Favorite Writing Toys . . . Er, I Mean Writing Tools!

You might say I'm an easy hit for innovative software, especially when it comes to my writing.  Recently, I've fallen prey (in a good way) to three items I'd really like to share with you.  You may have heard about them elsewhere, but here's my take on them.

And it isn't that I don't love a moleskin journal, or a tiny leather-covered note pad in my purse along with my favorite pen for jotting quick notes.  It's just that there are so many wonderful, time-saving items out there, and it's tempting to try them out.

My problem is:  I try them out, I love them, and then I want to tell someone else just how great they are!  So, here goes . . .

First up, my first find and the one I've been using the longest, Scrivener.  Scrivener is similar to a word processing program, and it took a long time and lots of consideration to make me believe that it would be better than Microsoft Word, which I've been using for decades now.  Not too long ago, my friend and fellow writer and blogger, Joe Bunting, shared his thoughts on Scrivener.  Joe's overview provides useful information and images I'd provide so I won't be repetitious. Please take time to read Joe's review.

What I will share is that my writing life has become much easier since purchasing Scrivener (by the way, you can get a trial program for 30 days).  I like the way that everything I want at my disposal is right there on Scrivener.  No switching between documents, folders or files -- it's all in one convenient place.  Currently, Scrivener is relatively inexpensive ($45 for Mac, $40 for Windows).  And it comes with a great manual and tutorial.

Second in my lineup of new tools is Evernote.  Evernote replaces all the documents where I saved quotations, the folder in my email for blog items I wanted to go back and read, a stack of paper of things I'd printed out to read.  The beauty of this software is that it captures all those things for me in one place, and it does it all for FREE via my browser!  I refer to it as my online filing cabinet.  A search feature is included and the use of tags makes it easy to categorize things for searching.  I've not yet been disappointed with the software, the tutorials or finding help.  And I love the elephant!

Here are a couple of images showing how Evernote appears on your screen, depending on your operating system and personal setup:

Windows version

Mac version

And for those of you interested, Evernote has a phone app as well.


Third and last is my newest find, Mind42, a web-based mind mapping tool that I'm falling in love with.  Not being artistically inclined, the thought of drawing a mind map has left me feeling awkward and somewhat faulty in my efforts.  And it's free!

For me, the clarity of the design of the mapping in Mind42 was what won me over as I compared a variety of offerings:

Additionally, Mind42 is user friendly and an intuitive program to use.  So far, it hasn't disappointed me.  

I checked out several other free mind mapping softwares, including:

• FreeMind (I didn't find this user friendly and not well supported);
• bubbl.us (navigation seemed awkward); and
• Mindomo (here again the process seemed awkward).

Don't hesitate to check out several as one that doesn't work for one individual may work expertly for another.

I also downloaded and tried out Cayra, but didn't like the way images on the map moved around on the screen as I added nodes to my map.

This has been a long post, one filled with lots of information.   But it's information I truly wanted to share with those of you interested in writing and finding the newest and most helpful digital tools available.

I'd love to hear back from you about what you're using and why you like it or your comments on any of my new toys that you've tried out.

Happy writing!


Disclosure:  I am not an affiliate of any of the companies mentioned herein, nor was I asked by any of them to give a review of their product.  This is purely based on my own experiences and the desire to share them with you.  However, the FTC (yes, part of our government told me I must) requires me to let you know that I'm in no way being paid for anything written here nor do I receive anything if you buy any of the products above.  So long!

Remembering Mama's Gift

Today I'm joining with other women to honor my mom through the 1000 Moms Project.  

The 1000 Moms Project is about 1000 people standing up and thanking their mom publicly (what mom doesn’t want a gift like this for Mother’s Day?)  – and the act of honoring your mothers will be matched by funding a Maternity/Child Survival Program in Haiti for a whole year.

* * *

Now to my story and my thanks to mom.

As I've shared portions of my memoir writing with you, my focus has been on the difficulties of living with an emotionally and verbally abusive parent, my mom.  She's seen here walking in downtown Nashville carrying me in her arms.  You can see by the expression on her face that she's a determined woman (she's on the right of the photo).

Late in Mom's life, I learned a great deal about her childhood.  This wasn't learned from her but through conversations with a friend as we talked about the why of Mom's treatment of her children.  Eventually, I moved Mom to Oregon to care for her in the last 10 months of her life.

During that time, I was able to forgive her and understand why my memories from early childhood to age 57 were what they were.

But what I want to share with you today is that despite those difficulties, every day in Mom's life reflected her strong, unwavering faith in God.  Mom left each of us, my two brothers and me, with no questions in our hearts or minds about her beliefs or her faith walk.  Her Bible was always visible, her daily devotions always open to the current date, her participation in her church and volunteerism in her community always active.  

One curious thing we learned as adults was the level to which her volunteerism went.  When we were notified that Mom had been selected as one of the ten finalists for the Volunteer of the Year Award for the State of Tennessee, we were stunned!  The article and notification cited 40 plus years of volunteering.  When did she do this?  Where did she do this?  Why didn't we know?  Rooted in her faith was the essence of humility when giving back and ministering to others.  We were taught not to brag about what we did, and so she set that example.

Here's a more recent photo of Mom with my nephew, Kevin, at the awards luncheon.  Although Mom didn't win top prize, she was honored to have been included and enjoyed this particular day to the ultimate.  

Mom died October 3, 2001.  At that time, I wasn't totally aware of the impact of her gifts of goodness.  That too will be shared in my memoir but today I come here to just say, 

 Thanks, Mom, for all you shared about your faith.  I've been made stronger because of your example.

Linking up with Ann and others at A Holy Experience,

and with the Sisterhood at

 

and with

Heart Full of Thanks -- Counting One Thousand Gifts (#443-461)

Returning home from ten days in Washington State, we drove along I-84 headed into Portland.  The drive, once we cross the Columbia River from Washington into Oregon, takes us along the dividing line between the two states -- the middle of the Columbia River itself and on either side of the river, the beautiful gorge created by the Master Artist.

On our return, this image looks exactly as the gorge looked last week.  Blue skies, high clouds, a light haze with massive walls of rock, trees, wildflowers, birds and off in the distance waterfalls and mountains.

My favorite spot along the gorge is Multnomah Falls, the place where my husband made sure 29 years ago that I fell in love with the idea of living in the Pacific Northwest, 2000+ miles away from my home in Tennessee.  I still remember how small I felt as we drove through the gorge, and how much smaller I felt as I stood at the base of the falls and looked up at the water from spring runoff pouring over the walls of the canyon to a clear pool below.

And then in the distance, the centerpiece of our drive, Mt. Hood.

Every time I see all the handiworks God created in our world, and especially here at home in the Pacific Northwest, I cannot help but be thankful for the goodness and beauty he has provided for my eyes to gaze upon.

And so today, I continue counting to 1000 gifts with Ann Voskamp and others at A Holy Experience.

I invite you to join us or to at least visit and see what we each find to be thankful for each and every week.

443.  The beauty of the earth around me.
444.  Shades of green so evident in spring.
445.  Gift of time with fading family members.
446.  Joy of being there when needed and answering the call to service.
447.  God's Word to support us.
448.  My mother's faith which keeps me strong beyond her lifetime.
449.  My father's courage and strength through adversity.
450.  The delights of springtime growth in our yard and beyond.
451.  The lovely children at church yesterday who gathered to listen to His story.
452.  New members in our church family.
453.  One more MOPS meeting to enjoy this year.
454.  Blue jay sighted on this morning's walk.
455.  Beauty of music and the comfort it brings.
456.  Friends never met face-to-face but loved via the Internet.
457.  Compassion and caring of friends.
458.  Power of prayers lifted on behalf of our family.
459.  Safety in travel.
460.  Critters and birds coming back from winter hibernations.
461.  Gift of healing for friends.

Photo credits:
Top:  Walking
Middle:  Visual Photo
Bottom:  Trails NW

The Daughter's Walk by Jane Kirkpatrick (ISBN 978-1-4000-7429-7) (WaterBrook Press 2012)

Jane Kirkpatrick never disappoints.  Once again, in The Daughter’s Walk, she has brought to the page the story of strong women during a time in our country’s history that found many families struggling to maintain their family’s income and home and women struggling to find their place in society, the work force and politics.   

Helga Estby and her daughter, Clara, and their historical attempt to walk the breadth of our country was undertaken in an effort to save the family’s farm in Washington state.  The story of the Estby women’s walk is true to a point, that point being Helga and Clara’s return home to devastating news.

Here, Kirkpatrick draws on her research skills to learn more about Clara and where her journey then led her.  With information provided by newspaper records, document records and conversations with descendants of Helga and Clara’s, she is able to piece together historical facts with the product of a gifted imagination to weave Clara’s story through the next several years.   Many characters are founded in fact, and many are created by Kirkpatrick’s unique ability to thread the story with characters of her own creation.

This intricate tapestry, woven on a colorful background of people and places, causes the reader to sometimes pause to ponder one’s own life journey, including loss, separation and often exile.  Questions come to mind as to why these things happened, and is it possible to achieve forgiveness and renewed relationships after what seems like too many years have passed.

Kirkpatrick offers her readers stories of real women, who have exhibited the strength and wit to make a difference in family, faith and the history of our great country. To read Kirkpatrick’s works is to become a lover of history and the women who played a role in forming it.

* * *

I received this book free from WaterBrook Multnomah for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. 
 

Read Chapter 1 Here: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/blog/2010/01/12/sneak-peek-the-daughters-walk-by-jane-kirkpatrick/

About Jane Kirkpatrick: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/author-spotlight.php?authorid=15809
 

Visit Jane Kirkpatrick's site:  http://www.jkbooks.com/

Book Trailer:

Real -- Five-Minute Friday with Gypsy Mama

On Fridays it's always fun to join with the group over at The Gypsy Mama's to write for five minutes on a word picked randomly by Lisa-Jo, THE Gypsy Mama.  I'm off to write about "real."  Won't you join us?





READY, SET, GO!

When I was asked to be a Mothers of Preschoolers mentor mom, I questioned my ability to meet the qualifications, one of which was being authentic.  I studied the word "authentic" and understood it meant to "be real."  Could I be real with moms sometimes 40 years or more my junior?  I prayed, and I've tried, and I'll try again this morning. When opportunities present themselves, I must tell my moms how things happened for me -- I need to let them see the real side of motherhood, womanhood and life.

REAL means baring the skeletal part of my being a woman, a mom, a nurturer, and caregiver for my children and grandchildren.  Sharing the most disgusting times, the hurtful times, the joyous times.  Making sure each mom knew I had been there, done that, whatever it was she was faced with and struggling to understand.

Yes, I have changed my share of dirty, sometimes really nasty diapers.  Everyone who has knows this is REAL.

And I have cleaned up vomit from bedsheets, floors, car seats, patios, babies, myself, someone else -- REAL stuff!

I have to admit that I was hurt by my first husband who had no capacity for love either for me or our son.  REAL hurt comes in a divorce sometimes.  And mine did.

Yes, I have experienced REAL joy and love from my son and my family who supported me as a single mom for almost 11 years.

And I experienced the REAL love of God when he brought me face-to-face with my second husband of almost 31 years now, who became for my son an example, a friend, a dad.

REAL is who we are, where we are, how we are in the face of God and all those around us.  To hide our REAL is to hide what God has made us to be, helped us to encounter and face down, and to embrace and feel joy, love and goodness.

I love being REAL!

STOP!!!