Though I often compose on the computer, like I’m doing now, I never let go of my love of the pen or pencil to paper writing experiences. The blank page awaits with possibility. I can think through things, plan, complain, dream, sketch, take action. 

No AI interpretations or intrusions.

A space for creation. 

My writing is not tidy; my messy scribbling has little aesthetic value, but I value the act of writing. And I can, at least, read what I scribe. It took me a long time to accept that it was okay to not have perfect writing for notebooks. Honestly. I’m glad I got over that ridiculous hurdle.   

Over the years, I’ve tried various types of notebooks. Fancy lined page affairs, calendars with dates, without dates, cheap school spiral notebooks, artist sketchbooks . . . none of them felt right. 

After significant analysis of what I did and didn’t like, I finally found a system that works for me. 

First, I found that size matters. For me, an approx. 5 by 8 inch is ideal. The pages are large enough to write it, but it’s not too big. I don’t feel intimidated by a vast blank page.

My primary notebook is a Leuchtturm 1917 hardcover with the dotted pages. Yes, Leuchtturm is a pricey brand, but the thick paper is so satisfying to write on. I also like the ribbon markers.  The dotted page is nice for writing out weekly plans with a block system. I plan my week on the right page, and the left page is used for everything else: Notes, books to read, chores to do, random sketches, and the like. I also brainstorm scenes when I’m stuck. There is something about the act of real writing that helps. 

I have a slightly smaller, soft cover Leuchtturm notebook as a primary story bible for my current WIP, which I hope might become a series. I have character lists, maps, scene descriptions, an outline (which changes) and the like. I like having a designated notebook for each of my significant writing projects. 

My third notebook is a Denik journal with lovely floral art by Katarzyna Stróźyńska-Gotoj. A gift from a SCBWI retreat. This journal is used primarily for word play and poem drafts. Often as a warm-up, I go through Virginia Tufte’s Artful Sentences: Syntax as Style and create interesting sentences that may or may not have to do with a longer writing project. The goal is to practice playing with words. Here are some recent examples:

The astonishing voice of the traveler told of the crisp, salty edges of a starchy tuber, the whirr and beeps of a breathing machine, and an unusual bird made of metal with a voice so loud and low, you could feel it in your heart when it flew over. 

I thought of him as a 1,000-piece jigsaw of a blue seascape under a blue sky; a word game with only three tries (all impossible); an obstacle course with only obstacles with no clear way out. 

Late at night, under the glow of the blood moon, languidly, secretly, in a silk gown and upswept hair, Rosemary Rogers kissed a movie star.

What do I write with? My favorite pencil, hands down, is a Blackwing Pearl. I cannot think of anything more satisfying writerly-wise than the feel of this pencil against my notebook paper. 

I haven’t yet found the pen. I thought it might be the Pentel Energel needle tip, but the last batch I purchased keeps breaking. Pen pieces and little springs littering my desk make me think something happened beyond my firm grip. I need to find a pen that will stand up better. A pen that writes smoothly on the paper, doesn’t smudge, and feels good in my hand. 

So, there you have it. I do love my notebooks and writing.

And on that note, I’m opening a notebook to write.