Faux File Nomenclature Generator
Here’s a template to use to generate seemingly work-related names for your writing files in a code that only you, or your fellow comrades, would recognize as non-work. Use it to make creating a code name for your work-in-progress quick and easy so you don’t waste any precious writing time on your file’s disguise.
Step 1: Start by naming the type of file
Document: Activity Report, or Strategic Plan, or Ideas
Spreadsheet: Data Analysis, or Project List, or Progress Outline
Step 2: Create and add an acronymic code
Sequentially add the first letter of each word of your working title
3- or 4-letter acronyms work best—use your judgement
Step 3: Add parenthetical to include Steps 4-6 below
Step 4: Add status
Brainstorming: Notes
Drafting: Draft
Content Editing: REV
Line Editing: Final
Step 5: Add Initials
Use an underscore to link the status to your initials—a nice touch to show that you’re taking ownership of your “work”
Step 6: Add the date.
day.month.year
Example: 1.23.19
EXAMPLES
Documents
Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf becomes Activity Report MRSD (Final_VW 14.5.25)
The Pale King by David Foster Wallace becomes Strategic Plan TPK (Notes_DFW 9.12.08)
The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer becomes Ideas TCT (Draft_GC 10.25.1400)
Worksheets
Moneyball by Michael Lewis becomes Data Analysis MBL (REV_ML 5.10.03)
Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell becomes Project List CAL (REV_DM 11.20.12)
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline becomes Progress Outline RP1 (REV_EC 11.20.12) - Mixing numbers in for letters whenever possible is a nice variation.