The Value of a Writer’s Notebook

by Tammy Karasek @TickledPinkTam

For several years, I’ve read about using a Writer’s Notebook. Intrigued, I’d read all the ideas or suggestions for the use of such notebook I saw. While they all had something as different as the writer themselves, each of those notebooks had one thing in common—they worked for that particular writer in how they set up their own. 

I’d see an idea I liked and would jot it on a sticky note. I accumulated these notes inside of a book I’d selected to use, in case I could be convinced it would, in fact, be a notebook I would want to use. I know I have far too many journals or notebooks I’ve started with a specific plan in mind only to find them sitting pretty on the shelf four months later without a new post during that time. This time, for this notebook, I was determined I wasn’t going to dive in and mess up another book with fifteen pages used. I would let the folks who used them prove to me their value.

First I’d like to offer you some suggestions I found in my searching over a year’s time of checking this possible writing organizational tool out. 

Ideas for Your Writer's Notebook:

• Famous quotes about writing

• Favorite words

• Overused words

• Article ideas

• Blog post ideas

• Lists: books to read, websites to check, favorite writers

• Dreams

• Great quotes caught while eavesdropping at the coffee shop—I mean research

• Quirky things people do while people-watching—I mean research, again

• Items I’ve learned not to do in writing (no passive voice, adjectives-use wisely and sparingly, adverbs-use sparingly, no clichés, watch the slang)

• Book title ideas

• A list of those weasel words (likely, many, somehow, as much as … and more)

• A list of words you use way too many times in every chapter (I just happen to like to use the word just, I just can’t help myself.)

• Publishers to query

• Cool lines you think of that need to find a spot in your writing piece

While this is not all I found, it was enough to ignite my creativity to mold a writer’s notebook into something that would be of great help and value to me as I wrote.

I am an observer. I’ve been told I see things most people don’t see while they look straight into the same area. So, I watch. I listen. As I’ve gathered all of these ideas before pulling a blank book off of my shelf, I waited for the time that the items I should have in my own personal writer’s notebook became clear. Then I created my own personal writer’s notebook that works for me and how I think.

For each of the topics I’ve used, I do leave a page or two at the end of that particular section to add to the information I’ve already entered. In the Leuchtterm1917 lined notebook I use, my first two pages are for an index. This allows me to find the topic I need information from without flipping through the pages. When I add a new section at the end, I add another line in the index. 

I’m still getting the hang of having this notebook but find I return to it more than I thought I would. A couple of the sections already look worn from my constant use of them, which shows me the value of this notebook and that it is set up how it will work for me and my writing. 

What about you? Do you use a writer’s notebook? Do you have other topic ideas that have been useful for you in your writing? If you don’t use one, does the idea intrigue you even just a little?

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The Value of a Writer's Notebook from author @TickledPinkTam on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Tammy Karasek uses humor and wit to bring joy and hope to every aspect in life. Her past, filled with bullying and criticism from family, drives her passion to encourage and inspire others and give them The Reason to smile. She’s gone from down and defeated to living a “Tickled Pink” life as she believes there’s always a giggle wanting to come out! A writer of Romance—with a splash of sass. She’s also The Launch Team Geek helping authors launch their books and also a Virtual Assistant for several best-selling authors. Don't miss her recent book, LAUNCH THAT BOOK, just released in November. 

Her work was also published in a Divine Moments Compilation Book—Cool-inary Moments. She’s also the Social Media Manager for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, Founding President and current Vice-President of ACFW Upstate SC, and Founding President of Word Weavers Upstate SC. She’s a writing team member for The Write Conversation Blog, Novel Academy, MBT Monday Devotions, The Write Editing and more. Connect with Tammy at HTTPS://WWW.TAMMYKARASEK.COM.