Summary

The web content promotes the habit of using a single, everyday notebook for writers to capture thoughts, ideas, and drafts, with a focus on the "Every Day Notebook" created by the author.

Abstract

The article emphasizes the importance of carrying and using a dedicated notebook daily for writers, suggesting that it serves as a repository for thoughts, drafts, and observations. It introduces the concept of the "Every Day Notebook," a customizable notebook designed by the author to cater to a writer's needs, including refillable pages, pockets, and dry erase sections. The author, Shaunta Grimes, shares her personal experience with notebooks and how they have been integral to her writing process. She encourages readers to adopt this habit and offers resources such as a list of favorite writing quotes to inspire them. The article also touches on bullet journaling and provides a link to the author's Every Day Notebooks on Etsy, as well as a recommendation for another favored notebook. The challenge to the reader is to start carrying a notebook and to share their experience on social media, with the promise of more notebook-related ideas and writing challenges to come.

Opinions

The author has strong feelings about the value of using a single notebook consistently.
A writer's notebook is versatile and should be carried at all times to capture various types of information.
The Every Day Notebook, created by the author, is praised for its design and features that cater to a writer's creativity.
The author believes that any notebook can be suitable as long as it resonates with the individual, regardless of its simplicity or fanciness.
There is an emphasis on the durability of written notes over relying on memory alone, quoting Jack London's advice on the matter.
The author admits to a less organized approach to notebook-keeping but values the indexing system for easy reference.
Bullet journaling is appreciated for its structure, though the author acknowledges personal challenges with maintaining its artistic aspects.
The article suggests that the habit of notebook-keeping is beneficial for writers and can be enhanced by downloading a list of inspirational writing quotes provided by the author.

Challenge Yourself to Use an Every Day Notebook

31-Day Ninja Writer Challenge 2019: Day Seven

I have such strong feelings about notebooks. Especially about the idea of using just one notebook every day, all day.

I wrote about it here:

The One Notebook Habit

New Year’s Prep: Post 10

medium.com

It’s similar to the idea of a writer’s notebook — only extra.

Really, a writer’s notebook is just a notebook that belongs to a writer. Simple and non-scary, right? There’s no need to overcomplicate the concept. A writer’s notebook is what you have with you, all the time, to record your thoughts, do some long-hand drafting, work out plot problems, jot down your grocery list — whatever you need.

Today’s challenge is to commit to the habit of using a notebook. Start with just carrying it around. Keep it with you. The urge to write in it will pop up. Don’t resist!

I love this quote:

“Keep a notebook. Travel with it, eat with it, sleep with it. Slap into it every stray thought that flutters up in your brain. Cheap paper is less perishable than gray matter, and lead pencil markings endure longer than memory.”

— Jack London

I’m not overly organized with mine. But I really love it. I basically just thought about what I love most in a notebook — a comfortable size, the ability to refill it, pockets, dry erase pages (because my grocery list isn’t actually something I need to record permanently) and a design that inspired my creativity. Then I created it. We call it the Every Day Notebook.

I also really love this notebook. I’ve used one every year for three years.

I keep a notebook in my purse and write in it. I make notes about observations, like I mentioned yesterday. (That always makes me feel like Harriet the Spy.) I also make notes on new ideas so that they don’t slip away before I can get to them. I write down snippets of dialogue. Sometimes I write on my work-in-progress by hand if I find myself with some time and no computer.

I love bullet journaling, even though I struggle to keep up with the more artistic aspects of it. In my Every Day Notebook, I just start at the front of the notebook and just write through it, without worrying about keeping types of notes together. I number the pages and keep an index on the first page. Easy peasy.

I love our Every Day Notebooks, of course, but seriously any notebook will do. As long as it speaks to you. Get fancy. Or tear out the used pages from one of your kid’s half-used spiral bound notebooks from last school year. Whatever! Just get one and get used to carrying it with you.

In case you need some extra motivation to help you decide to start keeping a daily notebook, I made you a list of my favorite writing quotes. You can download it with this form:

ASSIGNMENT SEVEN:

Start carrying a notebook with you. All the time. If you want to get really ambitious today, actually write in it. Share a picture on Facebook.

Check out our Every Day Notebooks — or just use one you already have.

Download your notebook-keeping quotes.

We’ll have notebook ideas for the rest of the challenge.

Make sure to read and write for ten minutes each today. Think about how that’s starting to build up for for you, and write about it in your notebook.

You can check out all the other posts in this challenge below.

31 Days of Ninja Writing Challenges: 2019

Spend the next month kicking ass!

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Want the rest of the challenge posts in your email inbox?

Shaunta Grimes is a writer and teacher. She is an out-of-place Nevadan living in Northwestern PA with her husband, three superstar kids, two dementia patients, a good friend, Alfred the cat, and a yellow rescue dog named Maybelline Scout. She’s on Twitter @shauntagrimes and is the original Ninja Writer.