Friday, January 22, 2016

The Writing Journal, and Why You Should Have One!:D

Hi everyone!
I am here to talk to you about something that I think every writer should have...the writing journal! I know that I have seen some other bloggers talk about this once in a while, but I thought I would share with you the perks of having a writing journal, and also what you can put into it.:D
This is my writing journal! You might want to go out to a store and buy a special notebook especially for this specific subject, and maybe get some nice pens and colored markers while you are out, too, just for that extra something.:D 
The writing journal is amazing for so many reasons, but I just love having a private book for your writerly needs, where you can put everything in and not feel weird. It's your writing place that only you get to read.:)
Okay, onto what you can use your journal for-
You can use it for cataloging all of the names you like, so you will never run out of names for your characters!:) 
Boys, too!;) 
I also have a list of substitute words for the word "said" in mine, because I know I can be sitting at the computer trying to think of a good word for how someone said something for forever.;) 
You can write down all of your story ideas and current works in progresses. I like to put down on paper all of my ideas so that when I am lacking inspiration or direction with my story, I can come back to it and figure out what should happen next.:)
It also really helps when you are first getting a story idea and you can write everything that is popping up in your head as quickly as it's coming to you.:)
That is also why I want to say this to the people that are thinking, well I just use the Notes app on my phone-
Phones are not as good as a journal!
Here's why:
Phones can't keep up with all of your onslaughts of creative ideas that you get for a story. With all of the typing errors, auto-correct completely changing the words you write, and etc., it's just not as good as when you are actually writing it yourself.
Phones don't give you the same creative feeling you get when you have a journal solely for keeping your ideas.
Books are just better for brainstorming, in my opnion.;D 
This is sort of apart of the story ideas topic, but more for your characters.;)
You can write down all of your character's personality, character flaws, looks, body language, secrets, fears, anything and everything you need to know about your character.:) And not only for actual characters you are now writing, but you can put in ideas for future characters. Like if you see a person at the mall and you really like their coloring, or nose, or hair texture and want that for a character, you can write it down so you can remember!:) 
And my last idea, writing down writing prompts that you come up with! Like this one I thought of when it happened to me! I was reading a library book when a piece of paper came out and I grabbed it and read it, I mean, how could you not? LOL! It was a printed out email from some person asking about this special summer class.;) Although what the paper said wasn't exactly inspiring, it was really interesting and I immediately got the idea of what else the paper could have said.:) So I wrote this down for a future short story, story, or book.:D
***
I hope you liked this post and if you make a writing journal, I would love to see how you like it.:)
 
 I made a Star Wars tutorial a little bit ago, but I am not sure how good it is. I haven't ever been the best at teaching or instructing people to draw because I am kind of all over the place and not at all orderly, but, that being said, I feel better knowing everyone knows that now.;) I am sure that I will get better the more I do tutorials and figure out how to make it easier for others.:D
-Emma-
 


29 comments:

  1. I liked this post! Very helpful. I personally prefer using my iPad for my notebook. I would use a paper one, but I would lose it in a most unfortunate way (e.g. Losing it at Walmart) I also tend to have my iPad on hand. But I do like pen and paper. You're right! Writing on paper just feels like your imagination is working at top speed. ;)

    P.s. I nominated you for an award. I hope you enjoy!
    http://thesecretlifeofanirishdancer.blogspot.com/2016/01/the-unknown-bloggers-award.html

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    1. Thanks, Nicole!:) Well, that's great that using an iPad works for you!:D Aw, thanks for nominating me!:)
      -Emma-

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  2. Wow, I LOVE this idea! Now to go find a notebook.... XD

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    1. Thanks! LOL! I bet you'd be a good journal keeper!;)
      -Emma-

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    2. Lol! I'm actually terrible at keeping a "regular" journal.... *remembers that it's been a year since I wrote in my journal* Hehe.... XD

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    3. Wow, you replied to that so quickly!XD I understand not being able to keep up with normal journaling about my life, I actually lost my real journal.;) LOL! But keeping a writing journal is a lot more fun!:)
      -Emma-

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    4. Lol, yep! :D
      Same here! I have no idea where mine is. XD I bet it is fun! I'm still trying to find a pretty notebook to use. :)

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    5. I've been wondering where it is!;P Oh yeah, hopefully you'll find a good notebook soon!:D
      -Emma-

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    6. LOL! :P Thanks! I hope so too!
      (OH! Have you seen that Shannon Messenger released the title for Keeper #5???!!?!)

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    7. You're welcome! YES!!! But I can't remember what the Lodestar is....it's annoying me so much!!! What is it again?;P
      -Emma-

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    8. I don't know either!
      Argh.... I've been re-reading all the books for the umpteenth time trying to figure it out! :O
      Lodestar is such an AWESOME name!

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    9. It's so annoying because I KNOW I've heard it before! When you come across it, please tell me! LOL!;D
      -Emma-

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    10. LOL! I'll be sure to let you know! XD

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    11. EMMA! I FOUND IT!!!! :D :D Go to page 551 in Neverseen! :D

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    12. YAYYYY!!! Thank you!! Ooh!!! The Lodestar Initiative! I wonder what that is? It must be something evil!!XD Oh gosh, now I wanna reread the book!;P
      -Emma-

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    13. No problem! YES! I am DYING to figure it out! I agree, it sounds very sinister.... XD
      I've literally spent my weekend re-reading all of the Keeper books. They're all so amazing! :D

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    14. Oh gosh. Now I am re-reading from 551 on! LOL! I hate Keefe's mom. That sounds so fun to have a weekend of Keeper!;)
      -Emma-

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    15. LOL! I did that too! XD
      Same here. :O
      It was fun!

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    16. Can you imagine how awesome, amazing, spectacular, fantastic the cover for Lodestar is going to be? I can't wait to see which characters are going to be on it! *prays for Fitz* XD Who do you want to be on it?
      -Emma-

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    17. YES! I CAN NOT WAIT! O_o I'm sure it's going to be awesome!
      LOL! Hmm.... Well, I want to see a baby alicorn AND all of the characters on the cover. XD

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    18. Karin Paprocki doesn't know HOW to create a bad cover! LOL! Ooh! A baby alicorn would be amazing!;D
      -Emma-

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    19. LOl, yep! I know! It's going to be SO cute! O_o

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  3. YES! AWESOME! I LOVVVE Writing JOURNALS! I Have this one notebook.......Its awesome, but i need a new one....... :)

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  4. I love this post! I keep a "secret writer's journal" and write down anything I just want to transfer from my brain to paper. I also like to keep a list of cool vocabulary words when I need some extra zing in a description.
    ~Kathryn

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  5. I'm doing a writing showcase on my blog I thought you would be interested in! http://ontheothersideofrealitynew.blogspot.com/2016/01/announcing-7-day-writing-showcase.html

    - Ellie

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