Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

This is the first post with this title. In the future, I will probably have more with the same or similar title. Just some thoughts about things I find essential, or at least somewhat important, for a writer.

Essentials

Paper and Pencil – Yes, let’s start with some real basics here. If I had a perfect memory I wouldn’t recommend these two items. Since I don’t have such a memory I write notes to myself.

Pockets – The above paper and pencil are of little use if they are not with me. I live with shirts that have at least one pocket. I always have a pencil and several 3″x5″ cards in my pocket.

Door that closes – This one is from Stephen King’s book “On Writing. “ There are times when I simply need to be alone to write without disturbance.

The Chicago Manual of Style – I have yet to find a question about writing whose answer was not in this book. I have two copies – one at home and one at my office at work.

A piece of cardboard and a clothes pin – No, I am not kidding. I prop the piece of cardboard upright next to my computer monitor and use the clothes pin to attach notes to the cardboard. It is much easier and more productive than putting the notes on a desk top and bending and stretching and squinting.

Flat Horizontal Surfaces – These surfaces, given the gift of gravity, hold materials and notes in an easy-to-see manner.

Flat Vertical Surfaces – These surfaces, given some tape and other adhesives, also hold materials and notes in an easy-to-see manner. You could say that I have a visual style of working. I like to see everything in front of me. The visual cues help me to think and write.

Computer – Yes, this helps. Although I believe that I could write a book given a stack of blank pieces of paper and a box of pencils. The computer helps in editing and printing, not so much in the actual writing. I recommend that you not become infatuated with software. I write books using an ASCII text editor (vim for those who wish to know).

Desire – You have to want to write to be a writer (in my humble opinion).