I’m just done. I mean, what’s the point? I’m sitting here at Denny’s, laptop open, outline book ready to go, notes in the document, and the Scrivener project open and ready to use. I’m telling you, it should be perfect. But it’s not. And so, I’ll say it again. I’m not writing another word.

Let’s give you some context to this. All day Thursday, I worked on preparing for Camp NaNoWriMo. I created my outline book from K.M. Weiland’s Outlining Your Novel and Structuring Your Novel workbooks. I’ve had the spines cut off for weeks. I’ve even done a bit of work in them. But this was serious time. I made my cover and dividers, punched my holes, and spiral bound those suckers into one nice, fat book! WOOT. Right?

Of course, in the middle of working on it, #1 daughter shows up in a bit of a tizzy. Her accounting class had a project that she had no clue how to do. We tried everything. I sent her to #4 daughter who has taken the class. That daughter and one of the church pastors where she works worked with her. Still no help. We emailed a friend–“Facebooked” another friend. The last friend went in, figured out how to do it, and gave her a few helpful hints. She got 100% on her assignment. But, let’s face it.

Didn’t get much done in filling out that outline.

So, a friend and I decided to meet at Denny’s for brainstorming and working. Mostly working, but we tend to ask each other a question here or there. Got maybe an hour into it and… BAH BAM! A gentleman at a table nearby asked if we were writing. I answered. I tend to do that. It turned into over an hour of conversation. My friend had to leave, and SECONDS after she did, #1 son arrived for help with his projects. Man still chatted for a while. Son waited. I despaired of ever writing another word. Yeah. That’s when the idea hit.

Look, I’ve NEVER missed the 12:00:01 start time for a NaNoWriMo month. Ever. I ALWAYS type that first word the second the clock rolls over. Yeah. Didn’t happen this time. I was elbow-deep in poetry and short stories written by my son.

By the time he left, it was 2:37 a.m. Whoa… we’re talking a lot of missed hours. So why bother? Why stress out about it? So, that’s it. I’m not writing another word.

Not on the book I’m supposed to start– Christmas Embers.

Not tonight.

Instead, I thought I’d share what I did today. Why not? I’m not writing another word, right? Not in Scrivener, not on this story. Not. Tonight. Most of the world will wake up and start writing. So, for once, I’ll be just like them. Hey. I have to be normal sometimes–just to shake things up.

So… here’s what I did. WHEW.

Outlining Workbooks--Weiland — I take these two books and cut off the spine with an X-acto knife. Then I trim up with my paper cutter.

I designed a mock cover to hide the real one (you know, that one I haven’t made yet) and voila! We’ve got ourselves a workbook cover!

Workbook back — And I just used Christmas scrapbook paper for the back. Used my Stampin’ Up! Tag punch (discontinued) to make tabs.

Tabs for sections — I just used up a bunch of scrapbook paper I had sitting around and hadn’t touched. You could use any paper. Old manila file folders, even! Wouldn’t need to make tabs!

Tabs on workbook — There they are! Aren’t they cute? Helpful, too!

Tabs close up — Closer up in case you’re dying to see it.

Punching paper — I have a 4:1 spiral hole punch that I use to make it spiral bound–so much easier for me. I also add in notebook paper that I print. 😀

Adding tabs — So, I just took tabs and taped them onto the paper sections. It worked great for me.

Favorite tab — Had to show you this one because it’s my favorite–love those colors. Yeah. I’m weird. As you can see, I alternated. Because I haven’t shown that a dozen times already.

reinforcing the tabs. — I also added packing tape over the tabs. I shove my book into my tote bag a few times a day. It needs to be STRONG.

reinforced tab — There it is. Just trim around and voila.

ready to laminate — I also laminate the covers. I like them strong.

Laminating process — So I use 5mm laminating sheets I bought on **Amazon.** I linked this picture to the ones I buy. anyway. What I do is run them through once and slip into ANOTHER 5mm laminating pouch. That gives a thick 10mm lamination. Once cooled, I run through again without a new pouch to seal well.

I used my corner chomper from We R Memory Keepers to round the corners of the cover and pages. This is because of that bag thing I mentioned. I mean, c’mon… my arm would be SHREDDED if I didn’t. Those corners are SHARP.

See? Ain’t it purty? At this point, I also run the thing through the laminator once more–in case the trauma o cutting and punching and chomping messes with the lamination. *whistles*.

Thrilling lamination picture — So what I do to get it just right is I go ahead and punch the cover with everything BEFORE I laminate. Then I trim off those punched holes. I laminate. THEN… I trim all three sides but the hole side to 1/16″ or so.
So when I go to trim the side with holes, I line up the edge over on the left with the right numbers (for this it’s 7.25″ and cut. That gives me 1/4-3/8″ of just laminate for the cover. It works PERFECTLY. 😀

Spiral coil and cover — So, there’s my punched cover and my spiral coil. Time to coil. This USED to be hard back when I tried to use binder clips and everything to keep it all rigid. Now I just get it through all the first holes and the rest follow easy peasy.

starting to coil — So, here is maybe 40 seconds into the coiling process? Max? After this, the whole thing goes much swifter. And every hole done makes the next ones even faster.

coiling process done. — Now all I have to do is cut off the excess and fold in the ends. They sell crimpers for this, but you really don’t need them.

leftover coil — I gave this to my granddaughter, Catie. She loves it. Weird, right?

Inside pages 1 — And this is what it looks like… BTW… highly recommend these books and workbooks for writers

lined note paper — How do you like the pink lines my printer prints on everything. GRRR. Had to throw that cartridge away. Hmph.

Inside the book. — And this is where I get my ducks in a row

Other workbooks — Okay, so this is how I’ve done it with Madeline and Ante Up! Madeline I did in these cool notebooks that I LOVE. LOVE. But I had to write every question before I answered it so I ‘d know later what the point was. TIME CONSUMING. So…. for **Ante Up!** I bought a set of K.M. Weiland’s workbooks and did a mini version of this process. Didn’t add the dividers and my cover was too big. And I didn’t fix it right. I needed more paper for scene lists and notes. SOoooo…. That’s why I came up with this process. So far, I LOVE it. Haven’t finished filling it in, but I love it.

Of course, I don’t know why I’m bothering. I’m not writing another word!

Not. One. More. Word.

Until I get up anyway. Good night, world! See you in the “morning.” THEN I’ll finally put my first words of this year’s Christmas novel to “paper.” WOOT!

Comments

Mary says
April 1, 2016 at 2:29 pm
what an amazing lady you are, I guessed you made notes and filled out your story but wow the process……all the best for the book and am I understanding you when you say Denny’s its a coffee shop and its late at night. my mind is boggling at that thought. Looking forward to reading this book
Regards
Mary
- Chautona Havig says
  April 1, 2016 at 2:39 pm
  Yep. I go to the local Denny’s restaurant, take my favorite booth 14 (the only one with an outlet) and write from 9 or 10 p.m. to 4 or 5 a.m.
Lucinda says
April 1, 2016 at 5:03 am
Really glad you decided not to write another word. And I LOVED the pictures. When you wake up? You are more than prepared. Sweet dreams!