Step Three: File Organization
How to build book files and keep yourself organized in the face of creative chaos
A quick note to say welcome to the lot of you who’ve joined up over the past two weeks. I am grateful you’re here, and looking forward to our interactions! Grab yourself some gluten-free ginger snaps and a cup of tea, and let’s get started.
What is it they say, cleanliness is next to godliness? I’m not sure I buy into that, but I will say that good file organization is the key to creative sanity.
Now, let me admit upfront that I have a hefty case of OCD, so my file organization is specific to how my own brain processes information. It may or may not make perfect sense to you, and may or may not work for you. The adage of my life, there are many ways up the mountain, truly fits here.
I find it helpful, though, to have a process when I’m starting a new project. Why? Because it helps me get past the dreaded blank page that comes with beginning a new book. Our creative spirits are delicate things, and if we ease them into a project rather than just opening a Word file and trying to write that perfect opening line, everything goes smoother.
(Just FYI, I’m working on a Mac, so some of the language may be Mac-specific.)
I use Dropbox exclusively because I once lost a 16-page synopsis (for Judas Kiss) and I never, ever want to experience that emotion again. Redundancies are your friend, friend. I’ll get into that more later.
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