Scriv It

Okay, so, Christmas presents for writers.

There’s one thing that I bought myself, that I wish someone would’ve thought of getting for me much, much sooner. See, I write a lot. In those days, I was writing about 4,000 words every day, and it was getting very confusing to keep track of everything that I’d written, because everything was in separate Word documents, ones that even I in my near infinite amount of organization couldn’t keep track of.

And then it happened. One day, I was talking to a friend of mine, a writer friend, who mentioned a software she’d found.

It was called…

Scrivener

After doing my research and deciding that extra organization could never be a bad thing, I jumped the gun and downloaded myself a copy of the software. It’s not expensive, but for writers, we for some reason tend not to want to spend money on things like software. I honestly don’t understand it.

I seriously geek out over this software. I recommend it to every writer who crosses my path, even though I know most of them won’t heed my advice. They think they’re content in their current software, that they’re happy with what they have and don’t want to switch. But believe me when I say that they’re wrong.

I’ll say it again: I wish someone had thought to buy me this software, long before I got it for myself.

Scrivener is essentially the ultimate writing tool for your computer. It organizes books into chapters and scenes to keep everything easier for us, the writers, to understand, while keeping every for one novel inside one neat Scrivener file. And it makes the editing process a million times easier by doing so.

In all honesty, if I tried to go back to Word now, I don’t think I would make it. I still use Word for editing, because it has a far greater processor when it comes to spell check and a few other conveniences, but every time I write, I write in Scrivener.

Every writer I know who’s tried it, would agree with me.

So make a teeny tiny splurge and get them a license of Scrivener. Show them that you care about their writing, by giving them something to advance their work.

Trust me, we’ll appreciate how much thought you put into the thing we so enjoy doing.

[love]

{Rani Divine}

I want a...

Oh sheesh, it’s December… I suppose that means most of you are scrambling to figure out what presents to get for your loved ones. 

Me? I’m already done with all that. Everything’s even wrapped and under the tree! But I’m an early bird, and this series is designed for the rest of you. And since I know not all of you will actually be giving out every last present before the end of the month (me and my bestie often exchange gifts at the New Year), it’ll go through the whole month!

What on earth should I get a writer for Christmas?!

Yup. That’s our topic. I’ve thought of nine things you could (or maybe should) get for the writers in your life. We’re really not that hard to shop for, when you think about it. Or maybe it’s that I’m a writer, and I know what we like.

Today’s item:

Writing Utensils

Yeah, that one probably seems obvious, but that’s why I did it as number one. See, no one ever thinks of the cooler writing utensils. They think “oh, but we all write on computers now, so what’s the point?” or “but my friend only uses this kind of pen,” when really, we should be thinking of different writing utensils.

So here are three great options of writing utensils, all of which I would be glad to receive:

Pens with red ink

Yes, this one is the most boring option. But it's also the one we're most likely to use. We all dreaded them in school, but as writers, it’s one of the things we need most often. Once we’ve gotten our first draft down, we always have to go back and cut out a lot of what we just wrote, make changes, edit for clarity—and that begins with red ink. A lot of us prefer to print out our work and go through it by hand, which is where these pens really come in handy. Personally, I prefer Sharpie Pens, but I’d be content with most any red inked pen.

Quill/Dip/Calligraphy Pens

Many of us, if not most of us, do occasionally write by hand. These pens help to facilitate that. They allow us to play with fonts by hand, to get our hands messy with a bottle of ink, to see what it would’ve been like to write way back in the day. Even if we don’t use them, they’re a great inspiration for us just to own. I have a couple dip and calligraphy pens, and I primarily use them as display items, but in those times when I need inspiration, they do come in handy. Include a bottle or two of ink, and we'll be even happier!

Fountain Pens

Lastly, every writer needs a fountain pen. Though really, I think every person needs a fountain pen. It conforms to the way you write, so once you’ve used it enough your nib will only be usable by you. Trust me. I hold my hand weirdly when I write and no one else in my family can use my fountain pens. If you’re looking for a good brand to check out, I was recently gifted a Graf von Faber-Castell, and it’s spectacular. Monte Blanc is as well. Of course, those are the higher end of fountain pens, and much of what you’ll find on Amazon are decent options. Just read the reviews and trust your judgment. And don't forget to pick up a bottle of ink as well.

And those are my three top writing utensils for writers. They’re all ones that I use not infrequently, if only to look at and admire, and I can tell you I was utterly thrilled when I received each of them, because yes, they were all gifts.

Isn’t Christmas great?

[love]

{Rani D.}

December is here

Well, it’s no longer November. December had to come eventually, didn’t it? And I hope that with the beginning of December comes the news that you’ve finished your novel. I sincerely do. And if you have, please, let me know! I would love to celebrate with you! It’s a great accomplishment to finish a novel, no matter how many you’ve written before.

Yeah, that’s our topic for today. I think I’m a good voice for the topic, being that I’ve written fourteen novels so far.

When you finish your first novel, there’s this sense of relief, euphoria, bliss that you’ve finally done it, that your first novel is complete and there on the metaphorical shelf (unless you’re cool enough to print it, which I never was). It’s an awesome feeling! Honestly, sometimes, I miss it. People are excited for you, you get hugs and high fives, and everyone gathers around you to cheer over this great accomplishment.

Who wouldn’t love that?

But it changes when you get to your second novel, or your fifth, or your fourteenth. I would know.

When I finished my second novel, I remember the first thing one of my friends said, the same friend who’d congratulated me and celebrated with me when I’d finished my first. She said, and I quote: “Oh. That’s cool.” No excitement, no celebration, no joy. It was mundane, now that I’d already struggled my way through one novel. Well, you’ve done it once, who cares if you do it again? That was how I felt.

That shouldn’t be.

There’s an usher at my church who reminds me of that, every time I see him. He’s the one person who always asks me about my writing, always makes sure that I’m still writing, and gives me the same look of unbridled joy when he finds out I’ve finished yet another novel or am starting on a new one. He's that friend that never ceases to be joyful about another friend's accomplishment, and I truly love that about him. 

That, my friends, is how we should be. A book is a book, no matter how many we’ve started or finished. We’re writers, so shouldn’t it always be exciting or euphoric when we finish one? I mean, it’s what we do! It’s what’s in our hearts to do, and we’ve just succeeded at it again! Shouldn’t that be more exciting, that we’ve done it again, that we aren’t a one hit wonder? We can do this, whether it’s our first or our fiftieth. That’s awesome!

So celebrate. If it’s your first or your fifteenth or your fiftieth. Buy a bottle of champagne. Go out with your friends. Celebrate.

You did it. (again)

[love]

{Rani Divine}