One of the most interesting parts of a website called eHam is the random user submitted pictures of Ham radio operator’s operating stations. Otherwise known as Ham Shacks. It’s always interesting to see what set ups other operators have. On that note, I will attempt to do the same for my writing setup.

Here is a picture of where my MacBook rests when It’s not being used all around the house. A beautiful oak desk in a window nook in the master bedroom. I used to have a nice den for my computers, but then I had kids. You know how that goes.

I have a USB hub behind the laptop that lets me plug into a printer, USB camera cable and the Apple keyboard. The Apple Mighty Mouse is wireless. An old Altec speaker system is also visible. The kids use that when they play games on the Mac. A small, 40 watt desk lamp is also visible. We use the desk for paying bills too.

The windows look out into my back yard where I can keep an eye on the kids playing. I can also see Table Rock and Bogus Basin from the desk.

I use the MacBook primarily for writing but I have been known to write programs on it in Ruby. We also use it as the family computer, at least until I can afford a Mac Mini for the kids to use. All my serious programming computers and radios are in the Ham shack in the garage.

For writing, I use the program CopyWrite. It lets me keep all my notes and writing together in one place. I use a USB thumb drive to back up my files on whenever I think of it.

Well, I hope you enjoyed this brief tour of my writing nook and some of the tools I use.

I came across this web site yesterday and thought I would let the readers of this blog know about it. Daily Lit takes books that are in the public domain and divides them into bite size chunks and emails them to you on a daily basis. Letting you read an entire novel in a hundred days or so. Not a bad idea. Now you can catch up on the classics in easy to read, daily emails.

I’m reading Agatha Christies’ “Secret Adversaries”.

Happy New Year!  Enjoy the latest chapter as you ring in the new year.  I’ll be going to the MPC Bowl tonight with a Ham buddy so, see you on ESPN!  We’ll be rooting for the WAC team tonight, and BSU on the 1st!  Go Broncos!

Well, it started as a filler for getting the story on to the next day. Then the idea came to me to make a chapter that was nothing but IRC chat. Then, as I wrote it, I started exploring Dancia’s character again, adding pieces to her puzzle. But as it stands now – 6 pages into it, I’m not entirely sure what the point of the chapter is. Sometimes you have to go on these writing walkabouts when you are writing a book. You wonder down a path not taken and see where it brings you. Sometimes, you wind up throwing it out and using the ideas elsewhere in the novel. Other times, you just circular file it and move on.

For now, I will just leave it and when I do the second draft, make the decision to edit it or give it the axe. I’ve got the two main characters alone again at Joshua’s place. The entire chapter so far has been from Dancia’s point of view. Now, in mid stream, I’m switching to Joshua’s point of view for the last scene. Not sure that’s legal, but I don’t think it will confuse anyone, as we are in a different scene and location now.

I want to wrap this mess up and move on to chapter 13, as that is where more important things happen and the plot starts moving again. Maybe Chapter 12 will be a needed rest before the main story kicks into overdrive for the run to the ending.

If you have already read Chapter 11, please go back and read it again.  You can skim past most of it and get to the new stuff at the end.  If you are following the story and not the blog about how the story was written, you need to know what happens in Chapter 11 before you go on to Chapter 12.

If you have already read Chapter 11, please come back soon and reread it.  I left out lots of important stuff and am in the process of adding to it.  Time is tight this week with holiday madness engulfing the homestead.  You won’t want to miss the new version, as critical plot revelations occur!

I’ll be posting here to let you know when it’s up.

It’s been a while, so thought I’d put out an early holiday treat! As always, comments and questions are welcome. The story is heading down hill now, and momentum is building. Stay tuned…

This past week we’ve been enjoying the hospitality of my in-laws in their Tennessee home.  It’s been warm, in the low seventies until Friday when the Midwestern storm blew through bringing high winds some rain and much lower temperatures.

I had thought it would be a good time to do some writing, but so far, I have done little to none.  I’ve been watching the birds and the trees and playing with my kids.  Good time to unwind and do large amounts of nothing – except eating wonderful food. :)

I should be well rested and ready to resume Null_Pointer next weekend.  One of the things I was not able to do on my vacation was get some required alone time to write.  When I get back into my normal daily routine, I will get back my alone time and be able to write again.  Then of course it will be Christmas and more down time.  Hopefully, I will be ready to start the second half of the mystery novel in January.

I did get the chance to print out the first 10 chapters and read through it while I was on vacation.  It’s not so bad as to make me want to throw it out and start over, so I guess I will finish it and see where it ends up after that.