I have started using a little program called Dark Room on the PC (there is a MAC version for all you fans), which sounds so simple, Im surprised it hasnt been done before. What is essentially is, is a very simple standard text editor, but you view it in full screen, no icons, no windows task bar or pop-ups. Just you, the white paper and black text.
The reasoning behind this is when you write there are so many distractions, email, internet, Doom and whatever to take you away from your writing, hence the name, Dark Room.
I have only just started using it, as an antithesis to Microsoft's Word. The reason being I was finding myself more worried about page layout, content, page and number counts and not enough on the story itself. Well hopefully that has now changed.
The real reason for me needing to get back on the writing horse is that my Muse has informed me that there are 3 agents interested in my material, in addition to other works. Im hoping to have a meeting with at least 2 before the end of May 2007, and discuss The Orchid and other works, serialised or others.
Writing to deadlines is one thing, but writing a serialised piece of work is a totally different discipline. You cant go back and change things, once it is written it is finished, its like working in slabs of stone. It requires to author to have a much better overview of the story structure, as well as knowing when he can slow things down, speed things up, focus in on specific events, and develop elements, whilst still maintaining the direction. This goes against the grain of my style at the moment which is a very organic writing style. I know what I want to happen and occur, Im just "writing" to get there.
