My Notebook

One of the first lessons I’ve learned both the hard way, through writing classes, and discussions with other authors is ALWAYS HAVE A NOTEBOOK HANDY! This is also one of the first lessons I taught my creative writing students.

As I’m sure I’ve said before, I am a type-A personality. The traits that I most identify with from that type are that I can be hyper focused and I thrive with routine and organization. It was during NaNoWriMo 2019 that I pushed those tendencies aside and embraced disarray. At least with a few writing related practices anyway. This included my notebook. Before I tried keeping it divided into sections, nice, neat, and pristine. But despite what my personality traits might be, it was a complete failure. The notebook was rarely written in, or I would write in the wrong spot and tear it out to organize later. I still don’t know where those pages went.

​Now, however, my notebook is full, disorderly, and brimming with post-its. The writing is in the margins and slanted about ten different ways. I’ve jotted down ideas for my current WIP, ideas for new works, words I hear or read that I’d like to use myself, names I love, customs, ideas, or beliefs of other cultures, study notes in relation to my research, drawings of items from my WIP, and even some scribbles that I couldn’t decipher now if my life depended on it.

This notebook, despite the chaos barely contained within, has been a profound asset. Moments have struck when I’ve been in the school’s car rider line, in a waiting room, in church, or in the middle of the night. There are pages where plot holes were filled, or new scenes created. Its corners are bent, some of its pages folded, and its binding slipping at the ends, but it was by far one of the best investments in my writing.

The amazing thing about this carry and catch all notebook is that I can untether my creativity and not hold it to the strict rules of my personality. I can take all these notes and ideas and organize them into a sturctured, tabbed, and searchable document or since I'm more hands on, into my worldbuilding notebook that I'll share more on later. 

Tell me, I’d love to know if you carry a notebook, what kinds of things do you jot down? When do those inspirational moments strike? If you don’t, will you consider carrying one now?

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A.S. Hardin

Builder of worlds, creator of people, aspiring author or more realistically an avid reader and skilled procrastinator. From sci-fi to horror, I've explored it all. As of late, I find myself diving into the depths of rare and out-of-print sci-fi and fantasy. Join me on this literary journey!