The cinema of my dreams – I always wanted to write a war story – Episode 10

For a story that was conceived during those long boring hours flying in a steel cocoon, striving to keep away the thoughts that the plane and everyone in it could just simply disappear as planes have in the past, it has come a long way.

Whilst I have always had a fascination in what happened during the second world war, not the battles or fighting, but in the more obscure events that took place, I decided to pen my own little sidebar to what was a long and bitter war.

And, so, it continues…

…

We walked slowly towards the end of the passage, each time I passed a cell I had a look in, and noted if it had a prisoner or not. By the end of the passage, I counted six prisoners, and one was a woman.’

She just looked at me sullenly, and I guess if it was light enough, that look would be with pleading eyes. Sadly, I couldn’t save her, or the other five.

At the end of the corridor, we retraced our steps towards the hall, along the passage where I counted another three prisoners, then up the stairs to the ground level. We came out into a better-lit alcove with arches leading in three directions.

Straight ahead was the hall.

We turned to the left. Along another passage that seemed to run the length of the wall, what I thought was the stone battlement that made up one side of the castle, looking out over fields, with a village in the distance.

What I thought was the opposite side to the guard tower I’d been in earlier.

I tried to figure out if that’s where we were, and if my memory served me correctly, we were heading towards the wall that was built into the mountainside, in which case we’d go up another set of stairs, at the top of which would be an exit, or turning right, to a room that once served as the guards quarters, now used for kitchen supplies.

What else was here? My mind was blank.

Up the steps, so far I was right, ahead of a thick wooden door, locked, so we turned right and passed a small room. I’d forgotten it, but it was the radio room, wires leading out a small arrow slit window to the aerial. The man in front stumbled, then regained his gait.

I could hear the man behind me shaking his head.

“Halt,” the man behind me barked.

The man in front stopped dead, and I crashed into him. I felt rather than saw the fist come towards me; it was not for me, but the other guard, who, preoccupied with not falling, never saw it coming.

He went down like the proverbial ask of potatoes, no idea what happened.

My turn?

A hand landed on my shoulder, thrusting me towards the door to the storeroom. “Go, now. The door on the other side is open, head down to the creek and follow it. Someone will meet you.”

I half turned, “Who…”

“No time. Go. And shut the door behind you.” I felt him thrust a gun in my hand. “Hit me.”

I hesitated.

“Do it, or I’ll be shot.”

I shrugged and hit him. He slowly slid to the floor. A second glance, no, I didn’t know who he was, the headed for the back of the storeroom. The door was open. A cautious look before stepping out, I saw no one but heard breathing. Jack. How did the dog know I’d be here?

I closed the door behind me and heard the lock engage, then after a pat on Jack’s head, he led the way.

“Chance Encounter”, A short story

The afternoon rush hour jammed the exit roads, particularly those to the beach. Nearly everyone was heading for relief from the heat wave, now in its tenth consecutive day. What had started out a novelty was now just tiresome, with no forecast respite.

A light breeze tried to fan away the afternoon heat, but it had little impact. The temperature was still hovering in the high 30’s when Bill left the office at 6:30 that evening.

On the road it was little better, and hotter in the car than out. There was no point running the air conditioner in those conditions, as both he and many others had discovered. The stop-start traffic made it worse, and people who had already suffered enough were close to breaking point.

Once again, the traffic stopped, and tempers frayed to the point of blowing horns and yelling forlorn abuse at some unseen driver or cause. It was a no-win situation, and to Bill, a waste of time and energy. His time and energy, he thought, was best directed at analysis. Yet how different had the afternoon been to what was currently happening?

In charge of the Customer Service centre for the area’s electricity supplier, it had been difficult to say the least. That afternoon had seen the highest consumption of electricity since the heat wave began, since time immemorial for that matter, and had started to affect the functionality of the grid, with the first failures occurring.

It had been predicted, but was not expected quite this early, and as parts of the city were beginning to feel the effect of temporary blackouts, his, and his staff’s work had begun to receive the full effect of the community’s contempt and hatred.

The traffic disaster was not a patch on the abuse both he and members of his staff had received that afternoon, and he instinctively knew it was not going to improve.

Normally he would stay on and help the incoming supervisor. This time, someone else could handle the problems. Doing the usual Friday afternoon desk clean up, he’d found the invitation to Wally’s stag party and as best man, he was obligated to go. One of the other and more compelling reasons was to see which of his colleagues would make a fool of themselves.

…

It didn’t take long to get home and change into what he considered proper party attire. He smiled at the thought of being an anachronism from a bygone age, and of what others thought of him. He was too old to change.

Before leaving, he lingered over several glasses of champagne, and strawberries, trying to get into the mood. At the same time, he surveyed the ravages of middle management pressures. Just a year in the job had aged him five, and a tinges of grey beginning to appear at the sides.

A wave of tiredness came over him. The thought of staying home and immersing himself in classical music and another bottle of champagne crossed his mind, but he said he would go. Wally was one of the few he could call a true friend. He would go, but not stay long.

…

As usual, he was late.

Groups had spilled out onto the front veranda, and the front lawn. He knew most of the partygoers by sight, if not by name. Acquaintances, not friends. Not the sort of people he usually mingled with. He exchanged greetings, accepted drinks, and tried to maintain appearances.

It didn’t take long to realise it was a mistake. The carnival atmosphere and good cheer all around him made him feel melancholier, as a wave of loneliness closed around him like the night air.

He knew only too well what the problem was but had no idea how to deal with it. Neither his upbringing nor experience was of any use. It would require outside help; the sort Wally had already offered. Just when would he do something about it, if at all? If the truth were known, Bill was too frightened of the consequences, of getting hurt. Perhaps a few more drinks…

Making his way through the crowded rooms towards the back of the house, he felt the deadening effect of the alcohol beginning to fight off the empty feeling within.

He made desultory conversation with a secretary he knew was high on the dating list for most junior executives, deriving some pleasure in the thought she talked to him, then to another young lady who worked his shift, whom he thought both intelligent and charming, and whose behaviour didn’t shatter his assumptions as some others had.

As the night wore on. it became evident few had noticed his arrival, even fewer his sudden disappearance to the back veranda, overlooking the ocean. He had seen Wally on one occasion when he was trying to drink about 10 gallons of beer in one attempt and thought it wise not to interrupt.

It was, he thought, all part of the game, to drink so much he would forget how it was when he was single, though Bill doubted he could do it in a single night. Bill could hardly wait till the wedding the next afternoon.

…

He looked back momentarily at the apparent abandon of the other guests, hearing the muted murmur of endless conversations, and loud music. Everyone was having a good time, as it should be.

The gentle, soothing, lapping of the tide on the beach beckoned him. He put his empty glass on a ledge and went quietly down the stairs onto the sand. A refreshing, cool breeze rolled in with the tide, immediately improving his mood.

At the water’s edge, he paused momentarily to soak in the calming atmosphere, then put his hands in his pockets and headed for the pier. A leisurely stroll there and back would be a sufficient break to enable him to endure the rest of the evening. Yes, he would stay, if only to see that Wally didn’t overindulge. After all, some duties did fall on the incumbent best man.

Occasionally he kicked the sand with the toe of his shoe, once for a thoroughly detestable human relations consultant, and another for a particularly annoying assistant. It scuffed the high polish, but he didn’t care. This was a time when near impeccable would be good enough.

He was alone, and in more ways than one but it was more by design than by accident. He had recently been involved in a relationship that was doomed before it began. Work had always pushed that side of his life into second place because he let it. Now, having thought about it rationally for the first time, he realised it was time to place less importance on work and more on giving any sort of relationship a chance.

Wally had offered to find him someone, but knowing Wally as he did, Bill had declined. Of course, to Wally ‘no’ really meant go ahead anyway. While at the party, he had surveyed those he thought Wally might have invited as potential matches, some voluptuous, some half-naked, some painted, some all three.

There was no doubting their intent, and he had seen the same in the singles bars when on the town with Wally when they had nothing better to do with a Friday night. Yet, none of those he’d seen, then or now, matched his criteria. Were his standards set too high? Wally never said it, but the fact he didn’t, said more than if he had said it out loud.

Bill sighed. Perhaps he was too set in his ways and unable to change.

…

Adjoining the pier was the old amusement centre, which burnt down several years before. It was the reason for the closing of the beach, and its recent exclusivity to those nearby backing onto it. All that remained was the scorched concrete floor and parts of the walls. It was these remains he had just gone under.

Beneath them, the sounds of the sea and the night were more pronounced, creating an eerie, sinister feeling. The smell of the burnt timber still hung in the air, despite the intervening years.

“Hi!” A feminine voice came out from the shadows, behind one of the pylons nearby.

He started violently, not expecting anyone else. It took a moment to collect his thoughts, then turn to see who she was.

“Oh,” was all he could say to the now visible girl’s outline etched against the distant city lights.

Both came out the other side together into the half-light, leaving the gloom behind. She began, “I hope I didn’t scare you back there?”

“Only half to death.” He brushed the non-existent wrinkles out of his dinner suit, more a reflex action, then put his hands back in his pockets, composure regained.

“I’m awfully sorry. I didn’t mean to.”

He was a little angry, and turning to her, said quietly, “Then what was….” He stopped suddenly, surprised at what he saw. Tall, well-proportioned, dressed in expensive eveningwear, much the same as he was. He instantly realised she could almost pass as an exact replica of Venus except for the untidy, waist-length hair.

“I don’t know. I guess I wanted to talk to someone, you were handy, so I just said ‘hi’.” Her tone was apprehensive, with a slight tremor in it.

She smiled nervously, yet in a way, he noticed it totally changed her appearance, and his heart missed a beat.

“Oh,” he said again, subconsciously feeling she had put him in his place. He shook his head and looked again, disbelieving what he saw.

“I hope you don’t mind?”

“Don’t mind what?” He’d lost track of the conversation and realised he was quickly moving towards looking and sounding like a gibbering idiot. It was, he realised, just like every other time when faced with a beautiful woman.

“Me talking to you.”

He took a deep breath and tried to remain calm. He could feel a runnel of sweat slide down the side of his face, “No. Not really. It’s just the diversion I need”. He looked at the sand, the sea, then her. “I have a feeling I’ve seen you before.”

He moved on, and so did she, both in unison.

“Staring at you from the pages of magazines?”

“I guess so. What did you do? Rob a bank? Divorce a Prince or millionaire?”

“As if. Nothing quite as exotic, or exciting, I’m afraid. Just draped in clothes or plastered in make-up. Boring huh?”

“No. Not really.”

“You’re a bit hard up for new lines?”

He shrugged. It was difficult talking to this woman, and, lacking in confidence, he was starting to feel a little embarrassed.

She changed the subject. “Do you live here?”

“No….”

“Don’t say it, not really!” she interrupted.

He sighed, trying to regain composure. “OK. I was at a party.”

“Aha. Now we’re getting somewhere.” Then she gave him a curious look. “Was?” Then, after he didn’t answer, “How come you’re not with the others, having a good time?”

“Perhaps I’m not cut out to ‘have a good time’. Actually, I thought I’d take a time out from the frenetic pace and get some fresh air.”

“And now the fresh air had lost its appeal?”

“I didn’t say that.” Did that come out sounding flustered? It was how he felt inside. He was going to have to try harder if he was to keep her interest. “It’s beginning to get interesting. And I still can’t place where I’ve seen you before.” He shook his head. “No matter. What brings you here?”

“Someone told me about this place a long time ago. I thought I’d come and check it out.”

He turned and headed back, deciding the diversion had exceeded the time limit he’d set, and it had now become an elongated absence. She did the same.

“And what do you think?” he asked.

“About what?”

This conversation would sound very strange if anyone else was nearby listening to them. Luckily, there wasn’t. “This place.”

“Very peaceful, secluded, interesting, as you said.”

“Interesting in what way?” Damn, had he asked that already?

“Well …” She shrugged, then asked, “Do you always walk around with your hands in your pockets?”

Simple answer, yes. “Can’t think of where else to put them.”

What did it have to do with her anyway? And, in that instant, he realised that it was he who was the problem here, not her.

“What if you were to hold a girl’s hand?”

“I don’t know of any who would want me to.”

“Would you like to hold mine?”

“Why? Is it going to run away?”

She smiled. “More than likely.”

He stopped. She stopped. He surveyed her with a critical eye.

“Aha. The eye that asks, ‘Who is the disreputable and outrageous person who dares to ask such a thing?’

He smiled and took her hand in his. It was soft and warm and sent a slight tingle up his spine.

“I talk too much. Don’t I?” she asked suddenly after they started walking again.

“No.”

She sighed. “Here we go again.”

…

On the other side of the pier, there was an old car park, no longer used. Along the beachfront was a long, low stone wall, and they headed towards it. Once there, they sat down to watch darkness finally settle in, the last of the sun’s rays melting in a glorious display of reds, oranges, and yellows.

Without speaking, they were content to listen to the waves, feel the cooling breeze, and watch the sea glisten in the moonlight.

Nothing happened for an indeterminable length of time, during which he nearly forgot she was there. He suddenly snapped out of it when he heard a match rasping.

He turned to see her trying to light a cigarette, but her hand was shaking so much, the match went out. She tried again, but the same thing happened. She savagely threw the cigarette away and pounded her hand on the cement as though it was something she hated.

He took a pack of cigarettes and a lighter out of his coat pocket and offered her one.

“No. It’s reason enough to try to give it up,” she said quietly.

He returned the items to his pocket and took her hand in his, looked carefully at it, then kissed it. “Trying to dent cement is not wise unless you are Superman or Supergirl. I know. I tried once and broke three fingers. Fortunately, nothing is broken.”

She moved closer. “Thanks.”

“For what?”

“Making me feel silly.”

“But … I didn’t mean to … I mean …”

She leaned towards him and kissed his lips. “Hush.”

He held her hand up and looked at it, rather than her, trying to get a grip on his emotions, and saying, a good dead steadier than he felt, “I need a third hand. Do you think I could have it?”

“With pleasure. It’s apparently no good to me anymore.”

“Why?”

“Shakes too much.”

“Perhaps I could use it to massage my face.” He gently moved her hand down the side of his face and again felt a tingle up his spine. Again, he kissed it gently where she had hit it, not knowing why, just that it seemed like the right thing to do.

“Perhaps not. Seems to me you have a case of bad nerves. These are familiar symptoms. You need a rest, perhaps a holiday, and complete relaxation. That will be a five-dollar consultation fee.”

She smiled. “Will you stop it.”

“Why? It makes you smile.”

“Your right, of course. I need a rest. The last six months have been horrible, working day and night, and a failed relationship on top of it.” She sighed. “I feel sleepy.” She leaned against him, putting her arms around him for balance.

“Hey, no. You can’t do that.” He fended her off gently. “I’ve got a party to get back to, and by now I think I should be missed. God knows what Wally will think.”

He stood and she rolled sideways. “Oh, come on.” He looked up towards the sky. “Why did you make some women like this,” he muttered. Then he put his arms around her and lifted her to her feet. She leaned back against him and he could feel how warm and soft she was. It was a battle just to make sure he kept his hands in the right places, and she wasn’t making it easy for him.

He held her up then moved around to the front and caught her just as she began to fall forward. It was exasperating, and yet amusing. He let her go and she began to fall down, so he caught her again.

She was smiling.

“Beware the smile on the face of the tiger,” he muttered. His face was level with hers and just then an idea came to him. He kissed her forehead, nose, chin, then finally her lips, and she came to life.

It was just what she was hoping would happen. Instead of surprising her, she surprised him by responding in kind; leaving him with a feeling he’d never experienced before. And a heart rate that was off the chart.

“Now, if only you’d tried that earlier,” she said.

He looked her straight in the eye. “Just who are you?”

“Me.”

“Does ‘me’ have a name?”

“Do you want ‘me’ to have a name?”

“Yes.”

“Claire.”

“Then you may call me Bill. Do you often pick up strange lonely men on secluded beaches?”

“No.”

“Infuse life into otherwise dead souls?”

“No.”

“Just happened to be the one thing I needed right now?”

She smiled; a smile that made his heart do double somersaults.

“Perhaps a yes.”

“Can I see you again? I have to see you again.”

“Have to?”

“Like to, then.”

“Perhaps.”

“When?”

“Soon, perhaps sooner than you think. Do you have to go back?”

“Yes. If I don’t, Wally will be mad at me.” He pulled out a notebook and pencil he always carried with him. “Where do you live?”

She told him.

“If I come by Sunday may I take you out, a drive, somewhere up the coast? Fresh sea air, total relaxation.”

“Part of the therapy I’m paying five dollars for?”

He brushed a few strands of hair out of her eyes, feeling her warm soft skin under his hand, then kissed her. “Indeed. Until the next time.”

She smiled again. “Until the next time.”

He turned and headed back to the party, not looking back.

…

No one noticed his absence; despite the fact over an hour had lapsed. He resumed his place on the veranda, new drink in hand looking vacantly towards the pier, wondering if he would see her again, if she were just a figment of his imagination. It was just too good to be true.

“Ah, Bill. I thought I would find you here. Thinking about a walk. No, I see you’ve already been.” Wally sounded sober and looked it. Perhaps this was all just a dream.

He looked down. His shoes still had sand on them. He looked at Wally and smiled. “Fresh air. Contemplating the human condition. You know what I’m like at parties.”

“Better than you think. What did you think of her?”

“Her?”

“The so-called blind date. I didn’t think a formal introduction would work.”

Bill shrugged. “Very nice, but a little…”

Wally smiled the same unique smile of hers.

“Your sister?”

Wally nodded. “Take exceptionally good care of her my friend. She’s very vulnerable at the moment, and I couldn’t think of anyone better to look after her.” He held up his glass. “Cheers.”

…

The 2am Rant: There’s more time for TV

Being confined to home because despite the conquering of COVID, it’s still out there and we have to live with it – something in my condition I can’t take too many risks with – not only gives me, and a lot of others more time to write, it also enables us to explore a few more leisure options to fill in the time.

After all, we can hardly just keep writing endlessly.

Well, perhaps some of us could.

At first, I decided I would do some virtual travelling, you know, go to places I would never go in person, like South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, South America, you know the sort of places I mean, the ones where you can’t get travel insurance cover, or not without mortgaging your home.

That lasted about a day. Seeing the pyramids online was not the same as being there, getting the sand blown in your face, or the tour bus being hijacked, and you spend the next three months in a dark, hot, hell hole while the kidnappers negotiate with governments that refuse to negotiate with terrorists.

So far, I’m not filling in my time very well.

There are weeds to be pulled, lawns to be cut, shrubs and trees to be pruned, painting to be done, you know, all of those chores that you put off until tomorrow, knowing tomorrow will never come.

Don’t ask me to explain that.

So, we’re left with television.

Firstly there was a series called Yellowstone, a western in a modern setting, three series worth. Yes, we watched all of them, no, didn’t like the swearing, or Beth Dutton, Rip was channelling the Duke (John Wayne), and Kevin Costner, well, his stint in Dances with Wolves stood him in good stead.

Geez though, how much trouble can one ranch attract? Indians, speculators, developers, and an international airport? To be honest, at times it spiralled out of control, but for sheer entertainment value, it was slightly better than I thought it might be. As for Jamie, how could one person be so complicated?

Then there was another series, Away. OK, this was about as far-fetched as a premise could get, and the characters, as diverse, and sometimes as obtuse as any I’ve seen thrown together for over eight months. Thank god we didn’t have to suffer eight months of it.

It was good, I guess, with people being the way they are, and I’d expected in the confines of that small space for so long, they might have killed each other off one at a time, like in Lord of the Flies, but no such luck.

My favourite? The Russian. He might have been blind but he was interesting. Just would have liked a few subtitles for us non-Ghana, Chinese, Russian, and Indian people.

As for White House Farm, I’m still trying to work out who killed them all, because it definitely wasn’t the daughter. It had to be the indifferent son, or at his behest. Full marks to the dogged detective, who, the last time I saw him, he was a rather improbable Hercules. Funny how your impression of a performance goes back to one you’ve seen him before.

Which is another of our viewing interests, watching a show and trying to work out where we’ve seen the actors before. Some are familiar and seem to be in everything, others rarely seen, or remembered. I hope this is not a sign of their acting talent, or more to the point, lack of it.

At the moment we are in the middle of Young Wallender. Those who may have seen Branagh in the Wallender series would remember this as being the most stultifying of series, filmed bleakly in a bleak country with bleak characters, and bleak crimes.

Fortunately, the Young Wallender series is not as bleak, but it has dark undertones. Some might call this gritty. There are four more to go so it can only get better.

Like jumping off a ten-storey building, it’s so far so good…

Writing a book in 365 days – 353

Day 353

Introduction: Why Your Choice of Software Matters

Writing isn’t just about putting words on a page; it’s a craft that demands focus, organisation, and the right set of tools to bring ideas to life. The software you choose can:

Boost productivity – by cutting down on manual formatting and navigation.
Protect your creative flow – by offering distraction‑free modes and version control.
Scale with your project – from a single‑page article to a 500‑page novel or a multi‑chapter research thesis.

With a flood of options on the market, two camps dominate the conversation:

Dedicated writing software (think Scrivener, Ulysses, yWriter).
Run‑of‑the‑mill word processors (Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Apple Pages).

Let’s dive deep into the strengths, weaknesses, and ideal use‑cases for each, so you can make an informed decision that aligns with your workflow.

1. Dedicated Writing Software – The Specialist’s Toolkit

1.1 What Makes a “Dedicated” App Different?

Dedicated writing apps are built from the ground up for long‑form, project‑based writing. They go beyond the classic “type‑and‑print” paradigm and provide:

Feature	Why It Matters
Project‑level organization (folders, corkboards, outline view)	Keeps chapters, scenes, research, and notes in one place without endless scrolling.
Distraction‑free modes	Full‑screen or “typewriter” view clears the screen of UI clutter, helping you stay in the zone.
Version control & snapshots	Capture a “snapshot” of a chapter at any point and revert without losing later edits.
Export versatility	Export to ePub, Kindle, PDF, Word, plain text, and even manuscript‑ready formats with a single click.
Metadata & tagging	Attach custom fields (e.g., POV, status, word count) for advanced sorting and filtering.

1.2 Scrivener – The Industry Standard

“If you write a novel, a screenplay, or a dissertation, Scrivener is the Swiss Army knife you never knew you needed.” — John H., bestselling author

Pros

	Scrivener Highlights
Robust Binder	Drag‑and‑drop chapters, scenes, and research PDFs into a hierarchical tree.
Corkboard & Outliner	Visualize story arcs with index cards; rearrange with a mouse swipe.
Split‑Screen Editing	View two documents side‑by‑side (e.g., manuscript + notes).
Built‑in Templates	Pre‑made templates for novels, scripts, non‑fiction, and academic papers.
Cross‑Platform	macOS, Windows, iOS (sync via Dropbox).

Cons

	Potential Drawbacks
Learning Curve	The sheer number of features can overwhelm newcomers.
Price	$49 (Mac/Windows) + $29 (iOS) – a one‑time purchase, but higher than a free Google account.
Collaboration	Not designed for real‑time co‑authoring (though you can share exported files).

1.3 Other Notable Dedicated Apps

App	Ideal For	Standout Feature
Ulysses (macOS/iOS)	Bloggers, journalists, Apple‑centric writers	Seamless iCloud sync + Markdown simplicity
yWriter (Windows)	Screenwriters & novelists on a budget	Free, robust scene‑based organization
Storyist (macOS/iOS)	Fiction & script writers	Integrated storyboard & script formatting

2. Run‑of‑the‑Mill Word Processors – The Everyday Workhorse

2.1 Microsoft Word – The Classic Giant

Word has been the default for decades, and its capabilities have expanded far beyond a simple text editor.

Pros

	Word Strengths
Universal Compatibility	Almost every publisher, editor, and academic institution expects a .docx file.
Advanced Formatting	Styles, footnotes, cross‑references, tables of contents – all built‑in.
Track Changes & Comments	Ideal for collaborative editing with editors or co‑authors.
Add‑ins & Macros	Customize with VBA scripts for repetitive tasks.
Desktop & Online Versions	Use the full‑featured desktop app or the cloud‑based Word Online.

Cons

	Word Weaknesses
Project Management Lacks	No native folder‑like binder; you’ll need to open multiple files or use a master document (which can be unstable).
Distraction‑Heavy UI	Ribbon, sidebars, and toolbars can pull focus away from writing.
Limited Export Options	Not as straightforward to output to ePub or Kindle format without third‑party plugins.

2.2 Google Docs – The Cloud‑Centric Contender

Google Docs is the go‑to for real‑time collaboration, especially in remote teams or classrooms.

Pros

	Google Docs Benefits
Real‑Time Collaboration	Multiple users can edit simultaneously with live cursors.
Automatic Cloud Saves	No risk of losing work due to hardware failure.
Add‑Ons Marketplace	Extend functionality (e.g., citation managers, grammar checkers).
Access Anywhere	Browser‑based; works on any OS with internet.
Free Tier	Generous storage via Google Drive.

Cons

	Google Docs Limitations
Limited Formatting & Styles	Complex manuscript formatting (e.g., long TOCs) can be clunky.
No Built‑In Project View	You’ll need to manage individual files manually in Drive.
Offline Mode	Works, but requires setup; performance can be slower offline.
Export Formats	Primarily PDF, Word, plain text; no native ePub/KDP export.

2.3 When Word Processors Shine

Scenario	Recommended Tool
Academic Papers (APA/MLA/Chicago)	Word (styles, citations, footnotes)
Team Reports or Shared Docs	Google Docs (real‑time editing)
Short‑Form Content (blog posts, newsletters)	Either – choose based on collaboration needs
Final Manuscript Formatting for Publishers	Word (industry standard)

3. Decision Matrix – Matching Tool to Writer Type

Writer Profile	Primary Needs	Best Fit
Novelist (300‑500+ pages, heavy outlining)	Project organization, scene tracking, flexible export	Scrivener (or Ulysses for Mac/iOS)
Screenwriter	Script formatting, beat boards, quick revisions	Final Draft (industry) or Scrivener (script template)
Academic Researcher	Citation management, footnotes, large reference library	Word (with EndNote/Zotero) or Google Docs + add‑on
Freelance Blogger	Fast drafting, SEO collaboration, easy publishing	Google Docs (collab) or Word (if you prefer offline)
Non‑fiction Author (multiple chapters, interviews, PDFs)	Mixed media integration, flexible export, version snapshots	Scrivener
Team of Editors	Real‑time comments, change tracking, simultaneous editing	Google Docs (or Word Online)

4. Practical Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Chosen Software

Start with a Template – Most dedicated apps ship with ready‑made templates that handle margins, headers, and chapter styles. Save time by customising once and reusing.
Leverage Cloud Sync – Even if you love Scrivener, store your project folder in Dropbox or OneDrive to protect against hardware loss.
Combine Tools – Write first drafts in a distraction‑free environment (Scrivener, Ulysses, or even a plain‑text editor), then import into Word for final formatting and submission.
Use Keyboard Shortcuts – Learn the top 10 shortcuts for your platform; they shave seconds off every page.
Backup Regularly – Set up an automatic backup schedule (e.g., weekly zip of your project folder) regardless of cloud storage.

5. Bottom Line: There Is No One‑Size‑Fits‑All Answer

If your writing is project‑heavy, non‑linear, and you need robust organisation, dedicated software like Scrivener (or its Mac‑centric cousins) is the clear winner.
If you work primarily in teams, need instant collaboration, or are delivering polished documents to publishers or academia, Microsoft Word or Google Docs will serve you better.

My personal recommendation? Use a hybrid workflow: draft and outline in Scrivener for its unrivalled project management, then export your manuscript to Word for final polishing, formatting, and sharing. For collaborative pieces, switch to Google Docs during the editing phase, then bring the clean version back into Word.

Bonus: Quick Comparison Chart

Feature	Scrivener	Ulysses	Microsoft Word	Google Docs
Project Binder
Distraction‑Free Mode
Real‑Time Collaboration			(online)
Advanced Export (ePub, Kindle)			(needs add‑on)
Citation Management	Limited	Limited	(via add‑ins)	(via add‑ons)
Price (as of 2026)	$49 (one‑time)	$49.99/yr	$149.99 (Microsoft 365)	Free (Google Workspace)
Learning Curve	Moderate	Low	Low	Low

Take Action Today

Identify your primary writing goal (novel, article, thesis, team report).
Match the goal to the software using the matrix above.
Download a free trial (Scrivener offers a 30‑day trial; Word has a 60‑day Microsoft 365 trial).
Test a small project—write a single chapter or a 1,000‑word article. Observe how the tool fits your workflow.
Commit to the software that feels like an extension of your creative mind, not a barrier.

Happy writing!

What I learned about writing – Keep a journal, write down everything

Travelling is always a good source of material to add to the writing store.

Writers collect anecdotes, descriptions of their fellow travellers, more the idiosyncrasies than an actual physical description, and of the experience, though it is all the better if it turns out to be really, really bad than good.

This equally applies to experiences in hotels, with hire cars, tourist spots and especially fellow travellers.

Start with the airline. This can make or break the start of a holiday and could be the difference between a great start or a horrid one.

We can usually accept the sardine arrangements, the lack of legroom, being within earshot of a screaming baby, or put up with the constant kicking in the back of the seat by the wretched uncontrollable child sitting behind you.

It’s having the person in front fully reclining their seat in your face that gets your goat. For an hour and a half or eight hours, it is still the biggest bone of contention when flying.

We are taking one airline down to Melbourne the one that makes a big deal out of the full service it provides, and another airline back, formerly a low-cost airline but now trying to match its so-called full-service rival.

The flight down is smooth, and the food reasonably good. The landing, even though the pilot was battling sharp crosswinds, was very heavy and left us in no doubt we had reached terra firma again. I’ve been on worse.

Hire cars are a rich field to pick over and I’ve read some interesting experiences involving even the best. So far I’ve not had a problem. I pre-booked as far in advance as possible to get a small fuel-efficient vehicle. Sometimes we are upgraded and while they think they are doing you a favour it is not necessarily the case, especially when you finish up with a large car that barely fits small provincial French roads one lane wide. It does happen.

There is also the waiting time at the car rental desk, particularly when it’s the rental company you picked, while other company desks are empty. You also quickly discover that most of the people in the queue didn’t think of pre-booking a car, which to my mind is expecting trouble with it being the peak holiday period.

We had to wait in a long queue after taking a chance it would be less crowded at the pick-up point than the desk in the airport terminal. It was no surprise to discover that a lot of other travellers had the same thought.

Hotels can also be one of the major letdowns of a holiday. If you are going to use a travel agent to pick a hotel for you, make sure you check as much as you can because no matter how it is described, seeing it, in reality, is always completely different than the pictures in a brochure and sometimes on the Internet. It requires research and a good look at TripAdvisor. Or word of mouth by someone you know and trust who has stayed there.

Take, for instance, staying in a five-star hotel the usual stomping ground of the rich and famous, it is always interesting to see how the less privileged fare. Where hotel staff are supposed to treat each guess equally it is not always the case. Certainly, if you’re flashing money around, the staff will be happy to take it though you may not necessarily get what you’re expecting.

We are lucky to be in the highest loyalty level and this accords us a number of privileges; this time working in our favour but it is not always the case. Privilege can sometimes count for nothing. It often depends on the humour of the front desk clerk and woe betide you if you get the receptionist from hell. Been there, done that, more than once.

Then there is the room. There is such a wide variety of rooms available even if the hotel site or brochure had representative pictures the odds are you can still get a room that is nothing like you’re expecting or were promised.

Believe me, there are rooms with a view, overlooking pigeon coops or air-conditioning vents.

A bone of contention often can be the location of the hotel and sometimes parking facilities not the least of which is the cost. Valet parking; forget it.

We are reasonably near transport if we could walk, the km to the nearest bus or tram stop is a long long way when you can’t walk and that’s when the hotel starts to feel like a prison. Taxis may be cheap but when you have to use them three or four times a day it all adds up.

Be wary when a hotel says it is close to public transport. While that may be true in London, anywhere else especially in Europe you could find yourself in the middle of nowhere. Its when you discover your travel agent didn’t exactly lie but it is why that weekly rate was so cheap. In the end, the sum of the taxi fares and the accommodation turns out to be dearer than if you stayed at the Savoy.

So airline, hire car and hotel aside those front line experiences are fodder for the travel blogger, these people who are also known as road warriors.

I wondered why until we started travelling and discovered the incredible highs and lows, of flying, yes there are good and bad airlines and the bad are not confined to the low cost, of rental cars and of hotels. There is a very large gulf between five stars and three and sometimes three can be very generous. And of course, l now have a list of hotels l would never stay in again, the names of which might surprise you.

Unfortunately, my travel exploits are sometimes as boring as the day is long, but even then, there’s at least one calamity to deal with.

Our airport experiences are all without incident, although from time to time the sight of police or soldiers patrolling with guns can be disconcerting.

We have also experienced the odd problem in London at Heathrow firstly trying to get hep from the designated help staff and then to find the check-in desk of an airline apparently no one available knew existed.

That was momentarily exciting after phone calls were not answered and internet contact was not possible. Not until a little footwork found the agents desk and the misunderstanding was sorted out.

By the way, the airline itself was a pleasure to fly on, the staff pleasant and most of all we arrived just before the airport closed.

On the way home, only a flight stands between us and getting home. After days sometimes weeks it is that moment we all look forward to sleeping on our own beds making our own food and getting to the gym to work off those extra kilos put on by delicious hotel food or local fare where calorie counting is not part of the dining experience.

Of course, getting to the airport from the hotel can be an experience in itself whether by taxi perhaps the taxi driver from hell who knows only two speeds fast and stop and is also, unfortunately, colour blind.

Or whether you have arranged for a transfer only to discover it’s not coming because the company went out of business or you changed hotels and someone forgot to tell them.

Or the travel agent made a mistake or forgot to confirm the booking.

Oh yes, it happens.

We have a hire car and will be returning it t the same place. Let’s hope the signage at the airport makes it easy to find the rental place. In London we had a hell of a time trying to find it; good thing we were hours earlier than we should be.

And just because the sign says rental returns for the lane you’re in it doesn’t necessarily follow it’s the right lane. Then as you miss the exit, and get stuck on the one-way road system, all of a sudden you have left the airport and you’re heading back to the city.

If you’re running late …

But if everything goes to plan you get to the airport with time to spare.

We manage to arrive early at the airport. Rather than wait three hours for our flight we decide to try and get on an earlier departure. This will depend on our ticket type and whether there are seats available, preferably together.

We line up in the service queue, which by its very description means you have a long wait as service is mostly between difficult to impossible depending on the request.

We wait for twenty minutes. There’s a long queue behind us. Our request is taken care of quickly and efficiently making it almost seamless, certainly painless. I’m sure our request was one of the very few easy ones the staff will get.

Today it seems it is our lucky day. The transfer to an earlier flight is free and there are two seats available together. All we have to do is alert the pick-up driver at our destination we are going to be an hour earlier. Done.

Checking in bags is usually the bane of the traveller’s existence.

No matter which airport in whatever country you are departing from the only difference is the length of the queue; from incredibly long with a half-hour wait to the head of the line to up to an hour. Our queue is 15 to 20 minutes.

One assumes this is why intending passengers are asked to go to the airport two hours ahead of their fight. There are times of the day where the queues are horrendous, and that not only applies to Heathrow.

And if you are late, just panic.

And if your bags are overweight be prepared to have your credit card hammered.

Especially if you’re flying Air France from Venice to Paris. Domestically in Australia, it’s not so bad.

Now its time to relax. There is an hour before we have to be at the gate so just enough time to get coffee and a doughnut.

And be horrified at what shops charge for simple items like sandwiches. I think $10 is very expensive. But if you’re hungry and forgot to eat before getting to the airport then be prepared to pay more than you usually would for the same fare.

It’s also time to observe our fellow passengers, and there is always the one who has a last-minute dash for a plane that is just about to leave, passengers with panic-stricken looks.

We all know what happens if you miss the flight even as you’re downing that last cocktail in the airline lounge while thinking, yes they’ll hold the flight for me!

Apparently not because airlines want to keep their ‘on-time’ record.

Even so, there’s still three more calls for the missing passengers and then nothing. If they missed the plane there their problems are just beginning. It’s the same feeling you have when your name is called out before the flight starts loading.

Only once have we been called up and given an upgrade, and once in the US to be told we could take another flight because our flight was overbooked. Business-class was greatly appreciated and was worth the extra hour we had to wait.

The next bottleneck is the scanners and sometimes the queue here is very long and moving slowly because the scanners are set to pick up belts and shoes so people are scattered everywhere getting redressed and putting shoes on. Today being a weekday the queue is not so bad.

Loading is painless and reasonably organized except when the passengers in high numbered rows try to board by the front door instead of the rear door and clash midway in the plane. After they untangle themselves and get to their seats we’re ready to go.

This flight still has a manual safety demonstration which most people ignored but is slightly better than the video demonstration. Let’s hope we don’t go down over the water.

I’ve charted my path to the emergency exit and l have quite a few people before me. I guess there’s more than one way to be last off the plane.

Sometimes you get to pick who you get to sit next to, especially if you are travelling with your partner which this time l am, but in a three-seat arrangement, you have no control over who takes that third seat.

We are lucky this time because it will not become a tight squeeze but unfortunately, our fellow traveller has a cold and in a confined space for several hours it could turn out to be a problem.

The flight is smooth, the snacks edible, but there is no liquor service like the full-service rival but that might be a good thing.

No air rage on this flight.

Time flies, pardon the pun, and we have arrived. Even though it took forever for the baggage to be delivered we still got home early.

Until the next time, we fly.

‘The Devil You Don’t’ – A beta reader’s view

It could be said that of all the women one could meet, whether contrived or by sheer luck, what are the odds it would turn out to be the woman who was being paid a very large sum to kill you.

John Pennington is a man who may be lucky in business, but not so lucky in love. He has just broken up with Phillipa Sternhaven, the woman he thought was the one, but relatives and circumstances, and perhaps because she was a ‘princess’, may also have contributed to the end result.

So, what do you do when you are heartbroken?

That is a story that slowly unfolds, from the first meeting with his nemesis on Lake Geneva, all the way to a hotel room in Sorrento, where he learns the shattering truth.

What should have been solace after disappointment, turns out to be something else entirely, and from that point, everything goes to hell in a handbasket.

He suddenly realizes his so-called friend Sebastian has not exactly told him the truth about a small job he asked him to do, the woman he is falling in love with is not quite who she says she is, and he is caught in the middle of a war between two men who consider people becoming collateral damage as part of their business.

The story paints the characters cleverly displaying all their flaws and weaknesses. The locations add to the story at times taking me back down memory lane, especially to Venice where, in those back streets I confess it’s not all that hard to get lost.

All in all a thoroughly entertaining story with, for once, a satisfying end.

…

Available on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/2Xyh1ow

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Writing a book in 365 days – 353

Day 353

Introduction: Why Your Choice of Software Matters

Writing isn’t just about putting words on a page; it’s a craft that demands focus, organisation, and the right set of tools to bring ideas to life. The software you choose can:

Boost productivity – by cutting down on manual formatting and navigation.
Protect your creative flow – by offering distraction‑free modes and version control.
Scale with your project – from a single‑page article to a 500‑page novel or a multi‑chapter research thesis.

With a flood of options on the market, two camps dominate the conversation:

Dedicated writing software (think Scrivener, Ulysses, yWriter).
Run‑of‑the‑mill word processors (Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Apple Pages).

Let’s dive deep into the strengths, weaknesses, and ideal use‑cases for each, so you can make an informed decision that aligns with your workflow.

1. Dedicated Writing Software – The Specialist’s Toolkit

1.1 What Makes a “Dedicated” App Different?

Dedicated writing apps are built from the ground up for long‑form, project‑based writing. They go beyond the classic “type‑and‑print” paradigm and provide:

Feature	Why It Matters
Project‑level organization (folders, corkboards, outline view)	Keeps chapters, scenes, research, and notes in one place without endless scrolling.
Distraction‑free modes	Full‑screen or “typewriter” view clears the screen of UI clutter, helping you stay in the zone.
Version control & snapshots	Capture a “snapshot” of a chapter at any point and revert without losing later edits.
Export versatility	Export to ePub, Kindle, PDF, Word, plain text, and even manuscript‑ready formats with a single click.
Metadata & tagging	Attach custom fields (e.g., POV, status, word count) for advanced sorting and filtering.