I Think I'm Addicted to Post-its

I am a pantser. Or so I thought. And I don't know if this would work for a first draft for me, but it's working great for my rewrite, and I'll definitely give it a try at the start of my next project.

So first there was this.

Then, over spring break when I was away from my computer, I had some quiet time to think about my story. The 20-hour drive there and 17-hour drive home also gave me some good thinking time. Well, when the kids weren't fighting anyway. :) Plus, Staples sent me my rewards certificate, and based on a recommendation from my awesome friend and crit buddy, Tere Kirkland, I used it to buy this.

It has tabbed dividers and an elastic strap that holds it closed, which helps everything stay tucked inside. I had a green pen too, but I think I left in AZ. :( I love green pens.

Before I left home, I wrote down everything from my whiteboard outline on some Post-it Page Markers and tucked it into the nifty pocket in my notebook, along with a pad of lined Post-its. Isn't that pocket so cool?

While the kids swam at Grandma's (yes, the water was freezing, but it was 90 degrees outside), I used the page markers to divide up the pages and jotted down some quick notes about what I wanted to happen in each scene, plus anything else that came to me--dialogue between the characters, emotions I want to come through. The lined Post-its are awesome for adding in notes when the pages are full or just when I have multiple ideas for a scene. Then it's out of my head and I can think clearer.

It's nice too, because as I'm writing, if I have an idea for a future scene I can jot it down in there and continue with what I was working on before. This method would work great without using an outline too. Just write random scene ideas in no particular order and mark the pages with Post-its. Then when you're ready to write that particular scene, you have all your ideas there.

Doing this has helped me see the end of the story much clearer. I'm still not set on the details, but I have a few versions written down in my notebook. :) This also helped clear my head so I could figure out the purpose of one of my new secondary characters. His presence was a little pointless before, but now his role is key to the story.

So now I'm anxious to write some new words. I spent yesterday cleaning my house and doing recovery laundry from the trip so I could get some words down today without any distractions. Then I woke up to this.

Five fresh inches of snow and school cancelled. So I don't know how much I'll get done today, but hopefully this info has been helpful to some of you.

Have any of you done anything similar to this? Any of you pantsers out there willing to give it a try? Any recommendations?

*I'm still working my way through the First Page Blogfest posts. If I haven't gotten to yours yet, I will soon. I'm determined to read all of them. :)*