Come check out our wonderful authors. Many genres, many heat levels, lots to love!

I am so blessed to be a writer for Musa. My Wiccan Haus story, Guarding His Heart, releases in January 2014. Snippets to come shortly.

You have to visit the Wiccan Haus blog! Awesome concept: shared world with multiple authors writing stories using the same setting and basic characters (staff). Think Fantasy Island or Love Boat in book form, just hotter and way better. 
The first link is to Sara Daniel's blog, where she interviews Armando from one her Wiccan Haus books, Psychic Lies.
The second link is to the Wiccan Haus blog, where one of the paranormal sibling owners, Cyrus, is the definition of tall, dark and damaged. Or is that dangerous? Both. Don't forget sexy!

My previous post discussed three apps/programs for online organization.
 After struggling to remember what I had named a poor schmuck I'd killed off, I decided I needed a system. I love systems!
If I had a Mac, I'd have used Word Notebook. It's just like a 5 subject wire bound notebook with tabs. Very cool and a Microsoft product so if you use Word for writing, it's easy to use. I have a Windows laptop and have yet to find the Notebook option in MS Word for PC.
So, I decided to use Gingko. And I love it! It's a card style tree outline. 
I started with characters, of course. Each character gets his or her own card, where I write the basic physical description. I add another card for internal conflict, external conflict, family members, backstory. Think three column outlines.
I added a setting card under the character card on the first tier. 
The last card on the first tier is about herbs and potions used in homeopathic healing.
So, I am now organized in my details and I can quickly access information at will.
The best part is that it is cloud based, so I can access it anywhere. Try it!

Writers are busy people. We have lives apart from our characters and their issues. Children, and pets who are our special children, require attention. Spouses need affection and nurturing, too.  And sadly, our personal muses refuse to take over the chores that would free us up to write more. If you have convinced yours to do your housework, please tell me your secret.

What we need more than anything is time. Beautiful, shiny minutes that add up to sparkling hours to spend with our beloved friends everyone else thinks are characters.

One way to save time is to be organized. Here are three free ways to organize your character sketches, setting descriptions and research.

1.       Google docs. You can create documents and spreadsheets and file them in a folder with your WIP’s title. All you need is a Google Mail account (free) and you can access your files on your Google Drive from any device. While it doesn’t have the formatting necessary for submitting your manuscript to a publisher, it is a great place to store documents.

2.       Gingko. A new Chrome app, this cool new program organizes your notes in “tree” format. It’s like notecard writing from high school, but way sexier because it’s digital and cloud based. I am so using this for my next manuscript!

3.       Evernote Web. This Chrome app is also available through the Apple App Store so it’s universal. Accessible from any device, you can make notes whenever inspiration hits you. Widely used in education and business, that many users can’t be wrong!

Try one or all of these organizing apps. Put everything in one place—including your characters sketches—and your heroine won’t end up with a different eye color at the end of your masterpiece.