The bulletin board is a semi-new tool for me in my writing.
Typically, once I’ve written the blurby thing and figured out my basics, I have a couple items for my bulletin board. Sometimes it’s a picture from a magazine that looks like one of my characters. Often it’s notes I’ve hastily scribbled, nuggets of ideas that somehow fit into the story, but I’m just not quite sure where.
Having a bulletin board gives me some place to gather these items, something to gaze at when I’m stuck in a scene. It’s also a way to keep notes handy, yet not cluttering up my work space.
Until Saturday, my writing bulletin board looked like this:
In the top left corner, that’s a map of my main character’s high school. Go Trojans.
The bottom left is a calendar I’ve filled out.
All those sticky notes are random plot ideas. That scrap of paper in the top right is a note I made about the lie my character believes. (And on the reverse is a quote from my daily Office calendar.
The picture is a character who I actually just cut, which is sad. She sure had some pretty red hair.
I like my bulletin board a lot. The only thing I didn’t like was that sometimes I have to work on a couple projects at a time, and it was a pain to switch out items.
Well, now I don’t have to. This is what my bulletin board looks like as of Saturday:
The lovely piece of 4×6 cork was sitting under the Christmas tree for me this year. Thank you, Nana.
As was a fan. Thanks, Mom and Dad.:
Complete with one of these babies:
And curtains. Thank you, in-laws:
It was a good Christmas. And we’re all grateful that the office renovation is over, but I’m pretty sure my husband feels the most relief of all.
But back to the bulletin board.
I find it’s a easy way to keep all those notes, articles, pictures, and charts handy. And that it works as a great motivator when I’m stuck. Or when I’m forced to take time away from a project, it helps me get back in the frame of mind pretty easily. If a bulletin board isn’t an option, you can always have a folder or a binder or something. Get creative with it and find what works best for you!
Have a great Wednesday, guys!