Thursday, 23 September 2010

It's my journal and I'll write if I want to...


Okay so a while back I posted over at the Writing Playground about my terrible notebook habit - I used to keep one for every book (plus future books) plus another for ideas, another for journalling etc etc. And I'd never have the right on on me at the right time etc etc and end up not remembering in which of the 20 darn things I had that fab bit of dialogue in... (and would even uselessly search through the stack of new ones in the drawer) so I switched to just the one journal for everything. Works a treat - I have it on me almost all the time and even though I switch from personal journal angst to character exercise to list of possible settings for some random book idea in the same entry, it makes sense to me...
I had about 5 pages of my current journal to go (pink, hardcover) so I went to the shop today and bought a new one. Took ages - had to get the almost-four year olds to make the final decision for me because I was umming so much over colour and size. But I got one (the one in this pic actually. It was that or red. Held onto red for ages as is my fave colour, but not quite the right shade and something about this blue spoke to me).
Of course, I want to write in it right now.
Still have five blank pages in old. Can't waste paper.
New journal beckoning...
... what would you do?

12 comments:

Judy Jarvie said...

A wee bit in both?
Ha ha, you made me laugh. I have a friend who buys a new diary a month. Serious diary OCD.

Lacey Devlin said...

I luuurve stationary and blue's my favorite colours so I'm eyeing off your new one!

Laney4 said...

I would have bought the blue. Hides the smudges/dirt better, and even the curled pages aren't as obvious -- but the red would be nice, I must admit!
I'm still a paper/pen gal, even though I work on the computer all day. I could spend all day at a stationery store just walking up and down aisles....

Jackie Ashenden said...

New journal all the way. Get the kids to draw some pictures in the back of the old. :-)
Me? I used to have a journal. Now I have an iPad...*smug smile* ;-)

Natalie Anderson said...

Jude - that's what I did do in the end - did a creative writing exercise to finish off the old and brainstormed new book in the new. I LOVE getting new ones but must MUST restrict until I have finished the old otherwise it gets messy.

Natalie Anderson said...

Lacey - it's very cute actually. And I'm so glad I got the bigger size now - it sits very nicely on my lap when I"m writing in it. Isn't it sad how much you can adore these things????!!!!

Natalie Anderson said...

Yep Laney - me too. For drafting or writing a story then definitely straight into computer but for brainstorming or trying to work out ideas then it has to be paper. And scribbling little random notes or quote or anything.
I an DANGEROUS around stationery stores. Can spend hours. My kids are developing similar tendencies...

Natalie Anderson said...

Nup Jackie, you'll never sell me - not for brainstorming or trying to work stuff out like I was just saying to Laney. I LOVE my new Macbook and maybe one day I'd look at an iPad but there's something so 'real' about pen in hand filling up blank pages. i like being able to flick back and 'see' all the stuff I'e written in there- flicking thru and all that. I like the sense of completion - you can never 'fill' a computer with thoughts - the memory is too big! Whereas you can fill a whole journal with waffle - and what an accomplishment!
;)

Jackie Ashenden said...

Lol! I know what you mean. Truth to tell, I have a notebook beside the bed. Paper and pen and everything. ;-)

Kerrin said...

love stationary! i have a notebook in my handbag, my kids know it's there so when we are out and they are bored, they want to draw and sadly i have to rip out a page for them!!
Yay for a new one - i think that will be on my list for Xmas!!

Natalie Anderson said...

Ah see Jackie - I don't think they'll be replaced that easily - at least not in our generation :)

Kerrin - you definitely need a new one - BEFORE Christmas preferably :) I know what you mean about the kids - I keep a little pad of paper for them in my bag - because I'm too mean to rip pages out of the journal!!!!

Kat said...

oooh Natalie, you are talking my language!
I am a notebook addict and proud of it, was only thinking today that I am inching closer to the end of the current one and need to start looking for a replacement.
Have a weakness for flowers - the one i'm using now is being linen with 60's flower power patterns on and I lurve it.
What to have next? Don't know yet, but i'll sure have fun shopping for it. I think I might even like buying notebooks as much as I like buying shoes!

Jo
x