Miscellaneous tidbits from Chapters 8-10

(Ok, first of all the following blog is about something we discussed in class; however, I started this draft before class on Wednesday. Anyway, it is about organization and ideas. Now before anyone judges me for the following blog and starts to think I'm crazy like Pipher, just know that there is a lot of truth in "filing ideas," especially for writers and/or anyone for that matter. Pipher may be ridiculous most of the time, but she does have some good suggestions here and there.)

In Chapter 8 of the book, Writing to Change the World, Pipher talked about the importance of being organized as a writer. By creating a system that organizes your personal writings, favorite quotes, phrases, etc. you can then go back and access them in the future. It may not seem to be the most "functional;" however, if it works for you, keep it up.
For me, staying organized is something I wish I did more of or I should say I was better at. For example, I AM organized; however many would see it as being nonfunctional. Either way, since I was a kid, I have always jotted down ideas, memories, events, etc. into journals and made an extreme effort to save them all in some way. Whether it was by designating certain shoe boxes for different types of writing, placing letters in certain drawers, or even hiding things in time capsules, I always tried to keep my ideas with me. However, though I created my own organized process years ago, I don't know if I ever thought about it as a system or process. Instead, it was just something I did. Also, the more I am aware of this process, the more I realize it changes as I change and grow older. Nevertheless, I agree with Pipher when she said, "With writers, an idea misfiled is an idea lost." There have been too many times where I think of something and don't write it down somewhere. Or if I do, I lose it because it's written on a gum wrapper or receipt. Pipher notes that she carries a small notebook around with her at all times so that if she has a good idea or something interesting happens she can write it down. This is a new personal goal.
Another interesting point I found in the reading (which I loved) was to "use everything" when writing. Use your surroundings, your experiences, etc. and write about it, even if it is something that is ordinary or plain. Connect this thought with the compact notebook idea and you have a winner! Well...along with other things too of course! :) Either way, everybody has to start somewhere and I see these ideas as being the first step!