Just wondering what everyone is using to write their novels this year.
Since I'm without a laptop this year, I'll probably be hand writing most of my novel and then type it into my computer every so often. The only problem is that it gives my inner editor time and space to do its thing, which could mean extra words, but would mean a delay in writing time.
I also have evernote set up on my iPhone so I may use that on occasion as well.
This year should be fun!
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Help me with my title! "The Loss Box" or just "Loss Box"
21,624 / 50,000
Oct 13, 2009 - 13 45
Well, unless things change (and I don't believe they will), I'll be using my old laptop I've used for the last 5 nanos. It's practically an antique that runs Windows95. No internet, no USB port, no cd drive. I can only save to a floppy disk. As long as it has Word and Excel, I can do nano on it. :)
What happened to your laptop? Oh, and will you be able to make it to B&N on Thursday or HB on Saturday? :) I haven't seen you in ages!
Angela
co-ML for Louisville, KY
737 / 50,000
Oct 13, 2009 - 14 45
I remember your laptop! Mine broke so I sold it for parts. I should definately be attending the Hiene Bros meetings, not sure about B&N gotta see if there is a bus that will get me home that late. TARC seems to think no...
I will however be seeing whoever shows up for tonights Pie-Pantry meeting :)
----------Help me with my title! "The Loss Box" or just "Loss Box"
37,220 / 50,000
Oct 14, 2009 - 14 01
If my Toshiba Satellite doesn't go kaplooey (It's been kinda slow lately) then I'll be doing a majority of my writing on it.
I'll be weird (-er than usual) and write the first couple sentences using my Nintendo DSi on Twitter or Facebook.
----------Reality is a crutch for those who are unable to handle fantasy...
22,713 / 50,000
Oct 15, 2009 - 08 55
I usually write mine as a Google Document. This way I can write it from any computer with 'net access and I am not completely hosed if my laptop decides to self euthanize.
If someone is incredibly desperate for something portable to write with I have an ancient HP iPaq PocketPC. This is like a PDA on steroids. Like a PDA, there is no keyboard. You'd be limited to pecking it out with a stylus. On the other hand, it does have a Windows CE version of Word on it and the expansion slot takes a Compact Flash card so it is possible to transfer your work to another machine with a keyboard
If anyone is that desperate send me a NaNoMail and tell me how to find you (when November is over, I do want it back) and I'll see what I can do.
----------There is no "I" in "Team." However, there are three in "Multiple Personality Disorder."
38,559 / 50,000
Oct 15, 2009 - 16 57
This is my first year, and I plan on using my dad's laptop, my home computer, and a notebook for when I'm supposed to be asleep.
I'm excited!!
----------Chapters: 5 (and a GIANT piece in the middle+a prolouge)
Body count: 3
Dream sequences: 3
Times my charecters have been in my dreams: 1
hours spent writing: about 45
status: I'm just now writing the prologue...
37,220 / 50,000
Oct 18, 2009 - 08 59
Ooh! Windows CE... that reminds me. Maybe I can still connect my old Sega Dreamcast to the internet and write using the keyboard I have for it. Mmmm, maybe not. I probably can't use the phone line connection any more since I dropped Bell South and went to cable. Never mind.
----------Reality is a crutch for those who are unable to handle fantasy...
48,522 / 50,000
Oct 17, 2009 - 19 18
I'm using my desktop Mac and my AlphaSmart 3000. Which reminds me-- I need to replace the batteries on the latter.
Just a tip for those handwriting-- my sister does the entire thing handwritten, and she just uses a word generator to produce the document for validation. She doesn't type it up during Nano, but she does count every single word once she's done writing for the day.
----------"Footsteps in the snow suggest where you have been, point where you were going: but where they suddenly vanish, never dismiss the possibility of flight..." - Diane Duane, A Wizard Alone
60,394 / 50,000
Oct 18, 2009 - 18 31
I use both laptop and paper/pen.
I keep all my manuscripts on my laptop and back them up daily on DVD and flash drive and email them to myself. Can you tell I am a little freaked out about losing my work? LOL. After I finish a novel I email it to my agent with a cc to her assistant. Then I burn a copy on DVD and print the manuscript out and bind it in a 3 ring binder notebook. Later, when I get the cover art from the publisher I put an 8-1/2 x 11 sized pic of the cover on the front of the notebook.
I have a notebook for each novel I write and handwrite notes in it, grocery lists, cool lines I think of at times when I am away from my laptop, etc. I have often written 5 to 10 pages of a chapter in my notebook only to transpose it to my manuscript on my laptop later.
I think Loss Box personally.
Happy writing,
Terri
21,887 / 50,000
Oct 22, 2009 - 19 24
i feel so special this year. i've got a dell mini that's basically brand new. no cd drive, which kinda blows since that means i don't have microsoft office on it. but on the plus side, i'll be spending less time formatting and more time writing if i use wordpad.
last year i was able to write some on an old Treo that no longer had phone access. it was maybe the best thing i've ever done, so if nothing else, i've got that as soon as i find a power cord for it. portability is pretty much key for me. having to retype handwritten work just kills my time. i need every second to write fresh, not rehash.
good luck to everyone writing!!
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03: A Search for Truth 04: Phoenix Rising
05: life @ 23, Longest Day 06: The Round Table 07: sanpit
08: A Servant of Duty, Breeches & Broadcloth, Ret-Con
09: This Mortal Coil
1,200 / 50,000
Oct 22, 2009 - 20 34
I am sooo excited about using the HP Mini netbook I bought <2 mo.s ago. I'm about to invest in the six-hour battery, however, as the three-hour standard one doesn't quite get me there. Please understand that I spend a LOT of time on the go and in the vehicle, so this little dynamo really optimizes my free moments.
I'll also be using a customized WordPress install. I already have an internet domain and a WordPress-powered blog, so I created a subdomain with it's own WP install, and styled a custom theme for NaNo.
The theme looks like parchment and includes a front-end editor (that is, when I'm logged in, I can write posts directly from the front page without going into the admin). Plugins installed allow for on-the-fly resorting and editing of "posts" (chapters), character/location/conflict sketch pages, sticky notes on the sidebar, automatic word counts for individual posts and for the entire project, and a story timeline which makes summaries of, and links to, every event and chapter available on a chronological basis. Widgets in the sidebar also link to external resources, tags (search terms) in the content, and margin notes for any/every post-chapter.
The netbook has built-in 3G, so I can pull up under a bridge in Caneyville and be writing to the project in about 60 seconds. No worrying about wifi hotspots and such.
The added benefit is that I can come home and sit down at my desktop, and start writing immediately. There's no worry about synchronizing the data between the two machines, as the latest version with all changes is stored on the remote server, and backed up automatically every 24 hours.
Can't wait to get out of the gates.
For the previous poster who mentioned the lack of a CD drive, depending on what OS you're using, you may be able to connect the netbook with your other puter fairly simply, which allows you to share the optical drive on your bigger machine and install software from it. I've already used that method to install the full Office suite, Photoshop, and a few other goodies. Message me if you have some questions and I'll do my best to advise.
14,899 / 50,000
Nov 3, 2009 - 01 12
MS Word on my desktop, laptop and the company's machines (yes I plan to write at work). Paper and pen as inspiration can stike anytime and anyplace.