The Thirty-First

— Posted inLiterature, Personal, Productivity, Software, Writing — 3 min read

The last day of each month is usually kept for planning and other such matters that require an administrator’s brain rather than a writer’s. November will definitely be an extremely busy month for me. I have both academic as well as literary deadlines to meet, since I also handle certain administrative responsibilities at work, I must attend to the same too. To cut the long story short, November will see me with too many things on my plate. Keeping the above in mind, I’ve decided to streamline my work and plan ahead in advance.

  1. I will be keeping societal obligations to the minimum in November. I am already off social networks, however I still have to access the email for work. Planning to keep that to the minimum from tomorrow onward. The same goes for my phone and text messages.
  2. Deep or focused work is a must especially if I need to accomplish much. I intend to do that without getting deviated from my goal. Hopefully, I should be able to write at least 1000 if not 2000 words each day.
  3. At the end of each day I intend to keep an hour at hand for evaluating my work as well as how efficiently I made use of my time.
  4. Also I must remember to save my work online. I usually use my email accounts as well as Microsoft’s One Drive for backing everything. I must remember to access those daily and keep a backup of everything I create online on a daily basis.
  5. We writers tend to be extremely sensitive by nature and often the outside world (especially the workplace) tend to take advantage of the same. A writer must train his or her mind to completely cut out all kinds of diversions and interruptions to the ongoing thought process. The mind is extremely important and taking care of our mind and emotions is as equally important as taking care of out body. Mental and emotional health should be made into a priority.
  6. Last but not the least, a writer must be prepared at all times to write. “Work tools” as I refer to them are extremely important and its a blessing that we live in an age of information and software technology. I will definitely be carrying around my MS One Note in my phone and other MS Office programs for my writing whenever I feel the need to express myself, at any time of the day (be it at work or otherwise).
  7. Finally, everything is about the words and cups of coffee ! Keeping my fingers crossed and hoping that the words flow with ease every single day of the coming month.

So much for now. I will be back in November 🙂 Happy Halloween to all my readers !

NANOWRIMO

— Posted inProductivity, Writing — 1 min read

College reopens tomorrow and the month ends in a few more days. It will be Halloween soon and then November approaches us in her full glory. On an impulse I registered myself for this year’s NANOWRIMO. Come November and I will be busy typing away my next novel, trying to incorporate at least 2000 words per day. I do not know how much I will accomplish. I do not even know if I may fall out midway, but everything is worth a try. I’ve been wanting to try out NANOWRIMO for a very long time, but never really had the courage to venture forth towards this tough deadline. However, this year let me give it a try, I may accomplish framing the first draft of my second book, or I may fail midway and go back to my old ways. Let’s give it a shot !

Wish me luck folks ! I will of course be keeping my readers posted about my progress or the lack of the same 🙂

Microsoft One Note

— Posted inProductivity, Software, Technology, Writing — 2 min read

Has anyone ever tried Microsoft’s One Note? I have been using it recently. Previously, I used to depend on Samsung Notes in order to jot down my thoughts on the move. However, of late I’ve switched over to One Note. What I love about this particular app is that it allows one to dictate notes and the verbal dictation is immediately converted into a written note. This is amazing for all writers who would like to directly dictate their manuscript. Of course, I do not recommend that one should compose the whole manuscript through dictation, but this app definitely helps in making quick notes especially if you do not have the time or the opportunity to type. Also the fact that notes on One Note can be saved in your MS account is something that may help in keeping those spontaneous notes safe and secure. This app is indeed a blessing for writers on the move as well as those who may have to juggle other careers along with writing. It is a quick and a convenient way to frame the first draft of your novel. For later drafts MS Word is always at your disposal.

Just a little post on something that may help my readers and anyone interested in typing/taking/dictating quick notes on the go. By the way, keep this in mind since NANOWRIMO is round the corner in November 🙂

Au revoir !

photo of bulb artwork

Intense Work

— Posted inPersonal, Productivity, Writing — 2 min read

The next few days will see me submerged in both intense as well detailed work. With the holidays drawing to a close, there are commitments and deadlines that I must attend to. Dr, Cal Newport’s website and the LifeHack website have some wonderful articles on how one can block all kinds of distractions and focus on intense work periods ranging from an hour to around 4 or 5 hours at a stretch. What I usually do when I am determined to work hard is to keep my phone in the silent mode, stop checking emails (or check them once a day), and ask my husband to attend to sudden visitors. I am now thinking of framing a timetable for intense work once office resumes from the end of October. I must keep aside at least 4 hours of my day for intense work (which may include both academic as well as non academic writing). I must not let my academic schedule hamper with my dreams of becoming a full time writer. So much for now. Keeping my fingers crossed and hoping that I can devote quality time towards my writing during the last lap of these holidays.

Have a great Autumn/Fall everyone…

The Calendar and Other Tools

— Posted inBrowser, Privacy, Productivity, Software, Technology, Writing — 2 min read

Since I choose to add tasks to my calendar, it becomes easy to monitor my progress each new day. In fact having a calendar or a to do list can definitely help a writer in planning ahead with his/her day or week. To cut the long story short, there are certain tools that I use for my daily writing. I would like to take the liberty of sharing the same with my readers. Consider this to be a random post at the end of a rather productive day 🙂

The first is of course a Calendar. Nowadays I use Vivaldi’s inbuilt calendar to keep a tab on my commitments. It is a rather well built calendar that I can tweak around in order to suit my daily schedule.

Secondly, I prefer to save my manuscript both in my mailbox (or boxes) as well as in Microsoft’s cloud drive. I do not trust Google very much. Therefore I tend to avoid all its services and apps. I generally use Vivaldi’s email as well as email accounts attached to Outlook and Laposte.

In the third place, I prefer to save notes on the go in the One Note app that I have in my phone. I generally trust Microsoft more than other companies when it comes to storing my data.

Fourthly, I could never do without the MS Office in my phone. Quite often when I am not near my laptop, I can directly work on my phone and jot down any random idea. Also, I can edit my manuscript on the go.

Finally, when it comes to using a browser, then Vivaldi takes the cake.I was an avid Opera user once upon a time, but switched my loyalty to Vivaldi this year. Also, with regard to a search engine, I either use Startpage or Duck Duck Go. Privacy matters when you are a writer. I dislike trackers and I absolutely hate my data being sold or auctioned elsewhere on the Dark Net.

So much for now. Simply a little blog post at the end of a rather busy day. Au revoir !

person using laptop

The Internal Monologue

— Posted inPersonal, Privacy, Writing — 1 min read

For writers indulging in an internal monologue is possibly the next most natural thing to breathing. There are times when we are misunderstood for the same. These days I tend to lapse into silence more often than not. It is fine if I am at home with my husband (he is the most understanding guy in the world ), but it becomes difficult if I happen to be in the company of others (even my mom). Thus, for the next few days and acting upon the advice of my husband, I’ve decided to remain at home till I resume work. These few days are going to be cardinal not only for the proof reading of my first novel, but also for framing the body of the second one. All this silence and a rather laid back life is what I have been craving for all these days. Let’s hope I manage to fulfill my commitments by the end of this month. Till then let silence and the internal monologue prevail.

Au revoir ! ( Although I know quite a few languages which include English, Bengali, and Hindi, I am keen on learning French as a second language).

man standing in front of the window

The Last Lap

— Posted inPersonal, Productivity, Writing — 1 min read

With the holidays almost over (seven days to go before I collide once more with the real world), I am at the last lap of my work with regarding to proof reading and other related matters. And I hope to make the most of these few days. Writing requires the utmost concentration and I envy all those writers who are able to accomplish the same amidst chaos and cacophony. That is a super power I shall never be able to master. However, having said that, I am meandering along my own sweet pace without a care in the world. The weather is quite conducive towards writing these days (Autumn mornings tend to awaken the optimist in me), and with cups of coffee and no outside distractions whatsoever it is important that I give my heart and soul to writing.

Till I scribble again. Wishing all my readers a lovely Autumn/Fall 🙂 Enjoy the bright colours and the mellow evenings.

closeup photography of red leaf plant

Busy as a Bee

— Posted inLiterature, Personal, Productivity, Writing — 2 min read

Work is keeping me busy. By work I mean REAL WORK. Not the charade of work that writers are often compelled to hide beneath. Struggling writers are often foxed into believing that they are not really writers. That writing is merely a hobby that they follow and that they are actually something else…maybe a teacher or a shopkeeper or a librarian or a janitor. Anything but a writer. And this belief is a threat to their primary existence. Because they know nothing better than to write. No other profession sits as pretty on their shoulders as writing does. The mere thought of punching in 500 words per day keeps them going.

Hence, to cut the long story short, I am indeed as busy as a bee these days. And thankfully with my real work. Writing. Not with the charade of a work that I do. This month should be productive. Even if I cannot carry my laptop everywhere, I should be able to do the needful with OneNote or MS Office on my phone. All said and done, I do not intend to waste even one precious day to doing nothing at all. Wish me luck folks ! And do not worry of the posts are irregular. I will probably be happily typing something in some quaint corner of this world.

honeybee perching on yellow flower

Productivity

— Posted inProductivity, Writing — 1 min read

With the onset of the autumn break, I have now found new luxury in passing my days via the written word. I wake up each morning, and after indulging in a meagre breakfast (I dare not eat much for fear of killing the immense energy that I harbour each morning), I sit down to type in my laptop. Switching off phones and cutting out other impediments to productivity has helped me immensely. Productivity is the key to a happy and fulfilling life. I seem to have finally stumbled upon this age-old secret. Since I have become more productive, I feel a lot more happier and a lot less stressed. In fact daily stressful matters do not affect me anymore. I am safely cushioned in my own little world of plots and characters that run through my mind during the course of the day. I hope to achieve more during the curse of the next few days, since I’ve been proof reading my first novel for my agent. Keeping fingers crossed !

So much for now. Till I scribble again….

Away from the Cacophony

— Posted inPersonal, Writing — 2 min read

We are lucky to live somewhere close to nature and silence. It is rare to find apartments in a big, bustling city that are in the lap of nature. Being amidst this quietness helps me to shape my thoughts. Every evening after work I try to organize my thoughts as well as what the day had to offer. Sometimes the results are positive, and at other times quite morbid. However, I plod on through each day carrying the hope in my heart, that amidst this hustle and bustle I will be able to carve a niche of impeccable quietude somewhere during the course of each day.

Quite a few plots have been hovering around the periphery of my mind, but one in particular has captivated my attention. I propose to jot it down on paper as soon as possible. Of course the basic blueprint or the bare skeleton. Nothing ostentatious. Nothing too baroque at present. Let me use a couple of productivity tools to shape my plot, and then maybe I will get down to writing it. By tools I mean a good voice to text app (I am till hunting for one), an online notebook like OneNote or Evernote or Samsung Notes, and maybe an efficient online diary/organizer to help me plan my future deadlines.

Keeping fingers crossed and hoping for the very best ! At least our home and the nature around the same is something that makes me want to wake up to new mornings filled with new promises. All this and more…away from the cacophony.

selective focus photo of green vine