tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9490764013602236482024-02-20T12:58:43.652-08:00T.L. ByfordA newby writer with more ideas than time to write. Gotta start somewhere, right? Besides, I'm going to need a hobby when I get older.T.L. Byfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16715874502641987320noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949076401360223648.post-59757316474785802672012-01-30T17:05:00.000-08:002012-02-05T18:06:46.174-08:00Squirrel HerderO.k. I'm going to attempt to explain my "system" (term used loosely) for "organizing" (again, loosely) my writing projects. Since I am always being bombarded with ideas, I wanted to develop a way to easily gather and file "stuff" until I need it.
This is a very simple and frugal way of keeping track multiple projects. I know many people are firm believers in completing one project before even T.L. Byfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16715874502641987320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949076401360223648.post-86820681493904115612012-01-27T19:27:00.000-08:002012-01-28T06:22:10.459-08:00Back to writingLife threw me a curve about a year and a half back. A new job and some lifestyle adjustments have had me mentally preoccupied. The dust is starting to settle, so I've decided to focus more attention on my writing goals this year. Not so much a resolution, but more of a determined effort to make some legitimate progress on a few of the projects I've had bouncing around in my head.
I've been T.L. Byfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16715874502641987320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949076401360223648.post-77948555148643574902011-11-15T16:29:00.000-08:002011-11-20T17:29:11.733-08:00Index Card Template Screenshots Since I have received several request for this, thought I would re-post.
An Index Card Template and the different features. I downloaded it from my google docs as a .ppt file for the template and I open it in Open Office.org Impress to use it. Just save the new file under a new project name and you'll always have the original template file for new projects. Did I mention the cost: "T.L. Byfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16715874502641987320noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949076401360223648.post-75991034258043214162009-09-23T20:53:00.000-07:002009-09-23T21:19:42.817-07:00Capturing ideas evolvedOK, I thought when I figured out how to send and organize ideas using my cell phone and gmail that I had reached the end of my quest for a better mind trap. Well, that was before I set up my google voice account.I haven't even started to tap the potential of this little miracle of modern technology, but I do know that all I have to do now is call and leave a voicemail about whatever idea or T.L. Byfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16715874502641987320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949076401360223648.post-57471930069413309402009-08-15T19:23:00.000-07:002009-08-15T20:19:07.648-07:00Capturing ideasWow, has it really been two months since my last post? Guess I was busier than I thought.Anyway, I have been somewhat productive when time allowed. Making progress on the rough draft of my manuscript (2,738 words, yay me.)I have also been working on better ways to capture all of the random crap (ideas, thoughts, etc...) that pops into my head, usually at the most inconvenient moment possible. I T.L. Byfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16715874502641987320noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949076401360223648.post-76739754602116639642009-06-17T13:21:00.000-07:002009-06-22T17:57:23.087-07:00Reading to writeI have seen a lot of advice lately about reading to improve your writing. I have also seen a lot of advice about reading books in the specific genre you want to write. I agree, but I've taken this advice a little farther. I believe reading outside of my genre for specific elements and writing devices is also useful. For example: I have certain action scenes that require imagery involving guns T.L. Byfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16715874502641987320noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949076401360223648.post-14483188470431906842009-06-12T19:25:00.000-07:002009-06-30T19:59:32.823-07:00Character names, Time to write, and story ideas A while back I decided to take a sack lunch to work and write during my lunch break in my truck. As it turned out, the only adequate shade in "Small Town" Texas was in the local cemetery. No problem. It was peaceful, quiet, and I actually have relatives resting there. There was an unexpected benefit I found in my new creative environment. Names, lots and lots of names. Just glancing at the graveT.L. Byfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16715874502641987320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949076401360223648.post-14439796598441858872009-05-30T21:13:00.000-07:002009-06-12T12:31:37.991-07:00The dreaded "B" word: BackstoryOk, after reading some very informative discussions the other day at Romance University about backstory, I realized I had a very important scene in my story that was going to be backstory. So, following some of the advice I read to eliminate backstory, I decided to make this scene the actual opening scene (where it's supposed to be, duh me. I thought). As a result, I have a great opening scene T.L. Byfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16715874502641987320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949076401360223648.post-82471411763439127762009-05-20T21:27:00.000-07:002009-06-16T14:32:18.664-07:00The Index Card saga continues.... When we last left our little wannabe writer, he had discovered a new and mysterious template that could possibly be used as an indispensable writing tool. We join him once again after a few days, and some long nights, trying out the usefulness of his new discovery.... Ok, after a few days of test driving the Index Card app for google doc's, I must say I am finding it very useful. First I T.L. Byfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16715874502641987320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949076401360223648.post-6574241351135639732009-05-14T12:16:00.000-07:002009-05-31T09:57:30.117-07:00Google Documents and index cards In an effort to organize and centrally locate all of my writing "paraphernalia", I've been using Google Documents as sort of my catch all for notes, copies of manuscripts, ideas, etc...Anyway, I came across this neat little index card template for Google Documents if anyone is interested:http://docs.google.com/previewtemplate?id=0AQ1tTk-hkwjdZGQ4bm45N21fMTI1ZDlxanZzY3A&mode=publicOr if T.L. Byfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16715874502641987320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949076401360223648.post-30547252769665390522009-05-11T22:06:00.000-07:002009-05-11T22:37:42.357-07:00Template set up, time to rock...Finally got a suitable manuscript template set up, and i'm a blistering 173 words into my rough draft. Now I just wish I knew how to type.~tT.L. Byfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16715874502641987320noreply@blogger.com0