Every writer has tools that they need, wish they had, and wished they needed so they would have an excuse to immediately go get them in a justified manner. Are all my items something I NEED for writing? Nope. Give me a pen and paper and I am set. But these are things that would put me in writer heaven…and probably keep me procrastinating until the end of the world. I think you would agree.

Multi Touch Screen-Wall

Dr. Xunlei Wu using the Duke Multi-Touch Wall. (Photo credit: Josh Coyle)

That’s right. I want a whole wall. And I want a wireless keyboard that is compatable. Because I want to be able to put out my story line on the actual wall with virtual sticky notes and an awesome timeline, to be able to create a 3D map of SciFi worlds and be able to navigate it using NASA’s awesome 3D interface (Because that is a responsible application of an amazing technology.

And then I want to be able to write my story on my wall, using a wireless keyboard that I can sit on my sofa and stare at my wall and listen to music and have a video of pride and prejudice…though the sounds could conflict. I have to research facts to make sure I’m not making my characters idiots and make sure I am providing ‘life like’ and ‘real life’ scenarios.

And I would love to put it as a screensaver of fish bouncing around…wouldn’t that be awesome wallpaper?

Okay – So a Multi-Touch Wall for a computer is a big BIG wish, but it would be cool.

Now I am going to have to find some other things to put in the room, I suppose to make the space ideal.

Anti-gravity chair

The Varier Gravity Reclining Chair by Stokkes

No, this wouldn’t make you float or anything, but close. These chairs distribute your weight to make it FEEL like you are floating though, with a relief of pressure on even distribution. I only toss this in because the idea sounds nice.

I have never sat in one, but I might as well put it on the ‘neat, tech-y things I would fill my office with if I had no budget’.

Microsoft Courier

Microsoft Courier

If you haven’t seen the promo for this, and it better be coming out soon, then watch the video. This is every writer/designer/planner’s dream. This goes beyond an ereader – It looks like ‘Command Central’ for writers.

Not to mention, this would be ideal for going to school, meetings or anywhere because you can write on it, as in, as if it were a real notebook. I can’t even describe all the cool features. Except, I will say that the little virtual journal covers you can doodle and customize are a replica of the ‘moleskin’ notebooks of which I have about twenty. Any writer that is a writer has one of these around. So there is a nostalgic connection there, thinking of being able to have nice and neat little notebooks that I can customize.

This would be a great arsenal in the profession of creating and recreating worlds for readers to explore. Not to mention, it is AWESOME and I love tech.

Now, As far as work goes…because most of these have been really cool distractions and well-meant ‘tools’ that would be toys more than anything, here are two things I can’t live without in my workspace.

My NetBook:

HP Netbook

That is right. I have an 8in HP Netbook and I love it. I can’t do much on it. I can make emergency reservations on the go, I can research directions on the go and most importantly, I can write and upload blog posts on the go.

I hadn’t tried the actual full process of writing, finding photographs and posting a blog post while traveling until Thanksgiving. It was one of those ‘I know it is 2 am but I really want to write about and share this!’
It was fun to know I could post from anywhere.

FYI – If you have done any research on NetBooks you will know that the keyboards are 95% full size. But it is hard to know what all the shortcuts are! I have accidently turned on the overwrite feature on several occasions. And believe you me, that is frustrating! So, just so you know, you know?

My iPod Shuffle

iPod Shuffle 3rd Gen

I had an ipod nano, which I bedazzled (Don’t roll your eyes, I am a girl and yes: They were pink crystals) but it died a tragic death and I replaced it with that itty-bitty shuffle thing. I love it. I haven’t broken the rocker on the headphones either, yet. (Just give me time). I need the shuffle, as much as I hate admitting that, because music keeps me ‘in the zone’ when I write. It’s a mood enhancer. Ask any writer, when you are writing a scene that has romance you listen to romantic music, a sad scene with sad music, a fight scene with angry or high tempo music. You get the idea.

Okay. So three things I would LOVE in an idea work space is a FULL size Multi Touch wall (computer) or even a smaller wall…lol, a Microsoft Courier that isn’t really out yet and one of those space chair things. (I don’t need the space chair, but it would be neat I think). Two things I have that I can’t live without are my Netbook and my iPod Shuffle.

Fish Tale by capn madd matt

Photo Credit: capn madd matt

First I want to say the photo I picked for this blog post is amazing. I love it. I want to do something like this for my birthday. Sit around and drink water out of a glass with a gold fish in it…something awesome in that. I do confess, I don’t think I will. I wouldn’t want to stress out the gold fish.

But in looking at this photo, It really makes me think of writing. Writing is, essentially, creating a world and telling the story of individuals in that world. This is truer with science fiction writing than anywhere else. You get to create a world from scratch.

With the goldfish bowl theory, the bowl is the world you create and the fish is your character. Can you imagine telling the story of that gold fish? I can already think of dozens of ways he got there, what kind of person would put him there and why.

But the ‘Gold fish Theory’ is important in pointing out…nothing exists outside the fish bowl. If you don’t write it, it essentially doesn’t exist. So don’t assume your reader knows what you are ‘hinting’ at when you create a world from scratch because chances are…they’re lost.

So what do we learn from the GoldFish Theory?

• ‘Build’ your new world through description.
• Decide whether you are telling the story from observation of the gold fish or the perspective of being the goldfish
• No one wants to read a story where your fish just sits in a boring bowl and blinks. If ever you wonder, ask ‘Where are you taking me?’ from the perspective of the reader.

As wonderful as this photograph is, I don’t think I will be attempting the nervous breakdown of a fish every time I take a sip of water but I do find it fascinating and unique.

I hope this breakdown of my ‘Gold Fish Theory’ has helped you take a fresh look at your story. Writing is perhaps the only scenario where we can play God, and no matter what we know it will be a happy ending. Well…I would HOPE it would be a happy ending. As for the gold fish…*gulp*

Please feel free to comment or critique! I always enjoy hearing what you think and your own experiences in writing.

Catching the rain by Pandiyan

Photo Credit: Pandiyan

It’s Friday already? Crazy how the week flies by! This Friday Five I am going to explore the most influential characters of my upcoming novel Past Mistakes. With the dynamics of how characters transform into people on pages, it is important to remember that each character is more than a blip of dialog or the bridge to the next scene. Your characters are your story and the story builds out from around them.

Okay, let’s get to it!

OPLURA

Opura is a girl that accidently lands in the future. She is not sure of herself, terrified of her situation but determined to make her way home. She’s sometimes a little too trusting and oblivious to predicaments she gets herself into but she is quick on her feet and quick to think of a plan.

BECKETTE

Beckette is the main love interest of Oplura. Always quiet and brooding about something, Beckette was the first to find Oplura though not the first to immediately help. While he initially abandoned her to the wilderness he proved to have a conscious and has been inseparable from her since.

GREGOR

Gregor is a dragon in the world of the future. Working as scholar and advisor to the Queen of all the Draconians, Gregor works hard to preserve remaining artifacts of the glory days of the human civilization. His open-mindedness put Oplura on the invitation list versus the dinner menu however, his wife would prefer otherwise some days.

MARIANNE

Marianne is the faithful mate of Gregor the dragon. Also a draconian, Marianne’s family was murdered in an age old plot against the Draconians from within their own regime but ultimately was offered as a sacrifice to human religious zealots as a cover for wanting her family gone. Secretly working as the Queen of Draconia’s private political spy, she spends her days pretending to be the castles interior decorator. Given an opportunity, Marianne could prove to be a fatal enemy or a valued ally.

QUEEN OF DRACONIA

Queen of Draconia was brought to power shortly after her mother’s murder and over throw. Now plagued with keeping their race alive, the Queen must protect her thrown from both humankind and her own kind. With allies few and close around, the Queen must use her instincts in deciding how to maneuver the survival of the Draconians, herself and ensure Oplura’s journey alters the past mistakes of her civilization and time.

Well those are the top five!

I would love to hear how you build your characters to interact.

And as always, Thanks for Reading!

In Ur NaNoz by Oliver Hammond

Photo Credit: Oliver Hammond

Sunday NaNo Excerpt Every…well, Sunday!

Wow, can you believe NaNoWriMo is here?! I was going to go to sleep, having waited until midnight for the big crescendo I was exhausted from all the excitement. I didn’t think I was going to be able to write. But sure enough, two of my Nano buddies, EelKat and shipwreck_light, had already written almost 3 thousand words apiece after an hour or so. Of course, I had to do SOMETHING. So I sat up for another hour and pounded out 3,600 words. I would have kept writing but I was so sleepy!

So, now I am going to post a short excerpt that I liked from the week…aka yesterday, as we have only been doing NaNo for less than 24 hours. I am going to post my favorite bit of writing from the week so here we go!

“…The knife came back into view. The doctor closed the space she had created from herself and my leg when I had shrieked. The knife came up over my leg again. This time, I had the sense to bite something. Either way, this was going to hurt. How the hell is this happening to me? I thought as I slammed my eyes closed in anticipation of the incision. Here I was lying in a third world hospital type set-up and some strange woman was getting ready to cut open my leg to fix a broken bone. I know I am not a doctor, but this does not seem right. How do I even know she is a REAL doctor? This is not common, this is not smart, and this is bad…”

Alrighty! I have been a posting maniac and I still have a video to do tomorrow! I will keep you posted! Don’t think I don’t know about all you CRAZY NaNo-ers out there trying to write 1 MILLION words in a month. INSANITY!

As always, thanks for reading! Let me know how your NaNo is coming along. Got a favorite line so far?