“Always carry a notebook.”

A seemingly simple piece of advice has turned into an absolute lifesaver in the past year of my life. Whether it’s noting down half-thoughts, poems, or lines overheard from strangers, the notebook is a constant and stalwart companion.

Here’s how I use my pocket-sized notebook everywhere:

Poetry & Prose

The world is my muse, so inspiration can strike anywhere. The little notebook allows me to journal prompts for poetry and prose, and copy down inspiring lines I’ve heard from other people.

Freshly Stolen Words

Words fill so much of our lives – they’re in the songs we hum, the jokes we laugh at, the unsent texts, and the stories we carry in our heads. Noting down new words is like capturing little treasures to grow my coffers.

Quotes and Song Lyrics

Whether from another book or a person, quotes are sentences packed with life. I like noting down the ones that stick with me, and some capture exactly what I couldn’t put into words myself (or the ones I can recite to others and sound witty).

As for song lyrics, well – I note down the lines that tug at my chest, make me laugh, or just make me think. Keeping them in my notebook is like carrying a little mixtape of emotion.

Memories

The lilting laugh of that one person I never want to forget, the stupid inside jokes from a trip, and chocolate wrappers – they all become immortalized (or at least for as long as the notebook remains intact and present) in the journal.

People

As someone who writes, observing people and how they think, act, and speak is so helpful when trying to write fiction readers can relate to. I like observing people: the obnoxious rhythm of tapping a pen, the attempt to stifle a laugh from bubbling out, and the horrible, stomach-hurting-laughter kind of jokes. It allows me to breathe a little life into my own characters – and when I write these down, it’s like I’m collecting pieces of this world.

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Maybe it makes me weird to carry around a notebook filled with little sparks and memories, but honestly, this advice makes life a whole lot more interesting. If it intrigues you, give it a try too! You might be surprised at how much you learn just by jotting down the thoughts and sentiments of people around you…

Yours truly,
Divi