Staying Organized

[scarlettlilly.livejournal.com]

Dear H/D Writers,

Entering the Harry Potter fandom on LJ has quickly led me to the realization that my organizational skills are simply mediocre.

Between all the communities, all the prompts and challenges, I'm absolutely baffled at how to organize everything. It's even more difficult because one story/drabble will include challenges and/or prompts from multiple communities. I originally started out saving each story to a folder for the given community that I wrote it for, but with the combining that I mentioned above, that system doesn't really work as well.

I use Microsoft Word and just the other day I noticed that it  allows you to add tags to the files you want to save, so is that something I should consider using and completely forget about the folders? 

What is your system of organization? Trial and error: what works for you and what doesn't?

I NEED MUCHO HELP.

Desperately,
H/D Writer Buried Under Folders. And they're smirking at me. THEY KNOW.

Comments

[deirdre-aithne.livejournal.com]

I usually label all my files by their primary comm/fest. So if I were writing for a prompt table and using a prompt from a comm like slytherin100, I'd label for the table on that fic, but the comm tag would also be in the header info when I open the fic. Then everything fits into neat little folders for me: Fests, Tables, Comms, and Random.

[scarlettlilly.livejournal.com]

That's the system I'm currently using, but I'm worried that it's not specific enough if I needed to find a story that I wrote for so and so comment fest and challenge.

*laughs* I like that you have a random folder. Mine is called "Other" and I have one for little excerpts that I decided not to use, also.

[scarlettlilly.livejournal.com]

Oh, and thanks!

[jakuako.livejournal.com]

This may not help you at all... (>_>) but I don't even bother organizing folders by fests. I have a folder labeled 'Jakuako' and inside that there is 'Complete', 'Incomplete', 'Bunnies' and then some loose documents like family trees, etc. To keep my story-fest relationships straight, I write them out on note cards which I have forever pinned to the cork board above my desk, along with due dates and other info I need to know about it.

I find physical attempts at organization help better than digital attempts. It's satisfying to write something out, and even more satisfying to be able to scratch it out when it's over. xD Also you can shift the note cards around easily and tack new note cards in where you need them.

But that's just me... *shrugs* ;)

[scarlettlilly.livejournal.com]

Physical organization gets overwhelming for me sometimes. It's just so much there in front of me that I almost find it intimidating.

I don't have a corkboard and there's a huge window by my desk. Plus, my family knows I read fanfiction, but they're not aware I also write. Don't want to advertise that!

I'm thinking that the best way to organize would be finding some balance between physical and digital. Make a list somewhere.

[scarlettlilly.livejournal.com]

Thank youuu. =D

[blossomdreams.livejournal.com]

Well I have two organization methods. I write out what I'm doing and title it with the fest. Then I write the prompt down so I can remember what I'm doing. It helps me and my tendency to forget things. I have a page where I list all the challenges I'm doing then I go through my notebook and write out the challenges in detail. On my computer I have folders labeled with the fest or what I'm doing. For drabbles I label the folders with the couple like if it's h/d or A/S. If it's something with different characters I label the folder with the comm name.

Hope that helps! :)

[scarlettlilly.livejournal.com]

YES, I have a HUGE tendency to forget things. Like how I forgot about this post until a few minutes ago. I'm thinking the combination of digital and physical will be the best for me too. I don't always have time to get on my laptop during the day, so it would be a good idea to have a notebook with the challenges and reminders and whatnot. Thanks. =]

[winterstorrm.livejournal.com]

I have files for each fest/fic that I am writing, and a writing schedule sorted by deadline etc. I'd be lost without that!

[scarlettlilly.livejournal.com]

*laughs* Oh, no. I don't do too well with making schedules and deadlines for myself. I'm really good at convincing myself that a few hours/days won't make a difference and end up scrambling. Though it's not a bad idea. Perhaps I could have a schedule, but one with enough wiggle room that I don't feel like I have to bargain with myself when it comes to getting down to business. Thank you. =]