Why Notebooks are essential (and magical)

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my latest collection

 

I spotted a post the other day by one of my favourite bloggers and instantly knew she was talking about me. I have a thing about notebooks. Notebooks are an essential part of being a writer, and they should be attractive to look at.

This is so important for the magical element of writing, as only good things can be written in such a notebook, and consequently, only brilliance can ever find its way out of one.

The difference between hastily scribbled, barely decipherable notes on scraps of paper and your notebook entries is nothing short of amazing. One important difference is the fact that your notebook entries will at least be readable. I mean, you will be using your very best handwriting in your lovely notebook, won’t you?

I know I do. I simply cannot spoil it with any of my messy scrawl!

Because of the special nature of notebooks, you will write better content in them too. A strange magic occurs when you open an attractive notebook, as it is almost a challenge to produce something special. Something that almost never happens with scraps of paper or post-it notes.

Our book, Lazy Days, about our first family holiday on a boat on the Norfolk Broads, was born in a notebook. Originally called our Captains Log, we wrote down everything that happened and everywhere we went. It was fun but only intended to be a keepsake. Nearly forty years later, we turned it into a book. All of our family loved reading it and remembering our adventure…


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Responses

  1. Robert Avatar

    I too love notebooks. I like writing and being able to see my words later. I have saved my notebooks over the years.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. jenanita01 Avatar

      I love the way a notebook changes ordinary scribble into possible literary gems!

      Like

  2. Widdershins Avatar

    That’s why I have scruffy notebooks everywhere. I’m half asleep, or soaking wet from the shower, or pulled over on the side of the road, and just want to capture that thought before it leaks out. :D

    Liked by 1 person

    1. jenanita01 Avatar

      Which always gives us an excuse to get new notebooks!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Widdershins Avatar

        Heh, heh, heh … well, one can never have enough of them, can one? :D

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Audrey Driscoll Avatar

    I tend to keep the pretty notebooks for Special Notes; hence, they stay pretty much blank. For regular thoughts, writing notes, garden notes, things-to-do lists, etc. I have a bunch of utilitarian notebooks. The trick is not to mix up notes among them, but to have a book for each category. And I have a habit of scribbling on odd bits of paper too, which get stuffed into whichever notebook is relevant (or handy). This “system” works fine until I have to find a specific note scribbled months or years ago.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. jenanita01 Avatar

      No system is foolproof, unfortunately, a fact I am aware of all the bloody time…

      Liked by 1 person

  4. tidalscribe Avatar

    I had forgotten about the book Lazy Days, must have read about it when I first started following your blog, so I’ve just popped over to download it. We had several holidays in Norfolk ( cheaper than the south coast ) in the eighties with the children when they were little – Hoseasons, but on land not in boats, though we did have a couple of boat trips.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. jenanita01 Avatar

      One of our family’s favourite memories…

      Liked by 1 person

  5. ameliejsampsonct@gmail.com Avatar

    I have them all over the house! Love a lovely notebook!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. jenanita01 Avatar

      But do they inspire you?

      Like

      1. ameliejsampsonct@gmail.com Avatar

        They’re more inspiring than a blank page on a computer screen, that’s for sure! Always been a bit of a journal writer, so have lots of holiday memories in notebooks. Great for doodling while the mind wonders.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. jenanita01 Avatar

          wonders or wanders? Same thing really, I suppose…

          Like

  6. Cynthia Harrison Avatar

    I love notebooks too. For all the reasons you do!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. jenanita01 Avatar

      Great minds and all that…

      Like

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