Tag Archives: #amwriting

A facelift for the writing cave …

Since I moved into my writing cave, I’ve been using a variety of setups, not all of which were conducive to creativity. The only thing that remained constant was the IKEA desk which measured only 41 3/8″ x 19 5/8″. For just a laptop and a mousepad the space sufficed. But when a second monitor was added to the mix, and a cup warmer things began to get crowded. Plus it made it next to impossible to see my corkboard that was on the wall in front of my work surface.

On New Year’s Day, I got thinking why not go back to the setup I used when I worked from home in the kitchen office? External monitor and keyboard and use the ACER as just the brain. As in, keep the lid closed.

I was spoiled then with a 32″ curved monitor. I could have at least four windows on the screen at one time. Handy when you’re working with spreadsheets and other applications.

The kitchen office setup worked well and we had at least one extra monitor kicking around that was large enough it would allow me to have at least two applications open on it at the same time.

That monitor made its way back into my life and my writing cave. The trouble was, it took up the entire desk. There wasn’t even enough room to put a keyboard in front of it.

Part of the solution to that problem was a sheet of 3/4″ white melamine 60″ x 30″ that would sit on top of the desk. We could get such a beast at the local Home Depot, so off we went to get it the following day. While in the store, we picked up the wall mount for the monitor. It meant my corkboard had to come down and get moved to another location, but that was minor.

It wasn’t so much the huge monitor itself that took up a ton of space, but the stand it sat on. It was big and heavy and took up too much room.

writing cave

With the new writing cave setup, I have plenty of room in front of the wall-mounted monitor for my MacBook which I use for writing.

writing cave

There’s even enough room for it and the additional screen I bought for when I’m editing.

writing cave

And then Windows for all my other tasks – social media, puzzles, weather-watching, etc.

My corkboard was mounted on the wall beside the desk. It meant I had to take the pictures down and put them back up again because it went from its original landscape orientation to portrait. But, the entire thing is visible! I don’t have to stretch or crane my neck to see around computers to see it. The pictures aren’t up-to-date, but I love Quebec City so don’t mind them being there.

writing cave

And then there’s my reading nook. A comfy chair where I can relax and read, either under the light of the floor lamp behind it

writing cave

or the under-cabinet lighting. I’ve since brought in a faux fur blanket to cover my legs with when I’m comfortably ensconced in my chair.

And I have lots of furry friends to keep my company while I’m holed away in the writing cave, too.

Now that I’m retired, I’ll be spending even more time in here than I did before.

Vieux-Québec ~ one of my favourite destinations

Vieux-QuébecJ’adore le Vieux-Québec surtout quand elle est vêtue de ses parures de Noël!

What’s not to love about Vieux-Québec? It’s a beautiful city in every season. I think it’s the closest thing to Paris there is without jumping on a plane for a seven hour flight. From where I live, Vieux-Québec is about a six hour car ride. Everything within the fortifications is in walking distance. Even the hotel my husband and use, is only a five minute walk beyond the wall. If we have a room on the back of our accommodations, we overlook the Plains of Abraham.

With all this going for it, you can understand why I wrote a novel set in this beautiful, historic city.

Vieux-Québec
Dufferin Terrace

Dufferin Terrace is a beautiful place to walk in any season.  It overlooks the Lower Town and the majestic St. Lawrence River. Day or night, the views from here are spectacular.

Fairmont le Château Frontenac in the distance has the appearance of a medieval castle with its towers and turrets – a place where knights would rescue damsels in distress.

Vieux-Québec
Rue du Petit Champlain

Christmas in full swing here on this narrow street. Love, love, love this part of the town!

Vieux-Québec
Parc Félix-Leclerc at Christmas during the day

 

Vieux-Québec
Parc Félix-Leclerc at Christmas at night

When you’re down in this part of the city, the ferry terminal is only a short walk away. Riding across the river to Lévis gives you a whole different perspective of the city. Views you would never get from any other angle.

Between the hotel and the post office you can see the funiculaire. This inclined railway is the best way to travel from the top of the escarpment to the bottom or vice vera. Actually, the walk down the hill isn’t nearly as difficult as the return trip.

Vieux-Québec
Place royale

This part of town is beautiful year round and is one of the stops on the ghost walk. One of my favourite shops is in the background on the left – Geomania. I’ve purchased some gorgeous jewellery there.

Vieux-Québec
Place Royale from Côte de la Montagne
Vieux-Québec
Christmas Market

This is just one market stall. The area behind Hôtel de Ville and the park beside it are packed with vendors selling all manor of things – handknitted, blown glass, footwear, books, a café where you can sit and take a load off whilst enjoying something to eat or drink.

Vieux-Québec
Most haunted house in Quebec?

On one of the horse-drawn carriage rides we took, our driver told us the section of the house above overgrown by the shrubs covering the front windows was reputed to be the most haunted house in the city. It definitely looks in disrepair and sorely in need of some TLC, but haunted?

Vieux-Québec
Ghost walk guide

On our last summer trip, we did a ghost walk hosted by Les Visites Fantômes. We started out while it was still light out and finished well after dark in an unlit Holy Trinity Cathedral. Spooky.

Vieux-Québec
Busker on Rue Notre Dame

We stopped and watched this gentleman for quite some time. His music had everyone tapping their toes and clapping their hands in time to the rhythm.

Vieux-Québec
René Lévesque’s Home

During his tenure as Premier of the Province of Québec, Réne Lévesque resided in this modest home on Rue d’Auteuil.

Vieux-Québec
The Price Building

In 2001, the upper two floors of the Price Building became the official residence of the Premier of the province. This buildings is visible from almost anywhere in Vieux-Québec.

Vieux-Québec
Changing of the guard ceremony at La Citadelle

Because La Citadelle is a working military base, there were a number of places we couldn’t tour.  Here are the soldiers of the Royal 22e Régiment (Van Doos) taking part in the ceremony.

Vieux-Québec
Cannonball embedded in tree roots on Rue Saint Louis

I love this cannonball. It’s been there for ages and as the tree grows, it brings more of the iron sphere with it.

Our horse-drawn carriage

No trip would be complete without a ride in a horse-drawn carriage. We’ve done it twice now. There are three different routes you can take – two shorter ones, or a long one with puts them both together. We opted for the long one, both times.

I hope you’ve enjoyed your virtual tour of Vieux-Québec.

#NaNoWriMo ~ the last day ~ #amwriting

The last day in #NaNoWriMo 2016 – only a few hours to go!

last day

Today is the last day for #NaNoWriMo. Well, strictly speaking, it won’t come until midnight tonight. How are you doing? I’m pleased with my progress.

I have 459 words left to get to my goal for the month which isn’t anywhere near the 50,000, but I #amwriting every day (which is the main thing) – working on it which is why I’ve not been around here on the blog much this month.

Some days, the word count is amazing. Other days, not so much.

This past Saturday, I scribbled over 1,100 words while I was at a sale. Typed them in to my document when I got home.

last day

Sometimes the words flow? Sometimes not so much? I’ve had a few of those days this month. Usually a quick read over the last day’s work and I’m off and running once again.

I can see a huge re-write coming for my WIP. Scenes that will need more detail. Perhaps some will be rearranged. This time, I did something completely different and I outlined the entire project in detail.

Is your #NaNoWriMo project still flowing smoothly? Have you run into difficulty?

Give yourself permission to write a terrible first draft and put your editing hat on in December.

 

 

#NaNoWriMo ~ We’ve reached the halfway point ~ are you on track? ~ #amwriting

Fifteen days to go in #NaNoWriMo 2016 – we’re halfway there!

#amwriting

Today is the halfway point for #NaNoWriMo. Well, strictly speaking, it won’t come until midnight tonight. How are you doing? I #amwriting and am pleased with my progress.

Now, I wrote and scheduled this post on November 14th. When I stopped working on my NaNo project for the day, I had 15,406 words.

#amwriting

At this rate, I won’t get to the 50,000 words by November 30th, but I #amwriting every day – working on it which is why I’ve not been around here on the blog much this month.

Some days, the word count is amazing. Other days, not so much.

This past Saturday, I scribbled over 1,000 words while I was at a sale. Typed them in to my document when I got home.

Sunday was an amazing day. I cranked out 1,638 words and that was with interruptions. Still not the 1,667 per day I need to hit 50,000 and get a #NaNo winner badge.

Sometimes the words flow? Sometimes not so much? I’ve had a few of those days this month. Usually a quick read over the last day’s work and I’m off and running once again.

I can see a huge re-write coming for my WIP. Scenes that will need more detail. Perhaps rearrange some. This time, I did something completely different and I outlined the entire project in detail.

Is your #NaNoWriMo project still flowing smoothly? Have you run into difficulty?

Give yourself permission to write a terrible first draft and put your editing hat on in December.

 

 

#NaNoWriMo is over! Are you relieved?

#NaNoWriMo is over! It started like this… with an idea. If you were really organized, you had an outline done ahead of time.

#NaNoWriMo is over

and you worked like this… getting all those lovely words down ‘on paper’.

#NaNoWriMo is over

had moments like this… when your imaginary friends quit talking to you.

#NaNoWriMo is over

overcame them and wrote like this… when the voices got over their snit and started talking again.

 

#NaNoWriMo is over

and at the end of it all, you look like this… frazzled, feeling punchy and starving!

#NaNoWriMo is over

I didn’t set out at the beginning of November to complete 50,000 words in the month. What I wanted to do was write every day (something that I’ve not always made time for).

I might not have a ‘winner’ badge for having my numbers crunched by the #NaNo algorithm and having the minimum number of 50,000 but I consider myself a winner because I achieved everything I wanted to in the month.

At 3:39 yesterday afternoon, I had completed 21,813 words… I’ve got my beginning and my middle, but I still don’t know how my magnum opus is going to end. That is really unusual for me. Under normal circumstances I know the ending and write it first. Then I have the fun of getting there. I’m in uncharted waters here and I’m not sure I’m liking it.

I didn’t outline and as I wrote merrily away, I discovered major flaws in my logic. Oh well, scenes can be cut and pasted and new transitions between them written, not to mention returning the array of plot bunnies that will undoubtedly be released to run amok safely to their warren.

So, how did your #NaNoWriMo month go?

 

 

#NaNoWriMo ~ Ten Days to Go… are you still on track? #amwriting

Ten Days to Go in #NaNoWriMo 2015

With only ten days remaining in the month, are you still on track? Achieving your writing goals?

Ten DaysIf you’re striving for 50,000 words you should be sitting around 33,340 now.

Not quite that ambitious but wanted to write every day? So far I’ve managed to do that although with travel earlier this month it made a few days difficult. Still, I’ve managed to get a few words into my WIP each and every day.

Sometimes the words flow? Sometimes not so much? I’ve had a few of those days this month. Usually a quick read over the last day’s work and I’m off and running once again.

I can see a huge re-write coming for my WIP. Scenes that need to be rearranged. That’s the joy of pantsing. The logic doesn’t always work, but then this is something that can always be fixed after the end of the month.

Is your #NaNoWriMo project still flowing smoothly? Have you run into difficulty?