So, a few chapters into my current revision, I realized that the necessary new structure was clear enough to me now that instead of just fumbling around with my pages, I could chart it all out on index cards. I did so, on my office floor… then realized that I didn’t actually want to pick them up. I wanted to be able to see them just like that, spread out in order, my overall structure plan, the entire time I’m revising. But I can’t really keep them in the middle of my office floor. It creates navigational challenges. AND, I’m sick to death of buying and hanging up bulletin boards. I’m always working on more than one project at once, and I already have SO MANY filled-to-capacity bulletin boards in my office. What I really need is an enormous magnetic wall, but since those can be tricky to come by, instead, I assembled: a skinny 36-inch-long aluminum tube and similarly-dimensioned wooden dowel (procured from my local hardware store); some fabric and quilting pins (procured from the EXTREMELY ADORABLE fabric/yarn store at Lee Street and Broadway near Central Square, Gather Here — go there! Take classes!); and a big ratty pile of twine (of mysterious and forgotten origin).

I didn’t end up using the wooden dowel, so ignore that. But don’t ignore the fabric. The fabric was super cute!

Anyway. So, first I threaded the twine through the aluminum tube. BY THE WAY, I feel it is my duty to inform you, in case you’ve never tried to run a thick piece of twine through a narrow, 36-inch-long aluminum tube, that it’s nearly impossible to do so without resorting to some sort of trickery. I recommend you first thread a needle with lightweight thread and drop that through. Then tie the end of your thread to the beginning of your twine and use the thread to pull the twine through.

There now. I have just taught you how to get twine through a narrow tube. Don’t anyone ever intimate to me that I don’t run a full-service blog here.

Anyway. Slap the top edge of the fabric over the aluminum tube, pin or stitch it in place, tie a knot in your twine, hang the damn thing on your wall, then use the quilting pins to pin your cards in place.

Voila! It’s cute! It’s enormous! It’s colorful! It’s reusable! It renders one with a deep sense of accomplishment! (Also, it’s (unexpectedly) much easier to write on/add to the cards than it would be were they tacked or magneted to a bulletin board.)

*looks around for the next project that will allow me to procrastinate actually having to revise*