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Please welcome our guest, Michele Hauf today!
Just got back from the office supply store. I don’t know about you, but office supplies dazzle me. I can spend a long time in that store, marveling, dreaming, wondering at usefulness, imagining what I could possibly do with that. Today I got those divider thingies you put in a 3-ring binder. One set for Topics, and another set for the Alphabet. Joy!
You see, I’m finally figuring out that since I’ve written so many paranormal romances set in the same world, I should probably start organizing that world. Take some notes on it, perhaps? Write down characters’ names and details about them like where they live, hold old they are, what they look like, what they are. Other things I’ve neatly arranged in my precious World Binder are maps, a term list, character quotes, character cheat sheets (with their pictures so I can remember what they look like), creature lists (so I remember that my vampires bite, but my werewolves do not), and anything related to my world.
Oh, and I have to give this grand world a name, so I’ve called it BEAUTIFUL CREATURES. I like it. It 
works for me. Right now I’ve got 60+ characters listed, over a dozen creature types, and too many terms to count. This organization idea was a life saver. Now I can actually scan through and see who that guy was seven books ago that liked butterflies and called his lover ‘Dear’. Or who lives in Berlin, and can do a cameo scene in my current WIP, set in Berlin. And what, exactly, happens when a vampire bites a faery (it’s not pretty, trust me).
I love clutching my 3-ring binder to my chest and knowing I hold my whole world in my hands.
Heck, I just love a good excuse to go to the office supply store. 
I have two copies of my latest ANGEL SLAYER, set in the Of Angels and Demons series and available from Harlequin Nocturne, to give away to two commentors today! And if you’ve read ANGEL SLAYER, I also have a short story, “Halo Hunter” currently available (and about Michael Donovan, a secondary character in Angel Slayer) that is an electronic book you can download at Amazon, eharlequin or any of your favorite online retailers. Read the first chapter of both stories at my website!
Tell me, do office supply stores beguile you? Do you take joy in organizing, no matter if it’s a world, a shelf of books, or a pantry full of groceries?
Visit Michele at her website: MicheleHauf
Blog: Michele’s Blog
Facebook: Michele’sFB
Twitter: Michele’sTwitter
Filed in: Jaunty Post
Jun 11th
2010
5:44 am
kris Said:
Organization is my whole existence! Everything has it’s place. Unfortunately, I have a husband and daughter who do not agree with my philosophy! I love going to an office supply store, but even better is The Container Store!!
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Jun 11th
2010
8:38 am
eap Said:
I am beguiled by the Container Store not office supply stores.
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Jun 11th
2010
8:43 am
Fran Said:
Hi!
So I have drawers full of useful stuff that I’m too lazy to use – I’m content with admiring them…
I love office supply stores; I can spend many hours there and leave with my hands full of different neat things and gadgets. But the problems start when I have to use all those things; you see I don’t like organising stuff. I like them organised but don’t like to do the work myself
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Jun 11th
2010
8:49 am
Crystal B. Said:
I love office supply stores. I like to be organized and all the great items they have in these stores make it so much easier. Love the cover to Angel Slayer.
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Jun 11th
2010
10:06 am
Shana Galen Said:
Oh, the office supply store. I try not to go in there because I don’t leave empty-handed. But, really, how many kinds of sticky notes does one person need? Apparently about 30…
And I do love to organize. I wish I had more time to organize!
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Jun 11th
2010
11:38 am
Virginia C Said:
I enjoy browsing through office supply stores. They remind me of that “back-to-school” feeling when you had brand new pencils, notebook paper, composition books, a new bookbag & etc.
I do like to be organized, not quite OCD, but close : )
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Jun 11th
2010
1:08 pm
Fedora Said:
Hi, Michele! I do love office supply stores, but can’t afford to browse too often! It *is* almost time to shop for school supplies though; I hope I can resist the lure
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Jun 11th
2010
2:03 pm
Margo Maguire Said:
I used to love the “back to school” shopping that we did every August with my kids … but more interesting to me is the “world” you created for your books! Fascinating, Michele!
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Jun 11th
2010
6:43 pm
Mary M Said:
OMG, I’m beguiled my office supply stores! I love all the choices of labels and dividers ….and the cute guys on staff that ask if I need help finding anything.
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Jun 11th
2010
7:00 pm
catslady Said:
I am an all or nothing kind of gal. Most of the time my area looks like a disaster because if I don’t do it perfectly then I don’t want to start (sigh). I love putting things in alphabetical order and will spend hours doing so but once it gets messed up I end up procrastinating until I tackle a major job again.
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Jun 11th
2010
7:15 pm
Catherine Kean Said:
Wonderful post, Michele!
I, too, love office supply stores. I adore nice pens and mechanical pencils. That must be the writer in me. 
I also love to be organized, but never seem to have enough time to get things the way I want. By the way, your 3-ring binder sounds awesome! Congrats.
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Jun 11th
2010
8:17 pm
Cindy Kirk Said:
Michelle,
Organization is not my strength. I love the idea of keeping a notebook with all that information.
You’ve definitely motivated me. I’m off to Staples to pick one up!
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Jun 12th
2010
5:29 am
Kirsten Said:
I’m hopeless at organizing things so stores that have stuff to help me are great. Question is how on earth am I going to know how to use it?
The only thing that is in perfect order is my bookshelf. I put everything together by color and size. So it looks great from a distance. The only problem is that it takes me ‘hours’ to find the treasures I’m looking for. Can’t always remember what shade the side of the romance I’m looking for is. But that’s no time wasted for I love getting newly acquainted with all my old friends.
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Jun 18th
2010
9:58 am
Margay Said:
I love my paper and office supplies, but I am a chaotic organizer at best. Well, at least I know where everything is – it may not look pretty, but I know where it is!
Margay
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Oct 29th
2010
1:10 pm
Electric Lighting : Said:
we alway get our office supplies from a very reputable dealer that lives close to our home;::
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Nov 17th
2010
1:33 pm
Plastic Pond Said:
some office supplies are low quality that is why you should always check your store if they offer high quality products ‘-.
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