I jot on my phone, but that once irked an admittedly up-herself docent who assumed I was playing on my phone. That said, I'm not great at taking notes on the hoof, but glad when I do!
As usual, your suggestions inspired me. I do write a post on facebook/substack every day as a daily diary, but that is for public consumption. I also do notes every day that keeps track of my exercise, word count when writing, and health issues. But today, inspired by you post, I added a sentence describing something unique I noticed on my walk. May become a subject for future post, or not, but glad to have it down so I don't lose the thought.
Even to close the day by considering several random and unique bits... those things you believe will be memorable, but turn up the following day in the form of: "I was supposed to remember that, but what was it...?"
I do keep a paper journal where I scribble notes, jot down observations, draft poems, and write down any words or lines that might pass through my consciousness and strike me as worth saving...I really should keep it by my bedside, because I often find that something random pops in my head right as I'm falling asleep: last night, a title for a poem I've been working came to me! In those cases, I just type it into my Notes app on my phone for the next day. I've learned the hard way that I definitely will NOT remember it the following morning...
Guidance I got from the phenomenal writer Kim Cross: I have an "everyday-carry" mini notepad I keep close by to jot thoughts, observations, etc. Then the next morning I do 3 "morning pages" using those little notes from the day before to fuel the pages. Not every morning is this possible but when it is, the result is magic…
Brenda--thank you for sharing this. I just responded to Steve's thoughts and added notes about this.
This can really be an issue of time for many! I do think that for those who write memoir, a daily recording is significant.
I'm curious though: do you maintain your "morning pages" if you have a current project on-the-go? When I'm working on a novel, for instance, I don't do a lot of journal writing.
I do keep a process journal, though, even the process journal is not a daily, unless I'm struggling with some part of the work.
It sounds like our processes are alot alike. When I was writing a novel in '22-'23, I also kept a process journal. I'll be intrigued to see if mine is much like yours. (Thanks for that link!) The morning pages/EDC mini-notebook is a process I picked up when I took an online class from nonfiction writer Kim Cross (in the early Covid days). It's what works for me when I'm focusing on nonfiction, which I am now that the novel is out on sub. I wouldn't say I do the MP *religiously* but maybe 5 days a week.
Alison, for the first time that I can remember, I'm going to disagree with you!
I'm not a note-taker or -maker, journal-writer or diarist – never have been. Yet I've been a professional full-time writer since 1996 and a prolific hobbyist fiction author for the past three years. In my prior, academic life, I wrote a doctoral thesis in Renaissance German literature.
The idea of having yet another thing I need to do, along with all the others in my increasingly cluttered life (retirement? ha!), fills me with horror.
Now of course I made a few planning notes for each title in my 70+ publication backlist, but unstructured writings on random stuff in my day? No. Never. For the fiction, I love the freedom of making it up as I go along, often a day or so before I upload it to Substack.
I'm writing this not to be awkward, but to make the point that we shouldn't feel guilty about doing whatever we do however we do it. It's always useful to have suggestions and to try other ways, but nobody should ever feel obliged.
Ha! Very good, Steve! I appreciate this. Mostly I appreciate you pointing out a tone of "should"--I'm sorry! The only should is that there never should be a should...
Having read your work, your fictional details are resplendent. Keep doing what you're doing!
And don't hesitate to disagree. Maybe other non-note-takers will weigh in...
Seriously--I'm glad you called me on this. It made me aware that I left out thoughts and clarifications that might have been useful.
Brenda's note about 3 pages of "morning pages" also made me think about this, as it really wasn't my intention--quite the opposite--to speak to such time spent on writing that is not about your immediate projects.
The point I most wanted to make--and it's not clear--is that quick notes can often do the work of lengthy journal-keeping. A succinct few words can capture enough of image/memory. No one else might get that, but for a writer such a note can prompt what they need to take it further at a later date--when a project calls for.
Often, such brief notes have been a starting point for something else. Or they add a note of verisimilitude. For instance, I wish I'd noted the names of our campgrounds... because I have a YA road-trip novel underway, and they could prove to be valuable. That said, I do have photos, and those often conjure what I have in mind here.
I've been working on a piece about the so-called "inciting incident," and then this thought of quick jottings came to me, and I took the detour, and posted. Sometimes I need to slow... slow slow...
Please, whenever your thoughts differ, or you see another side to a thing, do share! It makes for good discussion!
Ah, gotcha, yes, I can relate to that. I take a lot of photos, and often visit places specifically for background research for my stories, but there's always that one thing that I didn't think to check ...
I still jot things on pieces of paper and in a note book. Like you, just enough to jog the memory. But, I must admit I sometimes have no idea what I meant when I look back at the note!! I do keep a travel journal that comes in handy when I'm writing about a location especially.
Oh my--true! We need to write enough to know. Yes, that happens. Your travel journal sounds good, and you write well about locations--Amanda goes places!
I found it was time well-spent to review those at times, and re-collect the notes that stood out... a task that would often go unfinished when I found something that kicked off a story!
I jot on my phone, but that once irked an admittedly up-herself docent who assumed I was playing on my phone. That said, I'm not great at taking notes on the hoof, but glad when I do!
"Glad when you do." Always. Which leaves me wondering why I don't do it more regularly. Until it's a solid habit. I do do it. Just not enough.
As usual, your suggestions inspired me. I do write a post on facebook/substack every day as a daily diary, but that is for public consumption. I also do notes every day that keeps track of my exercise, word count when writing, and health issues. But today, inspired by you post, I added a sentence describing something unique I noticed on my walk. May become a subject for future post, or not, but glad to have it down so I don't lose the thought.
Even to close the day by considering several random and unique bits... those things you believe will be memorable, but turn up the following day in the form of: "I was supposed to remember that, but what was it...?"
I do keep a paper journal where I scribble notes, jot down observations, draft poems, and write down any words or lines that might pass through my consciousness and strike me as worth saving...I really should keep it by my bedside, because I often find that something random pops in my head right as I'm falling asleep: last night, a title for a poem I've been working came to me! In those cases, I just type it into my Notes app on my phone for the next day. I've learned the hard way that I definitely will NOT remember it the following morning...
A separate one, left bedside, for only that purpose lets that happen. I find, once I move it, it wanders off. All on its own, of course...
Guidance I got from the phenomenal writer Kim Cross: I have an "everyday-carry" mini notepad I keep close by to jot thoughts, observations, etc. Then the next morning I do 3 "morning pages" using those little notes from the day before to fuel the pages. Not every morning is this possible but when it is, the result is magic…
IOW: love your idea of the "do-able" journal.
Brenda--thank you for sharing this. I just responded to Steve's thoughts and added notes about this.
This can really be an issue of time for many! I do think that for those who write memoir, a daily recording is significant.
I'm curious though: do you maintain your "morning pages" if you have a current project on-the-go? When I'm working on a novel, for instance, I don't do a lot of journal writing.
I do keep a process journal, though, even the process journal is not a daily, unless I'm struggling with some part of the work.
You might want to check out this post about that: https://unschoolforwriters.substack.com/p/growing-with-a-process-journal-foundational
Cheers--
It sounds like our processes are alot alike. When I was writing a novel in '22-'23, I also kept a process journal. I'll be intrigued to see if mine is much like yours. (Thanks for that link!) The morning pages/EDC mini-notebook is a process I picked up when I took an online class from nonfiction writer Kim Cross (in the early Covid days). It's what works for me when I'm focusing on nonfiction, which I am now that the novel is out on sub. I wouldn't say I do the MP *religiously* but maybe 5 days a week.
fiction = process journal
nonfiction/memoir = MP
Wishing you the best with that novel out making the rounds...! May it find a good home.
Alison, for the first time that I can remember, I'm going to disagree with you!
I'm not a note-taker or -maker, journal-writer or diarist – never have been. Yet I've been a professional full-time writer since 1996 and a prolific hobbyist fiction author for the past three years. In my prior, academic life, I wrote a doctoral thesis in Renaissance German literature.
The idea of having yet another thing I need to do, along with all the others in my increasingly cluttered life (retirement? ha!), fills me with horror.
Now of course I made a few planning notes for each title in my 70+ publication backlist, but unstructured writings on random stuff in my day? No. Never. For the fiction, I love the freedom of making it up as I go along, often a day or so before I upload it to Substack.
I'm writing this not to be awkward, but to make the point that we shouldn't feel guilty about doing whatever we do however we do it. It's always useful to have suggestions and to try other ways, but nobody should ever feel obliged.
Ha! Very good, Steve! I appreciate this. Mostly I appreciate you pointing out a tone of "should"--I'm sorry! The only should is that there never should be a should...
Having read your work, your fictional details are resplendent. Keep doing what you're doing!
And don't hesitate to disagree. Maybe other non-note-takers will weigh in...
Thanks for responding so graciously, Alison. And you have absolutely nothing to apologise about – of course!
Seriously--I'm glad you called me on this. It made me aware that I left out thoughts and clarifications that might have been useful.
Brenda's note about 3 pages of "morning pages" also made me think about this, as it really wasn't my intention--quite the opposite--to speak to such time spent on writing that is not about your immediate projects.
The point I most wanted to make--and it's not clear--is that quick notes can often do the work of lengthy journal-keeping. A succinct few words can capture enough of image/memory. No one else might get that, but for a writer such a note can prompt what they need to take it further at a later date--when a project calls for.
Often, such brief notes have been a starting point for something else. Or they add a note of verisimilitude. For instance, I wish I'd noted the names of our campgrounds... because I have a YA road-trip novel underway, and they could prove to be valuable. That said, I do have photos, and those often conjure what I have in mind here.
I've been working on a piece about the so-called "inciting incident," and then this thought of quick jottings came to me, and I took the detour, and posted. Sometimes I need to slow... slow slow...
Please, whenever your thoughts differ, or you see another side to a thing, do share! It makes for good discussion!
Ah, gotcha, yes, I can relate to that. I take a lot of photos, and often visit places specifically for background research for my stories, but there's always that one thing that I didn't think to check ...
We could write pages... and there'll be that.
I still jot things on pieces of paper and in a note book. Like you, just enough to jog the memory. But, I must admit I sometimes have no idea what I meant when I look back at the note!! I do keep a travel journal that comes in handy when I'm writing about a location especially.
Oh my--true! We need to write enough to know. Yes, that happens. Your travel journal sounds good, and you write well about locations--Amanda goes places!
Yes! I do this on my notes app and keep a little notebook in my purse and backpack.
Good to have a few close by...
I keep notes in an old notebook, but not as well as I should
I found it was time well-spent to review those at times, and re-collect the notes that stood out... a task that would often go unfinished when I found something that kicked off a story!
I have sometimes reviewed my old notes, I agree, it can be very useful