Organization in Writing

Well, this will be embarrassing... I have not afforded the time for my story, and so, the examples for organization are going to look a bit empty.  I guess taking the Creative Writing classes that I'm taking are making me drag a bit on my own, personal stories.  (And I'm not allowed to submit chapters of my story for class until the entire project is at least 100 pages...  It's only 40).

All the same, I'm going to show you a couple of methods I use to keep myself organized while writing.  One, I've been using for several months.  The other, I just started implementing last month (you'll see what I mean).

I hope this helps!

 The first is an Excel Spreadsheet that helps me keep track of the number of words I am logging each day.  The days are down the left-hand side and color-coded (not just because it's pretty, but also because it helps me read it... and yea, it's pretty ;)).  I have "Goals" down the right-hand side.  Since I'm not sure when I have the most time to write, I want a daily log.  Also, with weekly goals, I can skip a day now and again and not feel so down about it.  (But, I've skipped about 14 days now, so I need to get re-motivated...)
Check out James Scott Bell's advice:  "Write every day."
(From YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=8ixZJzrkZ2g)




  This next tool for organization is using Microsoft One Note, which is normally used by college students for taking notes in class.  I really love how I can personalize it for the type of notes I need to take.  In writing, I use it to quickly jot down ideas in an outline, or to just throw up different ideas in a "Random bits" section.  Everything stays together and organized, and I have each chapter at my fingertips.  I have goals for each chapter and then an "End of Chapter Notes" section where I put info on how this chapter leads into the next chapter and why it's important in the Big Picture. 

My best advice for organization is to try to find ways to simplify all of your scattered notes and ideas.  Getting everything in one spot is very important for those times when you just want to write.  You won't be wondering where everything is, or what happened to that one great idea you had but forgot to write down.

Feel free to share your own tips in the Comments section!