So in my last post, I decided to attempt some poetry and write about why writers write, which is already too much of the word 'write' in one sentence and consequently probably left you in a puff of confusion. --- Unless you actually understood something there, in which case I congratulate you. You have been enlightened with a dose of my nonsensicalness. If you read more of this, maybe you will become nonsensical too. Or at least avoid the nonsensical words I use. (Note: there was too much use of the word 'nonsensical' there.) ((2nd Note: the first note was not taken. Nonsensical is a word that will not go away)).
Alright, I will be serious now. You don't know much about me, and I don't know much about you. So all's well and good, because that's fair.
Okay. Now I will actually be serious. As you may be able to tell from my last post, I love to write. I love to write, as most people do (except that most people don't, but nevertheless) I love to write. I also love to repeat myself. I don't just like writing here---I write constantly. It's a never-ending syndrome that constantly beckons me and occasionally manifests itself as a poetic muddle. Because of that, I write in notebooks. Several of them. Each one for a different subject, and subsequently, written in a different style-----now I realize, this is probably not what you want to do with your life, but in case it is, I thought I'd share, "My Wonderful Notebook Ideas", and if you like them, they can be your wonderful notebooks too.
And so we begin:
1) "A Journal through ______" -- it's a play on the word 'journey'; you write down the daily (or if you're like me, the try-to-be-daily) progressions relating to a certain aspect of your life. (A journey). It could be anything really---for me it's 'A journal through high school'. Evidently, the writing in this is journal-style, but unlike a diary or regular journal, you don't necessarily have to give all the little details of your life, just the ones relevant to your journey -- whatever you decide.
2) A book of advice -- it's a book of advice. Although you may not know it, you as a person have a lot to give that could potentially really help someone. Many people think of a book of advice as being very heavy material "too deep" for them, but you are human and inevitably have depth so why not try? Something I do to try and keep it light is -- pretend to be an old man. Which, of course, influences the writing style, I have to convince the readers I am a funny, friendly, witty, and most importantly: wise, old man. Also, you don't have to call it "a book of advice", my personal edition is referred to very simply as "the smile book" (because it has the word SMILE on the front cover).
3) "The book of Questions & Answers" -- learning is good for you. So next time you have a serious question about something, even if it's something obscure like "What is the meaning of life?", write it down. Research it. Think about what you've learned. Form an opinion if you like. And write it all down. Include diagrams if you want to, make it interesting. -- Another thing, it doesn't have to be a question you need to look up, it can be a question (and subsequent opinion) that rises upon reading the newspaper, or talking with someone. It can be totally opinionated if you want it to be.
4) A book of funny anecdotes -- time is passing. It is common knowledge. We live so many moments that make us laugh, they're so funny EVEN looking back on them. Those moments are what I live off of. (Well that and writing of course). And I write them all down -- mainly because that's what I do, but also because I want to remember them. Memories have a beautiful bittersweet quality about them, and if the humorous anecdotes really are good, they can cheer up you and many of those around you even years after the moment you lived them.
5) "The Songbook" -- music is wonderful. I think it's a writer's dream. People's taste in music is something that interests me and probably you too; "The Songbook" is a book where I write all the names of songs I love and the names of the artists. Each page is dedicated to a song. The title and artist go at the top, and then I write about the song --- why do I like it? How does it make me feel? What do I think it means? Is there an instrument in it I like? Is there a perfect place I'd like the song to play? --- whatever comes to mind really. This notebook is one of my favourites because it really gets at your sentiments in an indirect, metaphorical, obscure and confusing fashion, that I, as a carrier of can't-stop-writing syndrome adore. (Note: I recommend listening to the song while you write about it.)
And with that, I think I shall leave you. I have gone on so long I don't remember how I began. Anyhow, I hope you'll consider notebooking, or at the very least, keep reading these.