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What's in Your Little Writer's Notebook?
by Shery Ma Belle Arrieta-Russ

Reading through a writer's notebook or journal is like opening and discovering pearls, rubies and diamonds amidst a pile of rubble and discarded things.

That little notebook is a powerhouse of ideas for every writer: The more you write down bits and pieces of your thoughts and observations, the more you are adding into the well of ideas for future works.

Here are several things you can record in your notebook, so that when you've run out of ideas to write, you can refer to your notebook:

Your Life in a Shoebox. Write what you know, feel and experience, right? So jot down snippets of events in your life. Write a sentence or a paragraph about a funny, embarrassing, happy, or infuriating experience.

Interesting People. Write down descriptions of people you meet. How did they react to certain events? How did their names fit their image?

A Word a Day. Whenever an interesting word catches your attention, write it down. It may have a different meaning for you a month or a year from now. If you keep a list of words in your notebook, this can serve as story starters for you.

Those Quotable Quotes. A meaningful quote can start you off into writing. Make sure you write these quotes in your notebook.

Ordinary People with their One-Liners. Overheard lines in a conversation can sometimes spark your creative mind. Write down these one-liners in your notebook. They can be great story starters.

Something You Read. Read good books. Keep a file of memorable lines or quotes. Write down quirky billboard ads. Scan the papers for one-liners. These are good idea stimulators.

Emotions. Describe what you feel at any given moment. If you feel angry right now, write what your anger feels like. Describe it. Use vivid words.

Writers are similar to store owners. Store owners stock their supplies in their shelves, while we writers stock ideas between the pages of our little writer's notebook.

It's endless. It's bottomless. You can reach down again and again for inspiration without exhausting your notebook of reserve.

Take a peek in your writer's notebook and you just might find something there that could connect your pen to the paper on your desk.

Copyright © 2001 Shery Ma Belle Arrieta-Russ

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