“I write down everything I want to remember. That way, instead of spending a lot of time trying to remember what it is I wrote down, I spend the time looking for the paper I wrote it down on.”
~Beryl Pfizer
Yesterday, I received a lot of recommendations to keep a notebook of ideas. Well, I have a few of them: one by my bed, one on my desk at school, one in my car. Um, if they are where they are supposed to be, that is.
I've read many posts about organization, and on every one of them I've commented that organization and I are not good friends. It's not that I don't want to be organized - I do. I really do. I just don't seem capable of it. Friends and family agree that God made me blond for a reason. That's also why I'm a pantser and not a plotter. Shannon + organization = total failure.
I do write things down, though. And if I'm lucky, most of the time I find them. Eventually.
What is your #1 tip for staying organized?
I repeat it in my head so I don't forget until I'm in front of my laptop. Over and over. And over.
ReplyDeleteI'm a panster too, so no help whatsoever. Sorry!
UGH. Tough one. I am the type of person that constantly forgets everything. Hubby is always on me about it. THE MEANIE!
ReplyDeleteNumber one tip for staying organized? DON'T. It gets in the way of life. :) Pantser here. And loving every minute of it.
Thanks for my precious birthday wish. I love you soooooo much. :)
That quote could describe me!
ReplyDeleteI am an organized person. In theory. But when it comes to practicing it, not so much. A couple things help me - lists and keeping my desk neat. Easier said than done, but when I keep at it, it helps.
ReplyDeleteMemory is not my strong suit. :) I have to write stuff down or it's gone forever...
ReplyDeleteAngela @ The Bookshelf Muse
I have mild OCD and I'm a control freak, so organization just comes naturally to me. There's no special system I follow.
ReplyDeleteEverything has a place. Everything is keep in that place or put back in it. I carry around a notebook with me all the time (it's like a mini-diary type thing that fits in my purse). Then each of my stories has a binder. If I've written something in my notebook, it gets transferred to the binder so it doesn't get lost.
It's not perfect, but it works for me. ;-)
~JD
Google calednar is my life saver. I make my husband keep his updated so both of our activities are posted with reminders.
ReplyDeleteHa ha!! I so relate!! I love organization, and notebooks. Ah, clean, new, shiny notebooks. That I write one idea in. And then forget where I put it.
ReplyDeleteMost of my great ideas are on napkins and gum wrappers and the back of gas station receipts. They are usually in my purse until I transfer them somewhere. If I'm lucky, I come across them right when I need them.
I'm trying really hard to stay organized, but it's work! My tip, work at it everyday (but just a little because then it gets way to overwhelming)!
ReplyDeleteThat quote is so me!
ReplyDeleteDon't have a tip for staying/being organized other than don't let the junk and clutter come in so you don't have to worry about getting rid of it.
I'm not the most organized myself so don't ask me! Good luck though.
ReplyDeleteLOL! I keep thinking I'll keep a notebook. As it is I keep trying to repeat things over and over in my head. It's only working if you count making people think I'm crazy...
ReplyDeleteI plan a little. Would that make me a planostter? ;p
anyway, run over to my blog. I gotcha sumpin~ ;p
I'm not the most organized person sometimes. I do have a file cabinet with files for my writing. That helped a lot. I have a mini notebook in my purse. I need one by my bed though. Good luck to us all disorganized writers! :)
ReplyDeleteit took me 2 years of writing to get a notebook. We're buds, but mostly he just tags along with me as one more thing to carry. I do love to write, but I, like you, lose things. and forget that I wrote something great in the notebook. Mostly I type out a quick idea in a new document and save it in my writing file on the computer. I see them all the time that way, don't forget I have them there, and it's easy to get back to it when I want. It helped this blond, might help you if you don't already do that I mean lol.
ReplyDeleteAcceptance.
ReplyDeleteIt's choosing my battles and accepting that I just do not have the bandwidth to be organized about everything. I prioritize and hope it works out in the end. (much easier said than done.)
Organized? Bah! Who needs it? Let chaos rule! (Unless it's violent chaos. In which case...something should be done.) Maybe this though: Never let yourself have more than 3 notebooks in your house at a time, switching them out and keeping them in a special drawer or shelf when their full. 1 for your purse. 1 for beside your bed. And 1 that moves everywhere with you and potentially gets lost. But then it's okay because you have two other ones!
ReplyDeleteI have a ton of little notebooks for writing, and one nice, pretty one where all the good ideas go. It helps me narrow everything down!
ReplyDeleteI text myself tidbits I want to remember. Me and organization are not good friends either. Just hoping I don't lose my phone...
ReplyDeleteI keep a list on the freezer, but most times forget the list. I am usually organised but there are the times when I get preoccupied.
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining my happy band of followers. much appreciated.
Take care.
Yvonne.
I have post-it notes scattered everywhere from my purse to my car, and trailing through the house. Whenever a thought strikes I write it down and stick it in plain view:)
ReplyDeleteIt's my decorative approach!
Yes! I knew I liked you for a reason. I suck at organization too, and I'm a proud pantser. I have no advice except to be proud! :)
ReplyDeleteOh, sweetie, but I hear ya. What I can't keep in my head I toss on the desk. Actually, I'm kinda proud to have narrowed the Stuff down to two spots.
ReplyDeleteI go through fits; sometimes, I'm terribly organized, but it never lasts long. And that quote is very true: I'm also very forgetful. Writing things down helps sometimes, but less so when I can't find the paper wrote on!
ReplyDeleteHa! Love the quote, it's so true! I'm pretty organized person. But if that paper gets anywhere near my car, well, then all bets are off!
ReplyDeleteI'm organized. Mostly. My number one tip at the moment is the bag I carry around that carries my current manuscript plotting notebook, blogging notebook, and my next story plotting notebook with me. I keep my thoughts organized in those notebooks when I'm away from home (I'm busy with day job at the moment), b/c I'm always having random thoughts that need to be written down.
ReplyDeleteGreat quote that rings true with me as well. I feel like I am always trying to be organized but I always fail miserably. I'm just no good at it.
ReplyDeleteAh, I used to be organized... before husband & kids.
ReplyDeleteMy problem is I start a really good method of orgnanization -like a planner - but after a couple of weeks I burn out, I guess.
If I really REALLY need to remember something I'll write it on the back of my hand. so I won't lose it. But it only works for about 24 hours!
LOL, I make lists all the time. I always think I'm going to forget something, so I start a list. Then, I start another if I can't find the first one. I even have post-its all over the place (to the right amusement of everyone around me).
ReplyDeleteBut I must admit, for writing purposes, I keep a note pad. My stories develop so much from that process. By the time I'm ready to start writing, it's all changed and taken shape. Works for me!
At the very least, get an accordion folder and dump it all in there. Otherwise you'll have a published book series and a note card under the washing machine with a note that reminds you to put a key scene in that of course you've forgotten...or maybe that's just me lol
ReplyDeleteShannon, you have so many other, better things to do than be organized. You're out there, spreading good all over cyber space, and feeding your family, and grading papers.
ReplyDeleteOrganization schmorganization.
Let the Other People do that!
Shannon--First, let me say you are brilliant...You remember things about people and it is obvious in the comments you make, so maybe you don't need notebooks.
ReplyDeleteSecond, blonds can be organize...ask my critique group...If they need an address or a date, I'm the one who'll have it in a file and I am a blond...
I do forget my shopping lists on occassion or ignore my to do lists...but that's just me being me...
Be who you want to be...don't conform to meet someone else's rules or expectations...
I keep a notebook to help myself stay organized too. If I did something like post its I'd just lose them! It has to be a bound notebook for me!
ReplyDeleteLove the quote, as it could be about me! I have lists and notebooks, but either forget to check them or forget where I put them. I try though....and don't have a good excuse for my disorganization as I'm a brunette! :o
ReplyDelete