3 X 5

Now I'm not talking trucks or boards here. I'm talking note cards...the little 3x5 cards that have lines on one side and are blank on the other. :)

This is one method I use when working a plot--just to keep everything organized. I take a stack of note cards, usually color coordinated--one color for each character. On the blank side I write the characters name and on the other side I write the happenings of a scene--can also add actions or facts given in the scene. You can add more detail later on, this is just a way to get the gist of the scenes you want to include.

Example: Janelle (can also add a brief description of what they are wearing in the scene)
volleyball practice--intro to the main guy
Facts given: she can play--she likes him...

Then, when I have all the scenes on note cards, I can either hang them on a clothesline or pin them to a large sheet...this way you can rearrange the order of your scenes--or combine some of the scenes if they work better as one.

Just a great visual that helps me see the whole map of my story!

WWW: What is your favorite quote when it comes to writing?

Blaming Jo!

I was asking myself today--for the hundredth time--"Self, why can't you be a morning person/writer?"
Self replied: "Blame it on Jo March!"

Ah...I get it.

In my early writing years, I loved watching the movie Little Women (still enjoy watching it!). And in the movie, Jo March wrote at night by candlelight. I always thought this was so cool...so began my nightly writing habit. I would wait all day for the sun to go down (still do) so I could be alone with my pen and paper. The later the better! There were even a bunch of times that I did get out my oil lamp and write with nothing but that flickering.
But now that I have children, I can't really stay up writing by candlelight and expect to get up at 6AM to make breakfast...Guess I need to find a new movie/book where the writer gets up early and writes!

So...does anyone else have a literary character to blame for their writing habits? :)
(Anne Shirley also has an effect on my writing and reading...but that's for another day.)

WWW: Writers WRITE!!

Website...Twitter....Facebook...OH MY!

Wow...feeling a little overwhelmed today.
I'm reading the book Platform, by Michael Hyatt. It talks all about the whats, the hows, and the ins and outs of getting your name out there as a writer. Of branding yourself (ouch! hot!) as a writer, and building your platform.
There are so many ways made available to us today to become visible in the "small" writing world. Website. Twitter. Facebook. Blog...not to mention checking yahoo and gmail accounts...Where does one person find the time to take care of and maintain all of these? It's a lot of work and can take up most of your day...but it is worth it. I'm finding that if I spend 30 minutes to an hour every morning taking care of business, I can then move on to writing!

Some thoughts I've been working on: What makes me different from everyone else? What will catch the eye of readers and keep them coming back for more? (Any thoughts :) )

So, this is me asking you...please help me build my platform and like my author page on Facebook!
Janelle Leonard, Author.
Thanks a million!


WWW: Picking brains: what would you use to decorate a website of a YA author? :)

Just Great Anecdotes

A friend of mine says: "Nothing bad ever happens to writers, just great anecdotes."

This is so true. Everything, every what if...can be used one way or another by writers.

So...what is happening in your life today/week/month that you can write about? Use it in fiction or non fiction to bring laughter, growth, encouragement, help, healing...tell your story!


WWW: just a question today... What is your main characters favorite place to shop? :)

Plotter...Pantster...Staller...

So, I was told there are 2 types of writers. Plotters and Pantsters.
Plotters: they plot out their story--have an outline--know where it's going and how it's going to end--they plot and then they WRITE.
Pantsters: they write by the seat of their pants--have no clue where it's going and what will happen! They just WRITE.
I want to add one more...Stallers...
I used to think I was a Plotter...well, I still am. I love plotting out my stories. But I do have some Pantster moments.
But lately I'm becoming a Staller where writing is concerned. I love researching, looking up outfits for my characters, finding pictures of my characters, talking about my characters to those around me, having notecards and charts and writing up what's going to happen in every chapter....STALLING.....
This info all comes in handy, but the Staller doesn't WRITE... (Oh, and here I am, blogging about stalling...I think this should go on the list!)

So, what are you when it comes to your writing?


WWW: quote today: "My stories wrap around me like a cozy quilt, and sometimes I long to pull that quilt over my head and pin the blanket shut, allowing me to immerse myself in the world vivid in my mind." -from the book Just Jane by Nancy Moser

Playlist

I enjoy making a playlist for each of my books...Yeah, I'm a little weird...but aren't all writers and creators? :) I write YA, so teen music gets me in the mood to think and write like a YA. I have a theme song for most of my books. And whenever I play that song, my mind gets in the mood for that story--characters, plot, setting. It’s a great way to transition from the mundane chores of life to writer!

What’s on your playlist?

WWW—Your main character is the hardest to write. Why? Well, you know the most about them and they are the most like you. Digging deep to find out what makes your character tick, can uncover some pretty uncomfortable things about who you are and what is hidden deep in your heart.