This isn’t what I planned to write my blog about, but circumstances changed everything. I always said I wouldn't say anything negative in my blog, but -- I hate Word. I hate Word. I hate Word. I just lost my whole days work because of the stupid program. I have always used WordPerfect from my first computer in the 80s. I am only using Word now because of that is what the copy edited version of A Stitch in Crime came to me in. It is the downside of electronic editing.
In WordPerfect, if you hit save, the very top line will show the trail of drive, folders and file you are in and then say unmodified. So you know for sure you’ve saved it. Word doesn’t do that. If you hit save, it makes some stupid lines that disappear. And yes, it tells you the name of the file you are in, but by not giving the complete location such as the tree of directory names and the drive it’s on, it can get very confusing. As in if you have a copy on your C drive and a back up copy with the same name, you can’t tell which one is open.
My copy edit is due next Thursday. I went through fifty pages today. Somehow in the process of saving it and then using save as to save to my backup copy, everything got confused. All I know is, both copies don’t have my work from today. I would like to scream. I would scream, but as soon as I finish this, I’m going back to try to go through the same pages while it is fresh in my mind.
On a positive note. Last week I mentioned wanting a dress form to use as a model for my crochet projects. Linda from the knit and crochet group I belong to emailed me and offered me “Gloria,” a dress form living in her closet. Gloria has moved to my house and is standing with her hip cocked waiting to take on her new job as crochet model. Thank you, Linda.
I had to add this. I couldn't go to sleep until I went back over the pages. The changes were fresh in my mind and I didn't have to read every word the way I did the first time. It took a lot less time the second time around. This time I gave the back up file a new name so there will hopefully be no more confusion. But I still don't like Word.
Showing posts with label twenty-five words. Show all posts
Showing posts with label twenty-five words. Show all posts
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
A Contest, A Character
I’ve been encouraged to offer a contest, but I couldn’t think what prize to offer. Then, going through our storage room and making a final sort of boxes left over from our move a year ago (!) I realized I still have rather a large quantity of quilting fabric. I’ve got my quilt, it’s beautiful, but I’m not going to make another. And here’s this lovely fabric, many varieties and colors with one theme: Chickens. Realistic chickens, cartoon chickens, artistic chickens, big and little. Even eggs and chicken wire. Black and white, bright colors, pastels. I don't know how many yards, maybe four? A couple of pounds, anyway. Some cut into squares, others in fat-quarter size.
If you would like this fabric, write and tell me why. Twenty-five words or less. I’ll even pay postage.
Go to my website, Monica-Ferris.com, and contact me through that. Contest ends July 31, 2008.
All writers know the phenomenon: a character in a book suddenly rising and taking over the reins of his or her role from the author. Disconcerting and sometimes exciting – but sometimes it’s annoying. I have been inventing a new boyfriend for my gay character Godwin. Goddy lost his long-time lover quite a few books back, and was accused of his murder. Of course he didn’t do it, Betsy proved that. But since he got over the shock and mourning, he’s been kind of playing the field, date-wise. I have finally decided he needs to settle down, find someone really nice who is also good for him – and whom he can be good for. I came up with this gorgeous young man named Rafael Centillas, a naturalized American citizen born in Mexico. He was supposed to be aloof on the surface but kind and funny underneath. Sweet and perhaps a trifle shy. But the guy who walked into the needlework shop in this scene I’m working on is self-assured and just the teensiest bit abrasive. Fortunately, he still really likes Godwin. I think Godwin likes him, too.
I like a character who knows his own mind, and who will grow into a role in a book. But it’s annoying how, after two dozen novels, I can still lose control over a character right at the start. I’m tempted to tear down that scene in the novel and start it again. Re-boot, so to speak. But maybe I should just let him have his head, at least for awhile.
If you would like this fabric, write and tell me why. Twenty-five words or less. I’ll even pay postage.
Go to my website, Monica-Ferris.com, and contact me through that. Contest ends July 31, 2008.
All writers know the phenomenon: a character in a book suddenly rising and taking over the reins of his or her role from the author. Disconcerting and sometimes exciting – but sometimes it’s annoying. I have been inventing a new boyfriend for my gay character Godwin. Goddy lost his long-time lover quite a few books back, and was accused of his murder. Of course he didn’t do it, Betsy proved that. But since he got over the shock and mourning, he’s been kind of playing the field, date-wise. I have finally decided he needs to settle down, find someone really nice who is also good for him – and whom he can be good for. I came up with this gorgeous young man named Rafael Centillas, a naturalized American citizen born in Mexico. He was supposed to be aloof on the surface but kind and funny underneath. Sweet and perhaps a trifle shy. But the guy who walked into the needlework shop in this scene I’m working on is self-assured and just the teensiest bit abrasive. Fortunately, he still really likes Godwin. I think Godwin likes him, too.
I like a character who knows his own mind, and who will grow into a role in a book. But it’s annoying how, after two dozen novels, I can still lose control over a character right at the start. I’m tempted to tear down that scene in the novel and start it again. Re-boot, so to speak. But maybe I should just let him have his head, at least for awhile.
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