Recently,
I finally picked up an appointment book after years of using a digital version,
then printing out a copy of each month’s activity. Then about two years ago,
for whatever reason (the wireless connection in my house has always been iffy,
and the router finally died earlier this year), the printer became a solitary
unit (that is, it wouldn’t connect with anything; it scans and copies, and so
it will print as well, but only if I bothered to figure out where to insert a
memory stick). I haven’t had a chance to figure out why; I hadn’t needed to use
it, and when I need printouts, I went to the library one block away. (I’m not
good with technology. Not uncomfortable, but it would take me a longer time to
suss out the problem than I wanted to waste when I could have been working.) Of
course, for a long time that worked fine. When I wanted something more than a
few pages from the library printer, I could go to the Staples a mile away (and
since I don’t have a car, I walk to, but again it has to be something I have to
make sure I have an hour to waste walking there and walking home).
It’s
getting to the point, though, that not having a printer is getting
inconvenient. And because I don’t have a printout of my month’s goals, I was
getting frustrated that I’d miss deadlines (like those for OtherWorld Diner)
that I shouldn’t have. I kept telling myself I’d fix the connection or break
down and call a repair guy (grr!), but I never have.
And
I still haven’t. At least for the deadlines, now I have a little book made up
of months, weeks, and pages on which to write notes. Just like I had...before
the digital age. Like the big leather binder I still have on my desk, gathering
dust. It’s shut and put in a safe place; I have no space on my desk for
something that size.
My deadlines which are mine
Why
hasn’t the whole “I have all the deadlines I need to remember on my
laptop/phone/other device” worked for me? I had all those deadlines on my
computer’s calendar, but I’d get a reminder and I’d say oh yeah I should get on
that and that would be it. More often than not, the reminder would come up when
I was working on a project and wasn’t at a point to work on it. With a binder
of paper, small (mass market paperback size), I have it propped open to the
proper month, with everything I have to do coming up not giving me a gentle
reminder. No, in my own handwriting, scrawled, sometimes in CAPS. For me, that
works.
I
think of it in pretty much the same way authors—including me—have story
binders. My life and work as a story, basically. This is particularly useful
for those writing series and crucial for those writing fantasy and science
fiction series. I’ve seen remarkably elaborate versions, in thick binders,
color illustrations and maps, so the tiny details of a fictional world remain
fresh. An organizer is the same thing for real-life folks. (And a great start
for a story, come to think of it! You can see it, can’t you? “Dental appt 9am.
Mktg meet 11am. Lunch/blind date 1 pm. Note: Pick up toothpaste.”)
I
know someone who actually offers a service to build story binders for those who
need to keep track of the details for a series. Doesn’t matter if it’s
historical or fantastical or science fiction or small-town contemporary; she’ll
keep all those details for you, and if you decide to insert a tiny detail, tell
her and she’ll make sure she has it for you. Yessirree, it’s an organizer for
your story! (If you’re curious about her service, ask me!)
Meanwhile,
my life organizer is being populated by the day with projects, deadlines,
workshops, and even appointments. And it works for me.
Elizabeth
MS Flynn has written fiction in the form of comic book stories, romantic
fantasies, urban fantasies, historical fantasies and short stories, a young
adult novel, and a graphic novella (most published under the name of Eilis
Flynn). She’s also a professional editor and has been for 40 years, working
with academia, technology, and finance nonfiction, and mystery, science
fiction, fantasy, and romance fiction. If you’re looking for an editor, she can
be found editing at emsflynn.com and reached at emsflynn@aol.com. If you’re
curious about her books, check out eilisflynn.com. In any case, she can be
reached at eilisflynn@aol.com.
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