How I Use My Time Line Software

I thought since I showed y'all how I use Scrivener it was time to show you Aeon Timeline.

Aeon is by second best writing tool. Of course Scrivener is my bestest. Scribble Code has come up with an easy way to track events in your novel with Aeon Timeline. As we explore Aeon keep in mind this is the way I use it. Everyone will use it differently.
Many like the idea there are several options to time periods. As you can see here; you have the basics along with the ability to create your own. This helps in world building. I use the normal BC-AD for my novels.

As you can see here is part of my time line for my serials. I have 2 arcs open with the characters below. Their ages are added when you add an event that includes them. At the top you have you dates and at the bottom you have a slider bar to move quickly over long periods of time. I use this the most since my WIP is over 1000s of years.

The arcs are easy to flip back and forth to. You can have several open or just one. I usually have the MC I'm working on and the Birth/Death arc open. The Characters are always open in mine. All my arcs are color coded as are my characters by generation or who's book they are going to be in. (That's if the characters cooperate.)

Here is an event on my global arc. As you can see to the right is the open inspector. It contains everything about the event. Time, date, label (which is the MC for me), Arc it's in, and of course the title. As you can tell this is in Dalara's book and it's in the Global arc under Dalara's label.

This is one of my favorite options; the ability to lock events so you don't accidentally move it. Once I have the date set I lock the event. And believe me I have deleted events or moved them years from where they should be.

Here is my character listing. You can see that there are a few different colors and their ages are visible. This is one feature I love since some of my characters are over 2000 years old.

Here is my Birth/Death arc. I record births in pink and deaths in black. This is scrolled in as to see as much of the time line births as we can.

So, that's how I use Scrivener Timeline. It's simple and easy. Plus it's one of the few easy ones that won't break your bank. They sponsor NaNoWriMo and I bought mine at discount when I won last year. Check out their free trial. I guarantee you won't be sorry.

Poll Results Are IN!!!!

You guys were great making your opinion heard. The results of the days and times for our wordsprints are in. You my Wordlings have chosen the following days:

• Sundays
• Mondays
• Wednesdays
• Saturdays 

Here are the start times for the wordsprints: notice lengths change:

• Monday & Wednesday 2pm-4:30pmCST (30 minute sprints)
• Saturdays 12pm-2:10pmCST (#1k1hr) & 7pm-9:30pmCST (30 minute sprints)
• Sundays 8am-10:30amCST (30 minute sprints)  & 6pm-10pmCST (both #1k1hr and 30 minute sprints)

These times may change as it all depends on participation. The more we have at a certain time the more I may lengthen the sprints. The times we have no participants I will remove from the schedule. I want to run them when you need them without stepping on others who run sprints. It gives you more times to write that way. Always remember if you need different word sprint times ask. I can always add more or change times. These sprints are as much for you as they are for me. I am a SAHM so I can accommodate YOU. Check with our Sprint Schedules page for times of all sprints. 

Please vote for our NaNoWriMo 10k Writathons in November. I want them to suit you, for you are the ones I run sprints for. 

~~~~~Happy Writing my Wordlings~~~~~

Planning November Already

As I research for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), I decided that we will have 2 #10kWritathons then. Options are Saturdays, Sundays or one of both. Let me know so I can get it all set up.

WHY 2?

Well, it's simple; to write 50,000 wordies in a month you need motivation (at least some of us do). Not everyone can join in if they work or have family obligations to attend to. So, having 2 different ones give many more peoples to join in and achieve their NaNoWriMo goal.

I want to know what helps you as an individual.

With preparing for NaNoWriMo, I want to know what you would like me to post to help you prepare. More recipes? research locations? helpful programs for writers? You tell me! Post in comments or use hashtag #GetWordies10k on twitter.

What themes would you like to see. Last one was camping because it was for CampNaNoWriMo. Or no theme at all? What about prompts? Do you like prompts or would you rather I tweeted a smiley face?

Another question is, is there something specific for your genre you'd like posted or used in wordsprints? I retweet @UberFacts that I think y'all might think is fun and could use in your works.

The Weeks Ahead

I thought taking off a week to get things settled here in the house was a good idea. WRONG! I've been sick and in bed for most of it. So, as I am feeling better I should tell you what I have been thinking while stuck in bed.

First; I think Monday-Thursday word sprints will be our normal 30 minute ones. Then changing Saturdays to 3 1k1hr sprints. I know a few of you are ones that once you get going it's hard to stop to report wordie counts. If you have any other ideas please let me know. Many of you are busy with work, kids and significant others. 

Second: In there I changed names of characters, the order of their own stories and wrote descriptions of new places that will appear. Dang those characters who don't like what I plan for them.

Finally: I figured out what we are doing for NaNoWriMo and a few blog posts are about ready for November. Yeah I said November.

As it is just after CampNaNoWriMo, editing is permitted for sprints. Remember @GetWordies you can use deleted total and added totals together. If you have a program that doesn't track changes use your best guess. Others use the number of pages or chapters edited. Add hashtag #amediting.
If you didn't participate in CampNaNoWriMo in July try NaNoWriMo in November. I know 50,000 wordies in a month seems a lot. It's not really. Just writing over 1600 wordies a day you can make it. Plus @GetWordies will be running 2 10kWritathons that month along with other wordsprint fun. In October I will be posting blogs about preparing for NaNoWriMo in November. It is a bit different than Camp. 

Now as we have a few months before NaNoWriMo, take a break, relax, edit, research, or anything else your life will allow you to do. Stressing about your writing is not helpful and you will end up with Writer's Block.