What tools do I use to write?
I have various items, devices, software and services in my creative toolbox.
The first draft of ‘The Blackwater Prince’ was written entirely in long-hand using Typo A4 Buffalo Journals, a hardback notebook, and Sharpie fine felt-tip pens.
I find that writing by hand works well for the pace at which the ideas flow out of my brain.
I then transcribed it into Microsoft Word and used the Review/Track Changes feature for editing of subsequent drafts.
However, I have recently begun using several new gadgets and services to make my writing life easier…
- Trello . . . with multiple main characters and intertwining plots, I use Trello for storyboarding the journey of each character and then ensuring the scenes for each are in the correct order when brought together. I also use it to manage and prepare my social media posts.
- MyHeritage . . . an online genealogy platform which I actually use to keep track of all my characters mentioned in the novels.
- Grammarly . . . the most recent addition to my writer's toolkit, this is great for general correction of bad grammar and assisting with rewriting phrases that just don’t seem right. I don’t always agree with its suggestions, but it keeps me honest with what I’m trying to say and educates me at the same time.
- reMarkable2 . . . an electronic paper tablet. I first used it to edit/mark up the most recent draft of The Blackwater Prince. It is now proving invaluable for outlining and writing the first draft of my new book, still all written by hand, without having to cut down a single tree! This is hands-down my favourite piece of technology at the moment.
Where did it all begin?
Where did it all begin?
Quite a while back, it was suggested that I try NaNoWriMo, a month-long writing challenge every November where participants commit to writing a 50,000-word novel during the 30 days of November. Fat chance, I thought. I’d written a couple of screenplays in the few years before that, and they took me years! So, I passed on the idea.
However, in the back of my mind, I kept asking myself, could I write something in the format of a novel or short story? Eventually, I decided to write a single scene to see how it worked out. It took a little while, but I finished it. It came in at just over 700 words, and I was reasonably happy with it, though it was more difficult than I had expected. So, I shelved the idea and life continued on.
After a while, I started thinking about the scene I had written. My brain was telling me, “It was quite good. You only need to write a bunch more, and you have a novel.” I had to admit I did enjoy the experience, so I eventually decided to give it a good crack.
I planned, wrote, edited, and edited some more. I then changed the story, wrote some more and edited some more, and now I finally have a novel I think is suitable for publication.
I look back on that original scene, and I cringe a little. Not the best prose ever to be put to paper, but I’ve learned a lot over the years, and I’m more than satisfied with the result. A radically different version of that scene is actually in the book, so you could consider it a sneak peek, of sorts.
You can find a copy of the original scene here. Enjoy.
A little more about my upcoming novel
‘The Blackwater Prince’ is a medieval drama set in a fictional world, and is intended to be read by mature audiences…definitely not bedtime reading for the kids.
It explores themes of life and death, loyalty and betrayal, love, and the importance of family, and contains drama, intrigue, humour, and action, all with just a touch of fantasy. It’s an easy read and should have broad appeal, even to those not normally into the fantasy genre.
I will give more hints on the story in a future post, I promise. I’ll also be elaborating on how I developed my story, and tools and techniques I used. And I’ll be more than happy to answer any writing related questions you may have. So, if this interests you, follow my page and enjoy the journey with me.
Exciting news...my novel is to be published!!
As some of you know, I’ve been toiling away on my first novel for quite a while now. I am beyond excited to announce I have just signed with Shawline Publishing Group to publish my debut novel, ‘The Blackwater Prince’, a fantasy adventure, in 2025.
Watch this space, or follow me on Facebook and Instagram, as I share my journey through the publishing process to make the transition from someone who writes to being a published author.