If Rowling can write out her plots by hand, then so can I!

Like many writers, I constantly hunt for strategies, tips and fairy dust to improve the structure of my novel-in-progress and various screenplays. Usually after I gather these gems of writerly wisdom, I lose them. You see, I got a super-sized helping of the creativity DNA and a smattering of the organizing one.

I’ve been this way all of my life. I can recall my third-grade nun every Friday asking class: “Who volunteers to clean Robin’s desk out?”

Most of my classmates waved their hands as if Sister asked, “Who wants early dismissal.” I was flattered by the enthusiastic response instead of embarrassed. They just want to do something nice to be my friend, I thought. I sat back with my deluded self and watched as Sister made the difficult decision of picking just one eager student to do the messy deed. I probably even suggested who should be picked.

Now, nestled in the nostalgic nook of my mind, I believe this went on for the entire school year. I  adored my rotating crew of happy desk cleaners. But the good life ended in fourth-grade. My lay teacher towered at my desk and waited for me to empty the wads of candy wrappers, among other smuggled-in debris. She demanded that I line up my stack of textbooks so they were actually inside the steel bin attached under my seat. It was absolute drudgery and the thoughts I harbored against her created good Confession material.

Fast forward to today. I have no personal cleaners and my paperwork, several rooms full of it, could get its own zip code. So organizing paperwork remains a challenge. And because I am somewhat distracted now by watching “The Voice,” my train of thought just derailed. Hmmm, is that another sign of being unorganized?

Ah jeez, I’m afraid it is. So let me just segue to the point of this post and man, this transition is noodle-kneed weak.

I recently found J.K Rowling’s handwritten plot spreadsheet and it made my heart grin. She organized her plot(s) for the fifth Harry Potter book by calendar months! What? The thought of doing that never entered my mind and it was a great “aha” moment. Since my novel takes place within a school year, this approach rocks. Certain things happen in certain months, right? But here’s the best part: you don’t have to write about wacky students to outline your plot(s) by month.

If my brain was more organized at the moment, instead of focused now on what I want to order for dinner, I could fully articulate how fantastic a find this organizing tool has been for me. I hope you are excited, too, about using the calendar outline to examine or revise your plot.

Reader Alert: Another bad transition coming.

If you ever cleaned out my desk when we were bright-eyed third-graders, a belated virtual kiss and cyber hug!  And, If you own a maid service, let’s talk.  #lookingforgradeschooldiscount