You guys NEED to be getting a sketchbook for your writing. I have never felt more free to express what it is I’m trying to write by visually displaying the chaos in my brain.
A writer’s sketchbook is what you can use as a writer to get words onto the page. It’s not a means to write your stories but it does efficiently get ALL of your thoughts circling in your brain somewhere.
Once your ideas are trapped on the page you can go over them with a fine comb brush and pick out the gold.
I have recently begun a writing challenge I created called Tiles of Terror.
Tiles of Terror is where I use a tile from my bathroom to come up with a short story, one tile, and one short story a week.
This is how I am going to actually write my horror stories more.
The first time I used this sketchbook/ notebook was for this project.
Before getting the scribbles onto the page I had no real idea of what direction I was going, after using it ONCE I have seen benefits.
Creating Your Writer’s Sketchbook
It’s easy to get finicky with your book, the paper, and your pens, trust me I know.
That’s all just procrastination.
Focusing on the tools that you are going to create with IS NOT CREATING!
Creating is creating.
So, I want you to find the first notebook you have available.
It doesn’t matter if it’s partially full, rip out the pages.
If you have to just use loose-leaf paper.
You mustn’t spend too much time THINKING because the more you think the less you write.
One thing that you may want to consider is what sort of style you will sketch with.
You could be completely sketched, completely written, or a mix of both.
I find it incredibly powerful to have rough ideas for your story mixed in with loose sketches of the vibes you’re going for.
Benefits and Tips for Using Your Writer’s Sketchbook
Using this method is incredibly empowering.
Knowing that your ideas and sketches are completely your own, they don’t need to ever see the light of day creates a lightness and playfulness that often straight writing lacks.
Something you will find incredibly useful for sketching out your ideas is that your ideas are now out of your head.
They’re there.
On the page.
This means you can come back at any time and relive these ideas, which creates an infinite source of motivation and inspiration.
Why would you not use it for that benefit alone!?
You need to be very careful that this playful sketching and exploration of ideas doesn’t take away from your writing time.
Stephen King said something like you should be CONSTANTLY reading to become a better writer, but your reading should NEVER take away from your writing.
Because writing will make you better at writing.
It really is that simple.
In Conclusion. . .
I really hope I have persuaded you to take up your own writer’s sketchbook.
If you have tried this method out, which I highly recommend you do I would LOVE to see how you’ve set up your own pages.
Thank you ever so much for reading.
Get writing 🙂
If you enjoyed this post check out this one about how and why you should be writing from life;
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