5 Ideas for Using a Writer’s Notebook
I learned this week that Marie Curie’s notebooks are radioactive and will be for another 1,500 years. If you’d like to get your hands on them at the Musée Curie in Paris, you’ll need to wear protective gear and sign a waiver. So, since notebooks were on my mind, I stopped to give them further thought.
Writers tend to be notebook junkies. Those who aren’t still tend to get notebooks as gifts from thoughtful friends and family. Most of us have stacks of them. I don’t write stories or poems by hand (love me some typed text), but I like to jot down thoughts and I fill my notebooks with pages and pages of notes when I take writing and business classes.
If your unused notebooks are piling up, or if you want some new ideas for the cute journals and notepads you can’t quit buying, here’s some inspiration for using a writer’s notebook—
Go Small
I always have a pocket-sized notebook in my purse. The times I haven’t I’ve regretted it—like at the coffee date with my daughters when we were having our book club discussion. When I went to blog about it, I kinda remembered our conversation but I’d forgotten the brilliant specific things they’d said. Keep a little notebook on you and never again miss the opportunity to jot down a story idea, an observation, or a weird bit of overheard dialogue you can repurpose for a character.
Utilize Numbered Pages
My daughter has gotten into junk journaling and I recently purchased this notebook for her. Not only does it have sturdy pages and an elastic band, it’s got numbered pages! One thing you could do with a numbered-page writer’s notebook is to leave the first few pages blank for a customized index or table of contents. This way you could cover all sorts of topics in a single notebook and be able to easily flip to what you’re looking for.
Keep Them Separate
You write-by-hand people can consider using 3-4 notebooks to write your novel, following a 3-act structure. Write the story on the fronts of the pages and use the backs for notes, reference material, and ideas for revision. Or keep a notebook just for novel notes, one for poetry (all the cool kids are writing it), one for notes from writing classes, etc.
Try Unlined
I have abysmal handwriting so I appreciate the structure lines provide. However, using unlined paper is useful and inspiring for many writers. You can doodle, turn the paper and write in different directions, and get creative without the restriction of lines.
Buy Something Beautiful
Don’t underestimate the power of aesthetics when it comes to influencing what products you’ll actually use. I’m a frugal girl, but as I’ve gotten older, I’m pickier about surrounding myself with things that please me visually. They don’t have to be expensive, but this art-minded writer wants her notebooks to look good. I’ll buy those cheap Office Depot ones for my kids’ back-to-school needs, but Mama will be snagging a Decomposition notebook from Target for herself.
My last idea for you—if you take notes during a course or training—is to handwrite the notes and later type them up. My handwriting’s not so neat, so I much prefer to refer to my typewritten notes than to my writer’s notebook when I want to go back to them.
Cheers and happy writing, friends!