Organization

A significant key to writing is organization of ideas, and of events in-story. For the latter I create a separate document which I print and keep close to hand as I crank out rough draft, noting people’s names, names of places, notes on gear, and all the other details of a project. Few details are too small; you don’t want three passing encounters, all named Frank, for example.

For years I have used notes jotted on scrap paper for the ideas, thoughts, and factoids pertaining to the many projects I have in progress, stalled, and still formulating, but since my retirement and greater free time these have multiplied into piles that are constantly being scattered by cat forays into my office, and which have over-run my work areas even when in place.

I’ve tried using a Word document, but it doesn’t lend itself to my process, so I went old-school, using a journal I bought in DFW airport back in 2008. One page per project, and a couple pages for ideas that have not yet made it to project status, and suddenly my desk is more open (I still have a broad collection of items that apparently are essential taking up space). Sometimes all you need is a system.