Monday, December 29, 2014

Where's That Note?



First and foremost, I wish you a happy and successful New Year!

 

Have you ever been driving down the street and suddenly thought of a line you want to use in a book? Have you ever been insulted and two hours later realized what you should have replied? Do you ever wish you had a better memory? Yeah, that’s me and a lot of others.

Last year my husband gave me a hand-held recorder. I’m learning to keep it with me, and when I have the chance, I write down the pearls of wisdom I record. I have a small card index file and every once in a while I go through my notes to see what I might have forgotten. Some lines are perfect for specific books. Others actually inspire a story.

Memorable titles are also something I tend to forget, so I write them down. Generally, I try to take the title from a line in the book, but that’s not always the case. I’m working on a book right now that has to do with purple cows and elderly spies. Figure that one out. The working title is, “How Now Purple Cow”. Remember the old line, How Now Brown Cow? Are you too young to remember that one? It was a line used to help with diction, demonstrating rounded vowel sounds. Now it’s a garbled version used as a book title.

One of my favorite titles is, “I Never Met a Chocolate I Didn’t Like.” It’s one of those small books you find in pharmacies or gift shops, and of course it’s about chocolate. I wish I’d thought of it first and I’d have used it as a line in a Sandi Webster story. Oh well, you can’t think of everything. Some of you might have noticed in other posts that I’m an admitted chocoholic.

Research is another area requiring copious notes. The smallest details in a story can make a world of difference, and if you’re including fact in your fictional story, you’d better get it right. If you don’t, someone who knows the facts will pick up on it. I have a friend who writes historical romance and she learned this the hard way. 


I heard someone give a talk at a conference about writing short notes on yellow stickies and attaching them to a board in chronological order.  I’d have so many notes I’d confuse myself. I’m just not that organized, even with written notes. I envy those who are. I do, however, type short reminder notes at the bottom of the manuscript I’m working on, and delete them as I use the ideas. Works for me.

I’ve tried to be organized, but somehow, for me, it takes the fun out of writing. We each have our own system. Mine would drive most people to drink. (I don’t drink, so it’s not an issue for me.)

Lists can be a big help, too. There’s not a whole lot I can add to that comment. When you think of a new book title, add it to a list. If you think of a new blog topic, add it to a list. I have a blog list, but unfortunately I forget to look at it, and when I do I tend to forget to cross out a subject after I’ve written about it. Forgive me if I repeat my blog topic from time to time, or you might think of it as recycling.  Hmm. Yes, recycling makes a good excuse for repeating myself.

I think everything I’m blogging about to day is something you already know, but it never hurts to have a reminder.

Of course, notes and lists apply to everyday life, too, not just books. I have a grocery list, a list of errands to be run, a list of birthdays (which I often forget to check), and notes about things I don’t want to forget. Sometimes we simply have too many things on our minds to remember all that we should.

Anyway, if these comments help even one person to remember something important, then I’ve done my job.

Uh, what was that job again? Only joking.

Until next time, have a great week and figure out what works for you so you remember everything you need to do. I’ve noticed cars that have yellow stickies stuck to the steering wheel or rearview mirror. Now there’s an idea.

CLICK HERE to visit Marja McGraw's website (which I hope to update soon)
CLICK HERE for a quick trip to Amazon.com 

Don't forget that A Well-Kept Family Secret - A Sandi Webster Mystery, is now available in audio format at Amazon.com.

16 comments:

  1. I'm a list person, Marja. I keep lists of the books I read, lists of the books I read by favorite authors (alphetical order of each author), reviews of each book I read. I keep lists of my daily meals, a diary of sorts where I list what I do each day. I also jot down lists of ideas for stories or books if I'm in my apartment at the moment I think of one. If not, the idea is lost forever. A hand-held recorder sounds like a great idea.

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    1. It's that lost idea that can change things, Pat. I can't tell you how many times I've sat and fretted, trying to remember the thought. Thank you so much for commenting!

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  2. My lists are what I need to do next. I do jot down lots of notes when I'm writing a book Good post, good ideas.

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    1. Somehow I have a feeling you're a very organized woman, Marilyn. Wish I was more like you. : ) Thank you so much for commenting!

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    2. As I read your post, Marja, I couldn't help but laugh because, although I'm a major list maker, my mother is NOT, which frequently causes problems. For example, she'll say to me, "When we go to the grocery, I need fill in the blank." I used to tell her to write it down on her grocery list but I've learned that that may or may not happen. So now, I immediately walk to where she keeps her notepad in the kitchen and I write it down. Believe me, by doing that, I've saved myself numerous "extra" trips to the store. :)

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    3. LOL I keep a grocery list, but forget to add things until I get to the grocery store and see them on the shelf. Sometimes it takes the organized to help the unorganized. : ) Thank you so much for commenting!

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  3. I'm a daily list maker, Marja -- and all the things that don't get done get written onto the next day's list or the day after that. Groceries are up in the right corner. Story ideas and titles are scribbled wherever there's a space, or on the next page of my 5 X 8 lined yellow pad. The recorder is a great idea for use in the car. I may treat myself to one of those! Happy New Year to you and yours!

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    1. You're doing better than I am, Eileen. The little recorder has been invaluable, by the way. Thank you so much for commenting!

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  4. I have lists all over the place. They do take up a lot of room, but I can't live without them!

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    1. That's why I had to change my process just a bit, Morgan. I had so many lists at one time that I lost track. Thank you so much for commenting!

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  5. I make lists and can't remember where I put them. I write ideas for my novels and put them in a file on the computer so I'll remember where they are, then I can't remember what I named the file. I have a small recorder, too, but I always forget to use it. Needless to say, I'm a mess. Sigh! Hope my memory improves in 2015, but I doubt it.

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    1. Oh, you sound like me, Evelyn. I wish you a 2015 filled with memory. : ) Thank you so much for commenting!

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  6. Marja, LIsts are my breakfast project. I make the day's list while drinking that first cup of coffee. I also bring my Ipad reader with me everywhere (You never know when you might have time to read one of the hundreds of books stored on it) and use the notebook app to write down ideas. It also stays beside my bed and is invaluable for the middle of the night inspirations. The notebook program keeps an alphabetical list on the side so I only have to remember what I called the file.

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    1. The notebook program sounds like a good idea, Marion. If I woke up in the night and tried to record a thought, my husband would wake up and I'd hear about it. : ) Thank you so much for commenting!

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  7. Once upon a time I was organized. The I retired, started writing and all hell broke loose! Lists, I coudln't function without them, but too often I can't find paper to write them on so I grab whatever is handy, even the napkin I used for lunch or a scrap of newspaper. And since those look like garbage, some of my lists get tossed into the trash. So far nothing I've discarded has seemed to be important, but how would I know since I've lost my list of what is important.

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    1. You gave me a good chuckle for the day, Lesley, and I can relate. I hope we both get it figured out. Thank you so much for commenting!

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