Take your time, look for the answers in the open browser window and relax.

Sorry I can’t give you any quick tips, but I found the extra window and relaxing worked for me.

I store most of my thoughts and drafts in My Documents - by topic (e.g., “Grammar,” “Movies,” “Humor,” “TV,” “Blogging,” “Technology,” etc.). I have a separate Folder for each topic. Then, within each Folder are MS Word documents. I rename the documents as I make progress on them (e.g., draft, final), or I save them as different versions (.1, .2, .3, etc.).

I also store things (especially really raw ideas) in variously named Outlook Mail folders.

These approaches are both different than yours, as they’re “hidden” and not in your face, on your desktop, like a cork board. So that may be a negative (out of sight, out of mind).

Good luck to all of us!

Cassie Tuttles last blog post..And the Winner Is ….

I can relate - I suffer from the same affliction. I, too, have a few unfinished articles and discovered that I have strayed so far I can’t remember what I started.

I’ve toyed with the idea of creating folders based on topics/themes (e.g. nutrition, economy, how-to’s, cultural, etc.). This allows for better time management. That is, some articles will require more research and analysis than others. I imagine that if you applied this method, you might have polished off your article just in time for the holiday season.

My tendencies also compell me to break these folders into subfolders for the appropriate content provider (e.g. eHow, Bukisa, Associated Content, etc.). Once I know for whom I’m writing the article, the piece becomes more focused and clear.

I once started a folder that contained only ideas - I wrote the first couple of sentences to my opening paragraph. In between projects, I’d peek inside this folder as a way to spark new ideas or flesh out existing ones.

What I’m trying to say is that you have to figure out how your brain works and processes information. I’m a visual, tactile person, so to remember what I need to work on I have to “feel” or “see” my reminders. A long time ago I had a PDA, but I still had post it notes attached to it! I suspect this is why you have a crowded desktop. This is no different than having many folders and subfolders, but you’d at least have them in some classification that helps you process your information and then act on it.

Does anyone have any thoughts to share on the following?

1. If you’re currently a contributor to Suite 101, do you now have to list references for very every article you submit? I wasn’t quite clear on that.

2. Do you know if eHOw or Suite 101 publishes a disclaimer aimed at readers of their sites? I haven’t seen one for either site yet (I need to look closer), but in their terms of agreement with writers, they have very strict rules to those who write for them, including that we’ll pay their court fees, attorney fees, etc., if anyone files a claim against them because of our content. No big deal in most cases, but frivolous lawsuits by people who claim your how-to gave them a serious allergic reaction or caused their child to get hurt still have to be defended and paid for in court sometimes. If either eHow or Suite 101 have a good disclaimer for readers of their site, that could ease my mind.

Thanks.

One word of caution, Julie, with putting them on your desktop, make sure you have enough room…LOL.

When things get too cluttered, I tend to go through my desktop to finish up a few half complete articles. Unfortunately, I just found a great piece that would have done well this Christmas season. Oh well, I’ll finish it now, upload it and let it season for next year.

Julies last blog post..eHow Earnings: December Update

jen bristers last blog post..Writing for Lifetips