I have a folder on my desktop labeled REUSABLE FOLDER. It houses
all the articles, pieces of stories, beginnings or endings or poetry,
information and 'what-have-we-here's' that come along once in a while
and saved for a rainy day. That paragraph written last week about the
little boy down the street caught bullying my dog not once but several
times or that half-written story for my writer's group - what am I doing
keeping these scraps that may never ever be used for anything? Good
question.
Today, as I was going through this folder of hundreds of Word documents, it occurred to me that this old folder sitting here catching all the junk files and tidbits of half-writes or sentences long forgotten may seem like nothing to some people but to me it's a gold mine of story ideas or poems just waiting to happen.
My daughter threatens to toss it in the trash every time she gets on the computer. She says it like an old attic or trunk just gathering dust and cobwebs and will never be good for anything except the trash. What does she know about writing anyway? Texting her friends or messaging someone on Facebook doesn't make her the expert.
The old folder has been around a long time. As I went through the contents today, several story ideas came to mind and are on the back burner now just waiting to simmer and be written. I'm glad I didn't toss it out because there are still some pretty good ideas in it, not to mention the idea for this essay.
Some people collect dolls, teddy bears, cars, figurines, etc. Me, well, I collect reusable pieces and store them in my folder on my desktop. It may not be worth anything but someday it might turn into the next best seller or something like it! When I am faced with writer's block or just looking for an idea to write about, I go to my folder and drag out something, let it thaw out and then cook it into something really delicious! In this case, instead of actually cooking something, I write it, turning it into something good to read!
I collect quotes or pieces of interesting conversations by people unaware that I was even listening in the first place, and store my pieces in my folder. No, I'm not a spy - maybe a tad-bit curious! Writing down my searches or findings paves the way for a good story down the road.
Whatever you do to get story ideas or however you store your information, remember that it is a treasure chest of stories and poems waiting to burst forth and get written. The point is simple, write it down. Write down everything. Write all the time. You may not need it now but store it for a later use. Just write that sentence, that paragraph - that letter. Whatever it is, hang on to it if you believe there might be even a half ounce of good in it.
My folder continues to grow and perhaps another folder will soon have to be born: REUSABLE FOLDER #2. But that's okay too because when there is a shortage to write about, I know where to go find the magic needed to produce a story or an article or even a poem. Everyday, write something new and store it. Every time you use something from the folder, be sure to add something back, even if its nothing more than a short paragraph or an outline of an upcoming story project.
You might want to start another folder and swipe pieces from the Internet and use it in the same way, being sure to not copy anything but write it in your own words. Take that murder story from the news and write a synopsis for a future book project.
The point is, write it down and keep it somewhere. Once or twice a week, go through your folder(s) until you find something to write about and then let your creative juices do the rest! When you're done, write a short piece or write as much as you'd like but put it back in the folder.
Writing is hard work but it is also exhilarating and enjoyable if you are passionate about it. Keeping a reusable folder on hand will always allow you plenty to write about, and keep you busy keeping it filled. As long as you write, and keep adding to your folder, your supply of ideas will never run dry.
Keep stocking your folder and keep writing your stories! You never know what you will find that can be reused not once but many times. Hang on to that old reusable folder - let the dust form and spiders weave their webs. Look what it did for the classic children's story Charlotte's Web... it's your treasure chest of writing ideas...
Today, as I was going through this folder of hundreds of Word documents, it occurred to me that this old folder sitting here catching all the junk files and tidbits of half-writes or sentences long forgotten may seem like nothing to some people but to me it's a gold mine of story ideas or poems just waiting to happen.
My daughter threatens to toss it in the trash every time she gets on the computer. She says it like an old attic or trunk just gathering dust and cobwebs and will never be good for anything except the trash. What does she know about writing anyway? Texting her friends or messaging someone on Facebook doesn't make her the expert.
The old folder has been around a long time. As I went through the contents today, several story ideas came to mind and are on the back burner now just waiting to simmer and be written. I'm glad I didn't toss it out because there are still some pretty good ideas in it, not to mention the idea for this essay.
Some people collect dolls, teddy bears, cars, figurines, etc. Me, well, I collect reusable pieces and store them in my folder on my desktop. It may not be worth anything but someday it might turn into the next best seller or something like it! When I am faced with writer's block or just looking for an idea to write about, I go to my folder and drag out something, let it thaw out and then cook it into something really delicious! In this case, instead of actually cooking something, I write it, turning it into something good to read!
I collect quotes or pieces of interesting conversations by people unaware that I was even listening in the first place, and store my pieces in my folder. No, I'm not a spy - maybe a tad-bit curious! Writing down my searches or findings paves the way for a good story down the road.
Whatever you do to get story ideas or however you store your information, remember that it is a treasure chest of stories and poems waiting to burst forth and get written. The point is simple, write it down. Write down everything. Write all the time. You may not need it now but store it for a later use. Just write that sentence, that paragraph - that letter. Whatever it is, hang on to it if you believe there might be even a half ounce of good in it.
My folder continues to grow and perhaps another folder will soon have to be born: REUSABLE FOLDER #2. But that's okay too because when there is a shortage to write about, I know where to go find the magic needed to produce a story or an article or even a poem. Everyday, write something new and store it. Every time you use something from the folder, be sure to add something back, even if its nothing more than a short paragraph or an outline of an upcoming story project.
You might want to start another folder and swipe pieces from the Internet and use it in the same way, being sure to not copy anything but write it in your own words. Take that murder story from the news and write a synopsis for a future book project.
The point is, write it down and keep it somewhere. Once or twice a week, go through your folder(s) until you find something to write about and then let your creative juices do the rest! When you're done, write a short piece or write as much as you'd like but put it back in the folder.
Writing is hard work but it is also exhilarating and enjoyable if you are passionate about it. Keeping a reusable folder on hand will always allow you plenty to write about, and keep you busy keeping it filled. As long as you write, and keep adding to your folder, your supply of ideas will never run dry.
Keep stocking your folder and keep writing your stories! You never know what you will find that can be reused not once but many times. Hang on to that old reusable folder - let the dust form and spiders weave their webs. Look what it did for the classic children's story Charlotte's Web... it's your treasure chest of writing ideas...
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