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| To-Do List & Sticky Notes |
Today I'm showing you my plotting/character building workbook, again using the Happy Planner 365 system, this time the size of the 365 parts is BIG, so it fits 8.5"x11" paper and it takes 11 discs.
Mind you, what I'm showing you are NOT planners, but a system that allows me to add and remove pages far easier than any notebook I've ever used. And if you buy a planner, which I've done occasionally when they are on sale, you can take it apart. Fist pump.
WHY do I need a new system you ask?
After publishing 8 books, I decided I must hone my plotting/character building system and the pictures below will show you why.💗
My need was greater than simply fixing/cleaning/throwing away stuff. I needed a better system to help me build my characters and plot my books and thus write faster.
What I'm showing you doesn't take the place of the computer software I use to write. I use Scrivener because of its flexibility and ease of use. (However, now each chapter will now go into Word so I can hear it and fix it before moving on. Check out this post about Read Aloud).
While Scrivener will hold a massive amount of research, links, and character information, I've found that I brainstorm better using pencil and paper. It's slower and allows me to think more clearly.
My method now is to use my newly refined character and story plotting sheets filling them out with pencil, taking the time to think. In addition, I've returned to my old screenwriting method of using scene cards. I used to adore that method, but plotting with the computer moved me away from using them.
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| Neat and orderly writing drawer - didn't last long. |
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| This mess happened pretty quickly as I threw things into the "writing" drawer, but there was no organization. It lasted this way for a few years 😕 |
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| And this is what it looks like now. I'm fairly confident I can keep it this way. |
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| This is my master sheet where I'll transfer the distilled info after I've done all the work to develop the character. |
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| I bought these dividers from Happy Planner 365, but you can make your own. |
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| My Plotting "Cards", punched with their disc punch system to fit in the storybook. Beneath each index card I have a same sized sheet which I created to list the five senses, and what the characters experience physically/emotionally in the scene. |
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| Last picture, so neat, so organized |
I've created a plotting book for each project I'm working on, and in it are all the notes I've made, some research and my scene cards. Now when I get an idea, I whip out my book, jot the scene down or a character notation and can move on.
It's a mixture of old school and new technology. The reason it's so flexible is because of the Happy Planner system. I know ARC at Staples has a similar idea, but Happy Planner appeals to my sense of style and frankly makes me happy to use it. Update--I was gifted an ARC punch and use it to punch thicker items.
I hope this gives some ideas. I know I needed a new system, both for Character and Story work and so far this has been amazing. I'll tweak the worksheets as needed.
Any questions or thoughts? Put them in the comments below and I'll get back to you. Promise.
Hugs,
~L.A.
You make your system look so appealing. Of course it is. I use it, too :) I love how you've developed scene cards. Keeping scenes straight tends to get frustrating, even using an awesome system like Scrivener!
ReplyDeleteI love your notebooks and envy your organization! Keep up the great work :)
Thank you Audra. I think I've taken this to the Nth degree, but it's working so...and I love scene cards b/c you can move them around if necessary, but the scene in my mind is at least on paper now.
DeleteHugs, L.A.