CornerScribe

Archive for February, 2007

I’m back and feeling better. Work has been especially stressful this week, but I can’t really talk about that, more’s the pity. It’s rather an interesting story, if you don’t happen to be embroiled in it!

What I can talk about is giving you the review of writing software I promised. Well, the first review, at least. I’m looking at Storylines, which is overall a very nice piece of software.

I like the index card motif used here. You can type a brief scene description for the card, and it’s placed on a worspace where you can move it around and arrange your scenes. It’s even nicer that the card can hold the entire text of your scene, and it gets moved around as you move the cards. By generating a report, you can then see the re-arranged version of the novel.

Storylines also supports script-writing, so you have formatting tools to allow your script to look appropriate.

It’s also very easy to use. I looked through a brief introduction and was working in it in a matter of minutes.

One problem that I’ve run across so far is the inability to bring in formatted text. I’m doing a copy/paste from openoffice, and I’m losing the italics in Storylines. That is a problem, and if I don’t find a way to solve it, it may be enough to keep me from purchasing it.

I plan on spending a little more time with the software, trying to solve the italics issue. I’ll post another update and let you know how I like it after a little more use.

Ugh…

I’ve got a stomach bug, and bad bad things have been happening. ‘Nuff said.

I’m looking at some writing software, so expect some reviews soon, as soon as I’m feeling a bit better.

As I’ve mentioned before, I enjoy knitting. This year, I decided to sign up for the Secret Pal exchange here. I’m excited to pick out some interesting things for my pal, as well as receive some things I might not necessarily choose for myself.

As a part of the exchange, everyone posts answers to these questions, so here goes.

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I like just about anything, except the fun fur, baubled, novelty yarns.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
This makes me sound so unorganized, but they’re just loose in one of my yarn drawers.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I’ve been knitting about two years. I learned some basics in a craft store class, and I’ve picked up other techniques from books and web sites. I’d consider myself intermediate, barely!

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Yes, but listing it will give away my name….I’m not sure if that’s “allowed.”

5. What’s your favorite scent?
Citrus and lavender, but not necessarily together.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

Sweet tooth? Oh yeah, I have one! Chocolate is my favorite, in just about any form as long as there are no nuts.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I crochet, but I find I don’t like it as much as knitting. I want to learn to spin this year, but I haven’t gotten started or tried anything yet.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
My tastes in music are pretty eclectic. Oldies are a good choice for me.

9. What’s your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can’t stand?

I like yellow, orange, greens, browns. Anything that is reminiscent of fall foliage. Any colors are okay though.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
Married, no kids. We have two dogs, two cats, one guinea pig and one rabbit.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

I wear everything but the ponchos.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I’ve done scarves and socks so far, and I really enjoy doing socks. I want to do my first sweater this year, but I’m trying to work up my courage for that.

13. What are you knitting right now?
A pair of self-striping socks for my husband. It’s my own “pattern,” which is really the sock template from Knitting Rules. His feet are 13 wides, so he’s excited to get a pair of socks that actually fit!

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Oh, yeah. Who doesn’t?

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I use both straight and circular, and I don’t have a preference either way. Bamboo are my favorite, but I’ll knit on anything.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Neither, unless you count my husband.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
About two years old. It’s a sweater I started and then chickened out on.

18. What is your favorite holiday?
Halloween.

19. Is there anything that you collect?
I buy tons of books (fiction mostly, but some knitting as well.) I also like gargoyles. Weird, I know.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I don’t have any magazine subscriptions; I just pick up whatever at the bookstore looks interesting. As for books, I have Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Knitting Without Tears and really like it, so anything by her is great.

21. Are there any new techniques you’d like to learn?
Knitting from the top down. Color work (so far, I haven’t tried working in multiple colors). Following charts (haven’t tried that yet either). Lace shawls.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I love knitting socks.  I’m not sure about the measurements, but I wear a woman’s 8 1/2 regular width.

23. When is your birthday?

May 6

Wow, the last two weeks have been absolutely crazy, hence no blog posts.

• My mom came down with a bad case of shingles and has been sick about two weeks now. As luck would have it, I haven’t had chicken pox, so it’s possible for me to catch them from her. I took the vaccine, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed! If you don’t know what shingles are, it’s chicken pox, revisited. Very painful blisters erupt on the body, and stick around for at least a week or two.
• I’ve dropped Blogitive from the blog. It’s just not what I want to do here, so you won’t be seeing any more of their ads. If you don’t mind putting ads on your blog, they’re not a bad deal though.
• I haven’t touched the novel in two weeks, but I am looking at some outlining software. When I’ve figured out what I want, I’ll write up a review here.
• To top it off, we got blasted by that incredible cold spell, and found out the hard way that our laundry room pipes aren’t insulated, AT ALL. We were lucky that they didn’t  freeze entirely.

• That’s about it, for now. I’m still trying to get caught up on some much-needed sleep, but I didn’t want everyone to think I’d disappeared either. I’ll post something else tomorrow.