Keeping Your Thoughts Organized
Thoughts are fleeting.
If 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 notebook.
I use ordinary spiral-bound notebooks, and have been using the same notebook for my writing inspirations for a few years now.
What you'll find here:
Create a Table of Contents
Read About It
Notebook Know-How: Strategies For The Writer's Notebook
Amazon Price: $11.08 (as of 10/12/2008)
What to Write in Your Notebook
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.
Get Organized, Get Published!: 225 Ways to Make Time for Success
Amazon Price: $18.99 (as of 10/12/2008)
Pages You Might Want In Your 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
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.
Breathing In, Breathing Out: Keeping a Writer's Notebook
Amazon Price: $16.65 (as of 10/12/2008)
Take It With You
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 capture easily.
Do you have a writer's notebook?
Speaking of Journals: Children's Book Writers Talk About Their Diaries, Notebooks and Sketchbooks
Amazon Price: (as of 10/12/2008)
More About Writing Notebooks
...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.
Moleskine Notebooks
Moleskine Large Notebook Ruled
Amazon Price: $13.50 (as of 10/12/2008)
Moleskine Large Plain Notebook
Amazon Price: $16.03 (as of 10/12/2008)
Moleskine Small Ruled Notebook
Amazon Price: $10.86 (as of 10/12/2008)
A Writer's Notebook: Unlocking the Writer Within You
Amazon Price: $5.99 (as of 10/12/2008)
Write to me!
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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steimannbernard
i met you at squidu nice knowing you! Posted October 09, 2008 |
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A_RovingReporter
Great five-star tips for existing and aspiring writers. Posted October 07, 2008 |
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DrMaria
I tend to use my journals as writing notebooks - which makes it difficult to find the relevant info when i need it. You've inspired me to buy a separate notebook for my writing ideas. Posted October 04, 2008 |
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Portable_eBay
I used to carry an mp3 player with recording capabilities. But when its batter runs out... So now I carry a small note book and a small pen. I've filled up 6 notebooks already. 5* Posted October 03, 2008 |
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EelKat
Oh my... do I have one? Nope, I have uhm... a hundred or so! LOL! I started my first one back in the 1970's, and I go though a couple a month. Mines vary from spiral bound notebooks, to clothbound books, to tiny 3x5 pocket sized notebooks, to huge 3" ring binders packed full of loseleaf. I' a rabid keeper of writing journals, because everything under the sun gives me ideas to write about so I keep track of my ideas as soon as I think of them Posted October 01, 2008 |
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vbright105
What wonderful ideas! I tend to think of things in the middle of the night, then get up and write them. I have a notebook, but never with me when I need it! lol Posted September 30, 2008 |
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rms
Excellent tips here. I'm rolling this on to my Creative Writing Tips lens. Posted September 24, 2008 |
I never thought of a writer's notebook. I have notes to myself all over the place. Thank you for this organizational tip. I'll start mine today!
Posted September 22, 2008
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CarlaClayton
I like the table of contents idea. I use the black/white composition books. I buy them when they go on sale for 5 for a dollar. I love them because they are small and the same size for my bookcase. Posted September 01, 2008 |
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Gretchen_Lee_Bourquin
These are great ideas. I sporadically use notebooks, but haven't been consistent with them. There are so many ideas that zip by you at times when there is no time to develop them. A notebook like this could be the siv that catches them Posted August 22, 2008 |
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