Now that I have time to start looking at new work, I’m realizing that I don’t really have the best system for keeping track of ideas for stories. I’m a post-it person, and I’m beginning to realize that’s a problem, because post-its are not sticky forever, and when they’re not sticky they become little pieces of paper that get stuck to your shoes and fall in the trash accidentally. The walls around my desk look like those walls that serial killers have in detective shows—post-its all over the place, with arrows and notes that only make sense to me. One of my friends was chatting with me a few weeks ago and noticed the wall. “What is that?” she asked me. “That’s my book,” I said.
It’s not that I lack organizational tools—I have so many journals I can’t even tell you. I’m constantly finding journals tucked away on shelves, in boxes, and in drawers. People know that I write, and apparently journals are THE best gifts for friends and family who write. I have more journals then I could ever fill, even if I started journaling daily, starting now and ending in year 3014.
My problem is that I don’t really carry journals around with me, and I have no desire to do so. I don’t generally find myself struck with new ideas while I’m out living my life. Usually I’m thinking about what I’m trying to accomplish, like whether or not bread is on sale, and when was the last time I got my oil changed?, and I really shouldn’t buy any more cheese. I’ve heard that some writers are inspired by people they see on the street, or snippets of conversation heard in passing, or situational observations out in the world. Maybe I’m not paying enough attention, but even if I were, what would it look like if I whipped out a notebook and started taking notes while pretending I wasn’t eavesdropping on the people across from me on the subway? Not that it would be that weird, considering some of the things that happen on the subway . . .
Anyway, I tend to be digital. I used to use Microsoft OneNote, which lets you just word vomit all over, and I definitely like that. I have files with titles like “first lines” or just “story ideas”, and I tend to just list things that would be really strange if someone were discovering them 100 years from now with no context (What is “female gladiators” supposed to be?). That system worked for me, but now that I have a different computer, I’m realizing I haven’t looked at any of those ideas in nearly two years. I know there’s lots of software for this sort of thing, so my question for all of you this week is this: What do you use to organize your ideas? Are you finding post-its all over your house, like me, or do you have a better system? Do you prefer to be digital, or hard copy? Let me know in the comments below!
Cait Levin is the Community Manager at She Writes. You can read more of her blog (when she stops watching so much Dawson’s Creek and actually writes more of a blog) here.
I'm with Carol Merchasin and a few of the others: Scrivner and Evernote work well for me. I'll use a basic word processor or text program if I just need to pour out a page or two on something but I'm not ready to start a Scrivner project for it yet. But I stil draft things out by hand too, if I'm trying to draw a picture of how things in a story relate. Whatever works! I also know that when I start to obsess about organizing, I'm really either giving myself a break to let an idea percolate or I'm procrastinating!
Hi ladies!
I wanted to get everyone some links in case they want to check out any of these programs. A lot of them have apps that can be used on your tablets, also!
Evernote: https:/
Write It Now: http:/
Scrivener: http:/
I'm not sure about mac vs. pc compatibility -- maybe I'll do a follow up and check out these programs!
Hi Caitlyn. Your post made me smile and nod and even laugh a bit. I can relate to the post-it practice, and even more so to the feeling that I need to organize everything about my writing practices. In spite of the saying "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," I think I need to organize to produce. Creativity flourishes in my random notes. I believe I share the joy that many writers feel in this process. It is truly a blessing! Jotting down scenes, conversations and thoughts on post-it notes and a variety of other paper/digital writing tools has allowed me to create in circles. You remind and inspire me to organize. I need to review my map, again, to direct all my notes along Creative Road, avoiding detours and potholes and continue writing my book! Thank you for sharing!
Hi Caitlyn! I don’t have a surface. Many of my students have them and seem to love them. My laptop is limping along, so I may take the plunge soon. I currently have a little 7” Samsung android with a keyboard. I also have a Google Chromebook which I absolutely love. It cannot be beat for the price if all you need is something for writing.:)
Excel sheets. Excel sheets. Excel sheets. For everything. But I am a visual person so each project gets an old fashioned spiral steno pad color coded by the cover. I use those to thread plot and subplots, timelines, setting maps like floor plans or town maps and draw them in color markers and pens.
I'm hard core on random thoughts away from the desk and on the move. If I don't remember them, they weren't meant to be. I trust the cosmos to resupply them when I need it. I guess that's tough love.
Great post and so many cool ideas!
Scrivener, evernote and index cards, lots of index cards, I always have index cards. They are portable, cheap, and easy to tuck in a purse or pocket. Then I tuck them into the back of a notebook and every once in a while I transcribe them there or in the relevant part of Scrivener.
Great post Cait! Up until now, I've used most methods mentioned here. I'm a huge post-it note person and I also keep multiple computer files where I do regular brain dumps on character and plot, research and other story ideas. I've recently discovered Scrivener and am going through the demo using a free 30 day trial. I'm loving it and plan to use it for my next book.
Happy Writing!
Anne
Wow, what great ideas in these comments! I confess, I'm a disorganized paper scrapper who spent this last week combing through piles of cocktail-napkined notes looking for some interview notes. (Turns out, I'd transcribed the interview to my computer, where it was easily searchable.) But, what gems I found in the process! Now my draft manuscript (printed) has all sorts of fun thoughts tucked into pages waiting for my rewrite.
I'd love to see a "how to" blog about using Scrivener, Write It Now and the other computer programs y'all mentioned. I'm even more of a computer novice than I am a writing novice!
Kelly Hayes-Raitt
Of course I use online files, but my hubby gave me a small notebook years ago with tabs that read: Thoughts, Settings, Plot Germs, Observations, Memories, Lists, Ideas, Dreams, Dialogue, and Characters. Years ago, it was published by Sandpiper Publishers, P.O. Box 55580, Portland, OR, 1-800-303-6778. Have no idea if they are still in business, but it's a cool notebook!
While writing my historical novel, I found keeping track of online research to be difficult, even with Bookmarks, and then I found Write It Now. I used it to keep track of the links to online articles, other sites, oral histories, photos, etc. It was also useful for organizing times lines and for character development. I used Scrivener while writing. It is wonderful for keeping track of scenes and chapters and rearranging them. When I am thinking about a new book, I label a box. When I write notes about plot or characters, scraps of conversation, I throw them in the box along with paper articles, photos, postcards -- just about anything that may add texture and depth to the story.
I have been known to scribble on napkins. I must have pen & paper wherever I go. I've been known to jump out of the shower & write something down, still dripping. Since I've been working 3 years on my first book, all my scraps of paper are rubber-banded together waiting for....someday. I was carrying a small tape recorder for a while, so that I could blurt something into it on a whim. The batteries died...the recorder with brand new batteries have been sitting off to the side of my work area for 6months, I think it's because I'm a visual person. I'd be ashamed for anyone to see what my writing room looks like, I'm surrounded by stacks of books and files. And me, the perfectionist ultra-organized person by nature...but not when it comes to writing!
I capture the recyclable paper (good for drafts), postits and miscellaneously jotted notes for journals and eight other major (ongoing or intended) projects in a bank of ten drawers (big enough for 8x10's but only a couple inches deep) on a shelf an arm's length from my desk.
When I work on a particular project, and/or the drawer is too full to close, I review and record its contents. Sometimes the ideas have lost relevance, or even meaning, and that's okay. Like Meredith said, new thoughts will come.
Thanks for the idea of evernote and scrivener. Who knew?!
@Laura -- Are you using a Surface? I was thinking about getting one, but heard mixed things! Do you like it?
@Susan -- I've never used Scrivener, maybe I should check that out.
Evernote sounds like a popular choice -- thanks ladies!
Thanks for your post. I am like you except my post its don't make it to a wall. I jot down whatever wherever and can't find it later. I have shoeboxes of snippets.
Writing my debut novel, I tried something new every time I found myself stuck long the process. My favorite tool was a color coded spread sheet that served as an outline, which color coded my story threads. I did that, Dramataica, Power Writer Software, and my own manual flowcharts to visualize story goal, chapter goals, conflict, tension, and setback. And I always carried a pen and some sort of paper with me.
http:/
I have found Scrivener to be a lifesaver. I would have gone totally nuts by now without it. It allows me to keep all of the bits and pieces of ideas, character descriptions, entire chapters, reminders to myself about what still needs to be done for various chapters or scenes, reference material, etc. all in one place that is readily available on my screen. I also have a notebook where I scribble ideas, but I generally try to transfer the "keepers" to Scrivener.
I also handwrite out ideas when I'm brainstorming. The process of typing and writing something out by hand feels very different to me. Sometimes when I'm stuck with the keyboard and screen, a pad of paper and a pencil is helpful.
I have ideas organized in files on the computer, as well as post-its hanging around and a few empty notebooks that people give me, which I don't use. Mostly though they are on the computer under the subject matter and sometimes I actually look at them! Not sure I should be keeping them because, as a writer friend/teacher Larry Sutin once said, "Do it it while it's hot. It loses its freshness for you as a writer otherwise," and I have found that to be true. How does one remember which notes to check on and where that great quote is anyway unless you know what story they will go in and put it in that file? I try to remind myself to have faith - you can't keep everything, let go, new ideas will come. However, if you're working on a specific story or book, that's a different matter. Then a system is required.
Thanks for the post. Hearing about someone who has as much or more notes hanging around as I do made me anxious about my own notes so I had to remind myself of my mental position!
Such a great topic. My ideas come to me mostly when I am hiking in the woods and that is not a place I want to carry journals or tablets to. I also have post its but I try to keep up with copy the thoughts into my computer and throwing the post it away. So far so good.
I think you should send some of your unused extra journals to Lacey. :)
Lori from AfricaInside.org
I wish I had as much of a backlog of journals as you do! I'm going to be out soon, and then it's off to see what's on sale at B&N. But, I digress ...
I love using EverNote for story ideas I'm not ready to work on yet -- you can create various "notebooks" to keep ideas together that belong together and apart that belong apart. You can access your EverNote account on your desktop or anywhere online, which might help with the issue of changing computers. For writing drafts, I use Scrivener, which helps me keep my notes, story ideas, and actual story organized in one place. Good luck!
Hi Caitlyn!
I’m with ya, Sister! My shoulder finally gave out after years of lugging my life around in my purse, so journals don’t work for me. I use a tablet with a cute little keyboard (also good for reading), and I type ideas into my phone using Evernote or email. I save everything on a separate a flash drive or my Google Drive. I am not really inspired when I am living life either; however, for some reason ideas always come to me while I am out running. I have this smooth move where I kind of jog in place for a minute while I type my thought into my phone. This takes some dexterity and often results in a sentence that looks something like this “Gee Blue Hero Was Staying so? E rocks waiting for best fast”. By the time I get around to reading it, I have no idea what I was trying to say! Thanks for the great post!
Laura