February 3, 2014

Today we're going to focus on keeping a writer's notebook, or a journal (if that word suits you).
We'll talk about uses and forms.
We'll talk about whether or not we'd like to share them (and with whom we'd like to share them).

I feel like keeping a writer's notebook (a place to jot down nuances, oddities, whatever you deem appropriate) keeps us mindful.

What can you include? The answer is anything that you want to include.

I have a notebook where I write down the things my children say. Felix only says mama and dada, but they're in the book. I don't write down everything Anders says; but when he says something particularly funny, interesting, or moving; I pull out the notebook and write. I don't just write though. I look back through the book and smile at the memories we have. The entries are tiny, but they bring me back to a time when Anders was three or two and even more innocent than he is now. Without the notebook the memories would be gone.

My father in law smokes his camel non filters backwards. When I asked him why, he let me know that it was because of Vietnam. If you smoked them backwards, then your officer wouldn't know who the butts belonged to...it burned the "brand" off? No smoking at night because of the glow? Cupping the cigarette with the palm of your hand hid this...right?

Lists...I have a love/hate relationship with them.

The idea is to write in these for three weeks without editing... just write.
You can use your computer, your phone, a little notebook, a larger notebook, or a combination of these.

Where do we write?
Do we have rituals?
Should we select a space?
Should we have rituals?
What kind of rituals will work?

Homework: Come up with a writing exercise to complete. Create an example or "model piece" for us to look at when understanding your prompt (your exercise).
Get yourself a journal and a ritual...