There is a big learning curve going on here. I am new to an iPad.
I am selling my unused (because I don't like the keyboard Sony Vaio laptop computer and I have replaced it for my own mobile use with an iPad as i love my iMac so much but it's a little big to sit on my lap in the caravan or take down to the beach when Reg is fishing.
Tonight I set up two writing programs on the iMac and on the iPad and I am learning how to sinc the files.

So far I have managed the Storyist software and I'm just going to work with the iWriter files then off to bed.
The iWriter is available from the Apple App store.  I tried a few free programs, A Novel Idea was one of these however the advertisements annoyed me and I deleted it.
Love to know what big file writing software you use on iPad.

I downloaded the Storyist and dropbox software into my iMac computer from the website and I downloaded the Storyist app and the dropbox app frpm the Apple app store for the iPad.  They work easily together transferring files. Believe me I am no computer geek and i learned how to do this in one evening.

I am hoping I can use the same keyboard I use here with my iMac, for the iPad. . So far so good with some advice from my friends above.

Chuck Wendig is an author with an enormous knowledge about the mechanics of how to write and he shares much of his knowledge in his  Terrible Minds blog that I plan to read and study.

This post, on story structure, has so many ideas in it that you're gong to want to read it if you are a writer.
From the blog:-
The other day, I asked where lots of folks had problems with their stories. “Plot” and “structure” came up a lot (and I feel your pain). Hence, here we are with 25 things you might wanna know about narrative structure. 
25 Things You Should Know About Story Structure terribleminds.com

The Nobel Prize Winner and author of 'The Grapes of Wrath' wrote a beautiful letter to his son on the importance of waiting for love.

Check out the link below:-
_John Steinbeck on Falling in Love: A 1958 Letter
www.theatlantic.com

_I found a good explanation of the difference between the active and passive style of writing. 
Active Style.
The emerging writer (noun) researched (Action - verb) target publishers (object receiver of action.)

Passive Style.
Target publishers were researched by the emerging writer.


 I sat down with the books Mission Possible, How to Make Money from your Writing
Also A Decent Proposal, How to sell your book to an Australian Publisher or literary agent.


I have had a huge learning curve day.
I joined Sisters in Crime inc today,  it looks like there is a great deal of helpful information on the website.
I found this blog on writing a query letter.

I wrote my 7 word novel pitch.
"Crime mystery, historical and young adult theme. "

I already had my 25 word elevator pitch written. I still have not learned it off by heart. I MUST do that.
"Children begin and then try to stop an escalating culture of payback in this compelling story of treachery and love during European settlement of Australia. "

Then I wrote a 150 word concept statement about my novel for the publishers. I put more information about the author together. i learned how to program my Word document to correct my grammar under stricter guidelines.

Remember the 10,000 hour rule. That's roughly how much work and practice it takes to become accomplished in any field, whether it be sporting, creative of professional; 10,000 hours is 5 years of full time hard work.
Ian Irvine Australian Author_

Altogether a great day.  I might call it a day and get to bed at 1am instead of 3 or 4 am for a change.

_I wish I had written it, :-).

Now the answer to that way of thinking is a part of the advice given in this blog post. 25 Things Writers Should Stop Doing.

Be true to your own voice.

Typo free and some of the best advice Ive ever read, for writers, all here in one blog post by Chuck. 25 Things Writers Should Stop Doing.

Sure I knew most off it but I too get tempted to stray from my ideals and I find blogs like this helpful reminders of how to stay on track and true to action plan to my goals.
I will look at the other things he has written.

This 25 Things Writers Should Stop Doing is a brilliant article for a writer.
Very helpful at keeping one committed to their ideals ans keeping them on track with the issues they struggle with.
That crap out not crap in should be my mantra this year lol. :-).
I struggle to get the balance of exercise and food portion control right with a full time creative life passion and all external reminders of the importance of exercise in order to write, assist me.
I liked the advice to not chase a genre or what publishers say they want you to write. That will help keep me true to writing the novels I want to write and to heck with how easy it will be to get my voice published. I know from my other creative fields, if you learn from others you can improve but if you copy others, you are just a half rate version of them and have copied the mistakes as well as the good bits but never learn the difference.

_Wishing everyone a very happy new Year.

Where we spend New Year depends very much on if I need to be selling my own novel or is I succeed in getting an advance from a publisher.

How much or if at all I paint, will depend on what i am reading and writing and how I am going with my fitness workouts in 2012. I loved my painting once. Without an art gallery I have no market for my art work now and no desire to paint cheapies for the tourist trade when i was at the top of my profession. I have no desire to trips around art galleries marketing my work now - so it does seem my focus is fully and near totally on my writing which travels a lot more easily with me than an art gallery. 

I still see things I would like to paint but have no need of more art work in my home and as mentioned I have a total disinterest in marketing art now I do not have my Buninyong Gallery.

I will continue to paint one major art work per year, I have this year's work planned. This will be a challenging portrait within a landscape. I love to do this to prove to myself, the skill is still within me and I can return to it any time I choose.  Right now I just want to enjoy the landscape, the people and write about them.

_I was very quiet in my blogging over the past week as I worked hard to complete the last edit of my Australian novel.
The work is complete save for minor changes following the proof readings.

I already have a rough draft for the sequel and part of the first chapter written.

Today I returned to one of two non-fiction books I am writing.

This is a  beginning of it.


Artslim

The Art of Natural Slimming

Diets do not work.

The only way to successfully achieve a healthy weight and maintain it is:

Do NOT go on a diet.

If you want to achieve a naturally healthy weight and maintain it, for 97% of us, thinking in terms of how much weight you have to loose or what weight you wish to attain will not achieve that goal and maintain it.

If you are still thinking in terms of being a certain weight or trying to lose a certain amount of kilo it is highly likely that you have been gaining and losing those same kilos over and over throughout your life and possibly becoming heavier on average with each decade.  If you have been on a yo-yo weight rise and fall all your life why not take a look at a fresh approach and learn the art of natural diet free slimming?

The second non-fiction Book I plan to write concerns travelling Australia and earning your living as you go.
The third book will concern earning your living as a free lance creative person, author and artist.

_I just read the first chapter of the wonderful classic "Anne of Green Gables"
It broke so many editing 'rules.' Used words like 'little' and 'very' and two uses of 'very' in the one sentence.  And guess what - it was the BEST written chapter I have read in a long while.   I am beginning to think I should throw out some of the rule books. 
For example, AutoCrit tells me I use see/saw/hear and feel words too often.  Well - heck - my characters are in touch with feelings s the feel and they are in a wonderful landscape of inland Australia and living by working with the elements of that landscape do they need to 'see.'
If L.M.Montgomery is an example of what not to do, please may i one day write as well as she did. I thought her writing beautiful.