New book plots, almost-kisses and pink post-it notes

 Probably there are computer fairies out there who make magical software that could do wondrous things to help me manage the awesome-new-plot of my favourite-new-idea for a book. And it's not like I don't like my laptop. I do. We have a very close relationship. I just like A3 paper and pink post-it notes too. Actually, before today, I've done the initial vague plotting of a book on A3 with mere scribbles and then numbered the scribbles to make a scruffily written and largely confusing map for myself. So when you think about it, the post-its are really a big step up and pretty much a technological advancement. Here's the product of this morning's efforts. 

And no, you probably can't see it, but there's a pink post-it down there with 'almost-kiss' written on it with a smiley face next to it (I'm so professional) which I am very much looking forward to writing (smiley face will be removed from end product.) I loves me an almost-kiss far better than an actual one because once it's done, it's done an you've lost that delicious tension and you can never go back*

*Refer teenage self to this point if time travel ever becomes possible.

Ok, that's quite enough silliness for today, but I'm still impressed with myself even if this seems naff to everybody else because I actually have SEVERAL post-its on the bottom piece of paper, which is the end of exciting-new-book. And what's more, they have things other than 'some...stuff happens, and the mc learns...something' on them. I may have to reward my fledgling plotting efforts with wine because future self is maybeprobably going to thank me for this when I have a finished book that has A PLOT.

So who's been plotting this week? How do you lovely people do it? Or maybe you prefer not to? Answers on a pink post-it please.

I'm sorry I stole the cat's identity

As part of my whole recently closetless existence, I joined Twitter. Anybody else using it? I'm @RuthLSteven if you are.

Using Twitter (love it by the way) put a question in my head. If I'm going to use my real name, how much of it should I use? Ruth Steven was taken (by who, I demand to know. Who the hell is called Ruth Steven?) Anyway, so I had to go with Ruth L Steven or Ruth Steven 20 (seriously, there's 20 of us?) and I got to thinking.

Awesome-new-YA-book by Ruth Steven

or

Awesome-new-YA-book by Ruth Lauren Steven

It never occurred to me before because I NEVER use this name in my every day life, the reason being that Lauren is my sister's name. I know, I know, what the hell's wrong with my parents? I don't know. It was the 70s.

But I thought about it, and guessed my sister wouldn't mind if I use it for my writing - after all, it is on my birth certificate.

Oh, and after I guessed, I did ask her, and she doesn't mind at all, which is more than I can say for the cat. He wasn't consulted at all (bear with me, this does make sense.)

Last year, after I'd written my first novel, I joined a writer's site. I may or may not have had a glass of wine in my hand while I did this. When I was asked to create a username, I balked at typing my actual name and cast my eyes quickly around the room. My cat looked back at me (in that vaguely contemptuous way that they do), and I typed 'Casper' into the writing site.

Now, as per my last post, I am out of the closet and owning up to my scribblings.

So the cat gets his name back, and I'm left with Ruth Steven or Ruth Lauren Steven. A friend suggested that I go with initials - R.L. Steven, but I like my name better than initials. I want it emblazoned on the front cover of my book - preferably with mini-fireworks and neon lights attached to each copy :D Thoughts?

Just searched for a pic of Casper, but can't find one (note to self: scan old photos) so here's something slightly related but cuter :)

What's in a name? Coming out of the writing closet

I'm a private kind of person. Like borderline secretive and downright reticent. I don't like people watching me do things; I'd rather be a bit more confident in what I'm doing before I share it with anyone else.

So when I started writing I didn't mention it to anyone. I'd written 40,000 words of my first novel before I told my husband, and even then I guarded my words closely. He still hasn't read ANYTHING I've written (though to be fair, I'm doing him a favour with novel#1 :D)

I've been slowly coming out of the writing closet for a couple of months now, and part of that is losing the anonymity that I'd been using like a kid with a comfort blanket (the small pink creature holding the small pink creature in the pic to your right made me think of that!)

So I've changed the name of my blog to my name. And I'm Tweeting with that name too. And I like it!

How am I going to feel if/when my book is published, and anyone anywhere can see all of the words I wrote and see my story, all new and naked?


I'm going to feel like this :)