If you’re a writer, you are constantly clipping articles from newspapers and magazines. These get placed into different files or jumbled into a drawer. It pays to be organized. This will increase your efficiency because you’ll save time when searching for items.

For example, I have a folder labeled Characters. It was bulging from too much material, so I divided the contents into two separate folders. I started a new one labeled Character Photos. Into this file goes all my clippings of celebrity photos that I cut out from TV Guide and Entertainment Weekly. Besides head shots, I’ll find cool advertisements such as the photo of the snow queen for Secret deodorant, or the hunk in an ad for Nautica fragrance for men. Society photos from Vive Magazine also make it into my file. When I’m looking to match a photo with a character, this is where I go. I’ll comb through the pictures until I see one that blasts out at me, Here I am! Lately I’ve taken to scanning these chosen photos into my online character profiles for a particular book title. Then I have them on my computer for a quick reference when I’m writing, as well as in a printout for my WIP three-ring binder. In this manner, my major characters each have a photo attached to their file.

The other folder in my file cabinet that is just labeled Characters includes articles, clippings, and workshop handouts on the following subjects:

Character conflict

Personality types

Villains

Dark heroes

Creating memorable characters

Motivation

Collectibles (for character quirks)

Clothing styles

Profiles of interesting people

Secondary characters

Male versus female traits

Gift guides (i.e. for food lovers, music fans, athletes, pet lovers, readers, techies, etc)

Archetypes

Character tags

Keep in mind that this folder is different from my research file on criminal deeds which I call my Dirt File. That’s where I go when I’m looking for a hidden secret or motive for my suspects.

I’ve probably filed many more articles than I’ll ever read, but they’re a handy reference when I need them, and they can provide inspiration when required. So take a day to organize your material, and it will be time well spent.