K is for Keeping Track

Debra needs a better way of organizing tid bits of information in her stories.

When I went to fill out the Cover Art sheet for my newest project "Christmas at The Corral" I was dismayed to discover I needed to look through the mss in order to find out what my characters looked like. I couldn't remember the color of her hair or either of their eyes. Now this was a story I wrote by the seat of my pants in record time, so I hadn't spent months and months with it, but it was still disturbing to think I didn't know those basics about my characters.

If I would have jotted just a few notes, I would have had something to refer back to.

As I think of more ideas for holiday spin-offs of my Corral Series, I find myself wishing I'd kept a notebook of minor character names or information about the town. Again, I need to keep going back to the stories to figure out things.

So, as I contemplate a new series, I want to keep better records. I don't tend to plot ahead, I am definitely a pantster, but I need to jot down what might at the time seem like minor details. I figure I can keep a notebook, and use sticky notes as tabs for quick access to characters (main and minor), setting information, backstory, research, etc. That way, I'll always have it at my finger tips. I don't plan on doing major character profiles, but it would be nice to have details like hair and eye color readily available. Some characters are more ingrained in my imagination, so this isn't always an issue, but sometimes in the heat of the moment I forget if she's supposed to be looking into his deep green or his deep blue eyes. Notes such as this will help with continuity throughout the series too.

Anybody have a different way to keep track of things? I've seen people who do Wikis about their stories. Or large poster boards with different color stickies for characters, setting, plot. Like I said, I'm not that much of a planner, but it will be nice to have some type of reference at my fingertips. Live and learn, right?

Until next time,

Happy Reading!

Debra
www.debrastjohnromance.com