Inspiration is not only fickle; it creeps in on silent feet and leaves without saying goodbye. How then are we supposed to grab and use its bounty? Oh yes, writers take notes. At least we mean to. At least some of the time.
Here’s just some of the advice I’ve garnered over the years:
- Keep a 3×5 index card or two on your person at all times. Oh–and something to write with.
- Carry a journal in your pocket or purse. It has to be fancy, though, like a Moleskine, to make you feel like a serious writer. Like Hemingway, who used Moleskines.
- Get one of those little spiral notebooks at the drug store. And something to write with. And keep them together with you at all times.
- Post-its are exceptionally handy for writing notes on. And they stick to things as well.
- Get fleet of fingers in the Notes app of your iPhone or Palm.
- Write on whatever you can find with whatever you have. Eyeliner on napkin? Sure. Highlighter on the electricity bill envelope? Why not.
- Pretend you’re going to remember, because how could you forget such a brilliant insight.
There are, as well, some incredible systems for organizing one’s notes. And there are some incredibly well-organized writers who actually use them. They file and filter and cross-reference and then–voila!–know exactly where to go to find the correct note. There are also some incredible writers who just use a shoe box for all the flotsam and jetsam of their inspiration. They claim that the act of going through each note serves to stir the pot of creativity.
If you’re modeling yourself after me, you’ll need to know that all that advice about taking notes I gave you above? It just came tripping off my tongue because I use all of it. Whenever. I have cartons of notebooks and such that I’ve carried with me over the years. They contain the collected brilliance of Jane Gassner and someday I’m going to sit down and see just what’s in there. I’ve got a memoir or two in the making there, I just know it.
Which of my techniques do you use for taking notes? Or do you have a new one that–OMG!–you can share with me?
Jane Gassner
