A novel notebook. Dead serious here. And I’m going to show you exactly what to buy.

1. A big binder. This is the kind of thing I would buy. It’s cheap, but well-made. It’s huge and it’s got one of those little thingies for holding the paper down.
2. Dividers. Lots of them.  You will thank me later.  These are the exact ones I own, but whatever works for you is perfect.
3. Top loading, economy pack, sheet protectors.  There are some things that you just don’t want to have to find again, make again, whatever–these will keep them safe, handleable (I realize that’s not a word), and easy to get to.
4. This shouldn’t need to be said, but I aim to be comprehensive.  Paper.  Writers need paper.
5. A hole punch.  If you print out your 400 page novel, you don’t want to stick all those pages in sheet protectors.  Hence–hole punch. (25 pages at a time.  That’s what I’m talkin’ about.)

And I think that should get you started.  You’ll figure out as you go if you need anything else.  Just remember this: write everything down.  And file it in your notebook.