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Post by marianne on Dec 5, 2004 20:48:06 GMT
I'd like to thank Margo for coming on the board for a week and sharing some of her knowledge.
Fabulous Margo and Merry Xmas, may the New year bring you joy!
As with Maxine, Margo's thread will remain open and we hope she might pop in from time to time to say hello.
MDP
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Post by Jocasta on Dec 6, 2004 4:56:57 GMT
Yes, CJ, this is something I'm always interested in, because I never seem to quite have the information at my fingertips when it comes to plans, maps, and to-do lists on a novel. Agreed. This is something that always gets away from me. I was interested to read that Margo writes longhand on tear-off pads, because that's what I do, too. Can't do new scenes straight onto the computer unless I'm really behind a deadline. I've tried nice notebooks but the good quality paper scares me. I much prefer the flimsy A4 stuff. And, as Margo says, you can tear it off and file it away. After I've got a few chapters I'll type it into the computer, editing away, and file the pages into a separate folder. All Margo's folders sound very organised. I've just got piles. But I do keep one little desk, or even a discrete patch of floor, for each project. I also have a little notebook for ideas, plot notes, quotes etc. I go back over this and highlight useful things occasionally. I've still got my 10-plus notebooks from Time Future, and it's wierd to see what survived from early days and what didn't. Both Time Future and Time Past evolved in drifts and dunes of handwritten notes. I try to keep maps and cultural notes etc in separate piles, but they all end up together. It's a mess. But I have a theory that if something's REALLY important, you'll remember it and it will end up in the book. I like Margo's idea of having several stories in their little files but not necessarily writing them consecutively. I'm considering a five-book series at the moment and the very idea of organising the material is keeping me awake at nights! Maybe I need a nice, colour-coded system...mmm, stationery... Keep dropping in, Margo! It's been fun! Cheerio MM edited for quote-tag - Amy
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Post by margol on Dec 6, 2004 8:23:40 GMT
Hi, all. I'm just checking in from unofficial outerspace now! Maxine, you made me laugh, you so obviously suffer from/enjoy the same afflictions as I do. The high-quality paper and the nice notebooks thing, for example. High-quality paper: I used bond-weight paper for a while. It was fun, but it gave the MS an inappropriate weight - hey, this is just draft, but it feels so important! I felt sinful throwing it out. Nice notebooks: These require a kind of careful abuse. You have to start off with something not related to the task at hand. Someone else's poem, some research notes, a shopping list. You have to besmirch the thing. As soon as you've 'spoiled' the first few pages, you feel an incredible freedom about the remainder. But if you decide, this will be for my best work only, the thing locks you out permanently. I would have just piles of paper, if I had a desk. But since Jack got his room-of-his-own, I have the top of a wooden chest in the bedroom, where I put my folders. From there I take them to kitchen table, bed or State Library. When they're in folders they can be moved around without mixing together a lot easier than piles can be. I love the idea of a tip-top colour-coordinated perfectly ordered system, tabbed, indexed etc. However, I know that if I ever achieved it, I would freeze up completely! It has to be a visibly human, fallible, risking-falling-apart system to work for me. It has to still feel organic rather than mechanical. Thanks, Marianne, for this visit, and I will keep an eye on things here if anyone wants to make contact. And thanks to everyone for participating - this has made quite an impact on the fairly solitary writing life I've been leading the last few weeks. I almost feel normal! Take care all - keep putting bottoms on seats and pens on paper (whatever kind or colour of paper you use!). Love, Margo.
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Post by Chirugal on Dec 6, 2004 11:05:40 GMT
Thank you for coming Margo! Sorry I haven't been around for most of the week, it's coincided with my birthday and stuff... :s Eek! Week gone before you know it...
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Post by Mouse on Dec 6, 2004 11:46:40 GMT
*dittos everything said about stationary* I have a love/hate relationship with nice notebooks, I love them and yet hate them for being so nice and unworthy of being scribbled and jotted in. Although I did crack a nice A4 hardcover notebook to use for the novel I'm working on, and it is so helpful to have all my notes in one place (I glue in things I do on foolscap) instead of strewn randomly about...
It's been great having you Margo!
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Post by Cj on Dec 6, 2004 16:57:35 GMT
Thanks for all the advice margol hope to see you around here
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Post by marianne on Jan 24, 2005 2:04:11 GMT
Congratulations to Margo for winning two Aurealis awards. YAY!
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Post by Chirugal on Jan 25, 2005 13:22:08 GMT
Two?! Bloody hell! *standing ovation* ;D
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Post by Jocasta on Feb 3, 2005 2:15:18 GMT
Two?! Bloody hell! *standing ovation* ;D A double standing ovation!! Maxine
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