On an office-related note

[ksmith]

...does anyone save paper articles that they've clipped from newspapers and magazines anymore?

I used to have two file cabinet drawers filled with articles. I broke them down according to subject--genetics, murders, ecology--stuck them in folders, and then...pretty much left them be. I don't recall ever going back to them for ideas or information. A few years ago, I dredged them, dumping years-old science articles and anything else I felt had likely obsolesced. Saved the crime and murder stuff, but anything science or medical-related bit the bug light. If I want updated info, I search the web. If I see something I want to save, I can save it to my hard drive.

It't just that I recall so many writers saying that they clipped articles for ideas. Granted, this was years ago. Has this changed?

Yes, I am wondering whether I should go dredge the files One More Time...

Comments

[planetalyx.livejournal.com]

I still clip occasionally, but more often now I'll see if there's an electronic version of the story so I can save it to my gmail archive.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

I shudder to think what my office would look like if I still kept clippings. There's no room as it is.

Now I only keep things that have a specific link to a story I'm currently working on, or about to write, such as the land boat I'm planning to use in book 3 of the current series.

[mindyklasky.livejournal.com]

I still clip things. About half of them get tossed when I clean off the top of my desk. The other half get placed in clippings files.

I can honestly say that I have never written a story based on any one of my clippings. I keep telling myself not to do it anymore, but I haven't listened to myself yet.

Mark has volunteered to PDF them for me, so that I can keep them electronically. I might very well take him up on it.

You know. A New Year's resolution to get organized, and all...

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

You know. A New Year's resolution to get organized, and all...

Heh.

*puts head down on desk and sniffles*

[moon-happy.livejournal.com]

Yes, I clip and keep articles pertaining to the work in progress. Probably too much. I'm tempted to let it go.

[galeni.livejournal.com]

I clip, and I print off the web and file cool stuff related to a particular possible project. Otherwise I'd never know to look for it again, and I scan paper much faster than I scan the screen.