I’m devoting this week to filing/shredding/organization of writing/household and business files. My filing cabinets are bursting, and I don’t have room for more. We have a huge crawl space that needs a total clean-out. I know there are boxes of files hidden deep within that I could shred if I could find them. Including boxes of every draft I’ve ever written of HEAD OVER HEELS and BORROWING ALEX. At one time, it felt essential to keep them. Now, not so much. Do I really want my children or my children’s children going through all those old contest entries and critique comments someday? The rejection letters and letters announcing contest wins and sales, I’ll keep. But everything else is slowly and methodically getting shredded.
My old M.O. was to keep all documentation associated with a manuscript until I sold it. That’s still my basic M.O., but I’ve encountered a manu or two that are exceptions to this rule. I’ve revised the manuscripts in question way beyond their original versions, and I don’t see the point in keeping all that paper around.
WHERE SHE BELONGS, as I’ve said before, is a book of my heart. It was actually the third novel I wrote, and I put it away for years and years and years, then took it out and reworked it. I have a ton (nearly literally) of paperwork to prove it. Shredding most of this paperwork is like a celebration—because the book will finally see the light of day next year. That’s a wonderful feeling.
I hope to share that feeling two or three more times in 2011. I have a manuscript on submission, one in editing mode (for Penny), another queued for revisions, and one short (for Penny) also on submission. I devoted most of 2010 to one particular manuscript (well, and to WHERE SHE BELONGS, when I learned an editor was interested). I plan to devote 2011 to working on and submitting at least 3 manuscripts. So she says bravely. I haven’t yet written up my 2011 goals list, but unless editor or agent interest comes in on the manuscript currently on submission and my plans change because of that, 2011 promises to be a year of completing and submitting several projects that, for some reason or another, have “rested” on the backburner. Now it’s their turns.
How’s your end-of-year winding up?
I print on the other side of my old versions. They don’t go to waste. When both sides are printed on, I toss them. I don’t bother to shred them. I can’t imagine anyone going through my trash to steal my ms.
I really need to go through my drawers of my kitchen desk. I was looking for something this morning, and it’s a mess. And I found 2 containers of floss stuck in the back. lol
I’ve revised 3 books for self-publication, and though I have another one to revise, I NEED to write a new one. I have a book idea that I love–a mainstream book. My sales of my 2 books have gone up; I’m getting great reviews. It’s a good way to end the year. Better than last year.
I can’t not shred anything bearing my name, address or any other sort of identifying information. I worked at a recycling depot one summer while I was in high school, and the amount of personal stuff that came through! I’m talking personal letters. Recycling depots are busier than ever, so the workers probably don’t have time go through personal stuff. But I don’t want to risk any personal information getting out. It’s not about stealing the manuscripts themselves; it’s about other information.
Edie, I know what you mean about needing to work on something new. 2010 for me was mainly about revisions. But when you have books hanging around waiting to be revised and you know they have promise, it’s hard to let them sit, isn’t it? I have a couple of projects sitting at the proposal or brainstorming stage. I haven’t yet decided if I’ll return to one of these projects or start something completely new. I do need to brainstorm two sequels to the ST I’m marketing, but I can’t see myself actually beginning to write sequels until/unless I know the title has been placed. I feel it’s better to start something completely fresh.
Congratulations on your 2010 successes!