| Reading through a writer's notebook or journal is | | | | quote canstart you off into writing. Make sure you |
| likeopening and discovering pearls, rubies and | | | | write thesequotes in your notebook. |
| diamondsamidst a pile of rubble and discarded things. | | | | ¤ ORDINARY PEOPLE WITH THEIR |
| That little notebook is a powerhouse of ideas for | | | | ONE-LINERS. |
| everywriter: The more you write down bits and pieces | | | | Overheard lines in a conversation can sometimes |
| ofyour thoughts and observations, the more you are | | | | sparkyour creative mind. Write down these one-liners |
| addinginto the well of ideas for future works. | | | | in yournotebook. They can be great story starters. |
| Here are several things you can record in your | | | | ¤ SOMETHING YOU READ. Read good books. |
| notebook,so that when you've run out of ideas to | | | | Keep a fileof memorable lines or quotes. Write down |
| write, you canrefer to your notebook: | | | | quirky billboardads. Scan the papers for one-liners. |
| ¤ YOUR LIFE IN A SHOE BOX. Write what you | | | | These are good ideastimulators. |
| know, feeland experience, right? So jot down snippet | | | | ¤ EMOTIONS. Describe what you feel at any |
| of events inyour life. Write a sentence or a paragraph | | | | given moment. |
| about a funny,embarrassing, happy, or infuriating | | | | If you feel angry right now, write what your anger |
| experience. | | | | feelslike. Describe it. Use vivid words. |
| ¤ INTERESTING PEOPLE. Write down | | | | Writers are similar to store owners. Store owners |
| descriptions ofpeople you meet. How did they react to | | | | stocktheir supplies in their shelves, while we writers |
| certain events? | | | | stockideas between the pages of our little writer's |
| How did their names fit their image? | | | | notebook. |
| ¤ A WORD A DAY. Whenever an interesting | | | | It's endless. It's bottomless. You can reach down |
| word catchesyour attention, write it down. It may have | | | | againand again for inspiration without exhausting your |
| a differentmeaning for you a month or a year from | | | | notebookof reserve. |
| now. If you keepa list of words in your notebook, this | | | | Take a peek in your writer's notebook and you just |
| can serve as storystarters for you. | | | | mightfind something there that could connect your pen |
| ¤ THOSE QUOTABLE QUOTES. A meaningful | | | | to thepaper on your desk. |