Why Writers Should Take Copious Notes

You never know when something you see, hear, or read is going to spark an idea.

I’m in several writing groups, and I meet lots of professionals with great legal, medical, forensic, law enforcement, and other advice. Many of our speakers also offer to answer writers’ questions, so I make sure to record their contact information.

For years, I jotted notes in notebooks, on stickies, or on any random scrap of paper handy. My desk (and purse) always had a pile of notes or printouts. I had to get organized. Data isn’t good if you can’t find it when you need it, and I hate spending time searching for something I know I put somewhere.

My solution was a giant spreadsheet with lots of worksheets organized by subject. Examples include: Story Ideas, Contacts, Cool Character Names, Medical/Legal Ideas, Cool Slang, Marketing Contacts, and Overused Words.

Whenever I’m plotting a story, I look through my ideas and mark the ones I’ve used. I also have a list of cool names and when I’m planning a book launch, I go through my marketing ideas and add update my book launch plan. And my contact list has been invaluable, when I need a resource to help me with a specific question.

How do you keep your notes organized?