Advice for budding writers (as if)

As if I have any advice for a budding writer, still being one, I offer this lesson from SCWCLA*09.

If you are going to a conference, a workshop or anywhere that you would want your manuscript, do this first:

1. Go to the Apple Store (bear with me, this isn't an ad)
2. Buy something. Anything. Buy a headphone adapter. Y0u need one.
3. Take the BAG they give you for small stuff and use it to carry your manuscript. It's an 11" x 13" tough plastic drawstring bag, and will hold at least 600 pages of 8-1/2" x 11" paper.
4. This wrapped baby will now easily fit into a small briefcase or backpack, without worrying about the corners of a box. It sheaths your work, bends, repels water... but the manuscript won't escape, won't shuffle, and won't NOT be there if you need it. You can leave it loose leaf, you can filter through for a passage or few pages without messing with binders, boxes... or computers.

Simple, inexpensive, effective.