On Keeping a Notebook in the Digital Age
Like the title says, this is another article describing the virtues of keeping a notebook!
This talks about needing a place to dump all the ideas that come into your head. This is why I love notebooks: I've got volume after volume of binders full of journal entries, scenes from stories, sketches, research notes, etc. I need a place to keep all this information, whatever form it takes.
The main way my method differs from the author's (the author of this article) is that my notebooks are pretty organized. Well, maybe not that organized, but they're very structured. The writer of the article talks about using small notebooks to keep random, very disorganized notes. Of course the notebooks are already bound, whereas I use loose paper I keep in binders or folders. I've found that I just don't feel comfortable with the kind of notebooks described in this article. I like the freedom of using whatever paper I want, of being able to organize and reorganize, of having my journal entries and prose and sketches all separate, of being able to add things I've typed on the computer. For some, the systematic way I keep my notebooks might discourage using them. For me, personally, it creates a "comfort zone" (usually a bad thing, I know), and it's actually LESS intimidating.
That being said, having a "dumping ground" is important. Sometimes I have ideas that I write on scratch paper because I don't know where in my notebook to put them. The "Spark File" the article talks about made me think: should I have notebook pages that are full of random ideas that I accumulate over a period of time, like a week? It's something to consider. I should try it. :)
Thursday, January 26, 2017
New Author Alert!
I said before that I've added a few cozy mysteries to my reading list, and while googling I found this great blog by an upcoming writer! Sadly, we have to wait about a year for her book to come out, but it looks like it'll be worth the wait! There's two dogs on the cover!!!! That's how you know the book has promise! :DDDD
Oh, I should probably mention the name. XD Valerie M Burns, aka VM Burns. The book is "The Plot is Murder" and it's the first in a series.
Here's some links; first is her blog, the second is the book's page on the publisher's website. Looks like it's due out this November.
www.vmburns.com
www.kensingtonbooks.com
Hope she doesn't mind if I post the cover of her book here:
Sadly, I couldn't find her on goodreads yet. I'm sure it's only a matter of time!
Oh, I should probably mention the name. XD Valerie M Burns, aka VM Burns. The book is "The Plot is Murder" and it's the first in a series.
Here's some links; first is her blog, the second is the book's page on the publisher's website. Looks like it's due out this November.
www.vmburns.com
www.kensingtonbooks.com
Hope she doesn't mind if I post the cover of her book here:
Sadly, I couldn't find her on goodreads yet. I'm sure it's only a matter of time!
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
Looking For Diverse Books!
So I'm looking for some book recommendations!
I want to diversify my reading list, so I'm hoping to find some non-white authors. :) Specifically I'm looking for paranormal/horror and cozy mystery books. Yeah, I'm getting into cozy mysteries. XD I, well, haven't actually read any yet, but I've got a few on my reading list and I'm trying to decide which one to start with...
But, anyway, yeah, looking for authors of color writing in the paranormal/horror and cozy mystery genres! Please let me know if you have any recommendations. In the meantime I'll keep hitting up google!
I want to diversify my reading list, so I'm hoping to find some non-white authors. :) Specifically I'm looking for paranormal/horror and cozy mystery books. Yeah, I'm getting into cozy mysteries. XD I, well, haven't actually read any yet, but I've got a few on my reading list and I'm trying to decide which one to start with...
But, anyway, yeah, looking for authors of color writing in the paranormal/horror and cozy mystery genres! Please let me know if you have any recommendations. In the meantime I'll keep hitting up google!
Sunday, January 15, 2017
Am I A Stationery Addict? Part 2!
Found another list! This one is "Things Anyone Who's Slightly Obsessed With Stationery Has Done."
Time to compare.
1. Practised your handwriting before making that first sacred mark in a new notebook.
Nope; that's the joy of working on loose paper!!!
2. Or torn an entire page out when you’ve made a mistake.
Again, this is why I use loose leaf. :3
3. Organised your pens by colour, type of pen, or some other miscellaneous factor.
I do separate my pens by whether or not they're ball point pens, fineliners, or fountain pens.
4. Taken the line width of your ruled paper incredibly seriously.
College ruled ONLY.
5. As well as the size of your pen nibs.
Heck yes!
6. Got overly attached to a particular pen because you’re convinced it’s the one that makes your handwriting look the nicest.
I just got fountain pens, so YUP.
7. Told yourself you couldn’t start a new task until you’d bought a notebook for it first.
I like putting everything in the same notebook. :) Loose leaf notebook, of course.
8. Lied and said you didn’t have a pen because you didn’t want someone to take it.
I don't mind if people borrow my pens as long as they treat them well and give them back!
9. Or kept a separate stash of pens for borrowing.
See above.
10. And convinced yourself that your pen just didn’t write the same afterwards if you actually had the heart to lend it out in the first place.
Depends on the type of pen... I suppose I might have this problem with the more delicate fineliners. I confess I would be hesitant to loan those out.
11. Secretly harboured an intense jealousy of anyone with nicer handwriting than you.
YEEEEEEEES.
12. Used the new year as an excuse to buy yet another planner.
I like making my own planners via the Bullet Journal system.
13. And then bought several more during the year because you couldn’t bear to look at all the empty pages you forgot to fill out for a few weeks.
Again, bullet journals. :3
14. Winced when someone asked to borrow a piece of paper because it means ripping a page from your precious notepad.
Don't have this problem with looseleaf!
15. Sharpened a pencil for no reason but to witness the beauty of a perfect shaving curl.
Eh... I hate sharpening pencils. I much prefer my mechanical one.
16. And so that all of your pencils look like this (picture of perfectly sharpened pencil)
Again, I prefer mechanical pencils, and I only write with pens. However for drawing I will use art pencils sometimes.
17. Been excited by the prospect of starting a new job or term at school because it means having to go stationery shopping.
I'm always excited when I get to buy new binders and paper for them!
18. Bought a pen that you knew was way too expensive and you’d probably never use because you “needed it”.
Yup. XD
19. Secretly enjoyed the smell of Sharpies.
Eh... I'm afraid of what will happen if I smell them...
20. And felt both calmed and slightly aroused by the art of calligraphy.
I love calligraphy but i can't do it!
21. Refused to use a beautiful notebook for way too long because you still haven’t found a good enough reason to use it.
Yup. why do you think I use loose leaf notebooks?
22. Slightly judged someone for their taste in stationery.
No, I'm not a judgmental person. We all have unique preferences and that's what's so fun!
23. And finally, convinced yourself that new stationery is the key to organising your life.
In the past, yes, but I didn't actually like the feeling, you know what I mean? That's why I keep everything in the same notebook. It's fun to have multiple volumes of everything creative in your life!
Time to compare.
1. Practised your handwriting before making that first sacred mark in a new notebook.
Nope; that's the joy of working on loose paper!!!
2. Or torn an entire page out when you’ve made a mistake.
Again, this is why I use loose leaf. :3
3. Organised your pens by colour, type of pen, or some other miscellaneous factor.
I do separate my pens by whether or not they're ball point pens, fineliners, or fountain pens.
4. Taken the line width of your ruled paper incredibly seriously.
College ruled ONLY.
5. As well as the size of your pen nibs.
Heck yes!
6. Got overly attached to a particular pen because you’re convinced it’s the one that makes your handwriting look the nicest.
I just got fountain pens, so YUP.
7. Told yourself you couldn’t start a new task until you’d bought a notebook for it first.
I like putting everything in the same notebook. :) Loose leaf notebook, of course.
8. Lied and said you didn’t have a pen because you didn’t want someone to take it.
I don't mind if people borrow my pens as long as they treat them well and give them back!
9. Or kept a separate stash of pens for borrowing.
See above.
10. And convinced yourself that your pen just didn’t write the same afterwards if you actually had the heart to lend it out in the first place.
Depends on the type of pen... I suppose I might have this problem with the more delicate fineliners. I confess I would be hesitant to loan those out.
11. Secretly harboured an intense jealousy of anyone with nicer handwriting than you.
YEEEEEEEES.
12. Used the new year as an excuse to buy yet another planner.
I like making my own planners via the Bullet Journal system.
13. And then bought several more during the year because you couldn’t bear to look at all the empty pages you forgot to fill out for a few weeks.
Again, bullet journals. :3
14. Winced when someone asked to borrow a piece of paper because it means ripping a page from your precious notepad.
Don't have this problem with looseleaf!
15. Sharpened a pencil for no reason but to witness the beauty of a perfect shaving curl.
Eh... I hate sharpening pencils. I much prefer my mechanical one.
16. And so that all of your pencils look like this (picture of perfectly sharpened pencil)
Again, I prefer mechanical pencils, and I only write with pens. However for drawing I will use art pencils sometimes.
17. Been excited by the prospect of starting a new job or term at school because it means having to go stationery shopping.
I'm always excited when I get to buy new binders and paper for them!
18. Bought a pen that you knew was way too expensive and you’d probably never use because you “needed it”.
Yup. XD
19. Secretly enjoyed the smell of Sharpies.
Eh... I'm afraid of what will happen if I smell them...
20. And felt both calmed and slightly aroused by the art of calligraphy.
I love calligraphy but i can't do it!
21. Refused to use a beautiful notebook for way too long because you still haven’t found a good enough reason to use it.
Yup. why do you think I use loose leaf notebooks?
22. Slightly judged someone for their taste in stationery.
No, I'm not a judgmental person. We all have unique preferences and that's what's so fun!
23. And finally, convinced yourself that new stationery is the key to organising your life.
In the past, yes, but I didn't actually like the feeling, you know what I mean? That's why I keep everything in the same notebook. It's fun to have multiple volumes of everything creative in your life!
Monday, January 9, 2017
Overdue Update
Hello, World! Happy New Year
Wow, it's been some time since my last post! I've been very busy trying to get my novel into shape and I haven't had much opportunity to think about blogging. I finished the first draft back in October, as you know, and since then I've been focused on making it better, not to mention longer. I've changed some plot points, added scenes here and there, and of course I've been editing a lot of bad writing.
However, I have been posting to Instagram, and also I got a new tumblr! The navigation section needs some work, and the design is pretty bland, but all the My Blog and Reblog tags should be up to date. Yep, I've separated them for your convenience!
So, that's that. Wish my luck with my editing!!!
Wow, it's been some time since my last post! I've been very busy trying to get my novel into shape and I haven't had much opportunity to think about blogging. I finished the first draft back in October, as you know, and since then I've been focused on making it better, not to mention longer. I've changed some plot points, added scenes here and there, and of course I've been editing a lot of bad writing.
However, I have been posting to Instagram, and also I got a new tumblr! The navigation section needs some work, and the design is pretty bland, but all the My Blog and Reblog tags should be up to date. Yep, I've separated them for your convenience!
So, that's that. Wish my luck with my editing!!!
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