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Going on a Writing Trip?
by Shery Ma Belle Arrieta-Russ

Writing is like going on a trip, or a vacation, or if you feel like it...a battle. Here's a list of things you absolutely, necessarily and irrevocably need and have to have with you before embarking on a war...err writing.

Absolutely Essential Gears!

Hold Your Pens! This one is pretty obvious, but there are aspiring writers out there who tend to live their days without pens in sight whenever and if ever they need one. If you're like me, I always have a pen in my jeans (or shirt, if it has a pocket), one in my bag, one in my organizer, and one in my folder. I keep an assortment of pens and pencils on my desk. I use them depending on my mood. If I'm in a playful mood, I use the thick, giant pen with violet ink. If I'm writing in my journal, I use a black, lean ball point pen.

Writing Tablet! Even if you say you write mostly straight on your computer screen, I highly doubt you do ALL your writing there. What about when you're on a bus and a story line suddenly dances across your head? Or a line that's perfect for a poem teases you when you're in the middle of eating? If you haven't got something to write that on, you'll lose that idea and perhaps a potentially good story...unless you're bionic and you have a good memory.

Those Stuff Librarians! Stuffy or not, you'll find out soon enough that libraries and librarians are the coolest things on this planet, next to your favorite search engine. Even if most researches can be done online, libraries and those good ole librarians are still indispensable. So get to know your city librarians! Sooner or later, you *will* need their help!

Your Buddy, Webster! When it comes to a writer's best friend, no one can best the dictionary. You have a powerhouse of grammar and correct usage tool on your fingertips. With a dictionary, you can know the origin of a word, its synonyms, antonyms, and homonyms. You'll be guided on how to properly divide, accent and spell words. Webster's Dictionary is one dictionary you should have with you!

Cousin Roget! Roget's International Thesaurus is a must-have tool for every writer! Having one will help you use words precisely.

Processors! Aside from loads of paper and little notebooks you can keep on your pocket, you need some kind of word processor like a typewriter or a computer where you can type and format your articles.

Your Kind of Books! You have your favorite types of books to read. Why not stuff your shelves with them? These books can serve as guides when you start writing your own books.

Accessories

• A hand-made or computer-generated calendar where you can mark deadlines or things to do. You can tape this on the wall beside your writing desk.

• A corkboard or whiteboard where you can write down lines or thoughts or just general reminders. An alternative to this are post-its you can stick on your computer screen or anywhere that's prominent and you're likely to see those neon-green squares.

• Assorted envelopes, all sizes but mostly should be #10 envelopes. You'll never know if you have a piece on your hand that's begging to be read by an editor.

• Paper clips are one of man's greatest inventions. Who ever thought that a very short wire can do so many things? I can think of at least 10 ways I've used paper clips, and they don't include using them to hold papers together!

• Liquid paper.

• Erasers.

• Folders.

Copyright © 2001 Shery Ma Belle Arrieta-Russ

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