Hi writers, When I am plotting my main plots, I am getting ideas for details, e.g. subplots, pieces of dialog, settings, other ideas, etc. I bet it happens to you too. Writing them down and sticking them on my corkboard with my main plots makes the entire plotting process rather confusing and complex. Do have a system that tames bits and pieces that you also find again when you need it? If yes, could you describe it briefly?
Scrivener! You'll find it in resources for a free 30 day trial. It's truly incredible. I use it and a couple notebooks.
I throw them all in a document (probably named "fuck") in whatever order they occur to me because I'm a mess.
If it springs directly from something else I put a comment in the word document. Usually it's snippets of dialogue I want the character to use later. If it's more of a generic idea for a future chapter or something I write the note and the very bottom of the document and put it in bold or something. I also, like @izzybot, have a separate document running for each draft, but I usually throw things I cut out in there, which can very useful in later drafts when you're looking for another scene to throw in here or there.
I utilize the "notes" section on my iPhone. Most of the random things that occur to me do so at inopportune times. So, when that happens, I just pull out my phone and get them down before they fly away like the fickle little fucks they are.
Yeah, this. I have a folder called 'writing', another folder called 'scraps', five scrivener folders of various short stories, a folder called "Main-WIP" with the master document of my current book. All on my desktop. It's a mess. Out and about I use waterproof Journals, and 'notes' in my phone. When I get home at the end of the day I type them in scrivener
I've thought about getting a waterproof notebook to keep in the shower, since I unfailing have better ideas in there than anywhere else.
It's really not too bad. The tutorial did take me all day, but I have two small kids so everything takes thrice longer than it should. Plus, most features are optional and there is a quick-start tutorial.
Your and my mess are twins, Zoupskim. I really would like to get a handle on it. If I would have enough cash, I would hire a secretary to keep my writings in order and up to date and all I have to do is writing and coming up with ideas.
Depends on what it is. If it's a premise for a short story, I'll write it after reading the notes I have. If it's a note for a larger manuscript or already existing story, I'll incorporate it when I work on that manuscript or story. If the idea needs to sit on the back burner while it develops, I have a document that I'll type it into.
Yup. But I'm not much of a note taker. I only plot the big stuff, and most of that I can keep in my head.
It's...not. It's rather a hodgepodge of notes that I often struggle to understand when I revisit them. Like @Homer Potvin I keep most of what I think of in my brain instead of notes under what may be a misguided notion that good ideas stick mentally for me and the bad ones fade away.
Pretty much this. I do try and keep it organized though, and currently my document is thirteen pages, half is describing the "rules" of the world it's set in (fantasy). The other half is plot ideas, characters and short blurbs about them, and at the end I have some stuff written out that won't go in till much later in the book, but I didn't want to lose it. All that in that order, and I make sure I find the section I need to put things in when I have something to add.
I generally keep them in my head - if i write them down its either on a post it, or in a word doc, but i find they are most useful in my head where i can think of them while driving, working, cooking, having sex etc (okay may be not the last one)
I have a separate word doc for ideas of short stories, novels etc and plot them in there with a brief synopsis of what's come to mind. If it's to do with something I'm already working on I place it in a page at the top of the doc and make sure I leave a good enough description so I can really what the hell I was thinking about.
It seems to be orderly up in my noggin... But then again it's my noggin, so it doesn't work for everyone. Occasionally I'll have to write down some names so I can remember them.
Thank you for recommending this! I have downloaded it and am working through the tutorial and it might be just the thing I've been looking for for so long! I am totally thrilled. Like a carpenter getting his hands on the new Woodcut 2000 chainsaw with integrated axe and whittle knife.
