I know, I know. Using pen and paper to write stories is "old fashioned." Or at least some would say. As an avid snail mail letter writer and someone who possesses many, many notebooks, I would argue otherwise. That is why I have put together five reasons why keeping a writer's notebook could be a good idea for you!
You never know when your next burst of inspiration may strike.
Writers sometimes get ideas at really random times and in really odd places. This is why arming yourself with pen and paper (or pencil and paper) is so important. You might wake up in the middle of the night after a crazy dream and be desperate to write it down because it was so hilarious. If you keep your writer's notebook beside your bed like I do, it is easily accessible and ready for any of your midnight musings. Don't forget to keep a flashlight beside your bed as well. If you've ever tried to read something you wrote when you could not see your paper, you'll understand why a flashlight is so important.
A writer's notebook can be used for anything.
Sometimes I get hung up on the fact that this is a writer's notebook, therefore it can only be used for writing.
Hold on—who said it couldn't be used for other things?
Oh yeah....that was me and my perfectionist brain.....
I fall into the trap of wanting my writer's notebook to be perfect. I want things to be nice and orderly. Sometimes, though, I (and you, if you are a perfectionist) need to let go of those perfectly defined borders. For me, at least, it is oddly freeing to say, "This book is a writing notebook, but it is also a place to draw and to sketch and to dream about story."
Your writing notebook is actually the perfect place to sketch your story's villain (it's okay if you aren't the best at art. This book is private, so go ahead and scribble. You might surprise yourself!) or to play with designing your protagonist's brand-new castle. Which brings me to my next point:
Your writer's notebook can help with getting past writer's block!
Every sentence you write is stiff, boring, doesn't make sense, shows instead of tells, uses too many commas, doesn't make sense to anyone, not even you. I think you get the idea. You are at a standstill, and writing is just plain hard. It happens. Maybe you ran into a problem in your plot that seems impossible to fix. Maybe you are just feeling really uninspired and have zero motivation. It happens. And if it hasn't happened to you yet, it probably will.
There are a million articles out there already on the subject of writer's block. Here is one that I really liked.
How can your writer's notebook help you get past writer's block?
Here are two simple suggestions:
ONE: Pull out your writer's notebook and create character profiles for your WIP. Here are a few things you could include in your character profile:
What your character looks like
A sketch of your character
Things your character loves
Things she hates
Her general attitude towards life
Specific mannerisms
Introvert or extrovert?
Who are her people (family, friends, etc.)?
Favourite things your character has said
TWO: Make a craft. Here's an idea. Pull out those glue sticks, scissors and colourful paper. Use one of the pages in your writer's notebook to make a mosaic by glueing little pieces of paper all over it in a colourful design.
Now comes the hard part. You've got to sit your butt down in the chair and write. Hopefully the creative project you just did has helped re-inspire you. You don't have to go straight back to the project that gave you writer's block in the first place. I give you permission to pick a different, short project to do first. Go write a poem, a short story, a letter. Write anything. Choose something you love. If you love kittens, write a story or poem about how the lost kitten found its way home. I know that is something that has probably already been written hundreds of times, but go ahead and write it anyway. And remember: even if this creative piece comes out terrible, it's okay because it is hidden deep inside your private writer's notebook. You don't have to show anyone. Just write.
Paper is awesome & electronics aren't always reliable.
You just had an epic story idea, so you reach into your purse for your phone. You have to type this down in your note-taking app right away before it eludes you!
1% battery?! No! That's not enough!
You are left sitting with a dead cellphone in hand and with nowhere to record your thoughts.
Unless you have a writer's notebook tucked deep inside your bag.
So maybe this scenario doesn't happen all the time.
I'll admit it. I have a thing for notebooks. Still, it doesn't hurt to have a backup for your note-taking app.
You can look through it later if you are stuck and need a new idea.
Feeling stuck in your current project? Go page through your notebook looking for that perfect little story snippet that you wrote down three months ago. It might be just the thing you need. Plus, it is easier to leaf through a notebook than to go through a huge list of computer files hunting for that genius idea you recorded.
What are you waiting for?
Go for it! Purchase a writer's notebook that you can lug around with you so that you will be ready for anything.
(P.S. Carrying paper is always a good idea. It's perfect for emergency situations when you don't have a toothpick!)
There are many great options to choose from when you go out to buy your first writer's notebook, but if you like bullet-point notebooks (great for drawing or writing) and want to support me, I hope you will consider this notebook, designed by yours truly, and available on my new Etsy shop!
