How to Organize Your Writers Notebook for Writing Success

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Keep your thoughts organized in a writer's notebook

Writers use notebooks to keep their inspirations organized. Thoughts are fleeting but if they're written in notebooks they can be used later. For a writer, a writers notebook is an essential tool - sort of an extension of memory!

When you have a good idea for a writing project, you need a place to write it down. The logical place, the place thousands of writers choose, is a simple writer's notebook.

The best time to write in your writer's notebook is immediately, so it is essential to keep the notebook by your side as often as possible.

Many writers prefer Moleskine notebooks, and that is what I use, however any type of notebook will do when you're getting started. There's no better time to start, than now!



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Let's Get Started!

Your writer's notebook needs a table of contents

Writing inspiration for your writer's notebook

What to write in your writer's notebook

Pages you might want in your writer's notebook

Take your writer's notebook with you!

Create a table of contents in your writer's notebook

This will help you find things later

Before starting, reserve a few pages at the front of your writer's notebook for a table of contents. You can number each subsequent page so you can easily find lists and items when you need them.

Writer's notebook - inspiration page

I love quotes... do you?

To start, I leave a few pages at the beginning of a notebook blank as a place to collect inspirational quotes about writing. Here are a few I've written in my writer's notebook:

"If there's a book you really want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it."

-- Toni Morrison


"The ancient commission of the writer has not changed. He is charged with exposing our many grievous faults and failures, with dredging up to the light our dark and dangerous dreams, for the purpose of improvement."

- John Steinbeck, from his Nobel Prize acceptance speech


"Anyone who believes you can't change history has never tried to write his memoirs."

-- David Ben Gurion


"I'm not a very good writer, but I'm an excellent rewriter."

-- James Michener


"You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you."

-- Ray Bradbury

Writer's notebook strategies

Notebook know-how

Notebook Know-How: Strategies for the Writer's Notebook

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What to write in your writer's notebook

A few suggestions for your writer's notebook

You can use your writer's notebook for anything your creative mind comes up with, that relates to your writing. This is not an ordinary journal and shouldn't have your free-floating thoughts on life in general. Think of it as a tool that will assist you in building your writing career.

For example, if you hear something and think, "That would be a great title for a novel," that's something that should be written into your writer's notebook. Do not trust your memory to keep these kinds of thoughts. Thoughts are here one minute and soon gone, like clouds floating by that cannot be captured.

Write everything down, regardless of how nonsensical it seems to you at the time. Ten years from now it may inspire you with an idea for a writing project you can't now foresee.

Writer's notebook organization

Get organized, get published!

Get Organized, Get Published!: 225 Ways to Make Time for Success

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Pages you might want to make for your writer's notebook

Personalize your pages to fit your needs

You could fill your notebook chronologically, but I'd find that format difficult to utilize. Instead I write lists. Here's a list of some of the pages I have in my writer's notebook:

Article ideas
Publishers to query
Character names, sometimes with character traits
Novel titles
Descriptive passages or phrases
YA novel ideas
Fragments of real conversations
Lines (that I'd like to include in a novel)
Sub plot ideas
Humor clips
Writers to read
How to fix my novel
Short story ideas
Comparisons and descriptions
Children's novel ideas
Research
"Mom" article ideas (your passion may vary)
A plan for 2008
Cool lines that beg to be used
E-book ideas
Website development
Themes to use in story development
Horror plots
Autobiography notes
Quotes about writing

The topics for your pages will be inspired by your imagination.

Keeping a writer's notebook

It can be just like breathing!

Breathing In, Breathing Out: Keeping a Writer's Notebook

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Take your writer's notebook with you

Wherever you go, you'll need this

It is a good idea to take your writer's notebook with you wherever you go. That's probably why the pocket-sized Moleskine notebook is so popular. I use a much larger, spiral bound notebook and have a hard time fitting it into my active lifestyle. It fits fine inside my AlphaSmart case, however.

You never know when a cool writing inspiration will come to you. Don't be caught without a place to write it down, because thoughts are not something you can re-capture easily.

Moleskine writer's notebooks

These are ever popular!

I'm using a ruled Moleskine notebook for my writing journal now, and absolutely love it! It has narrow-ruled pages so you can fit a lot on them. The notebook is handy and attractive. I'm so glad I switched to Moleskine!


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A New Website for Writers

...Perspectives on Writing!

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The Ultimate Book!

...art print by famed comic book artist, François Schuiten

I just had to include this amazing art - if you're a book lover like me, surely you can identify with my love for it! This is how I feel about my writer's notebook. It is one of my most cherished possessions.


The Ultimate Book
The Ultimate Book Art Print, by François Schuiten
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Do you have a writer's notebook?

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Writer's notebooks of children's writers

What did they write?

A suggestion for using your writer's notebook

...brainstorm outdoors!

If you're feeling uninspired, bored, or blocked, take your notebook outside. Get away from your normal writing area for a brainstorming session.

If you can, take a few hours to visit a park or riverside, or hill. Go there with your notebook, get comfy on a camping chair or something similar, and enjoy a writer's session with fresh air and fresh ideas.

Notebooks

...maybe one of these would do...

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More about notebooks for writers

...more ideas on organizing a writer's notebook.

Introducing the Writer's Notebook
A writer's notebook can be used to gather and develop ideas for future writing projects.
How to Organize a Writer's Notebook
There's a lot involved in the world of freelance writing. Not only do freelance writers require excellent writing skills, it's also important to be organized.
Lessons for the Writer's Notebook
Curriculum to encourage young writers.
The Writer's Notebook, or Let's not really write
Another idea on how writer's notebooks can be used.
Hand Made Office and Stationery Pocket Notebooks, Journals, Gifts UK
Hand made office and stationery pocket notebooks, journals, gifts, UK.

eBay Journal Notebooks

...who knows, you might find the perfect notebook at a great price!

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Keeping a writer's notebook

This was written for children but has quality suggestions

A Writer's Notebook: Unlocking the Writer Within You

Amazon Price: $2.58 (as of 02/14/2012)Buy Now

Read more about writing

365 Writing Prompts for Creative Writing Inspiration
For your practice writing sessions: 365 creative writing prompts, one for each day of the year.
Writing a Novel | Perspectives on Writing
How I learned to write a novel after years of false starts.
Themes in Children's Fiction | Literature For Kids
How to use themes to enhance the effectiveness of your fiction writing.
The Unfinished Manuscript | Perspectives on Writing
Do you have an unfinished novel manuscript? Get back into the writing flow and get your novel written! This article is about how to finish an unfinished manuscript.
Twelve Tips For Writing Better Articles | Perspectives on Writing
If your articles seem dull, try these writing tips for making them exciting as well as informative.
Five Tips For Writing About Nature
When we write about nature, we need to know exactly what we're writing about. There are two main ways to get that information. One way is to research the topic. We could read books, do internet research, or...
How to Write Memoirs
Do you want to know how to write memoirs? Are you looking for a way to let younger generations know what it was like for you, back in the old days?
Ten Tips for New Writers | Perspectives on Writing
Ten tips for new writers as they set out on their writing journeys.
Plotting a Novel Through Character Development | Perspectives on Writing
Novel plotting starts with knowing the character who will take the journey through the pages of your novel; this leads to an understanding of the situations that character will experience.
Submissions Now Being Accepted: Stories and Poems for Children
Literature For Kids is an online magazine for children; now accepting submissions of stories and poems.
Top 10 Reasons to Become a Writer
These are my top ten reasons for becoming a writer. Perhaps you can identify with one or more of these reasons why writing could be a good profession for you.
Creative Process - Seven Steps For Becoming More Creative
Creative process steps for increased creativity and enhanced life experience.

Your comments are welcome

I'm so glad you came by for a visit today!

I would love to get your comments about writing, the use of writers' notebooks, and whatever else you might need to say.

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  • Reply
    bobby150 Jan 26, 2012 @ 1:33 pm | delete
    Keeping a notebook is essential for a writer. I do all the time - even though some of them look like a jumbled mess - they are the best recording device to have by your side.

    Good Lens , thanks, Sean
  • Reply
    milurally Jan 14, 2012 @ 11:01 am | delete
    you shared few very good tips
  • Reply
    GrammaLinda Jan 8, 2012 @ 10:01 pm | delete
    Excellent information and ideas. Thank you for sharing this. Blessings!
  • Reply
    River_Rose Dec 17, 2011 @ 10:37 am | delete
    Great information...thank you for writing this....I think I have wanted to write for years but just didn't know that I could or really wanted to....I had a mini dream the other morning and woke up and wrote it down in a little mini notebook....and as I was writing more and more came to me and I wrote it down....have been having a little more come to me every so often....I think it could become a series of short stories...new journey for me in 2012 !
  • Reply
    SimplyTonjia Dec 12, 2011 @ 10:40 am | delete
    Excellent lense. Thank you for sharing,
  • Reply
    WNJ631 Dec 1, 2011 @ 1:28 am | delete
    I had started this a while ago, but procrastination has kept me from following through with any of the things that I would write! Now I make a point of sitting down once a week (usually on sundays) and going through what I've written across the week and systematically putting the ideas into effect. Been working pretty well : ) Good points!
  • Reply
    Bahrns Nov 25, 2011 @ 9:56 pm | delete
    This is a good idea. I love to write my thoughts but whenever I'm out I have no choice but to let go of some of my ideas because I don't have something to write my ideas to. Well... I guess I need to have one of those writer notebooks and start writing my ideas anytime...
  • Reply
    seosmm Nov 25, 2011 @ 4:18 pm | delete
    Good info. Very nice lens!
  • Reply
    Mistel Nov 24, 2011 @ 8:16 pm | delete
    I need to get me a notebook. I always have the problem of not having anything to write on when inspiration strikes me. Thanks for reminding me just how useful a notebook is. Also on a totally unrelated note. How do you make the cool framing of the intro section? Your entire lens is looking really good. :)
  • Reply
    Rakhi_Dalal Nov 20, 2011 @ 12:33 pm | delete
    Just loved the information ! It has inspired me too :)
  • Reply
    aliciamaggie54 Nov 10, 2011 @ 12:33 pm | delete
    This is good information.
  • Reply
    Rantsand Nov 9, 2011 @ 9:15 pm | delete
    Great lens. It's a good reminder to keep a journal close by. Lately I've started using my iPad as a journal and it's working great. Helps getting those thoughts to my pc too.
  • Reply
    desa999 Nov 7, 2011 @ 6:34 am | delete
    I love writing and I really enjoyed your lens ideas. Your intro photo is a classic!
  • Reply
    StartFreshDesign Nov 5, 2011 @ 8:19 pm | delete
    I loved reading this; I took an Advanced Nonfiction Prose course in undergrad and we were required to keep a writer's notebook. I've kept one ever since. I would love it if you'd consider adding some handmade notebooks or altered Moleskines from my Etsy shop to your collection! http://www.etsy.com/shop/StartFreshDesign
  • Reply
    RaiscaraAvalon Oct 27, 2011 @ 8:15 pm | delete
    I keep everything together in one notebook. I've tried the separate notebooks for different things routine and I just ended up not writing in any of them lol. Found some new books to add to my wish list though, great lens! :)
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My blog: Linda Jo Martin
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© 2009-2010 LindaJM - All rights reserved.



Thanks for visiting my writer's notebook page here at Squidoo. I've been writing more than 40 years! During that time I've filled many writer's notebooks and journals. I've written a bit about my backup system here: My Writing Protection System. You can see a photo of some of my writer's notebooks there. Have a great day!

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LindaJM

"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." -Dr. Seuss
My blog: Linda Jo Martin
Perspectives on Writing
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