10 Steps to Creating a Writing Binder

1: Buy or repurpose a binder
Three-ring binders come in a variety of colors and sizes, so feel free to choose one that fits your style. Think about what will make you feel good when you see it on your shelf. Colors are nice, but I like to stick with black or white; that way if I need more later, they will match. Also, think about what size you like. Bigger is not always better if you can’t fit it neatly into your favorite bag. Remember to make a fun cover and labeled spine with your name and phone number; if nothing else, make sure to get a business card or index card with your contact information tucked somewhere visible…just in case.

2: Add a zipper pouch to the front
These also come in a variety of colors and styles. If you chose a plain binder, this is one place you can spice things up with some color. I like the heavier-duty ones made from woven fabric rather than all plastic; I think they will hold up better over time. Once you’ve added it to the front of your binder you can move to Step 3.

3: Fill your zipper pouch
Now you can add your favorite pens, pencils, erasers, highlighters, etc. I found some cute and inexpensive mini pens that come in different colors to help me color code my notes. And they’re just fun! The zipper pouch is also a great place to keep blank sticky-notes. I have to admit, I am just a little addicted to sticky-notes, and I use them all the time.

4: Add a package of divider tabs
Make sure to get the dividers that have a way to label your sections. You might be able to remember that the red section is for your mystery story and the blue is for your fantasy idea, but why not just take a few extra seconds and label them? It will save you time that you could be spending writing your ideas down instead of flipping through to find what you need.

5: Print and add a story profile sheet to each section
I have created a handy Story Profile sheet for you to use when brainstorming for your story. Or create your own! This is a great way to get started—but remember you can always continue your notes on extra notebook paper (we’ll get to that in step 7). I recommend using a sheet like this, even if you don’t like to outline your whole story, because it can help you organize all the separate thoughts you might have about your story’s characters, setting, theme, etc. You should have at least one for each story idea you’re working on, but I also like to have a couple extra in the back in case I get a new idea. I might not drop my work-in-progress in favor of the new idea (well, I probably shouldn’t, anyway) but I can at least have a place to start organizing notes to come back to later.

6: Print and add several character profile sheets
These are similar to the Story Profile sheets in step 5, except they are specific for your characters. You don’t have to fill in all the blanks, and you won’t need to include all the details you come up with in your actual story, but they do give you lots of opportunities to really get to know your characters. For example, if you write on your profile sheet that your character Mary is timid meeting strangers, you most likely wouldn’t write, “Mary was timid meeting strangers.” But you would SHOW that Mary was timid because she hangs back behind her friends, or she doesn’t speak up, or whatever. The point is that it’s important for you, the writer, to know or decide the details so you can more easily bring your characters to life in your story. And you don’t need one for every single character, of course, but at least start with your protagonist, antagonist, and a couple main supporting characters.

7: Add lined notebook paper
Yep, this is the good ol’ loose-leaf paper you might have used in grade school. As an alternative, you could use a notebook and put the pages in your binder as you fill them. Personally, I do both; I write in a notebook but have the loose-leaf paper as a backup. Some of you might like to write directly into a computer program or use another digital format—which is totally fine—but it is still nice to have the paper for instances when you don’t have your equipment or your battery runs out unexpectedly.

8: Add blank copy paper and/or cardstock for doodling and illustration ideas
This is not quite as important, but I would still recommend adding some kind of blank, unlined paper. Even if you are not an illustrator or a doodler, there are times when you might need to draw something out. I have sometimes needed this to sketch out maps of where my characters are going to travel. Also, I’ve used it to lay out timelines.

9: Add a folder for notes and other loose pages
If you’re like me, you sometimes have ideas when you’re not near your writing tools and you have to make do with whatever you have at hand. For sure, get your ideas down on a napkin, index card, back of a bill envelope, whatever. But make sure you get them into your binder or you will be scrambling to find that perfect name you came up with. The folder can help give you a drop-zone for all those extra notes you have until you can incorporate them into your story or get them into your digital file.

10: Add clear page protectors
This one is somewhat optional, but I like to have a couple of clear page protectors handy in my binder. This is a great place to store smaller items and things that might fall out of your folder. Also, you can put inspirational items in them, things that help you in your story. For example, maybe you tore out an article from a magazine that had a great photo of a beach that looks just like the one you want to have in your story. Put it in the clear page protector and it will keep the idea fresh in your mind. Or maybe it’s a set of photos you took of a spooky-looking house that you want to include in your mystery story. Put that in the page protector.

How do you keep your writing materials organized? Do you have any other ideas than what I’ve included above? Let me know in the comments!