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tiny_ninjaOn a whim, I've decided to set up a proper writer's notebook!
I've done this before, with less than great results. I also used a cheap spiral notebook, the kind I got when the school supplies went on clearance, but I'm ready to give it a chance again. In my head, said notebook looks like a hybrid between what I'd tried before, a place to keep writing ideas/planning/etc, crossed with my bullet journal. I almost decided to just add a couple pages to my bullet journal, but that's dedicated to keeping my actual life in order, and I wanted the writing stuff to be separate from that.
Plus, I want something I can carry back and forth to work so I can jot down notes while on break that won't get easily lost. I have notebooks set up for two of my projects (A Hero Lies In You and One New Message), but this would encompass all of my writing together. So I went into the Notebook Hoard.
(As we all know, there are two rules to being a writer. One, you hoard notebooks. Two, you do not write in the notebook hoard. But life is short and I am broke.)
The journal still had the receipt in it - from Borders in Waterford, CT, on June 25, 2011. I don't know why the fuck I was in Waterford in June 2011, but I do know that I was shopping with my mother and she rolled her eyes at my buying another notebook. But it's so pretty, with a bird and a butterfly on the cover, with a coptic binding that will let me lay the book flat as I write in it, which was a requirement for this new journal.
Now to decide what pages to make from the get go! I plan to include:
- an index
- numbered pages
- character name list (for cool names that I hear and want to save for future characters)
- prompt ideas
- writing quotes
- lyrics that will make good inspiration/prompts
- mini outlines/ideas for fics
- writing goals
What other things should I include? Are there pages in your writer's notebooks that work for you? Let's discuss!
I've done this before, with less than great results. I also used a cheap spiral notebook, the kind I got when the school supplies went on clearance, but I'm ready to give it a chance again. In my head, said notebook looks like a hybrid between what I'd tried before, a place to keep writing ideas/planning/etc, crossed with my bullet journal. I almost decided to just add a couple pages to my bullet journal, but that's dedicated to keeping my actual life in order, and I wanted the writing stuff to be separate from that.
Plus, I want something I can carry back and forth to work so I can jot down notes while on break that won't get easily lost. I have notebooks set up for two of my projects (A Hero Lies In You and One New Message), but this would encompass all of my writing together. So I went into the Notebook Hoard.
(As we all know, there are two rules to being a writer. One, you hoard notebooks. Two, you do not write in the notebook hoard. But life is short and I am broke.)
The journal still had the receipt in it - from Borders in Waterford, CT, on June 25, 2011. I don't know why the fuck I was in Waterford in June 2011, but I do know that I was shopping with my mother and she rolled her eyes at my buying another notebook. But it's so pretty, with a bird and a butterfly on the cover, with a coptic binding that will let me lay the book flat as I write in it, which was a requirement for this new journal.
Now to decide what pages to make from the get go! I plan to include:
- an index
- numbered pages
- character name list (for cool names that I hear and want to save for future characters)
- prompt ideas
- writing quotes
- lyrics that will make good inspiration/prompts
- mini outlines/ideas for fics
- writing goals
What other things should I include? Are there pages in your writer's notebooks that work for you? Let's discuss!
no subject
Date: 2020-02-18 02:39 pm (UTC)I know something I do want to make is like, a collection of writing tips and resources or something. Like all those posts you see on tumblr or whatever? I want to eternalize that for my own records in the event tumblr goes poof. Stuff like that and random writing aspirations.
Also in my Pharmercy high school AU file, I jotted down a few questions I wanted to keep in mind with any and all characters I brought into the world. Things like, what are they afraid of losing and describe them in three words, etc. Just general character creation things I keep in mind with, well, everyone :D
no subject
Date: 2020-02-18 06:46 pm (UTC)Man, I have a hard time with everything being digital. Mostly because I don't really keep my phone on me at work (it's in the backroom, and I check it often, but it's not like I can write on it except on break). There's an app for Scrivener but last I looked it was like $20 and I still haven't upgraded to Scrivener 3 on the iMac and I don't know when I actually will, lol.
And yes! You should make links to resources so you always have them! There's just something about having a physical copy that you can work with for me. Digital is easier to change and organize, to an extent, but it's like there's a switch in my brain that just... won't comprehend it. At least I've gotten better about outlining novels digitally!
I like those character creation ideas! I'm going to have to try them out ;)
no subject
Date: 2020-02-18 07:39 pm (UTC)And omg Scrivener 3... I just checked the site and last update on the Windows version was November of last year... talking about how they missed their deadline (yet again) of getting it done before 2020. And there's no release date anymore :| this is my shocked face. I love the program, but wow they are horrible project management.
no subject
Date: 2020-02-18 11:23 pm (UTC)I'm not even surprised. *eye roll* But at the same time, I feel like I just figured out how to use the current version of Scrivener that I have (and I'm sure I'm really only using it to like, 1/3 of its capability) that the idea of updating it and losing where everything is sets off my anxiety. So as long as this version still runs, I'm going to stick with it. :3