Confessions of a Notebook Addict (Part Two)

I have so much to say, and I don't even know where to begin! At times like these, there's only one thing to do: Make a List.


List

• First, let me say that it's so good to be blogging again! School has been crazy. Enough said.
•  Am I a bad person for losing a library book? It's true I'm not the most responsible book borrower, and while I've been known to rack up an impressive fine, I've never lost a book before. This is when I really need the accio spell...
• Speaking of books, I now have a book journal! It's like a birder's life list, except for books. My mom and I made/bound it ourselves while working on an English project.
• I think book-binding is my new hobby.
• Also, for those who were wondering, I'm really enjoying my creative writing class! I was also made president of the creative writing club, which is amazing and a little scary at the same time. (I'm not a very good leader, but I'm trying to improve!)
• And this list could go on forever if I don't get it under control... I think its time to start the actual post.

Ok, well as promised, this is part two of my Confessions of a Notebook Addict post. An update: My condition hasn't improved. Of course you could probably tell that by my mention of my new book journal. Here's a picture:

Isn't it beautiful? I think it is. But enough of that. On to the good stuff. You, like me, are struggling with an addiction. You may have hundreds of unfinished or untouched notebooks. You ask yourself, "What am I going to put in all those pages?" Hopefully, this post will help. But before I give you ideas, here are some things every notebook owner should think about.

1. How does this particular notebook make you feel? Ok, I know that sounds silly, but really think about it. Is this a notebook that gives you permission to write horribly? (Example: Cheap spiral that you found at the dollar store.) Or is this the leather bound journal you bought at the stationary shop at the mall, right next to the 600 dollar pens? If you can abandon your stereotypes and feel fine doodling and scratching out whole pages in your leather bound journal, more power to you, but most of us don't share your point of view. Make sure you feel comfortable enough to write freely and try new things in the notebook that you have. The leather bound one will have to wait.

2. Is it portable? This is important. You can do more with your notebook if you have it with you when inspiration strikes. I have a small black notebook that goes everywhere with me. I write in it at school, at home, in restaurants, and in waiting rooms. My dad caries a thin blue one in his shirt pocket. And ladies: the bigger the purse, the bigger the notebook you can take with you!

3. What do you want it to be? Think about what the purpose of your notebook is. My small one is my idea book; it has descriptions of places I go and people I meet. My book journal is, well, just for writing about the books that I read. And I turn to my personal journals when I've had a bad day. Before you start writing, ask yourself what your notebook means to you. You can use any of the ideas I list in this post exactly as they are, or you can change them and make them your own. Stretch my suggestions to fit your personal needs. If your notebook is all yours, finishing it will be all the more sweet.

And now, without further ado, here are some ideas to help fill those blank pages:

1. Make a list of: dog breeds, ice cream flavors, story ideas, all the things around you that are blue, crayon names (Ex: Caribbean Sky, Dorsal Fin Gray, etc.), interesting books you see in book stores, cool words, and character names.

2. Draw (no matter how bad you think you are): monsters, the person sitting next to you, a character you're thinking about, eyes, mouths, or hair cuts.

3. Write your bucket list. Close your eyes, run your finger down the page, and stop. Make a character in a story do whatever item your finger is pointing to. No cheating!

4. Write something from the point of view of something else. Anything else.

5. Write what you think the person nearest to you is thinking.

6. Draw a map and name all the roads and forests and rivers and lakes after people you know.

7. Put one character in several different settings. How do they react? What do they do differently (or the same) in each?

8. Write a story about a department store while in a department store.

9. Write down any interesting quotes you see, no matter where you are.

10. Glue these into the your journal: ticket stubs, receipts, coupons, random pieces of paper you find in parking lots, other people's grocery lists, polaroid photographs, fabric swatches, strange metal objects (flat, like washers), leaves, pressed flowers, and wood chips.

11. Reserve one page of your notebook for writing in glitter.

12. Make a list of everything you win from gum machines. 

13. Write letters (of the "Thank You" variety or not) to the following people: Your future self, your parents, your pets, your role model, your favorite celebrity, your favorite author, your favorite fictional character,  your favorite historical figure, and your elementary school teacher.

14. Try your hand at writing with a dip pen.

15. Write a poem inspired by whatever song you happen to be listening to at the moment. 

16. Create a virtual Facebook profile for one of your characters.

17. Reserve one page for writing completely in texting language. (Just make sure all your pages don't start looking like that!)

18. Reserve one page for all the words you misspelled on all the other pages, and place them next to their correct spellings. This could actually become a very useful tool.

19. Write down made-up words and their definitions. Who knows when you'll have to make up a new language for a project you're working on!

20. And finally, HAVE FUN!

Well, thats all I can think of, but I hope now you get the jist. Please let me know if this was helpful, and feel free to share any ideas you have in the comments. 

Wow! I didn't realize this post had gotten so long! Once again, thanks so much for reading :)

Musings

I know I still haven't posted part two of my last post, but in the meantime, here's some words to get you through the day:

And I'll take this time to thank all you who have read and commented. It means a lot to me!

Confessions of a Notebook Addict (Part One)

Another lost soul :)

Picture this: You're in a book store. You wander past the coffee shop and browse the titles on the best seller table. You wonder how any author ever gets published, when there are already so many books in the world. Trying to escape the sinking feeling in your stomach you make a beeline for the stationary department. And then it hits you. The sight is like seeing the grand canyon for the first time, or staring at a field of wildflowers. Your breath is taken away for a moment and your heart skips a beat. Why? Because in front of you is a wall of journals and notebooks, big and small, with designs ranging from cutesy pictures of kittens to engraved leather bindings. But the best part is that they're all just sitting there, waiting to be taken home and filled to the brim with happy words and sad words and maybe some best seller worthy words. That realization is all it takes, and you're hooked. Like me.


I am notebook obsessed. Those empty pages are like a promise. A promise of all the good things I will ever write, all the ideas I will ever have. For more balanced people, a good notebook is something they choose with care, and once they have it, they use it. See, that's where having a notebook problem is a bad thing. After the first few pages of a new journal are used up, the promise is broken. Or at least not as magical. So I am constantly on the look out for new notebooks and fresh promises. At home, my notebook collection is overflowing- and almost none of them are filled up- most haven't even gotten past fifty pages. What's a girl to do?


Truth be told, I have improved somewhat. I have one journal that I've finished and another one that's almost done (put together they chronicle my life from 6th grade to present day-pretty impressive right?) and I have been working toward writing down ideas and tid bits of conversation in a small notebook that fits in my purse. Still, you only have to look in my bookshelves and under my bed to see the evidence of who I truly am- a notebook addict.


But wait! What's this? There's hope for all you other notebook addicts out there? That's right! In Part Two of this post I'll be giving you creative ideas for filling up all those empty  pages,  because even broken promises can be mended.

Back to School!

Hey everyone-I guess it's time for an update, since I haven't written since July. Wow, it's really been that long! Expect to be hearing less of me after the 22nd, 'cause thats when school begins to make a meal of my life. Sounds appetizing, doesn't it?


Truthfully, I have nothing against learning. And I'm excited for this year especially because it looks like I'm going to have very good teachers. The classes I'm most looking forward to are Creative Writing (with my favorite teacher ever!) and English. No surprise there, right? I've also heard that the statistics teacher can work wonders for mathematically challenged students like me. Thats very, very good!


In my experience, it's always been about the teacher. If I can find someone who really loves their subject and loves sharing it with us, I'm happy. Not only does enthusiasm make class more interesting, but it also helps when you have to hunker down through four or five hours of homework every night. I want a teacher whose joy of learning and teaching is so contagious that it rubs off on everyone they meet. How come are these people so rare? 


Now, I know good teachers (and their level of enthusiasm) aren't the only factors in a successful education. There's a lot of hard work involved on the part of the student, and learning is as much a self governed activity as it is a guided one. Plenty of kids can survive a class where they are just taught the basics. Still, I know I always do better with a good teacher- and not necessarily one that can explain things so that I understand them the first time around. A good teacher, to me, is one that makes me want to learn more, someone who feeds my curiosity. Give me one of those, and by the next test, I'll be ready.

The Stuff Every Writer Needs

Who knew writers were material girls (and guys)! In this post, I thought I'd compile a list of the little things that make writers tick. Enjoy!

1. A Writing Space. Be it a table by a window, an attic bedroom, a regular spot at a coffee shop, a park bench, or a meticulously designed study just for us, a space dedicated to writing is every writer's dream. And the more time we can spend making it perfect, the less time we have to actually work!
2. Books. And lots of them. Beside's food and water, this is the fuel that keeps our minds churning.
3. A Computer. And typing skills. Enough said.
4. A Lamp. Good lighting is essential to every writer's space. It is especially helpful when staying up late during NanoWriMo!
5. A Good Pen. Every writer knows what they like in a pen. From fountain, to ballpoint, to gel tip, or even quill, something about this age old writing instrument draws us back time after time.
6. A Good Notebook. To go with the pen. Make sure it's portable, and high quality. This is one of the writer's most important tools because we use it to trap those precious drops of inspiration that can fall at any moment. 
7. A Typewriter. This is my personal favorite. What better way to get started in the morning that the smell of inky ribbon and the clack of the keys against the paper. There's something so permanent about it, like you're hammering your words into stone. Talk about a wake up call.
8. A Dog. Or a cat. Though I'm not much of a cat person, any pet can make a difference in a writer's life. Who else will love you unconditionally, no matter how much bad poetry you recite for them?
9. A Dictionary/Thesaurus (the old fashioned kind). While you can get this online and as a feature in many word processors, sometimes it's nice to have a real book to refer to. (See also: #2)
10. A beach, forest, or other natural rest spot. When the going gets tough, or you just need a break from writing, choose a place where you can relax and recharge. 

Well there you have it, all the essentials. But remember, while it's fun to get caught up in the nit picky details when choosing items for our writer's toolbox, sometimes we have to let go of them for a little while a do what's really important. Write.


Photo Cred

Novel in Progress is....Finally in Progress!

Hey Everyone! I've been in San Antonio these past five days, on a business trip with my parents, which is why I haven't been posting or commenting. Of course I've gone much longer stretches of time without posting or commenting, so this explanation falls short. My apologies. 


Anyway, while in San Antonio I began thinking about my novel, and how I've been afraid to start it or even take a step toward it for a while now. It took me a while to find a good idea. Actually I had a number of ideas, but some of them I lost interest in and couldn't move forward on, or I thought they weren't novel worthy enough. But I've finally settled on one. It may not even be a particularly good idea, but I'm interested in it, and thats what counts. During my little trip to San Antonio, I think I realized that my goal is really just to finish a novel, and I'll worry about publication later.


*sigh* What a breath of fresh air! For a while there I kept thinking way too far in advance, instead of just focusing on what I have to do right now, which is outline my story and then write it. And yes, I'm doing an outline. It's a slightly modified version of The Snowflake Method, which seemed like the best place to start for a beginning novelist like me. 


So, if you'd like to keep track of my progress....wait a while. Haha. It's going to take me a long time to finish the design documents, partly because I'm working on revising some short stories that are going into a Blurb book made by me and my very artistic best friend (a.k.a: VABF). My goal is to finish them by the time she gets back from an art workshop in Chicago (I'm so proud of her!!), so that we can start laying things out. So...that means my novel is on the back burners for now, but I will still be working on it whenever I can. 


And... I've been talking way too much. All you people out there have something to say! What are some projects that you're working on?

Life After Harry Potter

The first thing I thought when the screen went black and the credits began to roll at last nights midnight showing of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, was, "I can't believe it's over." Somehow, this was not the reaction I had been expecting.

Maybe I thought I was prepared for the end. Maybe I went into denial and kept telling myself that Harry Potter couldn't end, that it would live forever. The more likely story is that I thought I would be so blown away by the last film that I would only be thinking about how good it was and not the fact that there will be no more of them. Ever.

Of course the movie was amazing. They did a fantastic job with it, which only made the end to the series that much more heart wrenching. During the last third of the movie I'm sure there was not a dry eyed person in the theatre, and the sound of sniffling was only interrupted by cheers for Molly Weasley when she defeats Bellatrix.

And now for the questions nobody can answer. Will Harry Potter live on? Will our children be reading our well worn copies of the books we cherished when we were kids? Or will there be another series in its place? No matter what happens, I think that Harry Potter will always be special to those who grew up with its characters. It will be remembered, not only for its wonderful writing or its world wide fame, but because it taught people everywhere to believe in magic.