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Compartmentalized Writing Notebook

For as long as I can remember, nearly all the long-hand writing I’ve done has been on a computer. But as much as “word processing” has made writing on-the-fly easier, it’s also one of the things that has kept my writing disorganized and inconsistent. As a result, my novel languishes in the limbo of my imagination, without ever being put down on paper.

Instead of writing, I could clean out my temporary files folder. I could work on a new web design. I could check my email, read the latest blogs, listen to music, watch video, or I could try out some new piece of software. Not to mention the ever-present time-waster known as Spider Solitaire. Everything other than writing screams for my attention. There’s just too much distraction on my computer to get any real writing done. That’s why, about a month ago, I decided to start working on my fiction projects in a real life notebook.

I selected an overpriced notebook from Barnes and Noble, but any old book will do. The one I selected is smaller dimensionally than notebook paper-sized, so it’s more compact, and it has a plastic cover, so it’s a little more durable. But the real reason I decided to go with this particular notebook was because it’s divided up into colored sections.

I have a tendency to work on way too many writing projects at once. At one time I was working on my novel, two short stories, a screenplay, and a stage script simultaneously. Needless to say, I didn’t finish a single one. Because the notebook has a fixed number of sections, I can only work on a limited number of projects at any one time. If I want to work on any more, I have to finish the ones that are already in-progress or buy another overpriced notebook from Barnes and Noble. I’m a cheapskate, and I’m not going to buy another notebook from them unless I have to. Did I mention they are overpriced?

Portability is another benefit of the notebook. It’s lighter and smaller than a laptop, so I can take it with me wherever. It’s also more durable, so I’m not afraid to knock it around. And even though it’s overpriced, I’m not above buying another if this one gets destroyed somehow.

I have one section for each project, with the last section reserved for random thoughts, ideas, and poems. I don’t normally keep a diary or a prayer journal, but it’s always helpful to have a large space that I can take with me reserved for that sort of stuff. It’s also a good source of ideas for any stories I happen to be working on.

So far it’s worked out well. I have one section for each story. It’s helped me separate writing time from everything-else time. I haven’t finished a story yet, but at least all my fiction is in one place. My handwriting is still atrocious, and writing for long spells hurts my hands from lack of practice. Discipline and writing endurance is still something I have to work on, but I’m seeing some improvements in my writing schedule. Plus it makes me feel more organized.