Post-its Are The Mostest

Forget to buy milk? Put it on a post it, stick it to your wallet and go.

Need to remember to pick up the dog from the kennel? Got a friend you want to send flowers to? Need a number to dial? Remind yourself with a post-it!


I love the opening scene in ROMANCING THE STONE, when Joan Wilder has just finished her novel. She steps into the kitchen to get a tissue, finds a post-it. Goes to the refrigerator, find another post-it. Very soon the audience sees that there are post-its everywhere. This scene convinces us that Joan has been so embroiled with her book that she’s obviously neglected to care for her immediate needs.

Why does this scene appeal to me? Well, it does come immediately after the heroic ending and happily ever after of her book, when Jesse swoops down and grabs the heroine, easily planting her upon the back of his horse as he gallops away into the sunset. Ah! Who doesn’t love a cowboy! But I digress…


The director of ROMANCING THE STONE knew that one scene could speak to the audience more than Joan finding a tissue for her nose. Simply and superbly done with a post-it.

I love post-its! I use them at work, at home, for important reminders and simple ones too. They come in a range of colors and in various sizes. I’ve got post-its that look like hearts, flowers, dialogue tags from Comic books, stars and the list goes on. I enjoy going to office stores just to see if they have post-its I’ve never seen or used before. Ah, it’s just occurred to me I might have a problem. Is there such a thing as PIA? (Post-its Anonymous?)


I’m a writer and therefore post-its mean a lot to me. My favorite thing to do with post-it notes is to fill my storyboard with them, each one complete with a plot directive to keep me on track. Yes, there’s something wonderful about seeing 20 chapters gridded in front of me with colored/shaped post-its filling the square gaps. And there’s something cataclysmic in staring at an empty storyboard when a book isn’t quite coming together… yet.

Post-its, (you know it’s coming don’t you?) are a metaphor for mankind. They come in all shapes, colors, and sizes. They all have a sticky end, but can be molded to fit any design given the right environment. You can peel away the layers, use them as you wish, as if you were unveiling layers of the soul. Well-used paper corners can be bent like arthritic limbs. A stack of post-its can be thrummed like playing cards, or crumpled up and thrown away like homeless cast-a-ways. They can even be stacked in varying colors like sky-scrapers in cities across the world. People are drawn to certain colors and shapes just as people are drawn to brown or blue eyes, blond or brown hair, light or dark skin. Like neurons charging within a brain, this tiny or large piece of paper has the ability to trigger thought, inspire generations, and cause us to take heed of our surroundings.


Yes, an insignificant pad of sticky paper serves a greater purpose. And I truly believe in the hierarchy of officedom, business cannot be done without cherished little green, purple, hot pink, yellow, lime green, red, and blue friends… post-its. I know in my writing cave, I’ve got to have a colorful stack of crisp post-its ever at the ready.

What do you like to do with post-its? What are the wildest colors and shapes you’ve ever seen and what is the whackiest thing you've done with a post-it?