tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14330474421611046192024-02-18T22:24:42.475-08:00Elizabeth LightI'm an aspiring author. Please check back for more updates on my book and my experiences while on this journey.Elizabeth Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023381579804694465noreply@blogger.comBlogger185125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433047442161104619.post-88353832550170569952018-02-13T19:40:00.003-08:002018-02-13T19:40:54.567-08:00Farewell for NowHello everyone. I've decided to step away from the blog for a while. While I still plan on being active on social media I won't have another blog post unless I get the spark that made me decide to start blogging in the first place. I'll still keep the domain and everything because I still want to write a book and I would like to come back at some point.<br />
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But, before I officially go, I'm going to give you guys an update on what has been going on. For one, I got engaged to my boyfriend on our 7th year anniversary. It's been a long time coming and I look forward to what the future holds. As for my family, my grandma is still getting chemo treatments, but her cancer markers are significantly down. My uncle is actually going to be on a similar chemo treatment starting at the end of the month. I still am looking for a job but I'm hoping to find something soon.<br />
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I'm truly hoping I'll be back to blogging in the future. But, for now I need to focus on the whole reason why I started this blog, to write. I still have a bunch of projects that I'm working on and need to get written! So, if you've read this whole post, make sure you follow what you want to do. Don't continue something on simply because you started it (like this blog) and find what you're passionate about. And, it may change, but if you want it to happen it will.<br />
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So, until my next post.<br />
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<br />Elizabeth Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023381579804694465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433047442161104619.post-29405109704303102272018-01-10T17:44:00.000-08:002018-01-10T17:44:14.578-08:00Managing Multiple Writing ProjectsHello everyone, it's certainly been a long time no see, and I haven't gotten the chance to post lately. I've been looking for a job without much luck and helping my Grandma as much as I can since she started Chemo treatments about a month ago. But, as I as musing about what I should blog about, I had this idea pop in my head, and decided to run with it.<br />
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So, I efficiently manage my writing projects quite inefficiently compared to others. For me, I have them in a writing folder, my google cloud, and I have a document tracking what projects I'm working on along with future things I would like to pursue. Granted, I've gotten better over the years, but there are at least 2 projects (4 if I count some <i>really</i> old writing) that I need to find on my computer.<br />
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Granted there are a lot of ways to approach this but, I can think of a three right off hand. One, store in the traditional way on your computer using a file system. I would recommend putting your folder on your desktop screen (so it can guilt you into writing more) and you don't need to go digging for it. The other thing I would recommend is to put everything relating to that writing project into it's own folder <i>if</i> you have multiple documents. For example, you have your writing doc, an outline doc, and a spreadsheet of your characters.<br />
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A second option is to store your writings on the cloud. Quite frankly, Google Docs is the only way I write now. I have 2 computers: an older one with a bigger screen and nicer keys and this little Chromebook that I had bought for work. I would have to use a USB if I didn't want to use the cloud or email my document back and forth and pray that I get the right version attached. But, I just log in with my Google account, and I can quickly edit the document this way.<br />
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A third way of storing your writing would be using a program like Scrivener. Some people live by it, I however have never had much luck working with it other than outlines. I do enjoy the cork board and the different options of the page layout. Plus, if you like having lots of folders, it would probably work great for you. Granted, I haven't given it a chance lately, but based on past experiences it just didn't work for me.<br />
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Now, when I dive into what project I want to work on, I dive all the way in unless there are little side note stuff with another story. My biggest problem however is getting to finish a project AND be happy with it. Heck, I started this blog almost <b>4 years ago</b> because I felt like my one project would be ready by the end of the first year. I'm certainly glad that I didn't publish at that stage but it's just humorous to look back upon it. For others I know they can switch back and forth on stories depending on their mood. If you can, awesome, because I know if I tried switching too frequently my characters would cross over and leave me in confusion.<br />
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Finally, after organizing your stuff, make a document that has all of the writing projects you have and your current goal for them. It'll really help prioritize what you're working on and will help you focus on what is important. On that same note, c<i>lear out writing projects that you don't ever plan on working on again.</i> My favorite is the adoption board on Nanowrimo, because someone else may get the vision of what you were going to write and run with it, and that's where I have gotten ideas. Obviously it's common for writers to start a story plot and not run with it because it doesn't pique their interest anymore. While it is hard for me to let go of stories I do know that sometimes it just doesn't work out.<br />
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The overarching point of this article is that you should have some system, however inefficient it may seem to someone else, because it will help you. I promise. Even if you only have 1 story you work on and don't have other projects, it's good to have all your information together. Plus, if you have been worried about getting around to your other projects even though you have no interest in them, you should prioritize and find what you enjoy writing.<br />
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Alright, that's all I have for now. I may hop on later on my other computer and add a picture, but since I'm on my Chromebook, I'm going to leave it for now. Thanks for reading and post how you keep track of your writing projects. Until next time.<br />
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<br />Elizabeth Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023381579804694465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433047442161104619.post-53485141758103546412017-11-25T16:42:00.000-08:002017-11-25T16:50:26.711-08:00Quick UpdateHello all, I do not plan on making another post until December, or if I'm lucky a few days before. This month has been packed full of family emergencies and, sadly, the loss of a pet. I'm grateful that my family member has gotten some help, despite this we still really don't know what is going on, but cancer has been sort of ruled out so that's good.<br />
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My kitty Tiger started showing signs of being lethargic earlier this month. We got him to the vet, came to the conclusion that he was diabetic, and thought that would be the end of it. His bilirubin did not go down despite medicine that should have helped it. To spare a lot of details, this was over the course of 6 days, I'll skip to what we "know".<br />
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His bilirubin by the end by 27.2 with no indication on if there was a blockage (advanced ultrasound was inconclusive), his liver was very fatty, gallbladder was extended, half of his pancreas was extended (most likely what threw off the signs of diabetes), his kidneys had incrementally shut down, and his white blood cell count was less than 300.<br />
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We could have done a feeding tube but our vet wasn't sure if he could even digest the food. Even if he would have made it through the minor surgery, it would take months for the bilirubin to come down if there wasn't a blockage, but getting the amount of calories he needed would have been very difficult. Exploratory surgery was brought up but, where a healthy pet has a 50/50, he had a 20-30% chance of survival but no guarantee what they would be able to do would work. [EDIT: I did forget to mention that the vet also only gave him a 5% chance of survival with the surgery.]<br />
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We decided that the best could of action would be to let him pass peacefully on November 14th. Since then it's been very difficult to cope with the loss. I know we did everything we could but, the fact that he lost him when he was only 7.5 years old, has made it so much harder. There were so many things that we had hoped to include him in our life and, quite frankly, never questioned that he would be there.<br />
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So, I do hope to get back on soon. I needed time to be able to grieve and not worry about other things in my life. I'm really grateful I wasn't working because otherwise I would have to be working on top of this. I hope you had a great Thanksgiving and make sure to hug your pets (unless it's a fish, then I don't think they'll appreciate that as much).<br />
<br />Elizabeth Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023381579804694465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433047442161104619.post-80407005277968612972017-10-28T15:03:00.000-07:002017-10-28T15:18:24.107-07:00Google DocsHello everyone! I meant to get this done sooner but, life.This post is going to focus on Google Docs. Once the other Google related series will be posted (Sheets and Slides) I will include links in this post as well.<br />
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Google Docs works much like a simplified version of Microsoft Word. Now, if you don't have Word, this is a great way to write and edit your documents. However, when the time comes to publish or send it off, I would take the time to check over it in Word to be on the safe side. There are 3 great ways to use Google Docs: Writing, Audio Typing, and Tables.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_g18JfaqncYwNUTmUWhwFU4-n_H9jf-byPZwGBnrKNazQxpKyH3nwevNtwrghWekauBGwvwO4Q3IH1yUhhPQ6NQUJHwc6ygct-jCxybIOlvjyqytuiieozhaju6UNqT5mTkKMDrvM1kf/s1600/pic+1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="277" data-original-width="1175" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_g18JfaqncYwNUTmUWhwFU4-n_H9jf-byPZwGBnrKNazQxpKyH3nwevNtwrghWekauBGwvwO4Q3IH1yUhhPQ6NQUJHwc6ygct-jCxybIOlvjyqytuiieozhaju6UNqT5mTkKMDrvM1kf/s640/pic+1.PNG" width="640" /></a></div>
<h3>
Writing</h3>
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Of course, the main benefit is indeed the ability to WRITE on them. There's all the basics: fonts, highlighting, changing colors, line spacing, and more. You can even check your word count and spellcheck in the tools tab. Now, there are a lot more great features that you can use, but personally I don't use them. </div>
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The main reason I love it is because I can share between my two gmail accounts and can edit between either of them. Or, just login on a different computer, and my writing is there! It makes any NaNoWriMo event nicer because it's so easy to access my writing. Plus, if you want a fresh set of eyes on your writing, invite your friends and they can leave comments easily! My group of friends has been using it and it has worked very nicely.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhufrUNy_DpNtiXT098xyux0kXlxQy6xg2XF2u1O4Ts9BPm51CyChC5kYmHerl_D_yA0gXlKaVu2wHTP5S_ygYFeJTqfFuX3YrN02n-x1mUjix4qqDRanDueP-izCIre4mJv0nbNdb8avW2/s1600/pic+2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="864" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhufrUNy_DpNtiXT098xyux0kXlxQy6xg2XF2u1O4Ts9BPm51CyChC5kYmHerl_D_yA0gXlKaVu2wHTP5S_ygYFeJTqfFuX3YrN02n-x1mUjix4qqDRanDueP-izCIre4mJv0nbNdb8avW2/s640/pic+2.PNG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Audio Typing</h3>
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This is a feature I am very excited about. I haven't used it much yet but, once I hunker down and look over some of my handwritten stories, this will be lifesaver! It's also great if you just want to verbally muse on things you might add. Plus, now I don't have to get other software and spend more money!</div>
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How you use it is really simple. Just go into: <b>Tools -> Voice typing (or ctrl+shift+S) </b>-> then allow the microphone access. I have not yet used a microphone with this yet and I have found there are times where it doesn't pick up quite as well. So, definitely play around with the program, and see how you like it. One quick side note, I really do like using the Keep notepad, especially when I'm working on editing or adding details.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqY5VKqyHeDhP7lNUjXIIUR3VyawBh5X17UNxtlCGufaAWg4-gk2l988Jet4GdvepIl7BgaE5DIFFDHLVX44EqzxupjfDB5_rJUbn3W4yJ0D5IWZYOdK6P0SVnB8pZI9QoiIoHITtqv4U/s1600/Pic+3.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="785" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqY5VKqyHeDhP7lNUjXIIUR3VyawBh5X17UNxtlCGufaAWg4-gk2l988Jet4GdvepIl7BgaE5DIFFDHLVX44EqzxupjfDB5_rJUbn3W4yJ0D5IWZYOdK6P0SVnB8pZI9QoiIoHITtqv4U/s640/Pic+3.PNG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<ol><ol><ul></ul>
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Tables</h3>
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Another feature you could use is tables inside of the Google Docs. Personally, I prefer using Sheets and I will go into more detail on why in the future blog post, but it does have some benefits on the Docs. For example, if you go on NaNoWriMo forums frequently and look at the Adoption page, you might find some neat quotes, lines, characters, or other ideas. The tables could help you make the section more visible in your document.</div>
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In the picture above I show a few different things you could use the table for. Of course, if you want one section for only details then another table that has more columns for another point, you can do that too! It's especially great because if you change your mind, it's very easy to edit the Doc. To get to the table: <b>Go to: Insert -> Table</b>. There you will have the option of how big you want to make your table.<br />
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Conclusion</h3>
Overall, I wish I would have realized what a lifesaver Google Docs are! For me it's great being able to access where I can get my writing quickly. Plus, no USB sticks to lug around, or trying to remember where I left off in a story. I hope this article has helped you and, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to post in the comment section!</div>
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Elizabeth Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023381579804694465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433047442161104619.post-17007207324266438062017-09-25T17:01:00.000-07:002017-09-25T17:05:13.601-07:00Google Drive for WritersHello everyone! Today I'm going to share how Google Drive can be a great (and free) resource for writers. I hope to elaborate more on each section in separate blog posts but for today I will give brief information on them.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Google Drive</span></h2>
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The Google Drive consists of 4 aspects:</div>
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<ol>
<li> You can upload any files including pictures into your storage area (15 GB free).</li>
<li>Google Docs allows you write and saves your progress online.</li>
<li>Google Sheets is similar to Excel (which can also be useful for writers!).</li>
<li>Google Slides has another benefit that I recently realized.</li>
</ol>
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I love being able to store additional things in my Google Drive. I'm also lucky that I get an extra 100 GB's for I believe 2 years since I have a Chromebook. But, even without the extra storage, it's still a lot of space for writing documents. </div>
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<u>Google Docs</u></h3>
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The benefit of this one is pretty clear. It's a basic writing program that works similarly to Word but has less features. Honestly, it has everything I could possibly need, and I love that I can share it between my writing account and my personal email. That way, I don't need to only sign into this account. Plus, if you want someone to beta read, this is a great way to share the file and allows for them to comment along their reading experience. </div>
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<u>Google Sheets</u></h3>
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Now, I know what you're thinking, sheets are for those people who work with numbers. I have been using it to track what I need to do as well as some basic character information. That way, I can easily filter my information to find what I need quicker. I will be doing a separate blog post with pictures of how I use the sheets.</div>
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<u>Google Slides</u></h3>
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I honestly haven't touched Slides since college. But I was looking at it the other day and it dawned on me. I could use them similarly to note cards. Now, I love note cards, and I have way too many in my house stashed away. I plan on using it to write scene ideas so I can easily shift things around until I'm happy with an outline. I may also write character information on the sheets and, if you have the font big enough, you can print out the information so you have a backup. Again, I plan on doing a separate post so you can see the overarching idea I have for it.<br />
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There are also additional programs that you can download and use for the drive. I personally do not use them but if there is one you like, feel free to tell me in the comments, because I have not tried any of them. If you want to read other writers perspectives on using Google Drive for writing there are others who have posted in the last few years (you can Google it!) that were interesting to read as well.<br />
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Thanks for reading and if you have additional ways you use Google Drive please comment below! Until next time. :)</div>
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Elizabeth Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023381579804694465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433047442161104619.post-25085296752320571282017-09-22T15:37:00.000-07:002017-09-22T15:37:30.554-07:00ExplorationHello everyone! I finally was able to get away from the company I worked at for almost a year. They wanted me to move to Nebraska and a 5+ hour distance away from my family was not in the cards at this time. So, I was able to leave nicely, they're even paying me for my last 2 weeks even though I didn't need to go in. So, I'm going to share some things I've been debating, been doing, and want to do! :)<br />
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Getting my Masters has been something I have wanted to do. After much debate I decided to be practical and find something that will give me a broad choice of options. The best fit that I've found so far would be a Masters in Public Administration.The nice thing is that if I find a broad program I could potentially do government, nonprofit, or even HR. While nonprofit is something I've wanted to do I don't want to limit myself only to it.<br />
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As for wanting to expand as a writer, I figured that I could maybe do some online classes. I also have been reading <i>The Breakout Novelist</i> and have found it quite interesting so far. I was doing well on treating my reading like a class (taking notes, etc) but I'm slowly getting back in the habit. Plus I have several more writing books (hey, they were on sale!) that I need to read as well.<br />
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I still want to pursue writing. I've come to a point where I can't picture not writing but at the same time need a bit of space from the main series I've been working on. There are a lot of changes that need to be done so I'm letting it sit so I can look at it with a fresh perspective. For now I'm focusing on another series and will really dive into it once I'm done with the first few sections of the book I'm reading.<br />
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Soon I hope to add some more blog posts related to writing. I've had some ideas written down that (with work) I just hadn't been able to get around to. Now hopefully I'll be able to. I am looking for jobs in my area since I'm not certain how quickly I'll get into an MPA program. Part of me would like to start in January while I know I could spend more time looking if I wait until next fall. I'll probably talk about it more in the future. ;) Until next time!<br />
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<a href="http://ko-fi.com/A485QLW" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: magenta;">Buy me a coffee! ($3)</span></a>Elizabeth Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023381579804694465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433047442161104619.post-86125503368202218132017-09-02T15:57:00.001-07:002017-09-02T15:57:23.987-07:00Generating Plot IdeasHello everyone! I hope your Labor Day weekend is going well. I got a 4 day weekend so I'm pretty stoked. Tomorrow I get to go see our local baseball team so I'm keeping busy. I thought it would be a great time to have a blog post on how <b>I </b>come up with plot ideas. I have several different ways of coming up with story ideas that work for me. It takes time to find what works best for you<br />
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<h3>
Brainstorming</h3>
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When I brainstorm it's usually ideas that just come to me. I find I'm usually inspired by what I'm watching and thinking what I would do differently. For me, I believe that the plots that I come up with should be flexible and shouldn't be set in stone until the first draft is done. Once I'm happy with it, I would prefer to keep the plot solid and move forward.</div>
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For example, my main writing project plot has changed quite a bit. At first I had planned up that my FMC's father would be the one to first meet the dragon. Then after brainstorming, writing, and working with the characters more I didn't like my initial plot. But, it helped me move forward and get to where I am now with the story. I still have a good amount of rewriting but I can't foresee any major changes to my plot for this story.</div>
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Online Assistance</h3>
Usually when I don't need a new plot is when I'm drawn to websites that have plot generators or simply plots that need a new home. My favorite place to look is on <a href="https://nanowrimo.org/forums/adoption-society" target="_blank">NaNoWriMo- Adoption Society</a> because users can add different threads for plots, characters, items, and more. I've tried several times to take a plot and make it my own but it just doesn't work for me. However, I do love adopting characters and items, since those are much easier to incorporate. There are usually good names for titles and characters there as well. But, these threads do get deleted, so it's best if you like an idea to copy it and put it somewhere safe. My personal favorite way is on Google because I can share it with other accounts and access it anywhere.<br />
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Those are the two main things I do while generating plot ideas. Of course, you can go many different directions when it comes to making up a plot, but it just takes time and patience to figure out what will work. And a lot of writing and rewriting. I hope you found this useful and feel free to follow my blog or me on Twitter (I usually follow back within a week). Thanks again for checking out my blog!<br />
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<a href="http://ko-fi.com/A485QLW" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: magenta;">Buy me a coffee! ($3)</span></a>Elizabeth Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023381579804694465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433047442161104619.post-55576933610669441252017-08-06T19:46:00.001-07:002017-08-06T19:46:35.654-07:00Three Year Anniversary!!!Hello everyone! I, as usual, ended up getting terribly busy and haven't been able to post in two months. But I'm super excited since I started this blog three years ago and have come a long way since starting. For this post I'm just going to update on my writing, camp, and my plans for the future!<br />
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My writing over the last three years has had one primary project and several others that have been sparked because of muse. My trilogy was my focus for the last camp so I'll talk more about it in the next paragraph. But I have a (potential) trilogy that I need to type/buy the dragon software that I haven't worked on in a year, another story that I worked on in April, and some other stories that haven't quite lifted off the ground. My hope is that once I can get my first main story ready for publishing that I can work on some of these other potential series and get them released as well.<br />
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My July Camp NaNoWriMo went absolutely beautifully. I had intended to make my main story go from 1st to 3rd person since I felt so limited and it actually hindered me being able to go forward. Well, it's still the plan, but instead of editing I managed to add 2 other perspectives and write about 45 more pages! Post camp I'm hoping to continue working on the other perspectives to get them caught up as well as the <i>delightful</i> work of changing 200+ pages of first person to third. Once I get some more writing done I'm hoping it will help me nail down the plot of this book and potential future books. I would still like to make it a trilogy but I will just have to see where the vision of the book goes.<br />
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For the future I'm hoping to actually get a book published. Three years ago I thought I would publish within a year. Looking back I could see where I could have accomplished that but it makes me glad that I've waited. I've learned quite a bit and I've had my vision for the story change as well. I still don't know if I want to go the traditional route or self publishing route with my story. So, there is still a lot to figure out, but I'm hopeful for the future.<br />
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That's all I have for this blog post! I've been looking for another job and I think it's coming up to the point where I can't stay with my current employer. If you've read my other posts since January this has been ongoing and frustrating. I truly hope that I will be able to get some more blog posts up and be more active. Until next time!Elizabeth Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023381579804694465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433047442161104619.post-880356919556552982017-06-02T20:50:00.000-07:002017-06-02T20:50:12.294-07:00June Update!Hello everyone! May was a very busy month for me. I went on a long road trip and was very busy with work. Plus I've gotten older. I've also been debating how I want to move forward with my career prospects. But some great news is that I've been able to write quite a bit!<br />
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I was extremely excited to see that I was over 16,000 page views when I logged in about a week ago. It's been a long journey with this blog, going on almost 3 years on August 6th, and it's definitely had it's ups and downs. Some months I've been great about posting and others just haven't been. I keep visiting this post in the draft section, and have changed it a few times, but I just wasn't able to get any words I liked up for May. But, I've had a lot on my mind.<br />
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Deciding what I want to do has been a bit of a challenge. While writing will always be the ideal choice I know it's not realistic. But, do I want to go straight into another job that is simply business related? Do I want to pursue music? How would I even do that? What about my own business and what the heck would I want to do? Needless to say, there's been a <i>bit</i> of turmoil on what I want to do. The only thing for certain is I want a different job ASAP!<br />
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Anyway, I have been able to write more this last month. I'm excited for Camp coming up in June and have already thought of some blog posts. Now, getting the blog posts written is a completely different story, but I'm hopeful. As for my story, I'm hoping to edit it all in July, so I've got a bit of progress to make before then. I'm still debating between figuring out the whole series, and start writing the second book, or wait and see the response before I carry on. Plus, I could get new ideas, and feedback before getting too far.<br />
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That's all for this post. I'm hoping to get started with some of the new ideas I've gotten for blog posts. I'm also planning on spending some time writing and getting ready for Camp. If you have any suggestions, comments, or life advice in general, feel free to comment below! As always, thanks for reading.Elizabeth Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023381579804694465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433047442161104619.post-59259297612332350152017-04-29T18:23:00.000-07:002017-04-29T18:23:42.790-07:00Things I've Learned: Camp '17Hello everyone! Camp is at it's tail end and I've almost reached my word count goal. This NaNoWriMo camp has been a curved learning experience for me since it's the first event I've participated in since working full time. So, I'm going to share my experience and what I learned from writing in Camp this month.<br />
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Time Management</h3>
To be honest, I was mainly writing blog posts before camp started up. Sure, I was trying to organize and prioritize my writing, but it had been a few months since I had jumped into writing. I thought having a planner with my word count goals and things to do would be a great way to approach camp. The main problem with a planner is, you have to use it. In hindsight, I always use my phone, so it would have been more beneficial to have writing reminders on there.<br />
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One big shift I started about two weeks ago was communicating to my partner that I needed time to write. It was a hard transition at first, usually we watch shows for a long time and then maybe do other things. This last week was much easier, especially since he found a game he enjoys, and I've gotten to write so much more because of it.<br />
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Finding a time to write should have been my first priority instead of thinking that time would magically appear. Now I hope to continue this trend, even if it's only a few times a week, so I can still have writing be a part of my daily routine.<br />
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Smart Goals</h3>
Changing my goals from 50k, to 30k, and ultimately 15k was a hard thing to do. In the past, I probably wouldn't have considered doing such a thing, and then floundered with it. I saw I was having problems getting to that word count that I originally set. As the word count per day needed to finish on time grew, I became more stressed, and less willing to write.<br />
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If I would have kept it at 50k, I know for a fact I wouldn't have gotten anywhere near 15k of words, and by changing my goal I was able to get motivated once again to continue writing. Is every word perfect? No. Will it need work? Yes. But, more importantly, did I enjoy writing? Yes.<br />
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Now, I had forgotten that with Camp you can choose between: words, hours, minutes, lines, and pages. In the future I plan on using a category other than words, most likely pages, to keep track of my progress. That way I can learn more tricks to keep myself motivated to write and other ways to fit it in my busy schedule. But, there is one other reason why it was so hard to write.<br />
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Outlining</h3>
Outline is something I try to do, and generally fail, to accomplish before any writing project. There's two reasons that come to mind. First, I don't always know <i>what</i> the story should include and therefore don't have a clear outline. And second, I come up with 'better' ideas along the way, which generally make me question my decision on writing it.<br />
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For my current story I had actually started writing this back in August or thereabouts, by hand. Before camp started I knew that I only wanted to pull the characters, and a few scenes, out of that story so I was essentially starting from scratch. The only clear direction I have is to make it a series, since I bought the book covers at a great price, and there were five made for the series. I would love to use all five but I need more time to figure out what the overall plot should be to make it last and be enjoyable to myself and potential readers.<br />
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So the TL;DR aspect of this section is that outlines can, and should, be your friend during Camp. Even if you don't listen to them, it'll at least give you an idea of where to go.<br />
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<br />Things for the future</h3>
I believe encompassing all three of these things I've learned with help me immensely, and I hope it can help you too, no matter what your strengths or weaknesses are. I just happen to be a stubborn procrastinator who gets pretty book covers without writing all of the series first. But, the more I remind myself, the more I can work on it and move forward. Will my time management is perfect? No. Will my goals be the same as other writers? No. Will my next outline be earth shatteringly good? Hopefully not, but you get the point.<br />
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Even if you didn't participate this Camp with your writing, how do you think you could better yourself as a writer? It will benefit you, as it has for me, just to identify something to improve upon. It doesn't have to be perfect but it should help you reach your ultimate goal for yourself.<br />
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So, if you found my blog post helpful, please share it with a friend or post a friendly comment. I hope to get back into the groove of things in May so please check back in. Until next time, keep writing. :)Elizabeth Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023381579804694465noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433047442161104619.post-58979614508483517652017-04-17T18:25:00.000-07:002017-04-17T18:25:07.871-07:00Day 17 of Camp!Hello everyone! I hope those who are participating in Camp Nanowrimo this April are having success. I have had a slow start this month, especially with work being busy, but I'm trying to write when I can. This poor blog post has been picked at and worked on for nearly 10 days. For this blog post I thought it would be great to talk about how to examine your word goal and reach your word count goal by the end of April.<br />
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First thing first, while you most likely have developed a goal for yourself at the beginning of the month, doesn't mean that you must stick to that goal. For example, there is a method called <a href="https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/smart-goals.htm" target="_blank">SMART Goals</a> (which you can check out in the link), in which you make a goal how you please. They have several suggestions for each of the letters so you have the freedom to decide what it means for you.<br />
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Now, it may seem counterproductive, but it may be better to adjust your goals based on your progress and how you anticipate the last 8 days of April going. By having a goal you know will be attainable it will help motivate you to write and accomplish your goal. Of course, you could modify your goal to have a lower word count until the 20th, but have your overarching goal be your original goal. After all, this is your writing project, and you can accomplish it as you see fit.<br />
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Reaching the word count goal vs planning for it are two completely different things. My month started with a goal of 50k and hopefully go over. Since then I've decided to shoot for 15k and, if I'm able to write more, boost my goal back up again. At first, I was planning on trying to reach my original goal, but then I realized I was actually avoiding my writing because it was a bit overwhelming to me.<br />
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While it is frustrating for me to know that, in the past, I was able to achieve 50k within a month with no problems, I also have to realize that I need to work through my current situation. It's much different for me to write while working in comparison to writing while in school or during the summer break. Now, as much as I'd love to quit my job and write this blog and my stories all day long, it's sadly unrealistic at the moment. But, maybe one day.<br />
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That's all I have for this blog post. I'm hoping I'll have an opportunity to write a few more blog posts this month. But, who knows at this point. Good luck to all those who are participating in Camp and hopefully I'll be more active again in May.Elizabeth Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023381579804694465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433047442161104619.post-67724366761586443392017-03-26T12:17:00.000-07:002017-03-26T12:17:01.293-07:00Preparing for NaNoWriMo CampHello everyone! Today I decided it would be a good idea to focus in on how I prepare for Camp NaNoWriMo. Now, my way isn't perfect, but I know it helped me to read how other writers approached NaNoWriMo before fully diving in. So here are the three steps I use to get prepared for camp.<br />
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Step One: Format of Writing</h4>
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Now, most writers have a preference to how they write. Some prefer pen and paper while others may use their electronic device to write. I've already written <a href="http://blog.elizabethlight.com/2017/02/handwriting-vs-typing.html" target="_blank">an article</a>, so if you want more information, feel free to check it out.</div>
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By defining what format to use in advance, you can do some prepping, and get everything you need together before April 1st. For example, if you decide that you want to write by hand you'll need paper, pens or pencils, and whatever else you think may be helpful. Or, by using the computer, you'll need to decided what program to use while writing, such as Google Docs or Word.</div>
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Step Two: What to Write</h4>
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Figuring out what you want to write about can be a very difficult step. One place I enjoy using is the <a href="http://nanowrimo.org/forums/adoption-society" target="_blank">adoption society</a> sub form of NaNoWriMo. There are often forums for plots, characters, lines, and many other things that can help inspire your story. Another thing I use are generators for names which are great because you can get character names, locations, or even appearances. I usually like to think about what I want to write for at least a week before I dive into the story.<br />
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Step Three: Goals</h4>
Before fully devoting yourself to your writing project, you should have a set of goals in mind, and what your overall objective is for the story. If it's simply to improve your writing you can take different steps in comparison to wanting to publish your book. You can have initial goals, like 50,000 for the month, but 65,000 overall. Or you can set the goal of writing at least five days a week, no matter the word count, and go from there.<br />
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Final Advice:</h4>
One of the great benefits about Camp is that you have a group of other writers there. You can ask questions, give advice, or simply talk about life. I've found it helps motivate me with my goals and encourages me to write more. You may not find the perfect approach to your writing for a few days or it may take the entire month. Focus on what you can do, what helps you, and what you enjoy doing. That way, you can <i>enjoy</i> writing.<br />
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I hope this post has helped you! If it has, feel free to share it, and as always, until next time!<br />
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<br />Elizabeth Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023381579804694465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433047442161104619.post-36538554124013566582017-03-11T18:00:00.000-08:002017-03-11T18:00:32.661-08:00Unintentional BreakHello everyone! I hadn't planned on taking an almost month break from the blog. I always thought in college that, once I graduated, I would have <i>so</i> much more time on my hands. Usually I only feel that when I'm at work and have nothing to do. I realized that I kept thinking about what I needed to do for the blog and with my writing but I haven't put anything into action.<br />
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One thing that I hope will get me back on track is Nanowrimo coming up in April. I'm hoping it will give me that extra boost I need into focusing on writing or editing. Depending on what my mood is in three weeks. For me, it usually is a good time to catch up on writing that I haven't done, so I'm hoping that will be the case again.<br />
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I've gotten a planner, a cheap one where you can write what month/days in, I'm hoping that it'll be easier to track when I make blog posts, when I want to get a blog post up, and encourage myself to write. I've tried bullet journaling but I'm terrible about updating it. Usually because I want my handwriting and layouts to be <i>perfect</i> so I spend way too much time on it.<br />
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My main focus will still be having blog posts towards resources and additional things that, both new and experienced writers, will appreciate. I've gotten some ideas started but, if there is anything that would be helpful for you, feel free to post a comment or email me at <a href="mailto:elizabethlight351@gmail.com" target="_blank">here</a>. Plus, you'll help me with an idea for a blog post! ;)<br />
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Final thing before I sign off. I run my blog with ads but, since most people like myself don't click on them, I don't get any funding for this blog. So, if you like my posts, please feel free to click the link below, and donate $3 to my blog. I would really appreciate it and I hope to be back writing soon!<br />
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<a href="http://ko-fi.com/A485QLW" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: magenta;">Buy me a coffee! ($3)</span></a>Elizabeth Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023381579804694465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433047442161104619.post-40331035054929373462017-02-15T18:08:00.000-08:002017-02-15T18:08:10.947-08:00Social Media and Writing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello everyone! I've been very busy with work but, my boyfriend passed out, so I have time to blog. So, if the title AND picture doesn't give it away, I'm going to talk about how social media can help inspire your writing, improve your skills, or even provide feedback! There are <i>many</i> sites you can use, especially those more focused on writing. For this post I will focus on big social media sites that I frequently used /have used in the past, that are helpful for me.<br />
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<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></h3>
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Pinterest is a great tool for finding writing tips, advice, and more. Many bloggers, authors, and other writers will have blog posts and, with an image, post it to the site! I've had one for a while now but I haven't been as active lately as I would like to be. But, it's a great spot to save things to read later. My Pinterest is <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/elizabethlight_/" target="_blank">here</a> and I try to categorize my pins so, when I'm looking for something, it's a bit easier to navigate.<br />
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<a href="https://www.reddit.com/" target="_blank">Reddit</a></h3>
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Ah, Reddit, a home to many great threads and stories. While there are writing and blogging subreddits, I find the <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/tifu/" target="_blank">TIFU</a> section particularly fascinating and cringe worthy. Which is perfect for those awkward characters that can't seem to do anything right. Considering there are over 6,000 subreddits, while many may be inactive, there's most likely a few that will inspire you. But, here are a few popular writing communities: <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/writing/" target="_blank">writing</a>, <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/" target="_blank">writing prompts</a>, and <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/write/" target="_blank">write</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.twitter.com/" target="_blank">Twitter</a></h3>
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It may seem like Twitter is only a battleground for politics but it can actually be useful for writing. I like to follow other authors, publishing houses, writing advice accounts, and use my favorite hashtags to search. Now, I'm mainly on there to repost my blog posts or The Walking Dead tweets, but I will jump on to see what is trending and how it is related to writing. Plus, if you follow accounts that post *free* books, you can load up with device with eBooks.</div>
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<a href="https://www.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a></h3>
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Tumblr is another great resource to find writing advice. You can follow accounts that have writing prompts or other things that are useful for you. Granted, I'm usually too busy to use this platform, but I definitely need to start using it more. If you want to check out <a href="http://elizabethlightauthor.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">my account</a> hopefully I'll add more stuff and be active.</div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/" target="_blank">Facebook</a></h3>
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Facebook is what I wake up with and usually end my day with. Now, it's my personal account and where I follow what my friends do, but once I publish I plan on making a page for my book. There are many groups you could follow, like your favorite author or writing advice, so it can be a great resource. I personally like using it more to follow cat pages and seeing what my family and friends post.</div>
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You can choose which social media platforms you like using the best. It can be a bit hard, and overwhelming, to use all of these at once. You could also choose certain days that you look on your least used social media platforms so you can stay up to date with what is going on. Also, I didn't mention Instagram, but that would be a good website for scenery inspiration or even writing prompts. So, until next time, tweet or comment which social media platforms YOU use.</div>
Elizabeth Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023381579804694465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433047442161104619.post-72761123753625839092017-02-06T18:39:00.000-08:002017-02-06T18:39:14.724-08:00Get Writing Today - For Free!Hello everyone! I decided that I wanted to focus a few blog posts towards resources and things needed for those who want to start writing. So, why not start with everyone's favorite word: free.<br />
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Now, I know there are two types of people reading my post right now. One is extremely excited about the prospect of doing this for free. The other is thinking to themselves that <i>nothing</i> is truly free. While it's true that you've probably spent some hard earned cash on a few of the items mentioned, some of the things are things you can snag for 'free', while the rest are probably inhabiting your home right now.<br />
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Notebooks/Journals:</h3>
There are those who buy notebooks and fills them up and there are those who buy notebooks because they're pretty. I'm primarily the second, but I don't spend more than $5 on a notebook, and I've gotten better about filling out notebooks. Most likely you have a notebook that has a few pages used but is otherwise is good shape, so instead of letting it collect dust, why not use it? It can be a great way to brainstorm and you may find your ideas flowing to you. If you must buy, then look at the dollar stores or Walmart so you can keep your cost low.<br />
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Pens:</h3>
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If you've ever been to a hotel, hair salon, or insurance office, chances are you've seen the cup with free pens. I'm not saying you should slowly put the cup of pens into your purse but grab one to take with you. And you probably have a drawer somewhere in your home where pens go to rest. Now, you could also use pencils, but I've found that I'm more motivated to not scratch out something/start editing if I use a pen. But, it's your writing, so find what works best for you.</div>
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Computer:</h3>
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If you're reading this off of a computer, congratulations, you have a device for your writing. Now, you could also use a cell phone, but personally I think I would go cross eyed before getting very far. You should definitely use your computer to type if it is your <i>personal</i> computer or if you have a very relaxed office where you can use the computer for personal use during breaks.</div>
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Now, if you <i>don't</i> have a computer, the next best place to type is a library. Sure, there is a yearly fee, but just consider getting a few writing books while you're there. Just make sure you either use an online service, like Google Docs, DropBox, etc, or bring a USB. Actually, if you can, do both. Just trust me on this.</div>
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Google Docs:</h3>
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I've been using Google Docs for about 4 years now. It's a great way to make changes especially if you don't have Microsoft. The only problem I used to have, and quite frankly I haven't used Google Docs enough lately to test it out, but there were times that the typing can get a letter off. Usually, the easy fix is to use another browser, and then I wouldn't have any problems. Plus, with having an email with Google, you get access to the Docs as well as other services they offer for free!</div>
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Other nifty stuff:</h3>
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You can look around your home and find other things to help you with writing. A timer is great to make sure you get some writing time in. Or, that old folder that has <i>two</i> pieces of paper in it, would be great to store your ideas in. There is no set criteria or tools for you to start writing so, whatever helps <b>you</b>, is the best tool for use.</div>
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I hope I was able to help you start brainstorming ideas on what to use to help you start writing. I've included a few links below for resources that are very helpful for me. Please comment/tweet if you enjoyed my post! Until next time.</div>
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<a href="http://nanowrimo.org/forums" target="_blank">NaNoWriMo - Forums</a></div>
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<a href="https://thewritelife.com/" target="_blank">The Write Life</a></div>
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Elizabeth Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023381579804694465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433047442161104619.post-89781685014680252302017-02-02T12:24:00.000-08:002017-02-02T12:24:19.352-08:00Handwriting vs TypingHello everyone! I thought it would be fun to share my experiences writing both with a focus of handwriting vs typing. These are just my thoughts towards the different ways you can write by hand. Of course, there's many blog posts with <i>why</i> handwriting may be better, but keep in mind what works for you is the best approach. From personal experience, I really enjoy both ways of writing, but here are the key differences I found while writing.<br />
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<br /><u><b>Handwriting:</b></u></h3>
This is a great approach if you're not really sure if you want to continue writing. For me, it's how I started writing my very first story, and how I've been working on stories in the recent past. But, it's not something that I feel is a great choice for me. This is why: you *have* to type it at some point.<br />
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Now, I wrote out most of a story for July Camp Nanowrimo. It's still stuck inside the notebook with my semi-legible handwriting that I can decode. What I'm hoping to do (because typing it is probably a lost cause for me) is to get the<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LX4BZAQ/ref=twister_B00MJB8GRC?_encoding=UTF8&th=1" target="_blank"> dragon software</a> or something similar to it. You could definitely do your story all by voice but, if you're like me, you'll want to start editing it right away. I'll also have to make sure I do a good edit because I'll probably swear at some sentences I thought sounded good on paper.<br />
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Overall: It's a great approach if you enjoy pen and paper but also aren't too lazy to never get around to typing it.<br />
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<b><br /></b><u><b>Typing:</b></u></h3>
Ah, I love typing in comparison. Because as soon as I get it down I know I can change it without scribbling or throwing away the whole notebook. The main downside are computers. Yes, they're great pieces of technology, but you risk a computer crashing and losing everything. That's why I recommend getting a USB, doesn't have to be 128 GB but 8-16 GB would b a good start, so you can backup everything. Doesn't need to be every night, but you could do weekly backups.<br />
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What I like to do to make sure I'm writing/editing on the most recent version is to date the file. So "Writing About Unicorns 2-2" is how I would save it since you can't use / for the US at least. That way, I know which story it is and when it was last saved. You can also make files for characters, plot ideas, and more and save them in different folders.<br />
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Another thing you can do is use <a href="http://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener.php" target="_blank">Scrivener</a>. Now, I usually love the service, but unfortunately my new Chromebook doesn't like downloading outside software, and I haven't gotten around to trying it get it on here. But, it's a really good tool, and I try my best to use it and save different chapters on their software as well. Don't take my word on it, try it out using their free trial, and see if it would be something useful for you.<br />
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Overall: The main way I'll be working with stories in the future.<br />
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Now, just because you say "Oh I want to type my story" doesn't mean you'll never need to do handwriting again or you're banned from the use of all pens. On the contrary, I'm hoping to use a bit of both for the future. I'm working on a system which, when I get it figured out, I'll share. So, I hope you enjoyed reading about my perspective, and you can decide which way works best for you!Elizabeth Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023381579804694465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433047442161104619.post-79582675994778033762017-01-26T18:50:00.001-08:002017-01-26T18:50:28.288-08:00Winter...Is Sporadic Hello everyone! After watching Game of Thrones (and sadly having to wait for the next season) I would be inclined to say Winter is Coming. But, my usually snow covered region, has not been very snowy since Christmas. As usual, I've managed to keep myself extremely busy, but I haven't left my job yet. I'm still looking for another job first to, ideally, get into before leaving my current one.<br />
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One exciting thing is I started to lease a new car! I ended up getting the Hyundai Elantra and it's so nice! I had hoped to buy a car but the payments were very expensive and I didn't want to worry about mechanical issues for the next few years. But, once my lease is up, I'm hoping to purchase a car and I'll hopefully have some extra money to put towards a down payment.<br />
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I had managed to write another blog post towards the beginning of the month. However, I was focused on New Years Resolutions, and managed to never hit publish. So, as usual, I'm hoping to miraculously gain more time to write blog posts and work on my stories. But, I have been playing my flute more, so that has been an accomplishment.<br />
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To help motivate myself to write again, I wrote the projects that I wanted to work on, and what needed to be done. So far, two need to have the overall series plot reworked but a first draft is basically done, but the one needs to be typed. Then I have two series that are barely started but haven't been worked on in a while. And then at least another two that I want to start at some point. Needless to say, I have enough to keep myself busy and I just need to focus in on one story for now.<br />
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I'm planning on making some more blog posts related to writing but I haven't quite decided what I want to focus on. Otherwise, I'll probably be working, playing Stardew Valley, or thinking about writing but having a hard time starting up. Until next time!Elizabeth Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023381579804694465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433047442161104619.post-91716433430751510552016-12-26T08:29:00.001-08:002016-12-26T08:29:19.383-08:00Happy and Busy HolidaysHello everyone! I can't believe how long it has been since my last blog post. I've been extremely busy with work and learning the organ. I was also planning on moving by the end of the month but that isn't going to work out now.<br />
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So, my boss has been letting me learn the ropes and I've been traveling through Iowa to help teach our classes. It's been going well, despite being in the cars on Thursday and Friday almost every week, and things were looking up. Our CEO was in town and decided to talk to me about managing those places we've been going to on Thursdays and Fridays.<br />
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This was great news for me, key word <i>was</i>, until he decided to bring up my salary. He was wanting me to double the amount of work I'm doing (trust me, it's hard enough to run a store with only 2 people) for less than $2,000 more a year. Needless to say, it was like a kick to the stomach. I have been busy every night and I even gave up attempting for NaNoWriMo after the first few days in November.<br />
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I decided to just stay at my location without getting the promotion. Otherwise, it would have been me also taking on a rent and food plus my other things I have to pay. I'm considering looking into other work that I would enjoy as well. I'm hoping to get back into reading and writing in January since I've missed it.<br />
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Otherwise, my holiday season has been very nice and I got to spend time with family. I'm actually writing this at work since my boss decided that we needed to have our normal class. Hopefully it won't be a long break in between post like it was in the past. Take care and I hope to write again soon.Elizabeth Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023381579804694465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433047442161104619.post-33197048748117249852016-11-14T13:53:00.002-08:002016-11-14T13:53:50.720-08:00Exciting News!!!Hello everyone! It's been a while since my last post but I have some great news to share. I have actually been through 2 jobs this last month. The first lasted a whopping 4 days, it was selling a tv product and staying on my feet all day, so needless to say it wasn't exactly my cup of tea. My current job has kept me quite busy but it's enjoyable. I also have gotten a new computer but, sadly, I haven't had much time for writing.<br />
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So, my new job is with a music store and we sell Organs. It's been a challenge to learn <i>how</i> to play the organ but it's been fun. I mainly work with senior citizens, which wasn't what I had planned, but I really enjoy it! The only bad part is we have a fairly large group within our 6 classes during the week so it's hard to remember names. Otherwise, I really enjoy my job, and it sounds like I may get promoted around the start of the new year.<br />
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For the job I needed to get my own computer. I decided to try the Chromebook and I purchased the <a href="http://www.bestbuy.com/site/samsung-11-6-chromebook-3-intel-celeron-4gb-memory-16gb-emmc-flash-memory-black/5008800.p?skuId=5008800" target="_blank">Samsung 11.6 Chromebook 3</a> from Best Buy. I was a bit worried with it only being 11.6 screen size but it's fairly nice. The keyboard is a bit cramped for typing but I was expecting worse. I really love how light the computer is and how the battery lasts a very long time. I may do a blog post focused on the computer if there is some interest.<br />
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Now, since I've been busy learning a new job, I haven't gotten a chance to write. The crazy election didn't do anything to help my muse as well. But, alas, I probably won't do NaNoWriMo this month due to lack of planning. I could focus on editing my novel but I may start a new story in the meantime. I'm still lurking on the NaNoWriMo forums so I can get inspiration.<br />
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Alright, I think I covered everything. Hopefully things will slow down in the next few days and I can make a plan to do some writing and brainstorm some blog post ideas. Until next time!Elizabeth Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023381579804694465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433047442161104619.post-4220006756067749662016-09-22T18:52:00.002-07:002016-09-22T18:52:52.721-07:00Brief BreakHello everyone! I hadn't planned on taking another break so soon. My kitty, Tiger, was having some health issues so I've been fretting over him. I also had two job interviews for the same position but sadly I wasn't qualified enough. I've also been prepping for a position I would LOVE for next week. Plus <i>lots</i> of Netflix.<br />
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Towards the end of August we noticed Tiger was a bit sluggish. We made sure he drank more water and he seemed to be feeling better after a few days. Then a few weeks pass and he started noticing that he was peeing small clumps and there was even blood in his pee. So we went to the vet, found out he was <b>19 lbs</b>,<b> </b>and that his bladder was very small. The vet even did an x-ray but told us that the masses would either shrink with food or surgery would be necessary. We got cat food (both dry and wet) for him and had to put him on a diet as well. So, after the first few days, things are getting better, and by the next week he seemed to be feeling much better.<br />
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The next vet visit had great news! While they didn't weigh him they were able to get a sample (which they do by using the ultrasound and guiding a needle so it's sterile) and it looked clear. We were happy that surgery wasn't necessary. But, Tiger <i>does</i> need to keep to this diet for the next month mainly so we can insure this won't happen again as quickly. Based on what I've found online it's not too uncommon for it to reoccur but we now at least know the signs so we can get him to the vet sooner.<br />
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So while he's been (happily) cooped up in the basement with us we've been binge watching Netflix. If you have free time I definitely recommend: <i>Narcos</i>, <i>Blacklist</i>, <i>Stranger Things</i>, <i>How to Make a Murder</i>, and <i>Septembers of Shiraz (movie)</i>. Most of these are Netflix originals and really well done. Then was also a big release on some series of Netflix original shows that I haven't seen as well updates for series.<br />
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I wish I could say I was up to more exciting things but job hunting takes up a good chunk of my day and prepping for the interviews also took up some time as well. I decided to get the app HabitBull (free on Google Play) today so maybe it'll motivate me into writing again.<br />
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In the next few days I plan on finishing the FotoJet blog post that I wanted to publish at the beginning of the month.Elizabeth Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023381579804694465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433047442161104619.post-26337531069400773392016-09-02T20:00:00.002-07:002016-09-02T20:00:37.090-07:00Completed HiatusHello everyone! I had hoped to get back to my blog sooner. However, after writing for the entire month of July, I was pretty wiped out. I decided to just take some time and not actively write. I think I was just getting overwhelmed with the story since I hadn't stuck to my original plot. I had also hoped that since I was applying to more places that I would actually hear back. Sadly that wasn't the case.<br />
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During my hiatus I've gotten addicted to a computer game called Stardew Valley. If you loved Harvest Moon, you will enjoy this game, and it should be getting an update in the near future. My boyfriend built his gaming computer (I held the flashlight!) so we've kept ourselves busy. He also helped fix his old laptop (which I promptly commandeered with his permission) so I have a working computer!<br />
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My hopes for the blog, now that I'm back, is to focus on reviewing eBooks and websites pertaining to writing, as well as other posts related to writing. I don't know how frequently these posts will come up but hopefully they'll get up eventually! I also have to spend the time and type up 90% of what I hand wrote during July camp. Another idea I have in the works is offering a set of prompts for new subscribers but I first want to go through and test out the short prompts.<br />
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I'm hoping to write another blog post in the next few days about a photo editing service called <a href="https://www.fotojet.com/" target="_blank">FotoJet</a>. But I haven't gotten a chance to try out their different photo editing tools yet. So, that's it for this time!Elizabeth Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023381579804694465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433047442161104619.post-16634128445097263942016-07-25T22:53:00.001-07:002016-07-25T22:53:40.418-07:00Handwriting NaNoWriMoHello everyone! I was hoping to post more this month but decided to focus on writing. This NaNoWriMo I decided to participate by handwriting my story. It's the first time in eight years I've written out an extended story. Because I've enjoyed my experience so much, I decided to write a blog post on how I did it and what things I would do differently in the future.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">How I got started:</span><br />
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Step one: Locate a journal/notebook/pad of paper that has at least 200 pages (unless you have <i>really</i> tiny handwriting) for optimal writing. If you don't horde pretty notebooks that you never use, then I would suggest going to Ross or the dollar store. At Ross's they usually have pretty notebooks that are cheaper than Walmart but, when I've recently visited, it was primarily religious related covers on the notebooks. If you do go to your local dollar store, make sure to sniff the pages (yes, it sounds and will look weird) but it's better than purchasing one that stinks of chemicals. </div>
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Step two: Pens. Now, I'm the kind of person that prefers writing in pencil, but I decided to go with pens for two reasons. First, I know I wouldn't stop editing every two seconds and I don't like the look of constant crossing out on my pages. Second, I knew I would probably smudge it every five seconds so the pen had minimal smudges. Now you have to decide what color pen you want to write with. I personally chose blue because it was relaxing but, if you're visiting local places that have free pens available, it may be a good choice to just go with those. I bought the cheap pack of blue pens at Walmart for less than a dollar. But, unless you're just writing for 10 minutes, it will hurt. Otherwise you'll need to find one of the cushions to go on the pen.</div>
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Step three: Find your plot. Now, you can always go the non-traditional route of NaNoWriMo by having multiple short stories. Or this may be a great way for you to follow some writing prompts and improve your skills. Another great way, if you're stuck and need an idea, is to check out the NaNoWriMo adoption thread on plots. They do take down the threads (I believe once a year) so you will have to check back and see. But I definitely recommend being flexible with your story because I decided to take a completely different route with my story because of a great idea I had while writing. Whatever your topic, make sure you're passionate and ready to go!</div>
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Step four: Finding spot(s) and what works for you. I personally like writing alone so it helps that I have a separate room to go over to and just relax on the couch. But, some common spots to go write are in a cafe, at a library, or at a park! It may take a while but find an area that helps and don't be afraid to move around. I also recommend finding a playlist of music that works for you. I have Amazon Prime so I've been focused on listening to different movie soundtracks (mainly by Hans Zimmer) but I also enjoy using YouTube to listen to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/MixHound" target="_blank">MixHound</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/VersusMusicOfficial" target="_blank">Versus Music Official</a>. There is a ton of other YouTube artist similar to them so I recommend looking in the side bar for other recommended music.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What I would do differently:</span></div>
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First, I would go with a normal notebook or spiral notebook. Another great idea would be to have a binder and just keep adding pages to it. While I like the convenience of the small journal, they do cost a lot more, and I only got half way through my story with one of those journals. </div>
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Second, I would get all of my ideas in one place. I enjoy using Pinterest, follow me via the pin below, and I realized how many great resources are available to writers! I've found that it had a lot of great inspiration and I've also picked up some great tips from various websites. I would also gather a list of character names I would want to use and keep them on hand in case a great idea for a character came up.</div>
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Finally, I would make it a point to have a prompt/short story journal nearby. While it's great to just sit and let your muse run wild, it can make things difficult when you hit a roadblock, and I feel like it could be a good way to get over writers block. I haven't tried this method yet, but when I do, I'll try to write a blog post saying if it worked for me.</div>
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Alright, that's my two cents on handwriting for a Camp NaNoWriMo! I do plan on continuing to hand write my stories first since it has worked well for me so far. However, you may try it and realize that it isn't the best approach, so find what fits YOU the best and run with it! Good luck writers!</div>
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PS - I plan on making some big changes to how to run my blog in August for my 2 year anniversary. Make sure to follow/sign up for email notifications to see what will be new!</div>
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<a data-pin-do="buttonFollow" href="https://www.pinterest.com/elizabethlight_/">Elizabeth Light</a><br />
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<br />Elizabeth Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023381579804694465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433047442161104619.post-16122793532534086642016-07-07T22:00:00.002-07:002016-07-07T22:00:25.714-07:00Kindle Fire 7"Hello everyone! This is my personal review of the kindle fire 7" tablet. Overall, I would highly recommended this tablet if you need a cheap eBook reader or if you're a prime member. However, if children will be using it, buy the children's version because you can then get 2 year warranty and a case.<br />
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Awesome:<br />
There are a lot of great features with the Kindle Fire 7". I know some reviewers do not like the speakers, but I really like them, mainly because they're louder than my computer speakers. I also hadn't really been using my Prime Membership to it's full potential so I've been mainly using music and the movies. They also offer a lot of great games and apps. I know there are ways to get the Google Playstore however, I'm picking apps I already don't have, so I can enjoy them on the tablet.<br />
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I think the screen size is great for me! However, if I got this for my dad or grandparent, I would definitely get a bigger size screen. I bought the tangerine color tablet and I <b>love</b> it! Finally, I love the option of Blue Shade because I can sometimes get headaches easily from reading screens or looking things up online. The Blue Shade helps block out blue light, which can make it harder to sleep, but it also helps if your headache/migraine is light induced from my experience. You can also customize the color and I ended up going with an orange color but it's on a scale between red and yellow.<br />
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Eh:<br />
These four things aren't deal breakers for me but can be a bit annoying. The category screens are great because they keep books, apps, movies, etc. separated however it would be nice to customize which ones show up. Also, if the different categories would loop back to the home screen it would be better. The battery life is pretty good but I usually have to charge once a day. For my tablet, I bought the 8 GB version but it stinks that the storage takes up 2 GB. However, if you're not planning on ever downloading anything but books, then you'll have plenty of room. Finally, reading is fairly decent on this tablet, however I would pick my Paperwhite any day over the Fire tablet for reading a good book. But, I do like the how you can change the colors of what you're highlighting on the Fire tablet.<br />
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Ugh:<br />
These things are annoyances that I have but still aren't deal breakers. The camera's are a nice token touch but, until they're better quality, it's not worth it to use them. Most phones now a days have a much better camera than this tablet. When I go to delete apps, it usually takes a moment before the x's show up. While it's not the end of the world it feels slow especially after being on a phone that is much quicker for the response. Also, a close all feature would be really nifty. The notifications are alright except I had to turn off notifications for several apps because they refused to removed. It would place in the "Eh" category if you could actually go <i>to</i> an application from the notification. The game notifications never take me to the app but it may not be the case with all apps.<br />
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Charging can be annoying for two reasons: the port is hard to use in the dark and unless you charge in a single outlet, with the fire charger, it can take forever to charge. I have one of those outlet plug ins where you can use 3 different chargers and 2 USB port cords. For some reason it refuses to charge my tablet well. Finally, this tablet attracts finger prints like crazy! I finally put on a screen protector (I'm not reviewing it because I need to put a new protector on and see if some issues get resolved) and that reduced the amount of finger smudges.<br />
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My case:</div>
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I would give my case a solid 3.5 out of 5 but, most likely, some else would score it around a 3. I personally love the colors on my case and the fact that my orange tablet actually shows through. However, the origami case is awkward to say the least. Plus my case obviously has spots where the colors ave bled (look in the circled area on the back). While it doesn't bug me I know others would be upset. Another point I don't like is the fact that there currently aren't any tablet covers that have the sleep/wake function that the Paperwhite Kindle case has.<br />
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Final words:<br />
If you get the Kindle Fire 7", I recommend getting a screen protector ASAP because I ended up getting a small scratch on my screen. It only really shows up when the tablet is off and doesn't bug me enough to send it in. Also, beware of dead pixels. I have one since opening the tablet out of the package. But, once again, it's not enough to bug me to send it in.<br />
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Do you want to buy a Kindle Fire now? Like the case? Consider buying them from the links below so I can get commission (and buy more books)!<br />
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Elizabeth Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023381579804694465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433047442161104619.post-18523783416839062142016-06-29T20:27:00.000-07:002016-06-29T20:27:11.478-07:00Running AroundHello everyone! I had hoped to post sooner however multiple things have popped up since the last post. A distant family member passed away (she was 101!) so my family was in town so I spent a lot of time with them. I was also pet sitting and helping paint a few rooms in my boyfriends grandmothers house.<br />
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I'm hoping to get the blog post about the kindle fire posted this week. So far, I really do love it! I haven't quite convinced myself to read a book off of it yet (I still love my Paperwhite) but it's pretty great! I didn't realize how much music and how many movies are available on Prime so I was ecstatic about that. I'll mention more in my blog post along with pictures I've taken!<br />
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Another blog post I plan on posting in the near future is my experience with my bullet journal. It turned more into a daily journal with a few key things that I wanted to get accomplished. In the future I would like to try having it be more list orientated but, at least for now, this works much better for me. I also bought some new things for my bullet journal so I'll mention those as well in that blog post!<br />
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I have started fixing up <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/elizabethlight3/" target="_blank">my Pinterest</a> board and making different boards. I'll hopefully be more active especially since using my kindle fire works great with the Pinterest app. I'm planning on creating boards in the near future. I'll also (hopefully) get my blog posts on there eventually. Once I have a working computer again.<br />
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Alright, I believe that will be it for this blog post. I may do series review on <a href="http://www.karenannhopkins.com/#!forever/cz1a" target="_blank">Serenity's Plain Secrets</a>, but if I forget it's an awesome series to read! I read through them all within a week since they're shorter than most books I get. Also, I'm still hoping to get through July Camp but it depends on if I get a job offer. Hopefully I don't disappear for another week! :)<br />
<br />Elizabeth Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023381579804694465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433047442161104619.post-38610644866255898412016-06-20T20:37:00.000-07:002016-06-20T20:37:11.123-07:00Prepping for CampHello everyone! I had hoped to post sooner this week. However, my grandma was in the hospital since last Wednesday. She had been coughing for over two weeks which developed into pneumonia and then she had MRSA while at the hospital as well. But, she's doing better and was released yesterday. She was more excited to go home and shower more than anything!<br />
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So, not too much to update on the writing front. I've gotten over 80 pages handwritten (20 of which were from the Word document) so I'm quite happy with that. I may have my July camp project (which I was randomly assigned to a cabin!) be typing up what I've hand written to get to 50k. I haven't officially decided what I'm doing. And, I may have to put it on hold if I get a job and move.<br />
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I'm actually looking to move to Des Moines, IA. It's supposed to be a good city for young business professionals and they sound like they have cool events. Nothing is concrete yet though. The only bad thing would be the almost 3 hours away from home (which technically isn't much) but it would be cool to live in an area that has a lot to offer. It just is a bit harder since I'm not from the area but hopefully I'll get some calls back soon.<br />
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Also, some exciting news, is that I ended up getting the Kindle Fire 7 for $40 and I should get it tomorrow. What my hope and goal is to use it to read over writing, blogging, and other advice eBooks. I would also like to post reviews of these books on my blog as well. But first I'm hoping to write a blog post on Wednesday about the tablet and how I like it.<br />
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Alright, that's all for this blog post. Hopefully I'll have my next blog post up on Wednesday or Thursday. I have a visitation to go to tomorrow and I may be going to the funeral the next day. I haven't gotten that far so who knows. Until next time!Elizabeth Lighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023381579804694465noreply@blogger.com0