Almost anything can spark an idea, but as many writers
know – if you don’t write down that idea while it’s fresh in your mind, it can easily have taken wing by the time you reach home. Today many of us use electronic devices of some kind or another to write, but one
important tool which shouldn’t be neglected is the humble notebook.
A notebook can be any size, although one small enough
to carry around in a pocket or bag is useful. I have half a dozen because at
one point I kept leaving my notebook at home. (I can tell you exactly how long
it takes to race from my favourite coffee hangout to the nearest stationary shop.) Some writers like to indulge themselves and invest in
the luxury end of the market and there is a certain gratification in opening a notebook
whose cover is an ornately designed piece of art, but currently a 50p notebook
suits me fine. So whenever I go out these days, I always check that I’ve packed those
two essential items, my trusty notebook and a couple of pens – don’t rely on
one, it can run out.
Developing the habit of jotting down observations and
descriptions of people and places in your notebook is worthwhile cultivating.
A good exercise to practice when you’re outside – the garden, the park, the
beach, wherever – is to spend about ten minutes or so writing down what you
see, hear and smell. Notice any actions taking
place, the different shades and shapes of objects; are there clouds in the sky,
what does the air feel like on your skin (this may be easier in seasons where
the weather is not too inclement)? Try to create a written snapshot of what you
see. Don’t worry about grammar or punctuation, think like an impressionist
painter, it’s all about the moment.
Another use for a notebook is as a diary. Diaries can
be a way to explore your emotions and develop a deeper awareness of
your internal monologue because when you write, you take much from your own
life experience. Both Virginia Woolf and Somerset Maugham kept notebooks which
they found invaluable for different reasons. Maugham because he intended to use what he wrote as a resource for
later use, and Woolf often recorded observations about her own writing process.
Notebooks are also good for morning writing, another
practice advocated for improving your writing. The theory is that by writing as
soon as you wake you are still in contact with that part of your mind which
dreams and are able to access your subconscious more easily. Morning writing is
freewriting without clustering or a prompt. (This practice needs discipline –
groping for a notebook on a dark winter’s morning and simply trying to function
without coffee didn’t work for me – but I still do my best writing when I’ve made it downstairs to the warm kitchen - after that
coffee!)
The news, wherever you get it from, radio, tv, twitter
– even a newspaper, is an endless source of ideas. A story needs tension and
conflict and you’ll find plenty in any newcast. You can use your notebook to jot
down and collect ideas for later development and, even if you never expand or use much
of what you put down, the act of observing and noting down items which interest
you are grist for the mill of your writer’s imagination.
A notebook is for you to use how you wish:
freewriting, diary, morning writing, character sketches, beginnings and
expansions of ideas, planning the chain of events for your novel – anything and
everything. I know that for me, over time, my notebook has become
an invaluable tool in my writing journey.
Writing
Update.
I’m wondering whether to reduce from two blogs a week
to one. Writing the novel and posting a blog twice a week has worked well so
far, although everything takes longer than I imagine as research and the gear
shift my internal editor makes when I hit the ‘Preview’ button can mean a lot of
tweaking . You’ll note the use of the word ‘imagine’ as opposed to 'planning’.
Planning isn’t a word I use for time management as this is a skill which I need
to acquire because social media interactions also eat up time in the day. I definitely feel the
need to ease up and figure out what works best.
My thanks to Paula Grapf for posting a link to a great
article where the recommended time for social media was half an hour in the morning
and again in the evening, and to BV
Bharati for her post on 'Followers and +'s' which is sharp and funny.
Today’s Haiku:
SLEEP
siren dreams entice
heavy sleep weights my eyelids –
a losing battle
Useful
links:
The generous Adrianna Joleigh is hosting my writer's
surgery, so if you have any writing queries, please send them to Teagan K’s
Writing Surgery at: writerssurgery@gmail.com
Check out Adrianna’s great website at: adriannajoleigh.blogspot.com/
Reading Recommendations:
http://amzn.to/18SbSaG Gold
Dragon Haiku - my first attempt
at publishing poetry!
Join me on Twitter at: teagankearney@modhaiku
To all story lovers out there, good reading, and to
those of you who write, good writing.
this is a good article for any one who writes for pleasure or as a job. i know this has helped me and i only journal and make comments.
ReplyDeleteThank you Kim for your encouraging comments; I'm glad you enjoyed reading the post - and keeping a journal is an excellent way to practice your writing skills.
DeleteI started keeping a notebook after writing my 2nd novel. It became clear that in a series with many characters, having a reference to return to time and again proved very necessary.
ReplyDeleteI actually use 1.5 inch binders that I can add paper to and use dividers. Each character has a section and I will add important information right down to their favorite food, music, saying, etc.
With 8 completed novels, I have 4 binders.... whoo, that's a lot of writing.
Wow, 8 completed novels is impressive! Using binders sounds like a really practical way to organize material especially when you want to find something. A good tip to remember - thank you, Tamala.
Delete