A Test of Living Writer software
This is a test of LivingWriter for my blog.
I signed up for LivingWriter's free trial to see how it works for my blogging routine. Although I have used Apple Pages as my primary writing tool, I always seek something new and exciting. So this is a grand experiment since LW is geared more towards long-form articles and book publishing than for blogging. If I can use the LW features to create concrete characterizations and implement them, I can make this work.
My writing tends to focus on personal experiences. I try to maintain a positive attitude in my writing, but that can be hard to do sometimes. I enjoy learning new ways of doing things, so I decided to try LW and see how I like it. Every new writing tool brings a new set of challenges and a learning curve.
As I embark upon this latest writing journey, I want to remember my basic writing tenets: kind, understanding, and non-confrontational. Life is too short to waste on petty squabbles with keyboard warriors sitting in their Mom's basement with Diet Coke and Doritos. A philosopher once said, "If I want to see a change in the world, then first let the world see the change in me." Those thoughts have made me better than when I would argue about anything with anyone five years ago. I am a calmer and, hopefully, a better person now.
I started my website at www.dereamersreadyroom.comto retain ownership of what I write. LW promises me the same security about my work, so this exercise tests how well it affects my writing. I don't charge anyone to subscribe to my website because I love writing and technology and how they can work together to improve things.
One feature of LW that I immediately like is the goal-setting feature that tracks the number of words as I write. At first glance, this seems like the type of tool that a high school student would use to carefully manage to write only the bare minimum for a writing assignment. I find it more than that because it trains Mr to get my thoughts down concisely, at least for me, manner. I set the goal low at 500 words as I embark on this journey, and I will see if I make it or how far I go past it. I can constantly adjust it later as my writing improves. Honestly, I only care about word counts for the time that equates to reading time. I want to write blog posts that interest the reader and keep them going for several minutes rather than an old-school Twitter/X entry type.
LW allows me to use character creation templates describing my moods when I type. I must remember to create them based on how I feel when writing. I used to use characters when I wrote software testing plans many years ago, but I haven't used them since.
Everything in life is a change. Without change and challenges, we stagnate and die a slow death. I don't want that happening to me. I came too close to death four years ago, and I want to live the best life I can from now on. I also learned that my writing is precious, and I won't rush it anymore. I prefer quality over quantity.
I still struggle at times as I write. Ideas that seemed so great when I started a story fell apart when I proofread them. I try to keep a positive approach and convince myself it is all for the best. I try to keep a minimal backlog of stories that I am working on; I don't need anything too confusing to distract me. At the end of each month, I look at my story backlog and determine which ones to keep and which to throw out. This system works for me for the time being. I hope that LW will let me keep that same level of control over my writing, and I want to maintain my discipline as I write. I just upped my writing word count goal to 1000 for this story. I blew past the 500-word mark without realizing it. I take that as a good sign.
I am wide awake tonight on a new cat watch. We got a new cat yesterday and are keeping him separate from the other cats for at least another 24 hours. Jordan The Cat is in my bedroom and getting antsy because he knows other cats are around. Jordan is a handful; we adopted him from the local shelter. He lost one eye because it never formed correctly and had to be removed, but we adopted him because he showed the most affection at the shelter. It was not a sympathy adoption at all. I suspect that the cats will adjust to each other rather quickly.
Another reason that I am still awake is that my blood glucose is running high. I ate a snack, and that did it for me. I've taken insulin and am waiting for the level to come down before I try to keep it. Getting old sucks at times, but it beats the alternative. I would rather be here learning something new than wasting my life away in front of the TV. I gave up on TV when I was hospitalized years ago. I got tired of the same crap being peddled day after day.
I especially avoid politics, a toxic subject, because so many people are ready to do nothing more than argue without compromise, which gets us nowhere. I used to be one of those people, but now I realize that life is too short, and no one changes their minds anyway. I know that controversy sells, but I am not interested in that type of writing. I don't care if people find my writing boring or mundane. I must be that type of person in my old age, but at least I'm not one of those grumpy older men shouting at everyone to get off my grass.
Well, that about wraps up this first test with LW. I think it went well. I will use it again during my free trial and decide whether to purchase a subscription.