Lemme Go Handheld!

I’m feeling something red.

Time to change my wallpaper. :)

Ah, it feels like I’ve been away from my desktop for ages but maybe that’s a good thing. I’ve still had some Internet access but by the time I came home I actually didn’t ‘feel’ like sitting down in front of my favorite screen. Alas, notebooks aside it’s the only place I can stand to do my writing.

As life moves forward and I find myself more active day after day I’m starting to seek out something more portable for my electronic needs while still freeing me from my desk which I’m starting associate more and more with work- which is a good thing. Let me repeat that: it’s a good thing. I sit down and I get things done more often than my usual habit of procrastination. To-Do lists empty and projects are completed and sent out but just because I’ve developed a fetish for making my ‘hobby’ (as some would deam the writing life) feel like a job doesn’t mean I don’t want to have a little fun.

Quite the contrary.

I want to get away from the computer more often but leaving the only place I can randomly dump and keep track of my inspiration for long periods of time is still asking for a bit much. My conclusion: it’s time to get a handheld device. Preferably shiny, functional, and did I mention handheld?

I’m ‘thinking’ of- and mind you when I say thinking I mean I’ll probably spend another four months researching the device and others, getting a Nokia N800 or N810 Internet Tablet. They both have touch screens but the latter has a QWERTY keyboard that keeps pulling me back to it. Otherwise with the software update they’re virtually the same. The keyboard is small, ’bout three and a half inches wide but I have a fetish for things like that and it could be worse, that and I have very, very tiny hands. The touch screens have some durability issues but with the keyboard I don’t imagine I’ll be using it much.

They both have WiFi that runs about the speed of my laptop (a well loved four year old HP) and can run apps. Memory space isn’t impressive according to a lot of reviews and the specs don’t make it sound like anything special but they both have SD expansion slots so I’m not too worried. Battery life is flexible depending on use, considering what I want I could get a day out of it before I’d have to charge it again and that’s perfectly fine with me. I’m not looking for continuous hardcore usage and since it function on the charger I’m pretty unconcerned with the times I might.

Still uncertain. It’s just far enough from my (laughable) perception of what I can afford that I’m not about to buy it on impulse.

What I’m looking for is less than a laptop. I want something that fits in my purse, that I can pull out and use while riding in the truck or sitting at a restaurant. I want something that can come camping with me.

I want to be able to receive instant messages while I’m doing laundry or send a quick email to my friend. It doesn’t need Internet all the time. I live in WiFi hot spots and so be it the thing works for other things during those few moments I’m out of them- I don’t care.

I don’t want a phone. I don’t even use my cell phone and I despise bundles. True, it could guarantee Internet everywhere but see the above. I don’t care not to mention I’m not interested in monthly fees or data plans. I want to buy the damn thing and use it.

Apps are nice but hardly mandatory provided the thing has some sort of word processor or advanced notepad and that’s another thing…

I want to be able to write on it. Anywhere. Everywhere. As soon as the inspiration strikes. A keyboard, even a tiny phone sized QWETRY one, would be nice but touch screen ones are ‘okay.’ I have to be able to make and save files. I have to be able to sneak this out of my purse during a work meeting and jot down a few thousand story ideas while I pretend to listen to the latest budget reports and then take it home and put the files on my desktop where I’ll really tear them apart. Syncing through WiFi would be a bonus.

So, to sum it up: Small, portable, occasional Internet, able to be written on. Durable would be nice too.

I don’t need: Phones, billions of apps, bundles, cords (charger aside), constant Internet, GPS, cameras, microphones, or anything else. I have a phone, a laptop, two cameras and an MP3 player. I am not an all in one kind of girl. I like different bits of this and that that do different bits of this and that. Kapeesh?

I want something to write on.

End of story.

Coming Up For Air

Things have been a little weird here lately in my corner of the net. I feel like I’ve been away for a long time and only just returned even though I know that’s not the case. Things have just been… not necessarily complicated but disorganized for lack of a better explanation.

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For starters I’ve been testing out different blogging software (write blog posts even when you don’t have internet and then post them straight from your desktop without even logging in) and… well, I found one I really, really like. I was only testing it out so I could review it on the main part of WW but this one program, BlogJet really struck me. The problem is I only signed up for the free trial, I’m the kind of person who believes if you can get the same thing for free you shouldn’t waste your money but this program just felt so nice. Sadly, though-

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My trial ran out.

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I plan on purchasing the software in a few months, it’s not that it’s expensive but I want to test a few more things before making a final choice. Besides I planned on reviewing a bunch more anyways so why not wait just encase something better comes along. In the mean time though I feel like I’m in a new house. I’m not at home in the window I write my posts in- it’s growing on me, but it’s still not the same so that kind of slows down my posting.

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Another thing I’m having trouble with is finding balance. Before when I was still on blogspot Written Whispers was just one place. I talked about my life, writing, thoughts on writing, etc. Since I moved to my own domain I’ve split that one blog into two different things: my personal blog and my blog about writing the problem is that ‘everything’ is about writing to me. I can tie just about everything in my life to the craft I love the most so I’ve had to narrow things down.

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The main part of my site is now about writing tips, resources, but I’m still having a problem finding balance. Part of the resources include my thoughts on them- something I usually put here on my personal blog. I’m happy to say, though, that I am starting to figure it out it’s just taking me a little longer than expected and that’s why lately I’ve been writing posts and not always putting them up right away. *sigh*

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This post feels very rushed but it’s been a busy day and I’m feeling a bit hyper. There are so many things I want to get written tonight- this post being one of them. :)

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I’ve spent almost all of today networking with other writers and pulling WW.com together. I still don’t get many comments over there but I suppose that has more to do with lack of frequent updates (something I’m working on as I gain more confidence).

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On and awesome note, you should go look at the main site. It looks very nice and I’m not afraid to brag about it. The forum is still a ghost town but I only just opened it up but everything else has an almost professional feel to it and I just want to hug it.

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Anyways, I have another thing I need to get out of my system but I’m thinking it’s meant to be on the other blog so I’m going to jump over there now which reminds me- another plus of software like BlogJet, you write all your posts in the same spot and then just click which blogs you want to go to. :)

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Peace, love, and don’t forget to visit http://written-whispers.com I really could use the encouragement.

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P.S. You might also notice me changing the template on this part of my site back and forth for awhile. I love this template but constantly having to manually edit the code (and translate it!) is a pain and I hate having to put the little – between every paragraph. If I don’t it looks so… blarg. Anyways, I’m looking for something specific, so it might be awhile before it’s all prety’fied. Just wanted to warn you.

NaNo Update #Almost Done (127,357 Words)

Good morning!

Yes, it really is morning. Usually I go to bed around six am (because I’m a night shift kind of girl) but tonight I wrote and wrote and wrote until my poor little fingers were so tired and my brain just couldn’t function anymore and I took a fifteen minute nap, then I woke up, turned the laptop back on and decided I was ready for round two. It’s nine in the morning and I still haven’t been to bed and I feel wonderful!

It’s amazing what a good mood can do for you mixed together with lack of sleep and the joy of reaching 127,357 words AND knowing you only have two or three chapters left till the story is actually finished, completed, ended, [inserts other words for 'oh, my gods, I'm almost done!' here].

It’s such a pretty thought, so shiny and tempting that I have no clue what to do with it but run around in circles right now. I was telling my husband last night that I really, honestly, believe I might cry when I finish the book. It’s not an if anymore, it’s a when. I don’t think I’ve ever been able to say that about one of my longer pieces since I happen to suffer from a chronic case of ADOSSO.

Attention Deficit… Oh, shit! Shiny object! Pardon the curse, lol, it’s something Kei and I came up with together while attempting to get up early the next day after staying up till noon writing (to clarify: we woke up, started writing, and didn’t go to sleep till lunch time the next day) and we were feeling rather goofy and random. To be honest I don’t know why people need drugs, if they’d just deprive themselves of sleep doing something they love, deprive a good friend along with them, then force each other into consciousness the next day they’d be whacked out all the time. I mean, given I’m bound to be cranky when I first wake up but while I’m trying to fall back asleep it’s like the little net that catches all the things I don’t mean to say while I’m awake is damaged. Even better- because of my lack of sleep and recent visit to dreamland my motor skills are generally suffering and sometimes saying a word with more than two syllables is a bit of a challenge… so yeah, I don’t need drugs. I’m weird enough as is.

Anyways back to topic…

Wait.

I had a topic?

Hmm.

Oh yes, finishing my novel. I can no call it a novel without thinking I’m stealing some catch phrase because even at size twelve font I’m numbering at over 500 pages right now. I know I’d be wasting trees if I did it but the urge to print it out when I’m all done just so I can hug the bulk of it is tremendous. Fortunately my husband has talked me into waiting until it’s gone through at least the first edit and then using the ‘CreateSpace’ offer from the NaNo to get a single bound copy for myself and then I can merrily accuse them of killing of innocent trees just so I can hug my novel.

I can hardly believe that the month isn’t even over yet (though I’m glad it’s not), it just seems like this has been the longest month of my entire life. Even thinking back to last years NaNo, it was nothing like this for me. I mean it was still crazy, awesome, inspiring, and finger numbingly wonderful but there is a definite difference. See, last year I used the NaNo as a means of forcing myself back into the writing world. When afraid to walk down the stairs go jump off a cliff so to speak to prove it’ll only hurt if… hmm…. that analogy was in my head and then as I was typing it I lost my train of thought and I can’t remember when I was going.

So, yeah, last year was a reintroduction into what I love, this year I’ve already been baptised so to speak and I’m no longer testing the waters but jumping in and swimming like a fish. I live and breath writing. :) I think it also helps having another writer in the house to compete with, it’s in my nature to try and type faster and hit the word counts faster if I can and if I can’t it gives me something to aim for like a mini game amongst the great challenge.

Even more so was all the encouragement my wonderful Husband keeps giving and his patience in my antics every thirty minutes or so when I busted another thousand out and had to tell him all about it. Both my brothers even helped push me along though I’m not sure they know it. I’ve been posting my latest and greatest word counts on my instant messenger the entire time and little did I know till recently that they were both following along and it surprised me when now and then they’d leave me a little message to go for it and such. It’s kind of cool how even though they don’t get along, or even talk, to each other how they can come together for me on this one thing. It makes smile.

Now for a random page from 365 Tao

“Do your devotions make you happy?
Is your life a joyous song?”

~Deng Ming-Dao

On this page Deng mentions while speaking of spiritual devotion that “it is unfortunate that so much coercion, unhappiness, bitterness, guilt, and fear become wrapped up in spirituality.” He goes on to talk about how being devoted to whatever you consider spiritual in your life, the thing you live for, or whatever churns your soul- it should make you happy and that it should be a celebration not a grudging ritual and I wholeheartedly agree. It’s difficult to explain without typing down what he said here and as my glasses are missing and I’m doing what quoting I am doing most from my head- you’ll just have to settle with my poor explanation.

When I read this earlier, this random page I turned to in a moment of contemplation I had a thought surface brightly in my head like the sun dancing up over the horizon. I wouldn’t call it a strange thought, it has occurred to me more than once but I don’t think it’s a common thought and I’m alright with that.

Writing is my spirituality.

I like to say that I do not have a religion, religion is for those who can name the faith they belong and can read out of the same book as millions of others without knowing the history behind it and follow it- not blindly but more like a sheep follows a flock. I’m not speaking of any one religion just organized religion in general.

To me spirituality is how you express your deepest soul felt feelings, it’s the guidelines you set for yourself, and your point of view in how the universe works. Spirituality is like a snowflake, no two for any two people are alike. Similar maybe but the same? Never because we are all different with different souls that have different needs but I’m ranting so I’ll pull myself back in the direction I was going beforehand.

Writing is my spirituality.

Everything that comes into my soul, my head, my heart. I express it through writing. The universe gives me all these wonders and I give back by writing. I celebrate my life and my happiness or the flip side of the same coin by writing.

Some Tibetan monk goes to his temple every single day, he adorns his robes, and purifies himself.

I sit before the temple of my laptop or notebook every single day, I build my writers nest out of all my favorite blankets, and I clear my mind.

The monk puts his hands together to pray.

I spread my fingers out over the keyboard.

The monk may sings hymns of the joy that his beliefs have brought him.

I dance spontaneously every ten pages.

He will sweep his temple steps in reverence to his place of practice.

I will meticulously pull all the keys off my keyboard and pick out all the cat hair and possibly Chinese food that has fallen beneath them because it is my place of practice and I revere it.

He will sit in silence for hours listening as his god speaks to him through it.

I will listen to my mp3 player for hours listening as random ideas pop into my head with convenient lyrics.

His god will bring him the greatest wisdom he has ever known if he listens with a full heart and an open soul.

My characters will bring me the greatest stories and teach me the greatest morals I have ever known, taking me on adventures I may have never had otherwise through my stories if I listen with a full heart and an open soul.

*grin*