For those of you who keep journals, writers' notebooks, etc. - can you relate to this?

Question

I'm a compulsive keeper of "writer's journals" - notebooks which I fill with notes, ideas, cut-outs - anything that might be useful in my writing projects. To date, I have dozens of them.

When I come to the end of one notebook, I always feel inexplicably sad - I hate saying "goodbye" to what has become a constant companion - and starting a brand-new notebook is difficult for me.

Silly, I know - I mean, these are just books for playing in - as messily as I like - but for some weird reason, the first blank page always terrifies me.

It always takes the first 20 pages or so to "relax" into a new notebook, and I have to always carry the previous volume with me for moral support, until I've fully settled into the new volume.

I mean, it's understandable to experience this "blank-page phobia" before starting to write a new novel...but a writer's journal??? It's only a notebook!

Are there other people out there with equally bizarre attitudes?
I hope so :oP


Hafwen x

Answer 1

I think that is gorgeous!

I don't have quite the same problem, mine is more an OCD kind of experience. I have to write in my journal with the same pen, not just same colour, but actual same pen, and if that pen runs out I have to go out and purchase another exact same pen. Plus everything is in either neat little columns, or in bullet point form, any thing I stick in it has to be centred and bordered! It is kinda sad and probably really annoying to those of you who are really creative, but it is the only way I can cope with journalling...lol. sorry.

Answer 2

So i don't have a writers journal, but i use my computer a lot to write short fics. Whenever i finish writing a fic I feel sad and often re read the story several times to make sure I am actually done. then when I go to start a new story I stare at the blank screen forever. sometimes i cheat and start the new story at the end of the last one and copy and past it into the new blank document. So no you're not the only wierd one. There are many of us.

Answer 3

I don't know whether what I will post - my journal habits today, as oppossed to those of yesteryear - could be considered bizzare, but rather just illustrative of the change one can undergo over a life time.



During several years of my mid-life, I was much involved with the practice of yoga.



The particular discipline that I practiced, required one in order to achieve liberation from all karma(no longer need to re-incarnate), one of neccessity had to perform a complete psycho-analysis of one's life to come to a thorough understanding of what one was/is, and, is not.



I therefore for from 3-4 yrs., kept an extensive daily journal; recording every activity in detail: when arose, retired; what eaten, how much fluid imbibed; hours each of Hatha and Raja yoga practice; and Sutras Chanting; etc.,etc.,etc.



When I finally abandoned the project - keeping of the journal - it was almost instantaneous and absolute; and I never looked back: bottom line - no problem.



Today, approximately 20 yrs. later, I have trouble keeping up anything in a meaningful way.



Example: subscribed to "Doctor Dictionary"(an on-line program) with the expectation of increasing my vocabulary: to the best of my knowledge, have not used one new word since I've been active on this program, for the past 9-10 mos.



Nothing bizare I suppose; just demonstrates how ones life can radically change overtime, with unpredictable results.



Alberich

Answer 4

I keep a diary, written on the computer, and printed out at intervals. It is strictly an aide memoire, and is not written fopr eyes other than my own. Mostly, my ideas and concerns while I am composing music are discussed with myself. (My personal life appears as well, of course.)



I fear that (i) my computer may die and need professional restoration, (ii) someone will come across my printed-out copy, or, (iii) on my death, the whole will be exposed to everyone.



For these rather strange reasons, I write in a sort of code that only I can possibly interpret. As a journal grows in size, the moment I really have to end it and start afresh grows closer and closer, and I become quite nervous. As my memory is haphazard, I worry that I will forget my 'code', I worry that... I don't know. I simply worry.



Starting afresh is very traumatic, as well. I hate it for a while, and keep returning to my recent document for consolation!



One thing this practice of journal keeping is beginning to teach me is 'tact'. I am learning to write notes to myself in a way that will minimise the hurt to me when I read them at a later time!



I imagined that all of the above constituted evidence of some mental disorder until I read Hafwen's charmingly written expose of her own journal keeping!

Answer 5

Wow you seem like a really good writer!!! Me I love writting in 70 page notebooks. I like the smooth pages a new fresh page to me is like I gotta make it look good. Also I pretty much write for hours until something good pops up. Like all I'll say is I'm bored.... x) I'll stare at the blank page and be like why don't I just write a bunch of nosense. Instead I write my name like a million times. Also getting a new notebook is like a new beginning to me but I still miss the old one so I reread everything and laugh at my mistakes. Well I'm writting way to much ;) I just want to let you know you really are not the only one. I hope you continue out with your writting career.