A Brand New Journal...

I walked to the store yesterday with one thing in mind to buy. A journal. According to A Writer's Workbook (p.17), "Every day, rain or shine, good or bad—preferably raining and bad—you should sit down to your JOURNAL." I searched the shelves for the one journal that would keep me coming back to it day after day. There were plenty of pretty ones, but I wasn't looking for a pretty one. I wanted something practical. One that was going to go on a journey with me for however many days it takes to fill it. It wasn't until I ventured into the art section of the store that I discovered that I wasn't actually looking for a journal, but instead I was looking for a sketchbook.

In the past, I've had plenty of journals. I'd buy one, mess up the first few pages, and then somehow, somewhere, it gets lost, and I lose the motivation to continue writing in it. So, when I picked up a sketchbook, a thought occurred to me. All of the journals I was looking at had beautiful pages, dotted lines versus straight lines, stickers, or even a designated place to write the date. The last time I did any work in a book was in a sketchbook. I wasn't confined to a structure. The blank pages were my freedom. When I realized I was looking for a sketchbook instead of a journal, I felt liberated. Apart from the weight of the pages and how many there were, I focused my attention on my preferred colour and then made my purchase.

I'm committed now, I thought. When I got home, I opened the sketchbook and stared at it. Not a single word made it to the page, but a plethora of words filled my head.

Admittedly, I had doubts. Did I make a mistake? It's just a sketchbook. I can always just draw in it. It wasn't until I thought about drawing in it that I mentally slapped myself on the side of the head.

Do you ever just do that? Slap yourself mentally?

"Wake up!" You tell yourself. Or, "That's a silly idea!"

Anyway, I set the sketchbook aside. Maybe I just needed to let it rest like when you finish cooking chicken. Let those meaty juices settle in. Only for my sketchbook, it was to let those creative ideas ruminate.

Before buying the sketchbook, my main fear was being able to make the commitment to write every day. Still, I went out and bought one. I even went out and got a cute new pen. We are at our best with tools we enjoy using, right? The funny thing is, I judged the journals at the store as ones that would very easily catch dust on my shelf, but this sketchbook could just as easily catch dust too. What makes it different? It's blank pages? The feel of the cover? The things I decide to decorate it with?

After deciding that this sketchbook is going to be the start of building a stronger writing habit, I realized that I needed to find ways to dress it up. My little ones got me stickers awhile ago, and I always said that I'd use them in my sketchbook. It's motivation enough to mess up the "Title" page, and as I continue writing, I can continue to decorate the pages with even more stickers. I might've awakened the sticker beast within.

Today, after sending the little ones off to school, I opened A Writer's Workbook again and read a few pages. I think it helps with my current creative output to be inspired by a little writing exercise. Then, I opened my sketchbook and started writing. I didn't give fear a chance to dissuade me from my pursuit of writing. I quieted all the voices inside my head and fueled up on coffee. I set up a focus app for thirty minutes and let the ink of my pen fill the pages of my sketchbook.

Let's see how long I can make this feat last...

Surprisingly, the first writing session was easy, but then again, I've never struggled with the first page. My problem has always been with finishing. I don't know if it's because I get distracted or if I lose interest. I've never had a problem with coming up with ideas, and I do struggle with consistency. Look at this blog for example. There's inconsistent uploading written all over it.

-sheepishly grins-

I'm hoping with time I'll get better at writing every day. I'm hoping that the flow of ideas will be more consistent instead of sporadic because creativity is like a muscle. You have to keep working out to get stronger.

Some people find the first page daunting, but I've messed up so many first pages it's no longer intimidating. My challenge is finishing.

I haven't read through the entire book of A Writer's Workbook yet, but I will say this. It's inspiring me to be a better writer. I enjoy the little writing exercises, and I think I might actually attempt a few of them for this blog. One in particular is about reviews. If you know me from my social media, then you'd know I love watching movies/TV shows, playing video games, and reading books. I have a lot to say about the things I like or don't!

That about does it for this week. Hopefully next week there will be more to report! Over and out.