If you want to start writing every day, or simply want to write more often, using a writer’s notebook can help you reach your goal. Whether you want to write poetry, stories, blog posts, or books, it helps to have a dedicated notebook specifically for creating poems, capturing your thoughts, brainstorming ideas, etc. Here are a few ideas to consider when starting your first writer’s notebook.
1. How to Choose a Notebook
Any notebook that’s convenient to write in and carry around will work. However, it can be fun to take your time browsing through your local bookstore or office-supply store to find the size, color, shape and style that inspires you to write. Also, consider whether you prefer blank, grid, wide or college ruled paper. If you find yourself writing a lot, keep several notebooks handy. If youi’re not into paper and want to go digital, use your favorite writing app on your smartphone, tablet, or computer.
2. Write Things You Enjoy
When you start writing in your notebook, have fun with it! Write things you enjoy, such as funny stories you heard from your friends, ideas for a novel, and other dialogue you find enjoyable. Don’t worry about what you write, just write what makes you happy and content. After that, you’ll realize how much your writing notebook has taken off; it’s important to take some time to break it in.
3. Write in Your Notebook Regularly
After writing a few pages in, it’s easy to lose your excitement. To avoid this, try committing to writing a few lines in your notebook every day. However, if you find that writing every day is too much, try a recurring schedule of writing twice or three times a week. Here are a few more tips for writing consistently:
- Write before you go to sleep.
- Make a habit of writing as soon as you get home from work or school.
- Write as soon as you get up in the morning.
4. Experiment with Different Kinds of Writing
Although you may already know what kind of writing you want to do, it’s fun to try out a variety of styles and types. For example, if you usually write non-fiction how-to articles, try writing a science fiction short story. Or, if you regularly write free-style poetry, try writing a personal essay.
5. Write Down Ideas and Notes
Reserve a section of your notebook for storing miscellaneious information, i.e. ideas and notes you want to remember that pop up throughout your day. Later on, when crafting articles or stories in the main part of your writer’s notebook, you can use these nuggets to make your chracters, scenes and ideas come alive.
6. Listen to the Way People Speak
Throughout the day, listen to people’s conversations and write them down in your writing notebook. Use them to create realistic dialogs and imaginative scenes for short stories or novels. Understanding how various types of people speak can help you to create more complex fictional characters, and to report non-fiction conversations more accurately.
7. Describe Sensory Details
Whether you’re observing a stunning sunset or a single blade of grass, use all of your senses to describe what you experience in great detail. Take your notebook with you to jot down notes, observations, and sounds you hear throughout the day. Write down your reactions and thoughts about these real-time experiences.
If you’d like more ideas and tips for creating a writer’s notebook, check out this book: A Writer’s Notebook: Unlocking the Writer Within You. Although it was originally written for teaching high school writing, it’s surprisingly good. Best of all, it’s encouraging — like having an understanding friend who just happens to be an accomplished writer.