qemu won't log files (probably user error)

[IndignantHomeless]

Could anyone explain how to get the Qemu to output a log file into a specified directory so I could cue the "-cpu ?" and "-M ?" commands without having to belligerently slam on the pause button? 

I've tried "-monitor stdio" invoking log page,unimp,guest_errors and it never outputs a file. 

I also tried "-D *\a log.txt" (​*=variable path directory) with and without premade text file. 

Any further input would be nice!