No, Dear Reader, I haven't lost it. Know why? Because I jot it down! Yes, today we'll focus on the art of taking and keeping notes. Sounds boring? Not in an author's life.
Just about every author I know keeps a little notebook somewhere handy wherever s/he goes. I certainly do and pull it out of my handbag or pocket more than I thought I would.
It's funny about nuggets of notions or tiny smoke swirls wafting around one's mind. Many times they deliver flashes of clarity, and an idea is born. As simple and complex as that.
When such a phenomenon occurs, you have to be ready to write, or the idea or nugget can evaporate back into the smoke and be gone forever.
An illustration you ask? Okay, here's one: As I splashed along through the surf on Clearwater Beach early one morning, my thoughts were of a pelican. It was the pelican I was using in the book I was writing, One Pelican at a Time.
I knew the pelican had to be different, recognizable from all others, because Bella and Britt, the heroines in the story, needed to know him immediately on sight. Out of the smoke swirl came a pelican with a crooked beak. An aha moment. It had to be jotted down or could be gone forever.
Now granted, that's a simple illustration, but one nonetheless. So many ideas come to an author, s/he has to be ready at a pen's click to put it to paper (or iPad, iPhone, etc.).
Jotting had become a way of life for me in a way I never thought it would. Now that it's a part of my DNA, well, it's part of my DNA!
Try jotting. You'll find it organizational at worst and inspirational at best!
Just about every author I know keeps a little notebook somewhere handy wherever s/he goes. I certainly do and pull it out of my handbag or pocket more than I thought I would.It's funny about nuggets of notions or tiny smoke swirls wafting around one's mind. Many times they deliver flashes of clarity, and an idea is born. As simple and complex as that.
When such a phenomenon occurs, you have to be ready to write, or the idea or nugget can evaporate back into the smoke and be gone forever.
An illustration you ask? Okay, here's one: As I splashed along through the surf on Clearwater Beach early one morning, my thoughts were of a pelican. It was the pelican I was using in the book I was writing, One Pelican at a Time. I knew the pelican had to be different, recognizable from all others, because Bella and Britt, the heroines in the story, needed to know him immediately on sight. Out of the smoke swirl came a pelican with a crooked beak. An aha moment. It had to be jotted down or could be gone forever.
Now granted, that's a simple illustration, but one nonetheless. So many ideas come to an author, s/he has to be ready at a pen's click to put it to paper (or iPad, iPhone, etc.).
Jotting had become a way of life for me in a way I never thought it would. Now that it's a part of my DNA, well, it's part of my DNA!Try jotting. You'll find it organizational at worst and inspirational at best!
I started doing this when I finally got tired of losing ideas and thoughts all the time. My problem now is that my ideas/thoughts come fast and many in number and my hand can't keep up with my mind. LOL Thanks for stopping by and following me! I'm following you now too!
ReplyDeleteFor me, jotting the idea down somehow opens my mind to better develop it. Maybe because if I don't jot it down, I'm so busy making sure I don't forget it that it doesn't get refined, but once I know it's in my handy-dandy notebook, I can then designate brain power toward fleshing out the idea.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments. Thanks, Empty Nester, for following!
ReplyDeleteAll my life I have depended on my memory. It is time for learning to jot things down.
ReplyDeleteI have numerous notebooks on hand at all times for jotting ideas. Thanks for stopping by from A to Z! I'm behind from getting sick and the holiday, but will catch up soon!
ReplyDeletehttp://andiskidsbooks.blogspot.com
I have several pads and notebooks on my desk since I jot things down. If I have nothing on hand, I type notes into my phone. Sometimes I have a great idea, don't write it down, and forget about it completely. Can't have that happen.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I am forever losing fragments, despite having notepads all over the place. Good to meet you.
ReplyDeleteI'm forever losing those ideas I don't write down in time. Great post, and good to meet you.
ReplyDeleteI'm a jotter, too. I jot down everything. Brainstorming, poems, quotes, passages and storylines that pop into my head. I have a notebook with me always.
ReplyDeleteI HATE when my thoughts disappear. Wonder where they go? One day, on the other side, maybe we'll see a creative energy field around the earth called the Ideaosphere. ;) At least that's my best guess where they go. Thanks for your comment on my blog today. I'm now a new follower.
ReplyDeleteI'm always jotting down one idea or another. Thanks for sharing your process.
ReplyDeleteI have to remember to put a little notebook in my car and in my purse. Then I can stop writing on receipts! Thanks for popping by my blog!
ReplyDeleteI jot things down, too. It's a good habit (or should I say "tool" for the writer). A few times I haven't made my note complete enough; I must remember to jot down enough to make it worthwhile.
ReplyDeleteI've carried around notebooks since I was a teenager. Anytime a line of dialogue or an idea came to me, I'd write it down. I've saved all those notebooks, and it's fun to go through them for fresh ideas.
ReplyDeleteMy current notebook is not the most practical. It's a hard backed, fancy journal twice the size of my hand. Not a good fit for the purse, but I manage.
Thanks for visiting my blog, Nancy.
I take tons of notes too. The iPhone note function is well used on my phone. Thanks for stopping by on J-day. I look forward to your future posts. During the challenge, I haven't been a frequent visitor since I'm doing lots of blog visit. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely the same way. I jot every story idea down so I won't forget them later. It's really helpful. Great post and happy A-Z blogging!
ReplyDeleteI'm a jotter, too. Always keep something to write with by my bed for midnight inspiration. My phone has a note taking app which I use as well. You never know when the good ideas will strike.
ReplyDeleteI need to get more than one notebook since I'm always misplacing them. Luckily, I usually have a few receipts in my purse to write on.
ReplyDeleteInspiration from nature--I love it! I jotted a lot when I first started writing but don't do that as much anymore, hmm. It's a great idea though! I guess I do take some notes on my phone on occasion.
ReplyDelete