Is there anything more frustrating than not being able to find something you know you’ve already written?
One of the most infuriating experiences for a creative writer is that creeping feeling…you’re absolutely certain you’ve nailed that scene, expressed that theme, or crafted that paragraph perfectly before. All you need to do now is find it, copy it, paste it. And move on.
But no. It’s vanished.
You comb through old files, dig through every document using keyword searches. Still nothing. Then comes the grim realisation: those perfect words are locked in a long-forgotten notebook. On a distant bookshelf. In a very distant country.
Great gnashing of teeth.
Yes, the art of writing scenes out of order and assembling later is important. But the even greater art? Not losing what you’ve already written.
TIP: Never Lose Your Words Again
Keep a single “Master Notes” document. Call it Fragments, Lines I Love, Thoughts While Falling Asleep, whatever speaks to you. Every time you write a sentence or scene you think might be useful later, TRANSCRIBE, copy and paste it in that general file too. This document becomes your searchable treasure trove. Accessible from the cloud, accessible from anywhere.
And if you’re a notebook writer, try photographing your pages weekly and uploading them to that same document or folder. Just a quick snap could save hours (and sanity) later.
DIALOGUE ALERT!
Free Zoom Author Chat: "Time to Write" with Jane Corry
Mark your calendars. This TIME TO WRITE is for anyone wanting to deepen their understanding of dialogue.
Date: June 17
Time:
• 10:00 AM (UK)
• 11:00 AM (Italy)
• 7:00 PM (Sydney)
Jane Corry will be joining us to discuss:
- What is the purpose of dialogue in storytelling, especially for beginner writers to understand?
- How do you make dialogue sound natural without it becoming boring or too realistic?
- What are the biggest mistakes new writers make when writing dialogue?
Bring your questions and get ready to write better scenes, sharper character voices, and dialogue that moves your story forward.
CELEBRATING OUR WRITERS
This month, a big shout-out to Jennifer Mitchell, who published a beautiful piece of heartfelt prose in the online journal Sky Island. It’s always worth submitting to online magazines and journals, not just for the thrill of publication, but for the long-term gains too.
Jennifer can now add this to her Writing CV, a crucial tool for showing editors, agents, and peers what you’ve done, where you’ve been published, and that you’re living the writing life.
Join us in Florence this summer:
June 1–5 – The Art of Plot and Theme
July 6–10 – The Art of Telling Your Story
Spaces are limited, and deadlines are approaching. If one of these retreats is right for you, now’s the time to make it happen.
Lisa
