CHOICES
I rarely have to search for a topic upon which to write.
I devised a system years ago which keeps me supplied with a regular supply of partly written column ideas.
Initially I worked it in small notebooks but,in time, they became cumbersome because used notes remained in place. I switched to a loose leaf arrangmwent of half-sheets of used copy paper fitted to a small clipboard. I keep three such boards in active use at all times. One is at bedside and used most of all. There is another which I keep in the side door shelf of the family van for travel time and waiting use. The third clipboard is mobile inthe sense that it is sometimes at my workplace, other times it moves to the dining room, near the TV set, or to the bathroom on occasion. Sharpened pencils are with each clip board and I always keep a pencil or pen nearby.
The clipboard system worked well for me me but it does have some drawbacks. One is that I have trouble reading my own handwriting after it "cools" a bit. And,the stack of notes gets taller and taller,and it becomes difficult to seek out any one from all the others for re-working or additions. So, I have recently,extended the system to include "Notes To Me #1,2,3 etc" in the form of small floppy disks. They are filed as "idea - tobacco juice"...."idea-Onion skin..."idea - supersonic silliness" etc. They are earlier to bring up a page and add a bit to them as time allows. I set aside a portion of my work week simply to search and revise such starter stuff. If one gets fat, or if I simply feel I want to write about that subject, I move it to my desktop and write from there.
I also have a stack of scapbooks I contrived many years ago plus three or four yards of shelves holding large post binders filled capacity with thousands of pages such as this. Oh, yes...one more thing. Be sure to include the family in all of this. The writing pads I keep at those places are for family use, as well. The response has been affirmative for me. They are used by the telephone for notes; they are in demand when the grandchldren visit and need paper on which to draw or color, even used to make up grocery lists and,more recently as christmas gift lists - left at a spot where others will be sure to see it.
By encouraging others to use the clip boards they have gained family approval as acceptable clutter around the house.
A.L.M. December 2, 2003 [c461wds]
