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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