A Multitude of Notebooks
Sometimes it feels as if I never write anything. That’s when I need to pause and consider this pile I have generated over the years:
That is not all of the notebooks I own. That is merely the majority of the notebooks I have filled over a span of roughly 15 years. (No wonder I hurt, right?) I also have a healthy crop of notebooks actively in use (each for a different purpose or project) and a nice stash of empty notebooks still awaiting their destinies. I haven’t taken a census recently, but I’m sure I own somewhere around 100 notebooks altogether.
As for the filled ones, they contain all sorts of things, from drafts of novels, short stories, and essays to research notes, journaling, and whatever random thoughts come to me. They not only serve as tangible proof that perhaps I haven’t been so unproductive after all, but also remind me that all of those jottings, no matter how brief, add up over time.
It also helps to go back and look through some of these old notebooks once in a while, especially the ones that were used for “random” and shorter thoughts. I never know what surprises I may find aside from writing, such as these drawings:
As for the writing, some of that material is undeniably cryptworthy. But I also unearth tidbits that surprise me in a good way. I love when abandoned and forgotten thoughts from years ago can be resurrected or reworked today, or even when looking at old ideas can help spark new ones. And when I cannot settle on what book to read, I can always rummage through a notebook until I sort that out—it’s always time well-spent.
I recently labeled the spines of my “random” books and journals by date because when I’m looking for something specific, it can be quite an undertaking. Sure, I have the start and end dates written on the inside covers, but there are still enough to make it a little archival nightmare—especially when so many of those pocket notebooks look alike. Having page numbers and a table of contents (or index) helps immensely with finding things, too! If only I had started such practices sooner…
Sometimes it’s fun just surveying different covers. Here is a tiny handful of favorites:
The funny thing is I still feel as if I have not practiced writing nearly enough. I doubt I’ll ever be able to shake that feeling. Perhaps that’s a good thing.
All in all, seeing those filled notebooks certainly helps to boost my morale when I’m in low spirits or discouraged. I’ve never experienced a feeling of accomplishment from staring at my computer. MS Word files just don’t have the same effect. Digital clutter never gives me the warm fuzzies. Notebooks win.
