Reading through a writer's notebook or journal is like discovering pearls, rubies and diamonds amidst a pile of rubble.
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 a few things you can record in your notebook or journal, so that in case you run out of ideas to write about, you can refer to it:
Your Shoeboxed Life: Write what you know, feel and experience. Jot down snippets of events in your life. Write a sentence or a paragraph about a funny, embarrassing, happy or infuriating experience.
The Interesting People. Scribble descriptions of people you meet every day. How do they react in certain situations? How do 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, these words can serve as story starters for you.
Those Quotable Quotes. A meaningful quote can start you off to writing. Collect quotes you come across that interest you.
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. Descriibe it. Use vivid words.
Writers are similar to store owners. Store owners stock their supplies in their shelves, while you stock ideas between the pages of your little writer's notebook.
You can make your stock endless, bottomless. You can reach down again and again for inspiration without exhausting your notebook of reserve.
So start stocking your writer's notebook today. A week from now, take a peek in it and you just might find something there that could connect your pen to paper.
About The Author
Copyright (c) 2003-2004 Shery Ma Belle Arrieta-Russ
Shery is the author of the book, WEEKLY WRITES: 52 Weeks of Writing Bliss! Grab a copy from amazon.com and get free unlimited access to the amazon.com Exclusive Members Area that features over $250 worth of goodies! amazon.com
home cleaning services Arlington Heights ...Mindmapping is better than linear outlining because authors can use... Read More
When you read a letter from someone, we are immediately... Read More
Whether you're interviewing for a new job, trying to woo... Read More
Choosing the wrong words can have a poor effect on... Read More
Since the headline is the first contact your readers have... Read More
Writer's block! Even columnist Dave Berry has it. He admits... Read More
1) Convince yourself you want to do something else. If... Read More
Hundreds of writing contests tempt screenwriters with the lure of... Read More
You have a great idea for a poem, a story,... Read More
Creating written documents reveals so much about you and your... Read More
This is a tough question for every freelance writer. For... Read More
"The Magic of Layout..."???Okay... "magic" might seem a bit over... Read More
Calling all publishers, editors, journalists and freelance writers. It's time... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?You are plotting the story. You write... Read More
My husband is no poet, so when I offer my... Read More
Freewriting is a release from the prison of rules. It... Read More
Interesting characters that readers care about are the most important... Read More
A writer can never be self indulgent whether writing fiction,... Read More
Productivity begins by recognizing and valuing your brilliance, time, and... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?How we usually begin the preparation stage... Read More
1. PLAY A GAME LIKE SOLITAIRE....for half an hour or... Read More
ACCEPT, EXCEPT Not commonly seen even from unpublished writers, who... Read More
Verb and SubjectIncorrect:"I bet you two had a fine time,"... Read More
Ever wonder what an author's life is like? What that... Read More
When you write for international audiences, mainly directly in English,... Read More
after renovation cleaning Park Ridge ...The hardest part of nonfiction writing is finding a subject... Read More
Wired Online has recently announced its plans to drop capitalization... Read More
Have you ever had a student write to tell you... Read More
No one is born a novel writer. But do you... Read More
I recently set up a website to promote a new... Read More
Op-ed articles, also known as opinion/editorial articles, are a great... Read More
Imagine a three hundred page book was in the author's... Read More
In order to be successful with a newsletter, specialize in... Read More
Chances are, you'll be busy over the next several weeks.... Read More
When you write for international audiences, mainly directly in English,... Read More
All writers should use a plan whether written or reflected.... Read More
Want to write a how-to article but can't come up... Read More
If your articles aren't getting published very often, or you... Read More
In my ten years as an advertiser, I've encountered plenty... Read More
How many of you take the time to really write... Read More
Did you know that your back cover information is, after... Read More
Around eighty percent of nonfiction books today are written by... Read More
A poet isn't born; you must work at crafting your... Read More
Think you can't write a book that will sell? You... Read More
Sure you can write, but can you write crisp, compelling... Read More
I've just come back to work after nine glorious, sun-drenched... Read More
Reading through a writer's notebook or journal is like discovering... Read More
In this article you will find tips on: How to... Read More
Kallu was a tenant of Santosh Kumar Nayak. Santosh Kumar... Read More
Not long ago, I went to an Internet Marketing Seminar.... Read More
Writing |