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Too Much Writing?

 Has this ever happened to you?  Have you written a story that you’ve completely forgot?  Not only completely forgotten, but made unfindable?  I play games with my stories and sometimes the joke’s on me.


Okay, I suffer from graphomania.  I write constantly.  I do try to keep organized—I use a spreadsheet that has all my submissions on it.  It has rejection/acceptance dates (mostly rejection).  Lots of information.


I decided to list on it every story, whether finished or in process.  There are far too many (mostly in process).  When I finish a story I often submit it.  If I get burned, I’m shy about resubmitting.  I often rewrite at this stage.  Then, when I feel brave enough, I try again.


The spreadsheet is color-coded.  There, in the color that indicates finished and ready to submit is a story cryptically titled “The Password.”  I don’t remember this story.  I can’t recall what it was about or why I thought it was ready to publish.


Looking through my electronic files, there’s no project by that name.  Even my electronic files are scattered all the fuck over the place, so I have to check lots of spots.  Nowhere.  No story or folder titled “The Password.”





What was I thinking when I put it down on my ready to publish list?  It couldn’t have been that long ago.  Why can I not remember writing it?


Maybe if I could spend more time on my writing this wouldn’t be an issue.  Much of my writing time is devoted to nonfiction.  I seem to get that accepted for publication more easily.  But, like John Lennon, I want to be a paperback writer.


There’s over 160 stories on my spreadsheet, and that’s not all of them.  It doesn’t include, for instance, those written by hand.  For years I tried to do that, but then didn’t have the time to type all of them up.  They’re sitting in the attic.


“The Password” was electronic, I know.  And when I find it, I have the feeling it will unlock everything.

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