Writing a book index cards

Writing means thinking of an idea and creating content for it. Jan 31, 2011 scene cards can be used as an outlining tool before you begin your 30day effort, or as a daily writing and brainstorming technique. Yup, my original title was in fact three excuses to use office supplies. Some writers may prefer a pack of colorful index cards or go for simple white ones. How to use index cards to outline your book meagan burgess. If you are creating a page book, index cards might be overwhelming. Write down the plot piece by piece on the index cards. We also used them as playing pieces for numerous teachermade games. Scrivener for mac os x and windows is an awardwinning writing software for novelists, scriptwriters, academics or anyone working on long texts requiring research and structure, or taming the chaotic process of writing. You can draw lines on the corkboard to make a grid of spaces the size of index cards if youre very neat im not or just pin a few marker cards up to structure your space. Scene cards can also play a critical role in revision.

Jot down subjects and page numbers for book indexes, or materials and bin. Every time you take a note, be sure to write down all bibliographical information to include author, book title, article title, page numbers, volume number, publisher name and dates. Index cards are wonderfuland colored ones are even better. In one interview you mentioned your research method for your books with index cards and shoe boxes. When i was teaching, we used index cards for all sorts of things, including constructing and analyzing sentences words were. We hope you enjoy the app, for whatever use you find for it, there are so many great uses for index cards, both in brainstorming, taking notes, outlining projects, writing. I use index cards or postits for this, and spread them out on the dining table or the lounge rug take your stack of cards and a marker pen, and sift through all those little bits of paper from the previous step, writing each event or development on a card. Index cards are a favorite of authors like john mcphee, known for plastering the walls of his office with cards displaying the structure of his current projects. Filling out index cardsapproximately 56 index cardswill be familiar to just about anyone who has written a screenplay. At several thousand index cards per book, this produces a lot of different paths.

Filling out index cards approximately 56 index cards will be familiar to just about anyone who has written a screenplay. Index cards work without batteries and outside the range of cellphones, so you can use them even in the most remote corners of the globe. If youre writing a short story or novel, you probably wont have this problem. Love the idea, even though i prefer evernotedigital record keeping system. Index card magic start with index cards, organize your ideas, and share. Youll continue to add web links, stories, research, quotes and resources. In fact, if you use this easytofollow plan, you will be able to quickly and efficiently organize those thoughts and get that great american novel out of your head and into paper. However, you may be wondering, then if everyone has a great story, how can they get the story out. One advantage of using index cards in this way is that they allow you to easily rearrange scenes and consider how the story might unfold if told in a different way. How to write a book from research to writing to editing to publishing. Rebecca skloot explains how she used index cards to develop. Ideal for creating flash cards, studying for an exam, making lists, and more. The notecard system the key for remembering, organizing and using everything you read, an article by ryan holiday. How to plot a novel with index cards pen and the pad.

Many writers prefer to store their index cards in a file box or a photo album. In fact, most researchers believe that everyone has at least one great story inside them. If youre writing a movie script, divide the cards into four piles. Oct 31, 2015 planning to write a novel with index cards heath robinson. Use index cards, a timehonoured writers tool, to organize your book or novel. Yet nabokovs books are marvels of precise writing made more improbable that even though his native language. On how to take notes while reading or doing research by using index. Write this information on each and every index card and photocopy. Write act one at the top of the first column, act two at the top of the second or third if youre doing eight columns, act two.

Wherever you are, you can jot down an idea on an index card. Apr 20, 20 try writing down each of your emerging ideas such as for chapter headings, characters, plot ideas, or subjects to be included in your book, on 3x5inch lined or unlined index cards. On how to take notes while reading or doing research by using index cards. The aha index card method heres a writing tip that helps us create more engaging experiences with our audience in less time. Amazonbasics 4 x 6inch ruled lined white index note cards. Horeuters a few sentences into this weeks column, im going to reveal that i am obsessed with index cards, and youre probably. Writing a novel using index cards the first question i was asked. One advantage of using index cards in this way is that they allow you to easily. How to use index cards to organize large writing projects medium.

Notecards help students organize facts, visualize an outline and ultimately transform their research into a paper. Outlining a novel with index cards this preptober to win. Send out an outline, script or book each card can become a bullet. Include notes for subplots, when characters are introduced, whose point of view it is, etc. Index cards can be used instead of the worksheet if preferred. When i was teaching, we used index cards for all sorts of things, including constructing and analyzing sentences words were written on the cards, colorcoded by part of speech. Get out a pack of index cards, write the name of each character on the correct number of cards, and if youd like, on a few extras ill make eighteen for elsie and mike, ten or eleven for frisco and annabelle. Three ways to plot with index cards january 12th, 2014 by dash buck theres a lot that goes into it, and its hard to make sure that you have it all straight in your head before you start writing. Research papers can seem like monumental tasks, but writing a strong paper is actually a rather straightforward procedure. Its helpful no matter what youre making, whether its a blog post, a script for video, a book, a sales page, an email or a tweet. Get out a pack of index cards, write the name of each character on the correct number of cards, and if youd like, on a few extras ill make. Laugh all you like, says oliver burkeman, index cards are. It includes pointers to where those keywords or concepts are mentioned in the booktypically page n. Create structure in your fiction using index cards writers digest.

To make an index you must ask, for every passage in a book, if i. Heres a list of the various ways ive used index cards in the classroom. Mar 22, 2017 at several thousand index cards per book, this produces a lot of different paths. It is a big project and ive got stacks of scenes, memories and facts that. Feb 08, 2015 im an outliner, and i have been looking for a better solution for my story planning needs. You can get index cards at most places that sell office supplies. Lets say you write down every beat and every scene you can think of, one for each index card. How i wrote my novel using index cards the literary consultancy.

Com images are ed and may not be copied modified in any way. How to write a book from research to writing to editing to. An index is an alphabetical list of keywords contained in the text of a book or other lengthy writing project. Index cards should be easy to find at most office supply stores or in the school supplies section of many grocery stores. You can also write down the characters or actions each chapter should include. Im an outliner, and i have been looking for a better solution for my story planning needs. Use index cards for a range of office, personal, or school work.

Supernotecard is an online writing tool that provides virtual notecards to help arrange facts or scenes, track details, organize paragraphs, and clarify your compositional process. Write a oneline synopsis of each specific scene that you think. By using colorcoded index cards to organize your thoughts and your research, you might find the process is surprisingly enjoyable. Using index cards has the potential to get very bulky. In the past, i have used writers cafes storyline tool, scriveners outline index card tool, and recently have tested virtual index card applications like writers blocks, throughline, text block writer almost, but had no fixed grid option, and is quite buggy, and supernotecard which is the one i. Index cards come in a variety of sizes, 3 by 5, 4 by 6, and 5 by 8 inches. Many writers use these or index cards to plan out their book plots.

If you are a meticulous planner, use index cards to plan right down to the individual scenes. Rebecca skloot explains how she used index cards to. Try writing down each of your emerging ideas such as for chapter headings, characters, plot ideas, or subjects to be included in your book, on 3x5inch lined or unlined. Writing a research paper using colorcoded index cards. Many of these ive adapted from teaching books, colleagues, online activities, etc. Jot down subjects and page numbers for book indexes, or materials and bin locations for inventories.

If you use the handydandy index card system to write your novel outline. Index cards should be easy to find at most office supply stores or in the school supplies section of many grocery. I use index cards or postits for this, and spread them out on the dining table or the lounge rug take your stack of cards and a marker pen, and sift through all those little bits of paper from. Put a brief note as to the source in the top righthand corner for instance, the authors name or the title of the book you are looking at, and the page number. Could you provide some more detail on the process of your method. Yet nabokovs books are marvels of precise writing made more improbable that even though. These index cards will serve as prompts so youll always know what you need to write next in completing your book. I also use an index card holder with alphabet dividers, which is great if youre working on multiple stories at once. How to use index cards to outline your book writing plot, writing.

The best virtual index card software for story planning. I then used this method to help me write my second novel. If you have already started a novel, you can now use the index cards to write down major plot points. If youre writing a fulllength novel, you should have close to 60 index cards at. Horeuters a few sentences into this weeks column, im going to reveal that i am obsessed with index cards, and youre probably going to mock me. Its important that you use a big marker pen and small cards. Im currently writing a booklength memoir about living aboard a sailboat as a teenager. Next, start evaluating your ideas further by taking 10 more note cards and writing answers to each idea you come up with. To make an index you must ask, for every passage in a book, if i were looking for this, what words would describe what i was looking for. Everyone has plans to write the great american novel. Youll continue to add web links, stories, research, quotes and resources to these cards. Mar 17, 2017 research papers can seem like monumental tasks, but writing a strong paper is actually a rather straightforward procedure.

Scrivener for mac os x and windows is an awardwinning writing software for novelists, scriptwriters, academics or anyone working on long texts requiring research and structure, or. Writing out scenes on cards can also reveal which ones are extraneous. It includes pointers to where those keywords or concepts are. Using index cards to outline a novel the card system is your map and your guide. May 21, 20 rebecca skloot, science writer and author of the immortal life of henrietta lacks, explains the index card system she used to develop the story structure for her book. Aug 01, 20 if you are a meticulous planner, use index cards to plan right down to the individual scenes. Writing a novel using index cards the first question i was asked after i explained this method to a friend was. Its an open secret that i collect office supplies, and i love coming up with excuses to use my hoard. Dont worry about writing them down in any specific order. Has an index card corkboard feature for structural synopsis organisation these cards can also take images as well as text.

When you finish this process youll end up with 35 subchapter index cards for each chapter total index cards of 4060. Therefore, i have adapted rozs index card technique to help get ready for nanowrimo in only a few days. Planning to write a novel with index cards youtube. Jan 06, 20 using index cards has the potential to get very bulky. Planning to write a novel with index cards heath robinson. Unlike notes stored on a computer or other electronic device, a stack of cards on your shelf is visible and therefore easier to find and less likely to be. Rebecca skloot, science writer and author of the immortal life of henrietta lacks, explains the index card system she used to. In the past, i have used writers cafes storyline tool, scriveners outlineindex card tool. Thats how i do life, thats how i started writing flash fiction and short stories, and i imagined thats how i would write a novel. The key to getting the story out is to organize your thoughts with an outline and get busy writing.

Word cloud of writing without bullshit i love to index books, because it requires intense thinking thats like writing in reverse. You can also use them to record information you research in books and articles. Write a oneline synopsis of each specific scene that you think should be in your story, one scene per card. We hope you enjoy the app, for whatever use you find for it, there are so many great uses for index cards, both in brainstorming, taking notes, outlining projects, writing storyboards, storing information the list goes on. Oct 29, 2014 heres a list of the various ways ive used index cards in the classroom. Use different color note cards to code project tasks and milestones, or to pin notices prominently on walls. Get index cards flash cards, notes, projects, flashcards. Sort the cards into what pile you feel like they might go in. The sublime joy of making a book index without bullshit. That is, put one story ideas at the top of each card. Quality engineered with precisioncut edges for uniform size. Scene cards can be used as an outlining tool before you begin your 30day effort, or as a daily writing and brainstorming technique.