How many unfinished stories do you have in your WIP folders? I reread some of mine this evening, and I discovered some interesting anomalies.

None of the unfinished stories and novels are bad. In fact, I feel quite confident that I could sell 90% of them without much trouble at all.

Some of them were abandoned because another idea caught my attention, but does that mean I need to abandon them forever? They'll remain on my WIP list for far too long if I don't finish them and send them out.

Each of those novels and stories have unpaid hours put into them; unpaid until I sell the books or stories and get paid for my work. What is the point of leaving them unfinished?

I think the largest part of my problem is lack of organization. Computers, while invaluable tools to the modern-day writer, also are sinks for unfinished works that might never be found again.

After realizing just how many unfinished WIPs I had in my folders, I decided to do something about it. And, instead of making a list of things to do, I decided to get a little creative.

A little while ago, I read an article about how to get your kids to do their chores without complaining (much.) The article suggested to write their chores on pieces of paper, put the pieces of paper in a jar, and let the kids pick which chores they are bound to complete that day. I thought that sounded like a great idea, but not just for kids. Writers can use it too.

Instead of a chore jar, you'll end up with a writer's idea jar. Write the titles of your unfinished stories (and a couple of hints if you don't remember what they're about or where on your harddrive they are kept) on a scrap of paper. I used leftover library card catalog cards, from when the library switched over to computers. I wrote the name of the story on the card, and what needed to be done to it. (see pic below.)

After I finished working through as many of my unfinished stories and unwritten ideas I could think of, I folded up the cards and put them all in an unused vase. I suggest you find something colorful or unique to put your idea cards in. Don't you agree that this vase is perfect for a speculative fiction writer?

When you're finished with a WIP and need something else to write, all you have to do is pick a card, any card, and work on that. I'm giving myself one opportunity to throw back, meaning that if I pick a card and can't think of any way to advance the plot of an already started novel or I pick the fourth book in a series when the third book hasn't been written yet, I'm allowed to throw it back and pick another one. But I'm only allowed to do that once.

All in all, I ended up with over twenty cards in my idea box. There will be more, of course, as I have other ideas, but at least having all my to-be-written and to-be-finished books in one place will help me become a more organized writer, and put a little zest in what happens next.

1/26/03