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I used to write out some stories and type out others. Like some stories just needed that pen and paper feel. I’ve been using my notebooks less and less often as the years go on. At this point I write maybe half a page in a notebook every now and then, just to get a conversation or idea down I don’t want to forget, but otherwise I don’t write whole scenes on paper anymore like I used to. I don’t really think it’s a bad thing. It’s just the way my writing is evolving for better or worse. Writing with a pen and paper is slower. It takes longer to get thoughts out, so for me, it’s not as practical. I think part of the reason I’m leaning away from the practice is because when I feel a pressure of time, I want to be able to write quickly. Haven’t been able to settle down somewhere and really take my time and savour the art. I go straight for the keyboard because I need to type quick. Okay, so now about the organization. I feel very strongly about this, lol. I come from a long line of organizers, and I ALWAYS organize on the computer, because I can back it up, access it easily, and not worry about a relative stumbling onto it. When I was a kid, when I wrote everything on paper, I actually used physical folders and owned a file cabinet for my writings. Yes. A thirteen year old girl who very proudly owned a file cabinet. Deal with it. So here it is, my epic system: Every story has its own folder (Except oneshots and fic starts that didn’t make it into a whole chapter.) I name the folder “Story Name 08 12 2012” ← The numbers are the date it was created. (Because the file properties are unreliable, and I have too many old stories that I’m not sure when I wrote them and it drives me absolutely insane.) Within the story folder I have four files. The file in which I’m doing the writing (This file doesn’t have the complete story as I move chapters out once they’re complete and edited.), a master file (Which has the full story and a duplicate backup on the cloud), A file with scenes I have cut from the main story, and a file with plans/research/profiles/etc (If there’s too much information here, sometimes I will split this file into two, one for plans, and one for research/related info). I love my system.

Are you a demon character from one of my stories?

Why all this hatred for Mary (or Gary)? Just because they get to have all the cool adventures, save the day, and even hook up with the sexiest characters around! I mean, if we were all Mary/Gary Sue, we’d be immortal!

Fuck it. Bump.

It’s also practice for raising my unholy army….

Here, I thought I was the only one who did that. I have a weird pattern going on. I will write some stuff completely on paper and have it red lined and worked on repeatedly before I go to the computer. Other things, I type out and maintain that. And, as others have said, occasionally for me, it depends where I am. If I don't have my laptop, but something strikes me that goes beyond simple notes, I'll write on whatever I can. (I have asked for a blank piece of printer paper while waiting in a doctor's office and while being in the hospital recovering... I am not too proud to beg for paper! I did get interesting looks, though.)

So that’s why you’re raising these buggers from the dead. Absolutely, start a new topic. I’m curious!

I...dunno...just started to crave continuing it, got intense over the weekend, don’t know why. But, in an effort to unstick it, I’m going through the old forum topics to see if there’s something close to what I need. Otherwise, I’m putting up a new topic.

I can hardly believe it, but I just hit 15k dragon prints on “The Vain Rose’s garden” and if things keep this way, I’ll also hit 300l words by the next chapter. Never thought I’d get this far with my story!

I think all authors are afraid of that in some way or another, no matter what they write. Are my characters solid, are they three-dimensional? Did I take my time and flesh them out enough? Some scenes I've written make me cringe and I've been known to ask my editors over and over, "do they read okay?" lol I cringed with each and every chapter of the fic I posted here, even though I had been pretty proud of myself previously. Shadowknight (edit: ack, sorry not used to this forum setup!) basically has the best advice, IMHO. Detach yourself from your work and you'll be better for it. Even negative reviews and flames can help you if you keep an open mind and your emotions in check.