I’ve discovered a new, Windows only writing tool called Atomic Scribbler and it is PERFECT for my needs. It rivals the over-priced Scrivener in features and cost. Just in time for NANOWRIMO next month.
Journal
Today
“I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today, I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn’t arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I’m going to be happy in it.”
– Groucho Marx
100 Word Challenge
Long-form writing has been overwhelming lately so I’m trying short stories. I didn’t know that there were even shorter stories out there called micro-fiction. 100-word stories. And believe it or not there are even 50-word stories. I’m not ready for that, especially since they read like Haiku. Anywho, here’s my take on micro fiction. To be developed into a proper story in the future.
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public works program developed in 1933. It was created so poor and unskilled younger men would have the chance to earn a wage while helping to re-build the country. Sonny Fisher just saw it as his meal ticket.
If it wasn’t for the CCC he’d likely starve or be shot. Either way, he’d be dead if he stayed back home in Ohio. Here he was in Texas bustin’ his ass for pennies a day and good food.
While digging he struck an iron pot. Sealed with worn leather and covered in mildew. Gold coins?
100 Word Challenge
Long-form writing is overwhelming so I’m trying short stories. Guess what? There are even shorter stories out there called micro-fiction. 100-word stories. Believe it or not there are even 50-word stories. I’m not ready for that, especially since they read like Haiku. Anywho, here’s my take on micro fiction. To be developed into a proper story in the future.
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public works program developed in 1933. It was created so poor and unskilled younger men would have the chance to earn a wage while helping to re-build the country. Sonny Fisher just saw it as his meal ticket.
If it wasn’t for the CCC he’d likely starve or be shot. Either way, he’d be dead if he stayed back home in Ohio. Here he was in Texas bustin’ his ass for pennies a day and good food.
While digging he struck an iron pot. Sealed with worn leather and covered in mildew. Gold coins?
Discovery
Expect the unexpected…and you will find it.
Lightroom Preset Synchronization
Finally.
I’ve been able to synchronize my custom film effects from the desktop to my mobile iOS devices so now I can edit my images anywhere.
On my iPhone
On my iPad
This is a fantastic development that’ll come in handy when I am out and about and want to share processed images right away.
Physical vs Digital
Inspired by the time-tested practice of marginalia, the art of
note-taking inside of books, I wanted to explore note taking in digital
books.
In most apps like Amazon’s Kindle, I can highlight, notate and save until next time I open it up like below:
But there are limits. When you purchase a book it is not owned but
rather it is licensed. You are borrowing it until at some point either
the publisher pulls it or the digital store no longer supports it. They
cannot be transferred, and at some point the digital purchase will be
deleted.
Also, you cannot pass down your digital books or their annotations to the next generation.
I
used to have crates full of books but after moving them around the
country more than a few times, plus the introduction of digital books, I
gave away or sold most of them because of the inconvenience. Now, I am
regretful.
The next time I want a book for a quick read I’ll
purchase a digital license and be done with it or borrow from the
library. For long term books to keep I will be grabbing a physical copy
and look forward to scribbling my notes and commentary.
Lightroom Preset Sync!
“Finally!”
– all Adobe Lightroom users
I’ve been able to synchronize my custom film effects from the desktop to my mobile iOS devices so now I can edit my images anywhere.
On my iPhone
On my iPad
This is a fantastic development that’ll come in handy when I am out and about and want to share processed images right away.
VSCO > Instagram
Instagram sucks. I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it. VSCO has a great business model. They make and sell digital products to help enhance your photography and provide a social platform to host too. VSCO desktop presets for Adobe Lightroom and VSCO mobile are great tools to create and share your work.
Compare this to Instagram’s business model: advertising. Fun fact: I have never purchased anything from an online advertisement and I will go out of my way to not buy their products for their intrusive behavior. Also, I don’t want my data sold to anyone I don’t want to business with.
VSCO is minimally designed where the focus is on photography, not how many followers you have or comments and likes. These fake forms of measuring how good your image is can be unhealthy and distracting.
The attention to photography and storytelling beats the Instagram feed of 1 ad to every 4 photos. Instagram has ceased to be relevant and ceased being fun.
VSCO is a creative tool program where it provides the tools to edit your images and share on your feed or even in a journal format. Repost others in a Collection as a mood board of inspiration. Even reach out to others with private messaging.
I’ll still use Instagram for my Shots photo group and that’s all. I want to focus on enjoying photography again and being more creative as a result.
**Update** It is finished
A Non-Expert’s Guide To Writing
Three important lessons for people who are inspiring writers and have never done this before:
- Get a unique story idea.
- Plot it out.
- Research and study the hell out of your topic and genre.
A fourth lesson would be to stop focusing on all of those and just get to writing something. Anything. Please.
A Non-Expert Guide To Writing
Three important lessons for people who are inspiring writers and have never done this before:
- Get a unique story idea.
- Plot it out.
- Research and study the hell out of your topic and genre.
A fourth lesson would be to stop focusing on all of those and just get to writing something. Anything. Please.
iA Writer
After several free trials, beta tests and tribulations I have chosen iA Writer as my tool to help me create stories I want to tell (not calling myself a writer or author yet).
The software for me had to pass several standards such as:
Cross-platform (Windows, iOS)
Inexpensive
Clean, simple and aesthetically pleasing.
No overwhelming amount of tools that I’ll never use
Mission accomplished.
