Writing Journal

Now that I have a keyboard with my iPad, it will be easier to update this, as well as work on my writing. (Even though I'm not using the cheap keyboard right now, since the on/off toggle switch is really hard to get at, and I don't anticipate saying much.)

Today, I went browsing for free writing apps, and I have to say I'm not impressed with the Apple store's search feature. With Google Play on my phone, if I search the exact name of the app I'm looking for, it shows up. Not so much with the Apple store.  Anyway, I haven't found what I'm looking for.

-free

-word count

-offline capabilities

-easy to navigate within the program.

Werdsmith is pretty much the best one I've found so far.  I won't stop looking until the end of the month, or I find one that I love instantly.

I also just created Pandora radio stations for the three characters who are not me.

Writing Journal

I want to share my thoughts on the #AmtrakResidency program. Please note my opinions may be influenced by the fact that I was actually on a train from Omaha to Salt Lake (but I got off early in Provo) when I first heard about it.

Basically, writers appeal to Amtrak for the chance to take one of 24 trips within the year so that they may have uninterrupted time to write on a train. Don't worry, I'm working on my application. I've seen a lot of dismay about the fact that Amtrak reserves the world rights forever to the writing sample that you submit with your application. 

Authors are upset because they want to retain the rights to all of their writing. I'm not that hardcore about it. I write to share stories with people, not make money. (Although I'm not opposed to that.) If I were to want to write for money, I would have turned to tech writing.

Writing Journal

Long story short, I took a vacation from Omaha to the SLC metro area at the end of February. Knowing that I wanted it to be relaxing (and nervous that I would get distracted by the beauty of the mountains and accidentally drive myself off a cliff) and having no desire to deal with the hassles of airlines (also, it was February and I didn't want to risk cancellations), I decided to cross a thing off the bucket list and take a train.

Best decision I could have made. Will probably blog about it at some point.

The ride from Salt Lake back to Omaha...I can think of no single word to describe it.  The cast of characters is absurd and gave me the idea for a story. I can't help but tell it, in novel (or at least NaNoWriMo) form.  Thank goodness for Camp NaNo in April!  The cast of characters is small (Terrence, Grandma Betty, Helen, and Chiraq) but vibrant. The scenery is mundane enveloped in the grandiose, and the climax is astounding.

My intention is to stay true to the events that happened on the train, and give wide speculation as to each individuals interpretation of those events, as well as their backgrounds. I'm going to title it "Family for a Day." I haven't decided as of yet how I want to format the story. I'm going to be oing a lot of reading in March to help me figure it out.

Do I want each character to have their own section for each plot point? Or do I want to tell it third person omniscient? Do I want to introduce their backgrounds straight away, or interweave those details into the storyline?
So many questions, and not much time to answer them!