How to Write Mobile

Hello and salute mes amis. If you are new to visiting the bayou, bienvenue (welcome). I’m happy that you stopped by. If you’re returning, welcome back. It’s a pleasure. Creole Bayou is a blog that discusses topics about culture (all things Creole and Cajun), writing, mental health, and romance/relationships. I’m author and blogger, Genevive. This month, I’m celebrating the upcoming (September 5th) release of my new paranormal sports romance novel Demon Rodeo. As part of the celebration, I have been uploading daily posts about topics and themes that somehow relate to an event or activity that occurs or is mentioned in the story. However, today’s topic isn’t about something that occurs within the story. Instead, it’s about an activity that helped make the story possible.

I’m what one might call a mobile writer. A mobile writer is someone who writes on the go or wherever desired or available. Some days, I may want to write outside. On other days, I may choose to write at a public library or in the park. Still others, I may write in my living room or bedroom. I go where I’m inspired, but sometimes, I go where it’s convenient.

I began mobile writing when I found myself having obligations away from my desktop. The reasons for this varied. At times, it was due to traveling, waiting to be seen by a doctor or dentist, or waiting for a practice to end. What it boiled down to is having a schedule so jammed that it left little time to write—or at least, that is what it appeared on the surface. When I analyzed my situation, I discovered that I had plenty of unutilized time. For example, my little one took ballet lessons. In reality, the studio wasn’t that far from my home. However, with traffic, by the time I drove home and got situated, it would be time to drive back to be on time for pickup. It was more practical to wait. That is what many of the parents did. They sat in their car (because the small lobby would be packed) and waited. Some walked to get in their steps. Some read. Others talked. Some even knitted. I wrote—eventually.

See, my mobile journey occurred in stages. When I began, I used sticky notes and napkins to jot down ideas. This was a mess as there was no organization and pages got lost. Then, I began using a notebook, and anyone who knows me can guess how that went. I would forget to take the notebook with me. So, I’d go to the nearest Dollar General and purchase another one. Soon, I had stacks of unorganized notebooks. Then, I got my first tablet. It was a freebie from my cellular service provider. Thus, it wasn’t very good—not a lot of space, required a stylus, and on the small side. Plus, it didn’t stay charged long, and I didn’t always have an outlet.

My writing routine changed one Saturday when I was required to spend over six hours in a park for an event. I knew for much of that time, I would be alone and would need to entertain myself.  I figured I could work on a writing project, but to do so, I would need some items. I packed my first writing bag.

I won’t go into the many revisions and changes I’ve made to this writing bag other than I have expanded to two. I have a computer carrying bag and a backpack. (I know: overkill.) I have items packed in both. For this list, I won’t always specify what is in what, as it’s not really important, and some items I carry in both. What is important is that I have access to these items anywhere I go. The following is my list.

Computer bag. My computer bag holds my laptop and has a charging port. I selected one with plenty of pockets and space to contain all of my cords and portable chargers.Backpack. Like my computer bag, it has a charging port. I use it to transport my backup laptop. The main difference between it and my computer bag is that I can carry it on my back (hence, backpack).Laptops and cords.USB flash drives. I have multiples because I learned the hard way that they will break or become corrupted. They also may be lost. I carry some in my backpack and the rest in my computer bag. Like national security, the president and vice president do not travel on the same plane.Portable chargers. I have multiple of these for my cell phone. Depending on my location there isn’t always WiFi service. In those instances, I must use my cell phone as a hotspot. This can drain my battery. Now, I know what the next question for many is. If my backpack and computer bag both have built-in charging ports, why do I need a portable one? I use my computer bag and backpack charging ports for my computer and my portable one for my phone. Sometimes, I’m away from an outlet for hours. I need as many avenues to charge as possible.Water bottle. Hydration is important, but I live in the South. For much of the year, it is hot, and one can quickly become parched. However, there is another reason I pack a water bottle and that is for safety. If I’m writing in a public place alone, I don’t want to leave all my possessions unattended while I find a water fountain or stand in a line to purchase a soft drink. It’s convenient to have it.Pencils/Pens. I don’t think I need to explain why a writer needs these. However, I will note that I have multiple in the bag one runs out of ink or the lead breaks and I can’t resharpen. But I also have pens in multiple colors for color coding.Notebook/paper. I have two old notebooks with notes that I use as reference. One day, I plan to transcribe them to disc-bound planner pages for more organization, but as for now, they live in notebooks.Sticky notes. This is another avenue for notetaking and marking pages for quick reference.Highlighters. These help me locate written information quickly.White-out and/or correction tape. These repair mistakes.Reference guides. I highly recommend including these. I carry two, and it makes life so much simpler to have things at my fingertips. Sure, I could perform an internet search, but I’ve annotated my guides. Have you ever looked up something only to discover from that point you need to look up something else to understand the first thing? I have, and I write those notes in my guides. Plus, I can have the guides open while I write instead of having to go back and forward between multiple computer screens.Kleenex. I have allergies, and writing outside can play havoc with them.Sanitizing wipes. Even before the pandemic, I carried sanitizing wipes with me. Public areas can be nasty. I’ve needed to clean off seats or clean my hands if I eat something sticky and/or melting. (Note: Any food coated in cheese powder isn’t ideal when writing.)Headache relief. There have been numerous times I’ve developed a headache when attempting to work on a project. Instead of allowing it to slow me down when I’ve reached a point where I can no longer endure the pain, I take an over-the-counter for relief. I don’t have to leave where I am.Planners. I use the disc-bound system. I know many people use their phones, but I prefer to have a backup. Again, chalk it up to Southern living. This is an area that knows what it is like to be without power for weeks. I’ve also lost documents on the cloud, cell phones, emails, hard drives, and USBs. All I know is to back everything up in as many places as possible. And having a paper planner is one method. Furthermore, I deco-plan. I find it cathartic.Wireless keyboard. I use a wireless keyboard to type messages on my cell. It’s easier than using the small onscreen keyboard. Some of the apps that I use are only on my phone.Plasticware. I know this seems odd, but it’s one of those things that work for me. Often when I work away from home, I eat my meals away, too. Sometimes, I don’t always remember to pack, or the places where I purchase to forget to include plasticware.Snacks. Generally, I pack a small lunch before heading out to write, but I try to keep at least two non-perishable items (e.g., peanut butter crackers or potato chips) in my backpack in case I forget or if I stay longer than planned. The important thing about snacks is to not have anything that leaks or will cause a mess in the backpack. Plastic Tupperware is good for this.Bug spray. This is self-explanatory.

And that’s all I got. Was this post helpful? Do you think you’ll ever visit? Have you visited there? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. If you like this post, please click the like button and share. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read.

Hang onto your bootstraps.

My contemporary M/M paranormal sports romance, Demon Rodeo, is releasing on September 5, 2024, and is available now for preorder on Amazon. For video book trailers, visit my TikTok page. The full blurb is on my Instagram and Amazon.

Demon Rodeo is the first book in the Chasing the Buckle series but can be read as a standalone. It’s a friends-to-lovers romance set in the rodeo world. These are not your typical cowboys. It’s a widely diverse cast of characters and a mashup of genres that aren’t always seen together. If you’re looking for a palate cleanser, this may be a book for you. Also, expect a lot of goodies and giveaways.

Preorder

⇨ Amazon: https://readerlinks.com/l/4174852

⇨ All Stores: https://books2read.com/u/bP8RG7

Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.

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Out of the Penalty Box (book #1) One minute in the box or a lifetime out. Defending the Net (book #2) Crossing the line could cost the game. Ice Gladiators (book #3) When the gloves come off, the games begin. Penalty Kill (book #4) Let the pucker begin. Future Goals (book #5) The future lies between a puck and a net.

About the Author:

Hi, I’m Genevive, and I am a contemporary sports romance author. My home is in South Louisiana. If you like snark and giggles with a touch of steamy Cajun and Creole on the side, I may have your poison in my stash of books. Drop by the bayou and have a look around. The pirogues are always waiting for new visitors.