Overload (Or ....The Joy of Organizing)

I happened to stumble yesterday upon a story for which I had written a workably decent first chapter; I had several key scenes mapped out and I could feel the creative juices simmering as I re-read the rather surprisingly coherent bits and pieces of my work-in-progress (WIP). That’s when I remembered that I had written a detailed character list for this book. The character names are key to the murder mystery and I didn’t want to start without my who’s who roadmap. Without this character listing, I’d be re-writing Scotland’s history by attributing the long ago deed to the wrong Clan LOL. Anyway, finding this one document turned out to be a nightmare!

My electronic filing system is so disorganized that I had to look in just about every folder on my desktop just to make sure I didn’t miss it. It wasn’t there (although I did find the bones of another story I had started about three years ago) so I looked on an old memory stick and found more bits and pieces of various other WIPs. Of course, I had to open and then read each document. I had forgotten about some of the things I had written but upon re-reading the ideas and bits and blurbs that every writer has filed away somewhere as a ‘someday maybe’ thing, I realized I wanted to revisit these ‘potentials’ at a later date and hoped I'd remember where they were when I wanted them. Alas, my character list wasn’t on that memory stick.

Finally, after digging out my second memory stick (I fill them up quickly with my writings) and going through each document in each folder, I found the character list along amidst the carelessly jumbled flotsam and jetsam of six other books.

Aside #1: Hmmmm, I just noticed that I use the words ‘book, novel, story’ interchangeably.
Aside #2: Isn’t it a HUGE grammatical error to end a sentence with an –ly word? I suppose I should have said, “…just noticed that I interchangeably use the words ‘book,’ ‘novel’ and ‘story.’

After spending hours trying to find the character notes I’d so carefully written out along with my detailed location notes and descriptions of various B&Bs I’d stayed in while in Scotland, I figured it was time to use my writing mojo. Time to get back to “An Oak Tree Proper” – the mystery WIP mentioned above, right? Wrong! I was so flustered by my inability to immediately find what I needed that I had to fix it right away. I had to get organized. I just had to fix my e-filing system so I went back to my desktop files and both memory sticks and moved files around so everything was in one of two locations: one memory stick for my five mysteries and the other stick for everything (one fiction novel, various fiction pieces, ideas, instructional assists, etc.). So…now, finally, at last – I can get back to “An Oak Tree Proper” and write. Right?

Wrong! No…I can’t go halfway with this. Oh no. Not moi. What if I were to lose one or god forbid *shudder* both memory sticks? Then what? Nothing would do but that I opened up each and every document and printed it out. I had to have each individual sheet of paper in its own pristine folder, with the folder properly labeled with the name of that particular novel in the right color ink to correspond with the title. I put all the folders in a pretty tote along with a writing pad, pens and pencils and hi-lighters. It’s now kept close at hand so when the spirit moves me, I’ll be organized and ready to write.

Speaking of the spirit moving me, I went back to “An Oak Tree Proper” to do a little writing. I pulled the folder labeled “An Oak Tree Proper” from my pretty little tote and positioned it close to hand on my now-clean desk (you guessed it - that was bothering me too). I opened the now-quick-to-locate e-file and pulled up the correct document. To prevent losing even one shred of the genius work I knew would follow forthwith, I immediately saved that document adding the proper version number and date. I was ready to revise. I was ready to write.

Then I sat there.


And stared.




At the bane of every writers’ existence.



T h e. B l a n k. P a g e.


Aw, come on!!!! Where’s my mojo muse? Where’s the creative juice I felt thrumming through my veins a short six hours ago?

Nothing’s happening.

I fixed my e-filing system. I used two and half reams of paper printing everything out. I’m organized. Let’s roll, baby!

Still nothing.

I’m reduced to theatrical whining:

The Pulitzer Prize Committee is just waiting for me to put pen to paper so they can bestow upon me with proper brou-ha-ha my so richly deserved rewards.

Not even an echo of my previous inspiration.

I’m ready now. I got all this organizing stuff done so I could write.

There’s nothing worse than a silent brain.

I’m ready. It’s time to write, damn it! Right?

Yoo Hoo!!!! Rrrrriiiiiight!!!!!!??????

Wrong! I had successfully organized myself out of any semblance of creativity.


Until next time,

“I have seen the sea when it is stormy and wild; when it is quiet and serene; when it is dark and moody. And in all its moods, I see myself.” ~ Martin Buxbaum