I have to admit, I'm a paper kinda' gal. I love the feel of it between my fingers, the texture - even the smell of it. Ever since I was a young girl, a blank notebook would fill me with excitement at all its possibilities - so much potential, so many adventures it could contain within its pages!
Even now, I much prefer writing my stories or articles in a binder book first, before transferring the words to a computer. I find that, for me, it's much easier to scribble down my thoughts, cross out incorrect words or phrases, and use arrows to add in alterations. When I later type my piece/scene into a word processing file, I edit it again.
Whilst this process may at first appear laborious, I consider it a small price to pay for portability (I can take a notebook with me much more easily than a laptop), plus a built-in extra edit.
I've writen one-and-a-bit books this way, and will continue to finish my current YA supernatural romance manuscript in my trusty binder book, one scene at a time.
So, what about you? For your writing, do you prefer using a notebook or Netbook?

During the past couple of months or so since my last blog post, a whole lot has been happening in this little corner of the world. For a start, a few natural disasters have been conspiring together to wipe out Queensland - torrential rain and the resultant flooding, rivers bursting their banks and pouring out into towns and onto rural properties; an inland "tsunami" gushing down the mountain from Toowoomba after a torrential downpour, washing away cars, trees, houses, people, and anything else in its path; and now Tropical Cyclone Yasi, a category 5 cyclone as severe as Hurricane Katrina. At this early stage, no lives have been lost - a testament to plenty of prior warning, adequate safety precautions, and most importantly, the grace of God.

Thankfully, on my little hill overlooking the ocean in the Wide Bay area, the disasters have given us a wide berth. No flooding, no cyclones - just a bit of rain, and plenty of mildew and mould to greet me as I entered our closed-up house after three weeks of holidays.

And in the midst of it all, I've still managed to write. Nothing as prolific as a whole novel, or even half a one. But at least, by plodding away, I've managed to write part 1 of my YA romantic fiction manuscript, and plan the start of part 2. I'm aiming to have ten chapters finished by the end of March, and perhaps even a proposal completed to send off to some unsuspecting publishers or agents.

Will keep you posted. :)

It's been over a week since I've had a chance to do some writing, and I've got itchy fingers. You writers will know the feeling - there's an idea, or plot-line, or snippet of dialogue that's been percolating in your brain, and you're just waiting for the opportunity to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) to bring it forth into the universe.

My last writing session was idyllic: at a beach-side cafe on the Sunshine Coast, armed with a skinny, extra-hot, caramel latte (pedantic, I know!) and a serve of raisin toast. When I couldn't quite grasp the best word or phrasing, I could gaze out at the ocean for inspiration. I was able to write two scenes during that session, completing the first chapter of my new YA novel.

The next opportunity I have to write will be far less ideal, I'm sure. It's bound to be a spare (who has spare time these days?!) 30 minutes stolen away from the housework, or the other myriad, inane duties that pile up in a day. It may be sitting in my favourite chair in the living room, or on a park bench while I watch my children play (yes, it's the school holidays!).

But the important thing for me, and for all writers out there, is that I write.  It doesn't need to be perfect, or profound, or even pretty. As long as I get my thoughts out onto paper, then that is enough for today. :)