Writing Medium

Not sure if Writing Medium is a real term or not, but, as an author, I have the privilege to create new terms! What I'd like to discuss today is the means by which you write your book. Some people when they first begin their books don't give a second thought to the physical means of how they will write it. Their desktop will do.
I have nothing against desktops, but personally I couldn't write a word on my book if I had a desktop. I have to have my laptop. Some people have to have a pen and paper, or even a quill pen and parchment. (Imagine all the scratch outs?) Play around with style!
My computer (Lambert) has had a rough time lately, and Microsoft Word got taken off. So I had to finish my second book on Word Pad! I've wanted to start my third book, but the thought of writing an entire book on Word Pad again... ugh. So my sister, Tamara, told me about this program called Y Writer. A free computer program designed by an author specifically for writing books! I downloaded it last night but didn't have time to play around with it, but that's the goal for today!
Apart from finding your preferred method of writing, it's important to set the mood. I like to light candles and incense and play music fitting to the scene I'm going to write. If it's a fight scene I play heavy metal! Likewise, a sappy scene would produce classical music.
Inspiration comes from the subconscious. Smells are the quickest way to jar a memory. So if you use the same scented candle every time you write, lighting said candle will be a trigger to your brain that you're about to go into writing mode, and then your focus will improve as will your writing. The more consistently you use triggers (like the same music and smells, or even food) the more the results will amaze you.
Happy writing!

Back from my break- Staying Focused

I didn't purposely wait so long to write my next post, but I guess my brain decided it needed a break. During said vacation, I had all sorts of wonderful misadventures. Without turning this entire blog into a rant about society, I will say that I've had my share of major frustrations lately. It's easy to lose the desire to write when I'm trying to worry about if we're going to pay the rent or have enough money for groceries.
So I'm not going to go all sappy and tell my life's most depressing moment. I only want to impress that life will always be full of surprises- many of which you could live without. During these times it's easy to lose courage and sight of your goal.
I've had to re-invent my reason for writing my books. I started when I was very young, and while I wanted my books to be best sellers, I did not want to write them for money. I wanted to write them for the story. For me and my family to have a good series to read. Now that I'm older and somewhat more cynical that reason doesn't seem to be enough. But after two years of constant stress, worrying about bills, worrying about jobs, worrying about religion and medicine and weight gain-- I realized all this worrying wasn't doing any good whatsoever. So I came up with a new reason to write my books: to be happy. What is the point of putting so much energy into something (bills for example) if it doesn't make you happy?
Mind you I'm not talking about instant gratification. I'm talking about true, lasting happiness. When you're ninety and look back on the memory you smile instead of grimacing.
The point to all of this is that I'm back in gear. I have purpose again. If someone asked me what the single most important thing to have to be able to write a book it would be purpose. Even over a vivid imagination and a poetic way with words. If you have no reason to write, you won't.
So, stay focused! Find a reason to write your book(s) for YOU and no one else. In the end, you are writing for you. Today I start the first word of Temple of Ten Thousand Bones....