One which saw me tied to the computer working on a major school assigment (a really cool one, so no complaints) or at the library, working.
No real time this week for the ms. Somehow I HAVE to find a way to work in more time for it. It's getting quite frustrating. But I know I can't expect to perfect a system only six weeks into school, so I'm trying not to get too stressed about it.
My assignment required me to make an inventory of all the "records" I know of, relating to me and my life and recording their location. It was quite a task, given that I have a family archive as well as a personal one. And I'm rather a pack rat, so my personal one is quite extensive. But it's also incredibly valuable exercise to undertake.
And I just realized that in many ways it's helpful to my writing, in that by putting down in black and white a record of my life, I can apply a similar technique when getting to know my characters. IOW, create a fictional life record for them.
It's so cool when my two worlds inform each other :)
How about you - are you a pack rat? Or do you travel light? (so to speak)
Teresa
Currently Reading: The Glass of Time by Michael Cox
Link of the Day: Heritage Preservation Starter Kit from GlobalGenealogy.com
4 comments:
I travel light. My personal mementos fit in one large box. I'm not sentimental for the most part so I don't hang onto things.
I'm the same with writing. I know you like the writing software. I tried them and realized I just don't use it. I don't have character sketches or anything like that, just one file with a draft in it.
That sounds like a neat exercise -- but, ugh! I travel heavy! I've kept a diary since I was about 8. Plus, I have mementos and photos from everywhere I've lived (which means LOTS of places). I keep thinking I'm going to get rid of it all, but I never can bring myself to let it go.
I prefer to travel light. Clutter agitates me. If I see too much of it I do a big purge.
Much as I hate clutter, I'm a total packrat. And I'm married to a packrat. And together we have two packrat kids. It's kind of funny, me seeing this post, as I just posted about clutter today. Every so often, I reach my breaking point and I must purge. So I've restarted FlyLady and I'm purging. But that's not what you're talking about, is it?
We're packrats with records and such, too. I've got two file cabinets filled with important documents and other paperwork. I've got boxes and boxes of momentos. I've got shelves in one of my elf closets for all my writing stuff, crafting stuff, and magazines, yet somehow other stuff has managed to find its way in there, too.
Ugh. I really need to declutter.
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