What's Your Go-to Writing App?

By Pamela

I was probably one of the last holdouts in getting a smart phone, but when my dumb-phone finally conked out on me--okay, I did kinda-sorta drop it--I upgraded to an iPhone. And I feel bad at times about how much I love it. I mean, I really love it. Even though it was the 'free with a two-year contract' version and not brand-spanking new technology, I love-love it.

But it occurred to me today that I don't use it much for writing--other than jotting down ideas on the notepad. What's out there that could possibly be helping me in my writing? What deliciously wonderful tools are waiting for me to discover? Here are a few iApps (for iPhones and iPads) I found that I've yet to try but, after some research, look worthy of a download.

The AP Stylebook 2013 ($24.99)

Probably one of the pricier apps out there, but when my online subscription for this runs out, I'll be signing up for this mobile version. Need to know whether healthcare is one word, two words or hyphenated? This is where to look. Is it OK or okay? How about ob-gyn or OB/GYN? These issues may not trip you up too often but as a magazine writer (who sticks to AP Guidelines), it's my punctuation/style bible.

*note: If you can't afford the app you can follow them on Facebook and post questions which they'll answer--but not always in a timely fashion.

Practice English Grammar 2 (free)

Definitely a rudimentary grammar app, but if you sometimes get hung up on lie/lay and gerunds are rarely your forte, this might be an app worthy of your downloading. On the flip side, taking the random tests can help you feel like a freaking genius.

Writing Prompts ($1.99)

I just downloaded this and can't wait to take it for a test drive. Promising an "endless supply of creative inspiration," this app features five prompt generators: News, Scenes, Sketches, Texts and Words; along with 600 text prompts. Shake your device or swipe your screen to generate new ones. Writers' block begone!

A Novel Idea (free) --Pro upgrade is $2.99

Touted at the "premier tool for plotting your story," this app's simple interface allows you to create characters, locations, scenes and more and then link them together to create your story's plot. The 'Idea' feature lets you jot down your moments of genius and then link those to your story's elements. You can rearrange scenes, add the objectives, tension, etc. I like this app A LOT! Let me know if you do, too.

Werdsmith (free) --Upgrade is $2.99

This clever app turns your iPhone to iPad into a portable writing studio and syncs the devices so you're always working on the most recent document. Added features include a place for writing goals, ideas and cloud backup. I've yet to try this one but the reviews are stellar. Check it out.








For more ideas, go to the iTunes store and search for 'writing' and look for apps that are labeled 'productivity.'

Achieve the Amazing

By Pamela

Yesterday I sat at the kitchen table and helped my girl with her homework. "I'm bad at math," she said as she  rested her forehead on her arms in defeat. Granted, math is not her forte, but I wasn't about to let her go down that dark road.

So, I will tell you the story I told her.

I used to be bad at remembering names. Someone would introduce herself to me and, moments later, I'd realize I had no idea what her name was. Sometimes she would be a person at a party and I might never see her again; other times the person was a business acquaintance, and I would need to contact her later. In both cases, learning her name was equally important. She took the time to tell me her name; I should have remembered it.

But because I knew I was bad at remembering names, I gave myself the excuse to not try very hard at it. Then I met Elizabeth J. She was amazing at remembering names. Really amazing. Not only would she remember a person's name five minutes after she was introduced to her, but days, weeks, months later. That's when I decided I wanted to be more like Elizabeth J.

I made up my mind that I, too, would be awesome at remembering names. And so I worked at it. I tried to relate a new person with someone else I knew with the same name. Or I'd play association games until it stuck. ("Jim is wearing GYM shoes" is one I used the other day.) Do you know what happened? I became really good at remembering names! I might not be as awesome as my friend Elizabeth J (she sets the bar really high), but I am waaaay better than I used to be, all because I changed my way of thinking.

Flickr Creative Commons image by SD Dirk.

So, dear writer, I challenge you to change your way of thinking. If you say to yourself ...

I'm horrible at grammar
I suck at spelling
I'm awful at metaphors
I'm the worst at writing dialog
I can't write a decent query letter
I'll never get an agent

... then you give yourself an excuse to not try very hard. You're living up to your own expectations but you've set the bar waaaay too low. Change your inner mantra. Even if today all you can muster is: I'm pretty decent at grammar, then that's a start. Maybe next month you'll surprise yourself by saying: I'm pretty amazing at grammar. Then the next thing you know you'll be saying: I'm freakin' awesome at grammar! You'll never know unless you try.

Set that bar high!

I think you meant...

By Pamela

Nitwit strode to the front of the room and handed in his essay. He’d never written anything longer than a text message before but knew his college professor would be blown away at his mastery of the English language.

Here’s a look at his essay, followed by Professor Style’s comments.

She was the most beautiful girl in the room, and he shuttered as their eyes met. He chanced a peak at her from behind the planter and waded with baited breath. He had honed in on her like a heat-seeking missile since the first day he saw her after class, longing to rap his arms around her.

Could it be her interest in him was just as peaked? Did he wet her appetite and leave her wanting more? He’d herd that falling for an older student was a right of passage for most freshmen. But he knew he was the exception to the rule. Playing hard to get was out of the question, but he kneaded to pair down his enthusiasm or she’d never give him a second glance. Everyday that past maid him want her more.

He’d been tossed into the throws of battle before. This wasn’t his first hayride. He walked up to her and handed her the poem he’d comprised on sented stationary. She read it and fell immediately in love.

Dear Nitwit and trust me, I was tempted to write: Deer Nitwit. Your command of the English language is deplorable at best, but let me try to straighten out this garbled attempt at a story.


 People shudder, houses are shuttered

 People peek and seek with their eyes (remember the double e, as in two eyes)

 It’s waited, not waded unless you’re standing in a puddle

 Breath is bated, not baited unless you’re sucking on a fishing lure

 You home in on a target (like this poor, unsuspecting girl) but better hone your skills first

 Only Jay Z raps with his arms; the rest of us wrap

 Her interest might be piqued rather than peaked, though it’s doubtful

 Her appetite might be whetted but likely not; wetted appetite involves liquids

 Herd is a group of cattle

 Rite of passage, not right

 Bread is kneaded, people are needed and many are needy, like your character

 Pare down the enthusiasm; please don’t pair it and make it double

 Everyday as one word means ordinary; as two separate words it means happening daily

 Passed is a verb; past is an adjective or noun

 A maid cleans; made is a verb

 People experience throes of battle, not throws unless a catapult is involved

 Poems and songs are composed, not comprised

 Scented is the adjective you're after, not sented

 And stationary with an a means not moving; stationery with an e pertains to writing material


Please review my notes and resubmit your essay with corrections.

Regards,
Professor Style

Nitwit dropped the class and was later found hanging around the local barre, wondering why he was the only one not wearing a tutu.