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THE WRITERS NOTEBOOK: A POWERHOUSE OF IDEAS
Reading the contents in a writer's notebook or journal is like
opening and discovering a chest full of 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.
In case you run out of ideas to write about, you can always look
within the pages of your writer's notebook or journal.
So here are several things you can record in your notebook:
A SHOEBOXED LIFE 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.
PEOPLE PROFILES Write down descriptions of the people you meet
each day. How do they react in certain situations? How do their
names fit their image?
WORD ESTATE 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, the words can serve as story starters for you.
CANDID QUOTES AND ONE-LINERS Kids say the most unexpected
things, and people say the most interesting, surprising or even
shocking lines when we least expect to hear them say these
lines. 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.
GOOD BOOKS AND QUIRKY ADS 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 AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT 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. Don't skimp on adjectives.
Writers are like store owners: Store owners stock supplies in
their shelves, while we writers stock ideas between the pages of
our notebooks.
It's endless. It's bottomless. You can reach down again and
again for inspiration without exhausting your notebook of
reserve.
So take a peek in your notebook and you just might find
something there that could connect your pen to the paper on your
desk.
About the author:
Shery Ma Belle Arrieta mailto:publisher@ewritersplace.com Shery
is the creator and author of the exciting new series of ebooks
for writers, SEEDS: Ideas for the Everyday (Non-Fiction) Writer.
You can download a FREE sampler at
http://ewritersplace.com/seeds.html. The July SEEDS ebook
contains 82 idea seeds, all based on historical events. Visit
http://www.thepublishedwriter.com/report1002.html.
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