How I'm Writing Six Books at One Time
By Sharon Schnupp Kuepfer

I receive comments like, "Has anyone ever told you were an overachiever?" and "Your energy blows me away." This may be true on one hand -- I inherited an "on the go" temperament. When I think of myself, however, I am not going steady all day. The other morning, for example, after a trip with my five children, I climbed back into bed for an hour or longer, simply because I felt like it. I didn't accomplish anything that way, except to revive my body. So if I'm not going all the time, how am I able to put together information for six books at a time? My opinion is that it actually takes a little bit of a lot of things that make a difference. Here are some tips I have used to get more of the book ideas flowing, little tricks which are a combination of organization and creativity.

TIPS ON HOW TO BE MORE ORGANIZED

1. Use an "at-a-glance" book chart. I have one on my cupboard in the office. This is a large piece of bristol board divided into many different squares. Each square represents a chapter, although at the beginning one square represents the beginning pages (e.g. table of contents, acknowledgments page). Then I use a stick it note for each chapter and write down the chapter title, as well as a filler or recipe that I want included in that particular chapter. This really has helped organize my thoughts. It means that in spare, inspired moments I can jot something else down or get a recipe that may work for a certain story. I can see at a glance if I am mentioning one person more than another and make a change if necessary. This idea has been a lot of fun. It has also helped me get a lot done, without a lot of work. My next book project, To Soar Like An Eagle, is the first book for which I am using this idea.

2. Use folders for file storage. I have so many different folders, but they all seem to help keep things handy and organized. I have a file drawer, then, to store my writing folders. For example, I have a "Website 1" folder (for my old website, which now could soon be deleted), a "Website 2" folder, for my new, updated website, an "HTML" file for the language of the web, a file on "Promotion ideas," and the list goes on. When a new idea comes up, I start a new folder. I use multicolored ones so that the different ideas stand out (for example, my folder for my "Book on Marriage" is orange).

3. Turn normal living into writing. My first book, "Homeschooling Moments and Child-Friendly Recipes -- A Collection of the Unique Adventures of a Mennonite Family" was partly written as a record of my children's schooling, and how life learning is a major part of their schooling. I had heard that keeping a diary is one of the great ways to do this. So turning them into stories, and eventually into a book stemmed from that. Why simply record my children's learning-- why not make our experience available for others to learn from both our failures and fun? Even the way I include recipes, both typing them in and trying them out, is also a way of making use of simply living into something useful for others. If my made-up version of a potato salad recipe makes a visiting man say, "I don't usually like potato salad, but I like yours," eventually helping himself to thirds, why not include "Honey Potato Salad" in my next book?

TIPS TO HELP WHEN THE CREATIVE JUICES ARE FLOWING

1. Just write. I remember a professor in a university class telling me "Just write, don't outline." I suppose there is a balance here.

2. Keep various journals going. This means that when my "creative juices" start flowing, I have a journal handy to record my thoughts. (I have been known to write on scraps of paper as well if a journal isn't handy.) I have three journals usually on the go at the same time. I  have a "kitchen" journal, an "upstairs" journal and a "regular" one that comes with me most places. My regular one now is a big, fat one (an 8 1/2" by 11" size). I love the feel of a thick notebook! I'm going to try to buy that kind more.

3. Use bits of time. It helps here to have my three journals. I don't purposely make a point of saving time in a have-to way but using up moments of time is a hobby for me. During my seasons of writing, I write a lot. When I'm not in the mood, I quit, for I feel it takes too much energy to go against my moment-by-moment passion.

4. Write on one side of the paper. I write notes in my journal on one side of the page, (unless, like right now, I'm writing on the back side of the journal page because it's a continuation of the same article from the front side.) Then, if I have 3 different tidbits, article ideas or whatever has come to my mind, I write above that particular section the date (e.g. June 29, 02) and the title of the book it fits with (e.g. this one I am on "For the book on writing"). In a sense, at first it seemed a waste of paper but this idea has really helped organize my creative moments. For example, today on our trip in our van I have written 8 pages, although not all totally full sheets, with articles and/or tips for four different books. Later I can tear off the sheet in sections and file them in the appropriate file folder.

It was not that long ago that I felt trapped in my mind with all my ideas. How was I supposed to keep track of all of them? After following a few of these tips, I now have a greater outlet for the various ideas that rumble in my mind, and an organized place to keep them until the time I may want to turn some of them into a book. The combination of creativity and organization has been my dream as a writer. Dreams can  come true -- I know, because it's happening to me.

Sharon Schnupp Kuepfer and her husband live in Kenora, Ontario where they homeschool their five children. As a freelance writer, with a Bachelor of Education, she has had articles published in various newspapers, magazines and websites. Her big dream has been fulfilled with the publication of her first book Homeschooling Moments and Child-Friendly Recipes -- A Collection of the Unique Adventures of a Mennonite Family" in March 2002. It is now in its second printing. Visit her at her website www.skuepfer.com.