tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post5320431293897231468..comments2024-03-17T02:20:03.772-05:00Comments on Riding With The Top Down: Post-it Notes. Civilization defined.Kathleen Eaglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13561028604927993773noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-29519735695454774502010-04-20T18:06:29.941-05:002010-04-20T18:06:29.941-05:00Just in case anyone wants to see how I used my tra...Just in case anyone wants to see how I used my tracking system, I ran a series on my blog, but that would take some searching! However, I have a workshop style handout on my <a href="http://www.terryodell.com" rel="nofollow">website,</a> called "Plotting for Non-Plotters." I'll be doing a workshop on the system at the Emerald City Writers Conference in October.Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-74112217258712941912010-04-20T17:45:47.451-05:002010-04-20T17:45:47.451-05:00Thanks guys, for chiming in while I was gone today...Thanks guys, for chiming in while I was gone today! I'm fascinated by these little sticky things. And I'm relieved to hear I have some comrades in the car with the same office supply fetish. Notebooks. Yeah, baby.<br /><br />Meanwhile, let me expand on the color scheme on my board. A color is chosen for each character's pov, problem flow, and issues, and another for the developmentof the romance. Each scene is assigned a color based on which character's problem is being dealt with and the action is written on the postit and posted. I can see at a glance the clusters of color that show that a character is hogging the story or indicate that a plot thread is being neglected. <br /><br />Sometimes one of the characters is a villain, but in some of my books there isn't a a bad guy or gal causing trouble. So sometimes it's an historical event that has to be played out or a sub-plot or a secondary romance. That character or event or subplot or secondary romance gets its own color, too. And there may be even a color for backstory if it's really deep and involved.<br /><br />Depending on the book, I may have five or seven or more colors. (Makes for a rainbow of action!)<br /><br />The cool thing is, you can assign whatever color you want to whatever you're trying to track and let the color show you the flow of things in your story. You make it your own system. . . whatever helps you see the flow of the story.<br /><br />A writer I know (whom I've brainstormed with using a board like this and postit notes) uses it to do the Michael Hague thing. . . 10% call to action, then 25% first turning point, then 50% point of no return, then 75% dark moment, then 90% the resolution and ending. The danged thing worked at pretty much those percentages!Betina Krahnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11379124690406269848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-81975797167434721692010-04-20T15:34:08.190-05:002010-04-20T15:34:08.190-05:00I use post-its a lot at work, but never at home.
...I use post-its a lot at work, but never at home.<br /><br />The idea of plotting a book on a display board is a good one, especially the different colors. <br /><br />I think I'd use a different color for each character, then maybe a totally different style note for major events involving multiple characters.<br /><br />That way I'd easily see where the main events are, and could arrange my character revelations on the timeline before or after events.<br /><br />Thanks for the idea, Betina!ForestJanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05536396154296555583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-15620229111274294412010-04-20T15:30:01.023-05:002010-04-20T15:30:01.023-05:00A giant Post-it calendar? Must find one!
I'v...A giant Post-it calendar? Must find one!<br /><br />I've tried using them for storyboarding, using the double closet doors in my office as the board. Too big, I think. That's why that calendar sounds good.<br /><br />Post-it reminders are stuck to the glass (plastic) in the frames that hold my bookcovers that are mounted on the wall beside my desk. That way they don't get lost in the clutter =on= the desk!Christie Ridgwayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17036552271272402052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-91814171991587795522010-04-20T15:01:38.607-05:002010-04-20T15:01:38.607-05:00Speaking of ... okay, I can't think of a conne...Speaking of ... okay, I can't think of a connection, but my sister just e-mailed me with a heads-up on a documentary she's been raving about--Oscar nominated--called "Food, Inc" that will be aired on PBS for the first time Apr 21 (tomorrow night). I think Michele might have mentioned it. We've talked about food here a time or ten, and my sister says it's must-see. You can see a trailer at <br />http://www.pbs.org/pov/foodinc/Kathleen Eaglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13561028604927993773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-4838610114295673702010-04-20T14:28:54.760-05:002010-04-20T14:28:54.760-05:00I LOVE Post-It notes; the colors are bright and ch...I LOVE Post-It notes; the colors are bright and cheery and some are fancy and decorative.<br /><br />I have a Post-It holder that is a red purse with pop-up post its and I love it. It can be refilled also.<br /><br />I use them for reminders to pay bills, call someone, make an appointment, mark my place in a book, etc. They are so handy!!!robynlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03250071917966470701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-15536949603984719602010-04-20T09:49:28.041-05:002010-04-20T09:49:28.041-05:00I use the same story board system. Right now, all ...I use the same story board system. Right now, all my supplies, including my story board and post-its are in storage, soon to wend their way from Florida to Colorado. I can't wait.Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-16197811356896479742010-04-20T09:02:56.080-05:002010-04-20T09:02:56.080-05:00Betina, what a what a timely post. It. I just re...Betina, what a what a timely post. It. I just removed my granddaughter's Post-it creation from my desk lamp. She made a little curtain all around the edge because the light was too bright and the lamp needed "some decoration." I kept it until the paper started to curl. If I leave a Post-it pad within reach, they'll come up with a new use for it.Kathleen Eaglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13561028604927993773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-44284253687431514262010-04-20T08:52:23.066-05:002010-04-20T08:52:23.066-05:00I love Post-its, in all different colors. I leave ...I love Post-its, in all different colors. I leave notes about errands I need to run, grocery items, phone numbers, websites to check out, I use them everywhere. I like to leave notes for my grandkids with them to tell them I love and miss them, even though I see them very frequently.Linda Hendersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06496464041656744569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-53854061194873520032010-04-20T08:36:12.886-05:002010-04-20T08:36:12.886-05:00Betina, I use post-its for plotting too. I have u...Betina, I use post-its for plotting too. I have used a story board, but I found a giant post-it calendar that works really well too. I enjoy all colors except white.:) My super fave thing is notebooks. I love buying a new notebook. One of my recent notebooks featured Wonder Woman on the cover. I was hoping for inspiration.Leannehttp://www.leannebanks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-62289040503386503842010-04-20T08:33:54.532-05:002010-04-20T08:33:54.532-05:00I adore Post-Its. I recently got a cool set of th...I adore Post-Its. I recently got a cool set of them that had a Paris motif and were in all different sizes. Joy! My fav, though, is the post-it highlighter pen. You can highlight, then pull out a post-it bookmark to mark that page. Genius!<br /><br />Now I'm curious if the colors on your boards have specific meanings, Betina? The pink looks most urgent!Michele Haufhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12255612473985897103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-60016425308637328012010-04-20T07:16:16.905-05:002010-04-20T07:16:16.905-05:00Laney, happy birthday! May you be blessed with pos...Laney, happy birthday! May you be blessed with post it notes. :)<br /><br />I'm with ya, Betina. The ever helpful post it. Love me a colorful paper clip, too.lois greimanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05758677401591191607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-14336726534541178742010-04-20T07:09:05.408-05:002010-04-20T07:09:05.408-05:00I am so impressed with your story board of post it...I am so impressed with your story board of post it notes! That might be story organization that I can handle!<br /><br />I'm a neon post-it note gal. No canary yellow or pastels for me. And isn't odd how we develop a preference for something as ordinary as our notepads?KylieBranthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02521116390801346909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-26415413278364331912010-04-20T06:55:49.651-05:002010-04-20T06:55:49.651-05:00LOL, Betina. I love post-it notes. They're a...LOL, Betina. I love post-it notes. They're all over my desk. Phone numbers, things I need to do. Confirm #s. I use one daily to put down my word count goals. <br /><br />And I love your idea to use the cardboard display. It's right up my ally. I'm going out, buying one tonight, and trying it on the book I just started!Helen Brennahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08680081195181747377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-70836975600722561142010-04-20T06:53:30.746-05:002010-04-20T06:53:30.746-05:00If I didn't have Post-It Notes, my life wouldn...If I didn't have Post-It Notes, my life wouldn't be as organized!<br /><br />While I'm reading, I stick Post-It Notes to the fronts of books from authors who blog. I write down what I liked or didn't like so that I can pass on the info in my blog responses. I even include page numbers of typos in case authors have their books reproduced later.<br /><br />Post-Its are used as bookmarks in cookbooks so that I know which recipes to try before typing them out on my computer. (I have a Word file with all my "keeper" recipes on it -- I keep only those recipes that rank 8.5/10 or higher in my household.) Needless to say, I may never get those Post-It Notes out of some of the books!<br /><br />I could go on and on, but I'll spare you this time. It's my B-Day today, so I need to get ready for company. My DH is BBQ'ing lunch and I'm providing tons of leftovers as supper for our friends. (I cooked tons of delicious food the last few days. My GF is a self-proclaimed "terrible cook", so any remnants they get here are greatly appreciated. I just want to clean out my fridge, NOT COOK, and have a relaxing day with our friends. It's a win-win situation for all of us!)<br /><br />I'm looking forward to reading other uses for our beloved Post-It Notes. (You/I can't have enough!)Thanks for a great blog topic today.Laney4https://www.blogger.com/profile/06990122242183752771noreply@blogger.com