Second Wind Publishing discussion

I'm disorganized. I admit it. While it's a minor issue to find car keys and sunglasses, as a writer - it's deadly.

I work on many projects at a time. Keeping track of multiple storylines isn't easy, especially when I'm balancing upwards of 30 projects.(Ok.I'm crazy too.)

I keep 2 small 3 ring binders on my desk - 1 for finished, the other unfinished stories. I write down names, relationships, professions, etc. I keep track of chapters & pages, timelines & so on. I try to write down when I started each story, but often don't.

Any research I've done for a story is printed & put in a folder or 3 ring binder. MOST of the time I can find them again.

What keeps you organized? Share your tips with the rest of us - PLEASE!

I try really hard, but organization is not my strong point. I've found my milk in the cupboard, the phone in the fridge and miscellaneous odds and ends where they really shouldn't be.

I try to print my rough drafts and save to disk when I complete a manuscript and then update the disk as I edit. All of this is in a file box, but it's filling up fast. My notes are mixed in several notebooks, so finding something I've written for later, or research items, takes a bit of time.

I like the binder idea, I'll have to do that.

Dellani wrote: "I'm disorganized. I admit it. While it's a minor issue to find car keys and sunglasses, as a writer - it's deadly.

I work on many projects at a time. Keeping track of multiple storylines isn't e..."

well, see, I was going to admit that I am disorganized, but look, trying to figure out how to post a comment, I just re-posted someone else's. Ha. How's that for disorganized. In fact, this website always defeats me. I post reviews, and they never show up anywhere. If they gave a Nobel prize for disorganized I'd be on my way to Stockholm, Norway, at this very moment.

On the other hand, I think it's against nature for writers to be organized, except for British mystery writers. I mean, Agatha Christie, P.D. James - could you organize plots like those? It's all that tea, I think.

Victor

Shoot, and here I've been drinking coffee all along.

I'd hate to think it was that haggis. Oh, that's the Scots, isn't it? Or, maybe P.D. James is Scottish. A long time ago, if we said someone was English (hey, I grew up in red-neck country in the 50s) it meant he/she was a virgin. At least I think so. Nobody ever called me that. All those nasty rumors, and some of them at least were patently false. And it was not the whole football team, I don't care what it said in the police reports.

Stupid football teams, always causing problems. And the police, well you know they're always making things up. I'm in red-neck country now, but I've never heard virgins referred to as English. But maybe I've never met someone who was English.

English people are called virgins? Hum, is this is why I haven't found a new husband, cos the men here reckon I'm a virgin...lol....ha ha. My bad.

Renee wrote: "Stupid football teams, always causing problems. And the police, well you know they're always making things up. I'm in red-neck country now, but I've never heard virgins referred to as English. But ..."

PS. I'm disorganized too...lol.

Well, Victor, I guess we need to drink more tea! I'm a coffee addict myself.

So, the overall opinion is, I'm not alone in my disorganization? WHEW! Always good to find like minded thinkers, even if we do leave our milk in the cupboard and our remotes in the frige (in all fairness, that was my husband's fault - really!)

I shall always remember a quote from the wonderful comedian, Anna Russell in her Hamlet spoof, Hamletto. "When the wind is in the east, I know my elbow from a hole in the ground." (She was English, by the way)

Mmm...coffee. Perhaps that's why I have the attention span of a five year old hopped up on sugar, too much caffiene. Maybe if i cut the coffee, I'll be able to sort out my closets, my filing cabinet, and my (three) junk drawers. Is it bad that I have a junk cupboard. I ran out of drawers.

So disorganized.

Dellani wrote: "So, the overall opinion is, I'm not alone in my disorganization? WHEW! Always good to find like minded thinkers, even if we do leave our milk in the cupboard and our remotes in the frige (in all ..."

I *love* Anna Russell; I have turned more people on to opera by using her explanation of the Ring of the Nibelung. :-) I am, however, ruined forever by her piece on how to write your own Gilbert & Sullivan Operetta, as she is so spot-on that I can't watch a G&S without hearing her voice in my head.

To bring this back to books, her autobiography is "I'm Not Making This Up, You Know," and is quite entertaining.

lol...I've not made any coffee for over a week now, had tea instead...my brains are still fried..lol.

Dellani wrote: "Well, Victor, I guess we need to drink more tea! I'm a coffee addict myself.

"

Hi Victor,
I'm a tea drinker & I'm right behind you in being disorganized!
Deb :-)

ORGANIZED !! How do you spell that!I hand write all of my material first,then it gets typed,then starts the real work. Organized :-) Jacamo

I have succeeded in going almost paper-free, except for writing in my Moleskine journals with fountain pens. All notes and revisions are in electronic folders, backed up online and on flash drives. For times when I feel like doing creative writing by hand, I write in big ledgers, but these writings are promptly transferred to my computer. For keeping track of details for longer pieces (and for submissions), I use Google spreadsheets.

OH my gosh, you are asking me about being organized.
Wrong person here. My motto is simple "Don't organize and I kow where everything is". But when I do manage to clean things up, I can't find anything. So over the years I've learned to live with myself.

Multi books, oh yes, I write or four or five at the same time, that way, when I get tired of one, or one tires me out, I can switch.

Over the years I've learned that the unorganized have a place in this world too. Who made the rule that we all have to be organized anyway? Do things your own way, and don't worry about others trying to change you. In your heart you know what is best for you. I can pile my computer desk sky high, but I know that something is there. IF I put it neatly away I spend the entire day mumbling, "Now where would I put it if I was really an orgainzed person?"

It wastes time. Just live with who you are and don't try to be someone's clone.
Love and blessings
Rita

I am probably one of the most disorganized people there is..lol but I sure am glad to know that there are more of me out there..hehehe.

I try to be organzied but I do most of my writing by the seat of my pants sort of style. I try and do the neat little outline, but I never follow it so I stopped trying. LOL

I alphabetize my mess-- just like Val Kilmer in Weird Science. All kidding aside, I always keep my things in the same place so I can find it. I may have clutter, but I know where everything is-- so it's organized.

I am quite organized because I have to be. My brain hates clutter and unfinished business. It won't kick into the creative gear unless there is a sense of order around me. That gives me the incentive to keep on top of things.

I tend to purge regularly. I get rid of all the bits & pieces and odds & ends that accumulate by their own momentum. Less stuff means less clutter.

I also use a bit of "reward" psychology: "If I get these things done today, my mind will be clear and I'll be entitled to devote time to writing tomorrow."

Works for me - but admittedly being single with no kids means less obligations to begin with.

I'm a total failure at organization--despite the fact that I was a secretary for years, but that was work and this is...work, but personal. I really have to keep a calendar or I'd be lost. As far as my desk, it's a superfund site. Wish I were better. It would sure make life easier to have ducks in row, but they keep wandering off.

I'm very disorganized, but I still, mostly, manage to know where everything ends up. I've bits of my writing here and there, on paper and the computer; I'm always sorting through them to find something, but somehow I put it all together.

Binders and files and boxes, oh my! I stay organized by making my WIP's my top priority and keeping the rest close by on bookshelves, in binders, etc.

Make a list~check it off~and create a new list for all the things you did not finish. Prioritize it too.

I'm not sure that I would call someone who keeps their writing notes in 3 ring binders "disorganized"...says the woman who used to just chuck the notes in a file cabinet drawer.

I am one of those "organized clutter" types - I know where everything is, where I saw it last and, if not for the husband and kids, I would be able to find whatever I need - when I need it.

With my day job - I am highly organized. With my writing - er - well, not so much. I keep outlines and character plots/plans, but the actual writing is rarely organized or linear.

Two words: Day Planner! :)

Basically if something isn't in my computer, it's in my car, so that my disorganization is contained. I know that I will find that newspaper clipping, behind the gym bag, under the tinned salmon, stuck to the hair gel, somewhere ... sooner or later.

I have a back up on both laptop and deskcomp and A not book and online file for each project. But I try to only work on two projects at a time.

Karen wrote: "I have a back up on both laptop and deskcomp and A note book and online file for each project. But I try to only work on two projects at a time."

Actually, I'm a very organized person. I just don't have time to stay that way!

I'm a librarian, it's what we do...lol.

In my last place of work being organized and upto date was not very much encouraged... It gave the impression that one doesn't have much work to do, and even though the supervisor knew how busy you are, even evaluations and judgements were made on the appearance of one's desk too.
There were employees who would not only spread all kinds of documents on their desks and surrounding areas, they also threw them on the floor to stay for weeks at a time.
Those employees looked "very busy" and guess what? THEY STAYED WHILE OTHERS WERE LAID OFF.

Dellani wrote: "I'm disorganized. I admit it. While it's a minor issue to find car keys and sunglasses, as a writer - it's deadly.

I work on many projects at a time. Keeping track of multiple storylines isn't e..."

I know I am disorganized, and I've learned to live with it as well as accept it. That "accept it" thing was difficult, but well worth the trouble. Now my disorganization no longer bothers me.

Ruby wrote: "In my last place of work being organized and upto date was not very much encouraged... It gave the impression that one doesn't have much work to do, and even though the supervisor knew how busy you..."

That's a shame those people were punished for being organized. I guess if your employer ever saw my desk then I would have a job forever.

I worked at a place once where our desks had to be spotless if the owner was coming to visit. I never quite understood that. If I owned a business and walked in to spotless desks, I would wonder what I was paying those people to do all day!

I try to be organized, but I'm juggling so many responsibilities right now that it's very hard to follow a plan... now, handling things as they happen, I'm getting quite good at.

Michael wrote: "I am quite organized because I have to be. My brain hates clutter and unfinished business. It won't kick into the creative gear unless there is a sense of order around me. That gives me the incenti..."

Oh, my! You sound like my husband! He's big on organizing & throwing things away - which is why my stuff often disappears... HE purges - I don't! Very frustrating when he purges my things.... After 27 years you'd think he'd have learned not to. Of course, he counters that after 27 years, I'd have learned to be neater. Hmph, does he expect that, creativity & food too? Pick ONE! =)

Rhonda wrote: "I'm a librarian, it's what we do...lol. "

True, Rhonda! I worked as a shelver in the university library when I was in college. I was fine there and in the box office where I worked. My own space is the issue. I have a datebook and if I didn't I think I'd go completely bonkers.

Ruby wrote: "In my last place of work being organized and upto date was not very much encouraged... It gave the impression that one doesn't have much work to do, and even though the supervisor knew how busy you..."

Maybe there is something to be said for my clutter?

Since my "office" is one end of the dining room, I have to move stacks from desk to dinner table. Sometimes the clutter extends past my end (not my stuff, don't look at me!) then the fussing begins - but not from me, from Mr. Neat. His solution is to throw everything away. *mutter, mumble, gripe* I bet that idea would stop if I threw out the bills?

I'm pretty disorganized. And mom doesn't like it.

For the most part, I try to stay organized working on two projects at a time. But with four kids and a husband, sometimes it's difficult to keep up.

I have so many ideas swirling around in my head and I want them all in book form ...so I have to slow down, pace myself, realistically ask how many can I write in a year? I think about 3-4 and then write out the first few I really really want to write. Then begin with the first project. I usually will work on one project of writing at a time, but subsequently edit other projects from previously until they are perfected to my satisfaction.

I'm highly organized in most areas of my life. With my writing, I am more mentally organized than physically organized. I have scribbled notes here and there in my computer cabinet. I admire people like you, Dellani, who can work on multiple projects. I have done a little of that in the past, but now I find because of the many things I'm involved with outside of writing, I can't let myself be tempted to do that any longer. I need to fully concentrate on one book at a time. I try to outline--usually fail. I did a TON of research for my last book to ensure accuracy in several areas--kept those notes pretty well. A bit of disorganized, a bit of organized.

One of the ways in which I maintain organization is that I select certain things in my life which I want organized. By default, the rest isn't important and I refuse to worry about it. This has taken years of practice to get right.
Of course I have to clean up every few months,such as my office, moving piles of papers and books (Thank you paperless office!) and putting them back where they are supposed to be. In fact, I receive a feeling like I ahave done something good when I do it..mostly because things look drastically different.

Fundamentally, I discovered that if I wished to be organized, it took all my time...and I didn't think that was a good thing for my writing or work. As it turned out, I was right, at least for me. People tell me I am absent minded but fundamentally, it makes no difference to me. I would rather have certain things in my life perfectly organized and allow the rest to do as it pleases.

When I was writing Haley Cork and the Blue Door I had to periodically clear my desk and reorganize everything. Invariably, I would put away an important book or map I was using for reference purposes. There are four books you should always have within arms reach (or at least know where they are at all times):
Chicago Book of Style (the orange book)
Roget's Thesaurus
Oxford Dictionary
Crossword Puzzle Dictionary

Now you might be puzzled by the last, but if you are trying to remember a word or phrase, it sometimes helps to flip through a crossword dictionary to freshen up. When working with prompts a CPD is valuable since it helps build mind maps and add to richness of detail in unexpected ways.

It helps to have a drawing tablet and a good graphics program for sketching out maps if you write for the fantasy or science fiction genres.

Note books -- yes physical notebooks -- for writing down ideas when you aren't sitting at the keyboard are invaluable. Write down your dreams since they may make wonderful scenes.

A source of music -- without words is best, trust me -- if classical is to your taste pick something which won't put you to sleep. I listen to ambient or birdsong radio over iTunes, but I enjoy classical guitar as well. The reason you must steer away from anything with words is because the part of your brain which uses words will write down the lyrics instead of your story. The music should be an emotional amplifier. Pick something dark for dark scenes and light for light scenes.

Make sure pets and children know when they are allowed to bother you. My poodle knows she can sit in her box by my chair but not in my lap when I am writing.

For me, everything else is utter chaos, your results may vary.

With Best Regards