Thursday, February 18, 2010

A Novice Writers Filing Issues

Why does it seem that the only time "I" get inspiaration to write something I'm either in my shower (soaked and full of soap), in spin class(dripping with sweat), or deep in the woods hiking somewhere with no pen or paper attached.

It never fails. Some of my best novels have been written in my head during those times and stored somewhere in the back of my mind. I file them so well and without lables of course that when the time comes to write, I can't seem to find them anywhere.

Not to mention, my husband is one of those anal retentive freaks bordering on OCD syndrome. As a writer I do my best to keep pens and pads visibile throughout my house but he goes behind me and puts them away. Out of sight, out of mind. I'm a gotta-see-everything-I've-got kind of filing person.

Some people call it "organized chaos". Some people call it "sloppy". I've been called both. But really, if I can't see it it doesn't register to my visible senses that it's there, somewhere or anywhere.

I can only hope it's not early Dementia or something. But I've been like this all of my life. Ask my desks, past and current. They'll tell you I'm like the little kid who has to dump out the crayons and spread them out to see the colors. Better yet, find the colors. If not, the red and the blue crayon may not exist or they've melded together somehow. All of the crayons become one big color which means I can't find what I'm looking for.

This is how it's been all my life. Piles and more piles. No, I'm not a horder. I do throw things away and when I actually put them in a paper file and place it in a drawer it's gone forever. Well, maybe gone for about several years until I decide to dig everything out of that drawer for Spring cleaning purposes.

With all that being said, it would be nice if I could Spring clean my mind files and find those fabulous novels I've worked so hard on and get them published.

19 comments:

  1. Oh, me too. Piles of stuff on the desk. Piles in the den...all of it IS necessary!

    I love the idea that cleaning up the piles and the files would reveal some fabulous novels!

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  2. I think water stirs the creative flow. I get some of my best ideas in showers or swimming pools.

    Joyce
    http://joycelansky.blogspot.com/2011/10/silly-sunday-redneck-hunting-accident.html

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  3. I think some people (me) tend to tie most everything in our lives with emotion and memory. It brings value to life. I'm a little terrified, truth be told, of letting moments and life in general slip by without meaning.

    I want to experience everything. And I want remember those experiences. So if even simple things carry meaning for us, it makes it hard to let them go. Sometimes I just have to say, "I can make a new one." or "The thing isn't special, the thought is."

    If any of that makes sense.

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  5. I know what you mean about ideas striking at an awkward time. Some of my best come to me when I'm meditating. Several at a time. I think I'll remember them. But no, when I finally reach my desk, do you think I can recall what had been so clear earlier?

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  6. I'm a gotta-see-it kind of girl, too. Problem is, so is my husband. We need your husband to come by once in a while and put things up behind us.

    Get those books down on paper, girl!

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  7. Haha, my husband does this too! Once my MIL came for a visit and went to leave the room. I told her if she wasn't done with her glass, she should take it with her as her son would take it otherwise. Sure enough, she left and when she came back a minute later, the glass was gone!

    Have you tried getting a digital recorder? That way you could dictate some notes to help you remember. :)

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  8. You have my every sympathy. I get flashes of inspiration at the most unlikely times and then get furious when I sit down to write them and can't remember exactly why it was so fabulous when I thought of them. Gosh! Did that make sense ? :-)

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  9. Very interesting piece
    I am here for the first time
    I could very well relate some of the things mentioned here, well the inspiration thing is really interesting, flows from the water lol
    keep it up
    keep flowing
    best regard
    Phil

    PS: Hi, Shelly, pl. remove the word verification from here, it really irritates, and i am sure the one who wants to post a comment here, so pl remove it, this you can do it by going to your dashboard.
    Best

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  10. I totally relate to books being written in the head. I do that too with my stories and articles.

    Maria's Book Blog.

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  11. Shelly, you explain the nonsense that goes on my head so clearly, of course the crayons don't exist if you can't see them- I'm actually motivated to make an organised chaotic, sloppy, mess and spread my half written manuscript all over the floor... :D

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  12. I do think that I might have OCD. However a doctor told me that if my habits don't get in my way I should not have to worry.

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  13. OMG we are twins separated at birth...I can SO relate...
    Tina @ Life is Good

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  14. Shelly, how I can relate! I have piles and stacks, too! And my husband also borders on OCD! He knows not to touch my stuff anymore (as in throw out in an attempt to de-clutter). Last time he did, I freaked!

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  15. I always get great ideas while I'm driving on the highway--go figure!

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  16. Hi Shelly, I am here again to re.check something.
    PS: Shelly, pl. remove the word verification from here, it really irritates, and i am sure the one who wants to post a comment here, so pl remove it, this you can do it by going to your dashboard.
    hey,whata happening? NO NEW post.��

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  17. The problem is that when I get great ideas when, say, mowing the lawn, they never seem quite as good when I write them down later.

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  18. Good luck with your writing.

    Thank you. Love love, Andrew. Bye.

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