non-fiction...

Well, in addition to organizing my notes (all of my writing notes, planned future projects, as well as a list of all current writing projects I have going now and a list of my accomplishments as a professional writer) are all consolidated into one easy-to-access file on my desktop.

It may not sound like much to you, but to writers, organization is an invaluable skill that we sometimes find ourselves lacking.

Normally, I'm pretty OCD about this stuff (as I'm a teacher and organization comes with the territory), but during the ennui of summer break (and during the melee of the school year) organization in my writing sometimes take a backseat to the actual writing itself (which, sadly, I haven't done enough of lately...) Though I hope to rectify that in the near future... Especially since I've beat 3 video games since beginning summer break and I think that's more than enough incentive to give my thumbs a rest and give my fingers a workout.

Two things have sprung up in my mind...


The first is that I think I need to buy a typewriter. Sure, I have a stellar (in great condition, though the carrying case has seen better days) black Royal Typewriter (whose date I would put at anywhere between 1930-50) that I received as a Christmas gift in late 2005 (a most pleasant surprise). But that typewriter is almost too awesome to really use, carry around and abuse in the way writing machines often are by their users.

Really, you need a machine you care about, but that you don't mind putting through literary warfare.

I think I need to go to Jones typewriter (which I might do this coming weekend, as I traipse into Maplewood to visit Family Video) and look at what they have. Really, I am immensely stoked about the possibility of finding a black, portable Remington.

We shall see what the future holds in that respect.

But no matter the fact that computers are so much more convenient, efficient, thorough, safe and user-friendly (sometimes), there is just something about the smell of ink, the metallic shuffling  and the ding! when you finish a line.

The second thing is that I have conceived an idea for a non-fiction book. It will serve both as a way for me to exorcize (and deal with) my recent troubles, as well as it will give me my first foray into non-fiction writing. After all, how can I call myself a writer when I haven't explored all avenues of the written word?

And people often want non-ficiton that reads like fiction, yes?

Well, I am then the perfect candidate to make this conversion.

I think I have an immensely important, entertaining, insightful and informative subject and the book itself will (hopefully) open a lot of eyes.

Also, I had planned another non-fiction book some years ago, but jettisoned it because I felt it too mean-spirited (and I feared for my safety if some of the facts contained therein got out).

Now, I think I can present these facts within the framework of the story I have to tell and it will be substantially less mean-spirited, will speak to people with similar troubles and will hopefully awaken a populous as to an ongoing and increasingly horrendous problem.