomics out there, and I enjoy far more than just five of them. So here, friends, five more favorites that you should definitely check out!*

The Meek
This is probably one of the biggest webcomics online right now, so if you haven't read The Meek yet, get to it! This one is all about a complex, fantasy, interweaving storyline, so if you're looking to observe those elements, this is the comic to check out. Not to mention the fabulous world building and, of course, the artwork.

Gastrophobia
This is the story of an exiled Amazon warrior and her son, who live in ancient Greece. Plus some crack (we're talking a My Little Pony vs Care Bears story arc). Gastrophobia is different from many webcomics in that it's essentially a collection of short stories. Which is awesome. Especially if you're looking for something quick and entertaining.

Thistil Mistil Kistil
As the comic's website puts it, "Thistil Mistil Kistil is a comic about vikings, Norse gods, and their adventures together (or against each other)." Simply enough, the research and thought behind this comic is astounding. The level of depth goes from locations, to characters, to the artwork itself, and that's something that anyone can learn from.

Monster Pulse
Monster Pulse is a relatively new comic, but I like where it's going thus far. Basically, there's some dubious science and body parts that transform into battling monsters. The concept is super interesting, which is really half the battle, and the execution has been spot on too. Doesn't help that all of the characters (and monsters) are super charming!

Great
Great, is the kind of comic that started as something small, that, well, turned into something great. It's definitely a good show as to how one can take a bunch of different and random elements and create a cohesive story. But there's some depth too, as Great explores the highs and lows of life, and what it really means to be "great."

And there we go! So, if you guys read webcomics, what ones have you read? Any of these? Or do you have some favorites that I've never heard of? Either way, tell me your thoughts in the comments!

*BTW: As you may have guessed, none of these images belong to me. Shocking, huh?

Writerly Tools: Tumblr

Tumblr is one of those websites that is both inspirational and a superb time suck. It also took me a long time to appreciate.

Like many other writers, I think it's easy to find inspiration in all sorts of things: pictures, videos, comics, music, etc. What I didn't understand, was that Tumblr is home to all of these things if you know how to look. Actually, Tumblr is home to a lot of exciting and inspirational stuff. You just have to give it an opportunity.

Like all social networks, Tumblr is riddled with garbage, but it's surprisingly easy to avoid. We're not talking status updates like Twitter and Facebook. We're talking microblogging. This is like Blogger and Wordpress, but quicker and easier. Tumblr can be whatever you want to make it, depending on who you follow and what you post/reblog.

So now that I've maybe perked your interest, let me tell you a little bit more about it. Here, five reasons why Tumblr might be another social network that's worth your time:

1. Tumblr is the blogging alternative
   A lot of people have been burnt out on blogging, but Tumblr takes that familiar formula and twists it. Yup, Tumblr is all about stream-of-consciousness, quick and easy, micro-blogging. It lets you take images, words, anything, and lets your ideas speak for themselves.
2. Tumblr is simple
   Seriously. Tumblr is up there with Twitter when it comes to ease of use. This is definitely a good thing, especially when you consider how broad it's applications of use can be.
3. Tumblr can be your scrapbook
   You can post nearly anything on Tumblr, and thus, it's really easy to create a scrapbook of images relating yo your writing, or even a collection of writing exercises or flash fiction. Tags are specific to tumblelogs, so it's easy to keep everything organized.
4. Tumblr is a creativity goldmine
   Continuing on the scrapbook vein, you can find pretty much anything on Tumblr. Pictures, patterns, recipes . . . it's all there. And you can reblog and share all of it. So if you need to jumpstart your creativity, go peruse Tumblr for a while.
5. Tumblr is light hearted
   Tumblr loves kittens and memes and all sorts of silly internet-related things. Better yet, Tumblr lets you spread the joy with a simple click of the Reblog button. And frankly, this is a great way to escape the writerly angst.

I'm full of crazy excitement!

Look, my lovely crocheted sugar skulls, finally completed!

Today and tomorrow are going to be awesome. I have been anticipating them for a while, so, please indulge my spazzing:

1. Today is Halloween . . . which always equates to fun and frivolity and candy and dressing up in costumes. Yeah, not gonna lie, totally my favorite holiday. I'm gonna be at a game night too, which rocks, and I definitely hope you guys have fun doing whatever you'll be up to!
2. Tomorrow is Dia de los Muertos! Not only is it a cool holiday, but I love love love the entire aesthetic to it. There's just something about associating death with bright colors and flowers that makes me happy inside. Also, I like skulls . . . especially calaveras skulls.
3. NaNoWriMo starts at midnight and I shall be eating pie at a write-in. And writing too. I suppose. If I must. The pie is obviously the most important factor in play.
4. Uncharted 3--which is basically like a modern Indiana Jones in video game form--comes out on the 1st. Being that Uncharted 2 came out two years ago, it's safe to say that I can't wait to get my grubby hands on it.
5. Florence + the Machine's new album, Ceremonials, also comes out. Considering that both my inner literary critic and inner depraved fangirl irrationally worship Florence Welch, I'm a bit enthused. Okay, a lot enthused. Also, I secretly plan to listen to this album throughout NaNoWriMo.

Yes, these are all good things. But what about you guys? Any of you up to anything exciting in these next two days? Any good plans for Halloween? Planning on NaNo-ing at midnight? Any other great music/video games/books/etc coming out this week? Tell me in the comments!

Writerly Tools: Spotify

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to get one of the first Spotify accounts in the United States, and I've gotta say, I'm super psyched about it.

If there is one thing that most writers can agree on, it's a love for music. We like making playlists that represent our writing. We like composing our super dramatic book climaxes to appropriate movie scores. We been known to spend hours getting our musical preferences just perfect.

Spotify is a magical program that allows you to stream almost any music you want to your computer. For free. Needless to say, it can quickly become a writer's best friend. In fact, the only downside to Spotify is the fact that it's not available in every country. Hopefully this with be rectified soon, yeah?

Anyway, now that I've got Spotify, I'm not sure that I could give it up again. And if you haven't checked it out yet, here are five reasons why you definitely should:

1. Spotify has a lot of music
   If you want to listen to something specific, you're probably in luck, since Spotify users have access to MILLIONS of songs. Soundtracks, popular music, and local bands--the only arena in which Spotify seems to lack is the foreign music scene.
2. Spotify can play local files too
   That's right. It can access and play anything in your Downloads, Music, or iTunes folders. That means you don't need to have multiple music programs open in order to listen to everything your heart desires.
3. Spotify's paid options don't suck
   Not only are the Unlimited and Premium packages super cheap, but they offer things that are actually worth the price. Unlimited gets rid of the ads (which are annoying as hell), and Premium allows you to listen to your music offline.
4. Spotify helps you find new music
   Not only is there a radio station feature similar to Pandora or last.fm, but Spotify lets you share tracks with your friends and has a Related Artists feature. Better yet, instead of scouring YouTube for music samples or buying an album you've never heard, you can check it out on Spotify.
5. Spotify is portable
   You can access your account/playlists/favorites/etc on any computer with the Spotify client. There's an iPod app, so you can easily play music through a speaker system. And with the Premium package, you can access Spotify anywhere on your phone.

Writerly Tools: Skype

Communicating over the internet isn't the greatest. I won't deny it--email gets the job done, and it's super easy to meet new people on Twitter and in writing forums. But it doesn't beat old fashioned face-to-face conversation.

That is where video calling applications come into play.

If you don't know, a video call is pretty much what it sounds like. Basically you "call" someone else's computer and communicate via microphone and webcam footage. It's pretty sweet.

Now, there are several options out there: Windows Live Messenger. FaceTime. ooVoo. Google Voice and Video Chat. And my personal favorite, Skype. What makes Skype my number one choice? Well, let me give you guys five quick reasons:

1. Skype just works
   There are several different programs for video calling, but Skype does what you want and when you want. The user interface is simple and you don't have to mess with a bunch of crap to make calls, screen share, or simply chat.
2. Skype can call anyone
   Is your critique partner in Europe and your agent in New York? Do you want to do a video call with a classroom across the country? With Skype, you can communicate to any device with the application for free.
3. Skype can call anything
   You aren't limited to calling other computers that have Skype installed--you can call anything with a phone number. Charges apply, but it's an awesome alternative when you can't use a normal phone or if you need to make a long distance call.
4. Skype can be free or not
   The free version of Skype is a fantastic value, but the paid version has some great features too. These include group video and screen sharing calls (which would be perfect for critique groups), unlimited calling in the US and Canada, and live tech support.
5. Skype has a huge customer base
   This is because it was pretty much the first mainstream video chat program, and thus, a lot of people use it. If you want to streamline your computer applications, it would be easiest to stick to Skype.

The bookish wardrobe of my dreams

Okay, so I don't know about you people, but I've always wanted writerly clothing. Or rather, not necessarily writerly, but bookish. It seems like if I'm going to be scrubbed out while writing, I might as well have a snarky t-shirt on, you know?

So I've been collecting shirts in my Amazon wish list, secretly plotting the day that I might be able to actually buy one of them. Then I shall flaunt them and feel particularly writerly in the process. But until then, I thought I'd share them with you guys, 'cause they are kind nifty.

Yeah, they're totally rocking and you know it.

• Writer's Block . . .
  Now, I'm not the biggest proponent of writer's block or the idea that it even exists, but this shirt is simple and darkly funny. And I like funny things. Conveniently it comes in about a thousand different sizes and styles too.
• Read, Read, Read
  This shirt is fun, playful, and has cats with books. I'm shallow because I love cats and books, so seeing them together is pretty much a win. Also, it's an public service announcement on your chest, because what writer doesn't want people to read?
• Attack of Literary!
  Vintage comic books covers. Classic authors. What more could anyone want in a t-shirt? Oh, that's right. A ZOMBIE ATTACK. This shirt is delightfully tongue-in-cheek and I love it. <3
• Keep Calm and Write On
  Sure, it's a t-shirt based on an internet meme, but it basically says "suck it up" in a lovely, WWII Britain manner. Also, you can get it with pajama pants. There's nothing better than a writing shirt that comes with pajama pants. Seriously.
• Why is an Owl Smart?
  Because he reads books! I love the subtly of this shirt--at first it looks like a normal forest, but then the shelves come into view and it all makes sense. And besides, who doesn't love an owl reading a book? No one.

That's a pretty sweet collection of t-shirts, yeah? Of course, now I'm pretty sure that someone's going to tell me they already own all of my dream clothing, but I suppose I can forgive. Maybe. Either way, what do you guys think? Do you have any writerly/bookish dream purchases? Tell me about them in the comments.

Writerly Tools: NetNewsWire

Today I'm going to get all technical on you guys. Ready to learn about RSS feeds?

An RSS feed is the syndicated version of a website. RSS actually stands for Real Simple Syndication. Every blog has one, whether it's hosted on Blogger, Wordpress, Livejournal, or elsewhere. Even micro-blogs like Twitter and Tumblr have RSS feeds. The one for Squidink looks something like this.

By this point you're all thinking that this is good and dandy, but what's my point? Who cares? Why am I throwing all of this computer mumbo jumbo in your direction anyway?

Well, RSS feeds are cool because they update when a website posts new information. Instead of visiting specific websites multiple times a week, you can pay attention to their RSS feeds. And if you have something called an RSS aggregator, well, you can store all those feeds in one place. And then everything gets easy and convenient.

Today I'm going to tell you about one of these RSS aggregators, a program by Black Pixel that's called NetNewsWire. Instead of visiting a bunch of websites each day, I let NetNewsWire do the work and display the information for me. Not only can I keep tabs on dozens of writing and publishing blogs, but I can also watch for updates of my favorite webcomics--all in the same place!

Does it sound too good to be true? Well, let me give you the full dirt on the matter with five reasons why NetNewsWire might be the RSS aggregator for you:

1. NetNewsWire is simple and clean
   Writers like blogging, and if you follow a lot of blogs, you know how obnoxious it can be to organize them all. Right now I have 162, so I totally understand. But NetNewsWire makes it easy with folders, and you can always flag items to look at later.
2. NetNewsWire syncs
   Not only will your subscriptions stay up-to-date between your Mac, iPad, and iPhone, you don't even need the program if you want to take a gander on a different platform. NetNewsWire sync with Google Reader too, which is accessible on anything that can get internet.
3. NetNewsWire has a web cache
   Say you're going somewhere without internet. Well, like an email client, NetNewsWire "downloads" information in your feeds and allows you to look at them offline. The only downside is that it won't automatically load pictures or videos, but it's still cool, yeah?
4. NetNewsWire has a built-in browser
   If there's a link withins something that you're reading, you have two options in NetNewsWire: 1) open it in your default browser, or 2) open it within a NetNewsWire tab. This is awesome because you can keep everything organized and within in one program.
5. NetNewsWire supports sharing
   Want to tell everyone about something nifty you just read? From within NetNewsWire you can email it, blog about it (with MarsEdit), or post to Twitter (via Twitterific). You can also save posts with del.icio.us and Instapaper, for easy sending and sharing.

5 webcomics writers should read

If there's one thing I can safely say about writers, it's that we really love stories. Sure, we're partial to books, but it's not like you don't see us promoting movies and tv shows too. Hey, sometimes we even throw shout outs to video games and comic books. The one thing, however, that I've never seen a writer recommend is webcomics.

For anyone who doesn't know, a web comic is basically a comic that is serialized page-by-page on the internet. For free. If the comic gets a pretty big fan base, the writer/artist will self-publish copies or get picked up by a publisher. Both of which are obviously pretty sweet. It's a good way for aspiring comics to get their work out there.

But yes. There are webcomics that you should read. You should read them as a writer and you should read them for fun, because that's what they are. Fun. Either way, there are a bunch out there and today I'm going to tell you about five of them. So here we go!*

Hyperbole and a Half
A lot of you already know about this one. If not, it's a collection of life stories told through Paint-style illustrations. Paint as in the crappy drawing software that comes with most computers. This sounds a little dubious, but if you want to learn how to make people laugh via timing and precise storytelling, this is the place to go.

Unsounded
Thief-brat Sette is on a mission and she's dragging the undead Duane along for the ride. The characters in this comic are so well-rounded and have such strong voices that anyone could glean something from a quick read-through. The fantastic art and gorgeous world-building only make the ride more enjoyable. Definitely one of my favorites.

Cucumber Quest
Wherein rabbit children go on a classic fantasy adventure. I particularly love how sweet and colorful the artwork is, not to mention the story, which is both earnest and okay with making fun of itself. It's a good reminder to the struggling writer that sometimes it's okay to step back and get some enjoyment out of your work. 

Johnny Wander
A varied comic that switches between colorful shorts and excerpts of the daily life of some college grads. Not only is the artwork nice and clean, there are a lot of fun ideas popping up in this one. There's no storyline, but the comic offers some good examples as to what makes a moment comedic and how to structure a short story.

Hanna is Not a Boy's Name
To put it simply, Hanna is a boy and he's a mediocre paranormal detective with an undead parter who's better at the job than he is. There's a lot of character depth present in this comic, and what's great is that it isn't super blatant. Also, the art and page layouts are super delicious in this comic, which makes it a pleasure to read.

So what about you guys? Have any of you read webcomics before? If so, what comics? Did you enjoy them? If not, I hope you take the plunge and check some of these out. Either way, tell me your thoughts in the comments!

*BTW: As you may have guessed, none of these images belong to me. Shocking, huh?

Writerly Tools: Twitter

Twitter.

Next to Facebook it's one of the largest social networks out there. And, unfortunately, it kind of has a bad rap.

Why? Because too many people talk about what they cook for dinner every night. Like all social networks, Twitter should be more about other people than about yourself. That's what makes things interesting--not what dinner. Of course, if you're a foodie, then things are a bit different, but whatever.

Let's just cut to the chase: Twitter is more than it appears to be, and if you let yourself experiment with it, you'll end up having a lot of fun. Twitter is a marketing, researching, sharing, friendshiping tool. News breaks on Twitter. People become friends on Twitter. Contests are held and charities are born on Twitter. And yes, sometimes we just want to talk about what we had for dinner. But only when it's interesting. And not all the time. (ETA: And if you need an example of Twitter's power, Laini Taylor explains #YAsaves quite nicely)

So let's get down to business. Here are five reasons why Twitter isn't a complete waste of effort for writers:

1. Twitter is a social butterfly
   A lot of writers and industry professionals are on Twitter and you're free to communicate with them. Really. Not only that, but there are few strings attached, so it can be anything from a minor interaction to a newfound friendship. Communication is key!
2. Twitter is all about sharing
   It's easy to find something interesting on Twitter because people post interesting info all the time. It's a marketing dream and fantastic for promos and contests. At the same time, you don't want to alienate your audience by spamming them with links all of the time, so don't be posting links every five seconds.
3. Twitter is super accessible
   Yeah. Twitter is like Facebook. It's available on pretty much every electronic device in existence. However, you can customize your experience with one of the dozens of available Twitter clients. A lot of people swear by TweetDeck, but I prefer Echofon.
4. Twitter has hashtags
   Hashtags are basically the love child of search terms and blog post labels, but at their most frivolous they're like ironic asides. Anyway, some of the best ones for writers are #amwriting, #wordmongering, and #askagent.
5. Twitter is 140 characters
   Don't give me that look--this is important. As writers, we need to be concise and to the point. No unnecessary purple prose for us. Twitter forces you to choose your words carefully, and that's something we all need practice with.

Guest Post: What's in a critique partner?

Haha, so you don't know this about me, but I live super close to Yellowstone National Park. If you follow me on Twitter, you may have noticed when I went on a day trip last Thursday because I was spamming you all with river otters, grizzly bears, and Old Faithful.

Well, then I found out on pretty short notice that I'm going back for a week. Yay! I also sent out this desperate plea for guest bloggers. Amazingly, someone answered. Yay again! So we're gonna start this week out with a guest post and then I'll follow it up with some posts I scheduled in advance. Unfortunately I'm going to be on an internet down low, so don't look out for too much activity on my part.

I'll see you guys next week though, when I may or may not be throwing pictures of wildlife and thermal hotspot goodness at you. Until then, enjoy Brenna's hot guest post on critique partners.

---

Hello again, people of Sarah’s blog. I hope you don’t mind me barging in again. Especially because I’m going to be talking about Sarah today. (Don’t worry, she totally read this before posting, so it’s nothing bad.)

Actually, we’re talking about critique partners. I know Sarah has dabbled a little about this post about editing and this post about talking to other writers. But I’m here to talk a little bit about what specifically Sarah does for me that no one else can. So, á la Sarah, five things I love and adore about her.

1. Trust: She is interested in the same genres as me (primarily YA sci-fi and fantasy, with a few contemporaries thrown in there for good measure). So when we talk about books, we talk about what we liked and didn’t like. I appreciate her opinions on my reading material because I trust her judgment. When she says something about my story, I listen and don’t automatically dismiss it. (Not that I ever do that with anyone else… *coughcough*)


2. An Opinion: Just because we’re similar in those ways doesn’t mean we don’t have different opinions. She’s not into pithy romance like I am. I don’t share her obsession for The Lord of the Rings. We like and notice different things in stories as well, which makes us fantastic critique partners. We push each other to do better in our different ways. She has a better usable vocabulary than I do. We plot differently, and look at things differently. She gives me a varied opinion that I don’t have myself.


3. Needed Competition: Yeah, we compete. Kind of. Sarah, as you well know, is in editing land with a finished manuscript. I’m currently reading it. Knowing that makes me want to finish my own draft sooner to catch up to her. Maybe she doesn’t know that we’re in a race, but we totally are. It’s the who-can-get-what-done-first race--or at least in my mind. She’s won the first round by finishing her manuscript, but there are many more to come. Having her in the lead pushes me to go farther. Having me closing the distance between us is (maybe subconsciously) giving her a kick in the butt to stay ahead of me.


4. A Spaghetti Wall: You know that saying, throw something at a wall and see what sticks? That’s her (no actual objects are thrown--usually--though I do admit slamming her with a wallet once in college). When I’m having problems and come up with a possible solution (I’m world building right now, and coming up with character back-stories; i.e.--I’m in hell) I call her immediately and give her my idea. She tells me if it’s good or not. She'll rework it or offer suggestions to make it better. She indulges me when I’m calling everyday about some new plot point.


5. A Rock: Not a rock like something to beat me with, although I’m sure sometimes she considers it. A rock like, “She’s my rock.” She’s my support. She’s there when I need her to be and can never be replaced. I get excited when she likes an idea of mine. I feel proud when she says I’ve done good (like when I started drafting again). She’s there to be a champion when I need one, a drill sergeant when I need a kick in the butt, and an ear when I need to talk. She’s what I need her to be when I need her to be it, and I couldn’t do this without her.

So, those are my reasons for loving my critique partner. They are more important than you’d think. They don’t just read your manuscript, edit, and go. They’re in it for the long haul, the ups and the downs, and Sarah has always been there for me. I return the favor by trying to be there for her. We both want the other to succeed, and believe that we can.

Today, for me, if you have a critique partner, or even just a friend who does these kinds of things for you, do something for them. Give them a hug or a phone call. Take them to lunch. I don’t care how big or small it is, just say thank you (hey Sarah: thank you).

So what are your CPs like? What’s the best thing they’ve done for you? Let me know in the comments!

---

BRENNA BRAATEN

Brenna has been a story maker-upper since she was very little and a writer since she was twelve. She is currently the city reporter for the Cody Enterprise in Cody, WY and trying to break into the publishing industry. You can stalk her at her blog, Brenna's Bookish Blog, or on Twitter as @brennabraaten.

Writerly Tools: Dropbox

Writers like to complain about writing. We like to whine about how time consuming it is and how brain numbing it is. How cruel and efficient our critique partners are at ripping our hearts out. How we've re-written chapter eight four times and it's still not good. However, all of these things pale in comparison to one writerly woe: losing your work.

I'm sure we've all done it at least once.

You accidentally empty your trash before realizing something's wrong. Your harddrive undergoes nuclear meltdown and you never bothered to make a backup of your manuscript. Your flash drive gets run over in a parking lot long before you realize it's missing. Cue the panicking and the crying and the screaming and the uncontrollable self-directed rage.

Well, I'm about to show you a backup plan that doen't require a lot of effort on your part. Gone are the days were you need to remember to do a backup or you need to have an external drive plugged in so your backup can be underway. Because today is the day you learn about Dropbox.

Dropbox is an online file hosting service. In other words, it's a place where you can store stuff on the internet. What makes Dropbox so great in comparison to all the other online storage places? Simple synchronization. Backing a file up online is as easy as saving and keeping it in a certain folder. And that's why I'm going to share five reasons why you should give Dropbox a chance:

1. Dropbox is super easy
   All Dropbox is, is a folder. You install the program and that sets up a folder to be automatically synced to a secure online server. That's it. If you want something backed up, you put it in the folder and Dropbox gets to work. No need to worry or fuss.
2. Dropbox is a filesharing wonder
   Not only can you keep private online backups, but you can make public ones too. Dropbox lets you create Shared Folders, which are only accessible to the people you share them with. Keep your manuscript permanently in the Dropbox, and your critique partners can access it at any time!
3. Dropbox works everywhere
   Like many programs, Dropbox is crazy compatible. This allows you to keep synced dropboxes on multiple platforms and access your files anywhere. Right now it's Mac, PC, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android, Blackberry, and web platform friendly.
4. Dropbox lets you look at old files
   Seriously. Have you ever edited something, waited a week, and then realized you need the unedited version? Dropbox keeps snapshots of every changed file for 30 days and it's just a few clicks to get the old version back. If you get the Pro Version of Dropbox, you can set it up so your file history is saved forever.
5. Dropbox is free or paid
   The free packages is a sweet 2GB, which is fine if you use this for writing purposes. However, but getting people to sign up via referral link, you can up that to 10GB. Or you can pay upgrade to the Pro Version and get 50GB or 100 GB of space.

Fanfic Week: What makes fanfiction suck

Fanfic Week day three is here! On Monday and Wednesday I stressed on how great fanfiction can be, but today it's time to admit some faults. Why? Because fanfiction isn't perfect. From when FanFiction.net made it extremely easy for minors to read NC-17 rated fics to the drama revolving around Cassandra Clare, its reputation has always been on shaky ground.

Anyway here are some reasons why I think reading and writing fanfiction is not always helpful for writers:

1. 90% of it is written horribly
   Sure, we may have discussed that the slush pile effect can be beneficial, but it's also crazy annoying. Sometimes, you just want to read something good. But it takes forever to find a worthwhile fanfic, especially if your fandom of choice is old. Fanfics can be beneficial, but for someone with little patience, it's it difficult to get that far.


2. It's the ultimate ego boost
   In a bad way. No matter how horrible your writing is, there's a very good chance that someone is going to tell you that you're awesome. This is bad because when legions of unknown people talk about how amazing you are, your ego explodes. Fanfic writers have been known to be pompous--they fail to learn and they fail to take criticism gracefully.


3. It encourages so many bad writing habits
   Like I said above, no matter what you write, someone will tell you it's awesome. Someone will encourage a trait that should be smothered. Be it a cliche plot, purple prose, Mary Sues, or a story that's starting to reach 200,000 words, someone will think you're the next best thing. Yes, everyone goes through these phases, but we also need to learn that our writing can be bad.


4. It will never be your own
   One of the greatest things about writing is creating your own worlds and characters, but when you write fanfiction, you're missing out on that. Yes, there are other delicate things to test your writing (ie: keeping the players in character and representing the world correctly), but you still miss out. Playing with someone's story elements is cool, but creating something on your own is amazing and wonderful and indescribable. And missing out is kind of depressing.


5. You're never going to make money off of it
   Seriously, if you're make money off of your fanfiction you are 1) in Japan, land of doujinshi, or 2) about to get yourself into big trouble. If you're the kind of person who always needs to be making some tangible progress towards publication, you're going to find fanfiction a waste of time. Because really, nothing comes of it but subtle improvement and wish fulfillment.

So what do you think? Agree or disagree? Could I have made some better points? A lot of the reasons that fanfiction are good coincide with why fanfiction is bad, which I find interesting. Tell me what you think in the comments.

Fanfic Week: What makes fanfiction rock

So, we're onto the second day of Fanfic Week. Yay! This is the day of positive thoughts, because to put it simply, I think fanfiction can be a great learning tool if you look at it right. Not only can fanfiction allow for fun experimentation, it helps writers understand different plot structures and elements.

But let's cut to the chase. So let me explain in more detail with five reasons why I think fanfiction can be beneficial towards you as a writer:

1. It is a living, breathing slush pile
   If you've ever wondered how agents can turn a manuscript down based on one page of writing, you have never read fanfiction. If nothing else, this is one of the best things you can learn about. Seriously. Go to FanFiction.net right now, find your favorite book or movie, and peruse the selection. You'll start to understand how a first page can show the different between a good story and a great one.


2. It lets writers experiment
   The fact that fanfiction is based off of an existing world and its characters lets writers focus on what they want to focus on. Maybe you want an awesome plot, maybe you want a character sketch, maybe you want to see how certain characters would react in a completely different setting. The choice is yours, and when you don't have to focus on an entire story, you can hone your skills on something specific.


3. There's no pressure to be perfect
   Really. There isn't. So many of us are trying to write a manuscript that we'll eventually publish that we start freaking out about all sorts of little things. Fanfiction will never be published. If you want, you can write under a penname and no one will ever be able to connect your writer-life with your fanfic-life. Hey, you can even leave a story unfinished without too much hoopla.


4. It's good for instant feedback
   Many people share their fanfiction and if your premise sounds interesting enough, a lot of people will read your fanfiction. If you post somewhere like FanFiction.net or in a livejournal community, you'll definitely get feedback. Not all of it will be great, and the internet is always home to trolls, but it's still an opportunity to learn.


5. It encourages people to write
   So many people who write fanfiction would never sit down to write a book. And then there are others who would never think that they'd want to write a book until after they wrote fanfiction. Fanfiction gets people to practice writing, and as we all know, practice makes perfect. Supposedly every writer has a million bad words before the good ones start coming out, so why not use them on fanfiction?

On Friday we'll talk about the cons to fanfiction, but until then, what are your thoughts? Do you agree or disagree with anything I've said? Has fanfiction helped you at all, or hav you been mostly in the dark?

Writerly Tools: calibre

So, I realized that I mentioned a useful program last week before discussing it as a writerly tool. Oops! Well, today we'll rectify it, because I'm about to introduce you all to Kovid Goyal's calibre.

calibre (and yes, it's lowercase) is one of those programs that doesn't immediately sound like it would be helpful for writers. It's an open source e-book library management program. However, I'm a really big fan of being able to read unpublished manuscripts on e-readers, so I find calibre pretty useful.

I've talked about this before, but manuscripts + e-readers = reduced eye strain, a laser focus that lets you read instead of edit, and a note-taking system if you desperately need to say something. There are several different ways to get your manuscript on an e-reader, but calibre is a program that makes it easy.

I downloaded calibre to convert files, but it turned out to be so much more than I expected. If your curiosity is the slightest bit piqued, read on and let me tell you five reasons why calibre is worth checking out:

1. calibre is designed for reading
   Sure, you can do a bunch of awesome converting and stuff, but you also read everything you have in calibre. The program included an intensive e-book viewer that supports CSS, tables, and every e-book format. You can also download periodicals to calibre and store your data online for access on-the-go.
2. calibre converts everything
   Say you want to convert your manuscript to an e-reader format so you can share it with your beta readers, but you don't know how. Well, calibre is your tool. It can convert everything into everything else. That's 15 different e-book file formats people, including PDF, EPUB, and MOBI.
3. calibre works with everything
   It doesn't matter if you have a Kindle or a Nook or one of the less popular e-readers because there's a high chance that calibre will sync with your device. There is a hardcore list of compatible e-readers though if you want to double check. Also, there are versions of the program for PC, Mac, and Linux.
4. calibre is an organization mastermind
   If you have e-books floating around on your desktop, calibre will help you organize them into a delightful, virtual bookshelf. You can also edit and sort via metadata tagging, a custom tagging system, or, if you're really desperate, separate libraries.
5. calibre is under active development
   It's also advertised as being "developed by users of e-books for users of e-books." This is cool because if a new e-book feature comes into play (ie: Amazon's "real" page numbers), you can bet that calibre will whip out a quick update to get everything compatible.

Writerly Tools: Freedom

Social networking websites are going to be the fall of mankind. I wouldn't be surprised if somewhere there was a study recording how much time people spend on Facebook or Twitter. I never want to see it, but I'm sure it exists.

But really. Writers spend a lot of time on the computer and a lot of time procrastinating from writing. This makes it very easy to get distracted by the internet.

Case in point being me. I have my computer set up to use Spaces, which basically allows me to have two desktops which I can switch between. One space is for writing, and the other is for everything else. This is a great setup to keep me on task, except for the part where it's easy to switch between them.

I neurotically go check Twitter and my email at random times when writing. Sometimes twenty minutes have passed. Sometimes thirty seconds have passed. Either way, the internet sucks away productivity and when you're working under a deadline, that becomes nightmarish. Then I found Fred Stutzman's Freedom and didn't have a choice about the matter.

I know. It sounds ridiculous. But the purpose of Freedom is to make internet distractions vanish, and even though the program itself is pretty simple, it does the job well. So let me give you five reasons why Freedom is awesome:

1. Freedom will save you from the internet
   The main selling point of Freedom is the fact that is disables your networking capabilities for a set period of time. What this really means is that it takes away the main source of distraction for writers: the internet. This is really, really great.
2. Freedom lasts for up to eight hours
   Eight hours. That's a whole lot of freedom. I haven't tested it, but I'm pretty sure if you put your computer on standby, that time will pause and you will be forced to stick to business for eight whole hours.
3. Freedom doesn't go away unless you reboot
   That's right. The only way to get your internet back is to either suffer the full length of time or go through the hassel of rebooting your computer. Because of this and the inherent laziness of many writers, Freedom works.
4. Freedom is just $10
   A lot of software is really expensive, which is one of the reasons that I have so many freeware or shareware programs on my computer. Freedom, however, is a program that can not only ultimately boost your productivity, it's cheap. Writers write for hours on end--there's no way to not think this price is awesome.
5. Freedom works on Macs and PCs
   I have a bit of a habit called reviewing Mac-only programs. This might be because my laptop is a MacBook Pro. It's made me a bit biased considering that, although I have Windows 7 on Bootcamp, I do my writing in OS X. Either way, Freedom is computer friendly for both Windows and OS X!

Writerly Tools: Mac vs PC

A little over a year ago I was in dire need of a new laptop. My poor 17" Toshiba Satellite was dying a slow, miserable death and I needed something to write and do schoolwork on.

Because I'm a computer buff, my computer shopping revolved around on the specs--specifically the processing power offered in the 12-13" laptop range. This led me to the the 2009 13" MacBook Pro.

Being a lifelong PC user that was forced to use Macs in school, I was not particularly enthused about this. Sure, Macs were supposed to be awesome, but I had vivid memories of hating OS 9. And no one likes change.

There was also the fact that after my graduation, this was going to be my writing computer. Probably for a long time. So I did a search on the internet for the types of computers that writers use. What kind of computer is better for writing: Mac or PC? Unfortunately, the internet failed in this regard, since all I found were angry forum posts.

Now I was fortunate enough that circumstances worked in my favor. I had a roommate with a MacBook I could dink around with. I copyedited for a newspaper that ran solely on iMacs. I could base my ultimate computer decision on actually using the OS X operating system.

However, not everyone has these perks. This is why this post exists. Writers need to know: if you're looking for a new computer, which is better, Mac or PC? Well, friends, it doesn't make a difference.

Really.

I've used both Macs and PCs and I can safely say that they're both pretty awesome. No lie! They each have their goods and bads, of course, but whether one is better or not is all subjective. I may own a Mac, but I still run Windows 7 on Bootcamp because I like having the best of both worlds!

But since that reassurance isn't really helpful, I'm going to give you guys five reasons why writing on a Mac is awesome and five reasons why writing on a PC is just as awesome*. Enjoy:

Mac:

1. Scrivener
   I know, I know, I've already spazzed about this. I also know about the sexy, new Scrivener beta for the PC and that soon, everyone will have Scrivener. But right now, the Mac version is king.
2. Spaces
   Spaces is a program that simulates multiple desktops. This way, if you want to have a desktop dedicated to writing and one to everything else, you can separate work from play.
3. Dashboard
   This is basically an overlay of programs called widgets that can be pulled down at any time. If you need to quickly reference a dictionary or thesaurus, this is the way to do it.
4. Backlit Keyboard
   The keyboard of the newer MacBooks has a sensor that detects when it's getting dark and automatically lights your keyboard.
5. Battery Life
   If you want to go to a coffee shop and leave the power cord at home, you can. MacBooks can go for hours and you don't need to go into any "power saving mode."

PC:

1. Microsoft Word
   The industry standard in publishing is Word files with Track Changes turned on. And I know, there's Word for Mac too, but frankly, Microsoft gives so much more love to the PC version.
2. Software Variety
   If there is an obscure piece of writing software that you like to use, it most likely is PC-only program. And there are dozens of these products in existence.
3. Full Keyboard
   As writers we type a lot. PC keyboards consistently have all of the buttons you need without having to figure out shortcuts to do simple things like delete instead of backspace.
4. Aero Snap
   If you want to work with several documents or programs side-by-side, Snap is crazy awesome, gets the job gone and comes with Windows 7.
5. Compatibility
   Windows works with everything. You need to back up your file to a hard drive or you just bought a shiny, new printer? Windows will always make it work.

* - My thoughts are based on the following: 1) I wrote on a Toshiba 17" Satellite laptop with Windows XP for years, and 2) I currently write on a 13" MacBook Pro with OS X Snow Leopard and Windows 7 on Bootcamp.

Now what do you guys think? Did I miss any glaring, fantastic features? Do you use a Mac or PC? Why? Tell me in the comments!