Day 30 of NaNoWriMo

In case you were living under a shell and completely unaware as to what NaNoWriMo is/was, it is National Novel Writing Month.

Keen writers are encouraged to begin on their projects for which they have long procrastinated. Like myself.

More can be discovered at http://nanowrimo.org.

Oh and December is for editing.

Happy writing!

Have iPhone, Will Write.

As a struggling writer, I often struggle with the task of organizing my ideas, thoughts, sporadic bursts of inspiration and the occasional chapter I manage to produce. No matter how much I love organizing all my neat little writings in my pink Vaio, I would still be happier if I benefited from convergent technology since the 2.5kg machine is a bit difficult to maneuver.

Being an iPhone possesser, I dug up some pretty nifty applications that assist disorganized writers like myself to keep everything consistent and accessible.

Explaining to non-tech nerds everywhere in girlspeak:

1. My Writing Nook

This started off as a web based program that eventually developed its own iPhone application (like everyone else, doh). It has the same functionality as Google Docs and even uses the google platform to sign in! So users need a google account if they want to use MWN.

It is a pretty basic application with two major frames. There is a writing window for a continuous outpouring of thoughts while the other section organizes your chapters in alphabetical order. While I'm suitably in agreement with the way it works, I am yet to figure out how I can reorganize my chapters.

Props to the creators for making it super easy to use, although the iPhone application is only compatible with the 3.1 Software update. For $1.99, I'd say sure, why not?

iPhone display of My Writing Nook

My Writing Nook on the web

2. Writer's Block Buster

This application claims that it can cure writer's block by allowing you to search through their large database (300) of "questions and explanations for different things that may be causing or lead to a cure to your writer's block." Categories include plot development, writing mechanics, dialogue, nonfiction & technical, journalism, The Random Bin, and even a "Punctuation Guide".

The application boasts of a "Muse and Scenario" generator/storage engine in which you can keep track of the characters and plotlines in your story. Although some of the tips and suggestions look helpful, I highly doubt an iPhone application can cure a serious bout of writer's block. My prescription for this ailment is usually to take some time off, try something (or even someone) new and revisit the writing desk. Sometimes even a change in setting, such as writing outdoors in the garden instead of your regular cafe or the study can be a welcome change.

$3.99 to frantically search for a muse? Hmm, maybe not?

3. Professional Woman: Writing Assistant

Another writer's block application by the same people who brought you Writer's Block Buster, but this time targeted at the "polished" professional woman, which probably explains the pink/purple theme of the application. The app generates characters, scenarios, plotlines, places, you name it, it has it (according to the creators at Socially Conscious Software).

"Over 300 hand written, thought provoking questions are designed to help you break through writer's block, learn useful tips and expand your horizons." Also priced at $3.99. (Photo unavailable)

4. Story Tracker

This is a really interesting application, but more applicable for the freelancer or established writer who juggles various assignments. Story Tracker allows you not only to keep track of your stories/articles/blurbs etc, but also the income you generate from them. The app comes with an embedded web browser which enables you to search various markets for assignments and add them to your list.

Articles are categorized alphabetically, with each article assigned its own details including the title, market, due date, whether it has been published, rejected or sold as well as the income generated from it. Lastly, it comes with a general statistics page so the user can keep track of his or her productivity.

All in all, a win! Right now it is going at a 50% discount at $4.99. (Photo unavailable)

Guess what kids are wearing!

I was at Forum Shopping Mall over the weekend and I saw this in the Guess Kids window. Why on earth would someone dress their kids up in the most disturbing fashion ever? Super tight skinny jeans? Check. Shiny pink hooker-like shoes? Check. Bicycle chain hanging low around the neck? Check. Leather strap? Hell yeah!

I say that we start a "Give Children Back Their Childhood Movement"

Sephora Sale at Suntec

For anyone who is interested?

Forgiveness

The prompt for one of this Saturday Morning Writers' was "She shrugged her shoulders and said, I don't know why...". My version of the prompt continues below.

She shrugged her shoulders and said, "I don't know why I didn't come, " quoting the popular Norah Jones song.

The song brought me back to my days when my primary residence was a subway platform. I used to sleep on the cold vibrating floor with a ripped leather jacket as my pillow and newspapers for warmth. The smell of urine, smoke and petrol fumes collectively pierced my nostrils creating a fake high when I was short on cocaine or cough syrup.

The subways were the lost city of Atlantis to your average homeless drug addict. Dealers lurked conspicuously in the form of hot dog vendors, peddling their wares. All one had to do was utter the magic word.

Every morning, Juarez, my dealer and friend, would set up his cart at the entrance and blast his Norah Jones CD and tried to sing along to it. "I don't know why I didn't come..." That was basically the only line he knew in the entire song.

I don't know why I had snorted cocaine in those days. I don't know I had dropped out of high school. I don't know why I had no place to live. I don't know why I had no money. I shuddered from the memories.

The physical pain had vanished with few traces, but the mental effects surfaced from time to time. Walking into a room and suddenly realizing, "I don't know why I came it," or the nightmares that drench me constantly in sweat twice or thrice a week. I will never know why I did what I did, but I do know what I am doing now.

I smiled and took her arm, "I forgive you, let's go."

Pinked up!

I wore my pinkest dress to work.

I love pink.

The Rubbish We Like to Call the Indian Music Industry

I found a totally mad song my friend and myself had created. We put it up on facebook and it generated so many comments, including a proposal for a music video!

So Vrinda and myself got talking about Daler Mehndi, the deteriorating music industry, and how nowadays most lyricists just reshuffle the words, add in some new music and give you the latest "hit". So we decided to write a song to see if we could achieve the same level of industry professionalism. Of course, for quality purposes and your entertainment's sake, we made sure that we stayed true to the "true" spirit of Bollywood. The song consists of a modern day Juliet cavorting around a garden (or public place of her choice), trying to woo a reluctant Romeo. She makes use of various literary and song devices such as "heavily Indian-accented" rap, "sexually suggestive" metaphors and certain onomatopoeic words to portray her anguish. Okay so that was a load of rubbish. We figured that if we just threw together a bunch of overused and cliched Bollywood lyrics, we would hit upon the perfect song. So line after line was regurgitated, and we now present to you - Daler ka Jalwa!

Daler Ka Jalwa (to be sung to the tune of either Vande Mataram or any Daler Mehndi song)
Aja soniye, nach baliye
Mera ghaghra, chan chan
Husn ka jalwa, mal mal
Pyaar ke maare
Hai hai, dil dil
Pyar ke bhooke, humse aake mil mil
Ab chodo bhi, ishq ho gaya

(to be rapped in an indian accent)Baby you're so hot, sexy and cool. i want to touch you, make me your fool

(to be sung in a totally insane manner, with wild hand gestures and curious facial expressions)CHIKA BIKA RIKA X5

Anchal ke sahare, jeevan beet gaya
Dil dhadak raha hai
Sansein machal rahi hai
Zulf bikhrey hain, pyaar ka nasha chadh gaya hai
Yaadon me khoi khoi
Chupke chupke se

(to be rapped in an indian accent)Will you be my lover, i'll take you for chai with my mother

(you know what to do here! Add some variations like hip thrusting.)
CHIKA BIKA RIKA X5

Ek ladki chui mui
Khidki sey jhaankti
Teri nigaahen, meri adaein
Chhuye mere dil, Mil gayi manzil
Dil naache chham chham
Badan milaein hum tum

(to be rapped in an indian accent)Will you be my partner, o partner, my heart is racing, so take me to the daacter, o daacter

(Daler never tires and neither should you. Keep those hips going!)
CHIKA BIKA RIKA X5

Twitter Coffee

Meet my new writing buddy - Tweetoccino.

I noticed these new Twitter-ish tumblers in Coffee Bean today while buying lunch. Although there's no actual sign of a real Twitter/Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf collaboration here as there were no logos, promotional materials, campaigns etc, the unmistakeable image of the twitterbird was definitely there.

Twitter Coffee or not, this baby is cutting down my usage of all those take away cups from Coffee Bean & Starbucks.

Flower power! Yay!

Back from Bali!

I'm back from Bali! I think I'll be doing some Bali related writing for a while to get a feel of travel writing. I think travel writing is a useful skill, plus it gives you an excuse to move your butt more often. =)

So as a little present from Bali, I have the following:

He was adorable.