Wednesday, September 24, 2014

How I Art/Bullet/Smash and NaNowrimo Journal

Happy Fall Everyone! I am beyond stoked that my favorite season has finally arrived! Ahhhh! Pumpkins, sweet potato pies, knee boots, cardigans! Well, it may be a few more weeks before I get to boots and cardi's here in South Georgia, but wishful thinking right?

Anywho, I always get this renewed sense of purpose when fall hits.  I think it has something to do with the fact that I think I was a witch in a past life of science fiction, and my novel (that I have been writing for 5 years, but semi seriously for 2 years) is centered around a witch.  As a result of my surge in motivation, I've captured a few of my most recent journaling pages.

I get a lot of questions about what I do and how I journal, but honestly, my goal is "get it on the paper". If you are someone who is a journal/stationary enthusiast like I am, you love a new journal but you hate (and are a little intimidated) by The Dreaded Blank Page. When you open that journal to feel those sexy pages, smell that parchment (because this is 1640 and I'm fancy), and imagine all the sheer creative ingenuity that will fill the page from margin to margin.

The brilliant literary prose.

The beautifully smashed pages.

The colorful art journaling.

Yes, you are just know your are going to have an epic piece in front of you. And that feeling last for about 10 seconds.  Just long enough for you to think to yourself

"What the hell am I going to do"


It can be a deafening thought, a blank page. But here are some things you can do to get out of that creativity block (what I do anyway!). Below you will find my Daily which is a soft cover moleskine square notebook.

  • Subscribe to dictionary.com word of the day and write them down. This is especially helpful if you fancy yourself a writer like I do.
  • Get lost in the world of sticky notes on Ebay. They are usually no more than $2.00 with free shipping.
  • Go washi crazy. If you are a journaler...nuff said
  • Join Goodreads and get their quote of the day sent to your email.
  • Zendoodle
  • Picture journal instead of using words.
  • More washi tape, stickers, and sticky notes


  • Bullet journal. I couldnt commit to the plain style of bullet journaling but I like it so I still use it in my Daily.
  • Write down TV shows you want to see or books you want to read, or songs you want to download. Some people just create an entire page for this. I don't. I like to just go with the flow, and I don't like waiting for pages to fill up.
  • Do a quick journal of your day or what is going on. Sometimes I have things I want to say and I don't feel like smashing or dumping, I just want to write...so I do.
  • Don't be restricted to 1/2 page or 1 whole page. Sometime I use a page, other times I have less time or less to say. Don't be specific AT ALL. This puts the creative process in a box.

  • I have an app called "Prompts" that I use to give me different ideas for things to write about. LOOOOVE it! It is my second most recommended after goodreads. 
  • Read lots and write quick review of something you loved.  I do this more in my writing insert rather than my Daily. (see below)
  • Try your hand (literally) at hand lettering. I am absolutely crap at it but I keep trying, I get better and better.
  • Add random stuff from your day like the coffee you tried.
  • Add pictures of yourself or anything else. I just recently printed a bunch of sticky back pictures of things that motivate me (examples on my writing insert below). I bought full sheets of label paper from walmart and printed pictures I stole from pinterest! Tutorial on that later!
  • And most importantly...JUST START


Above is the page I am currently working on. No rules, just get started! Trust me, that is the hardest part!


Here is just a quick shot of a few of my sticky notes. the more the merrier!

Well that is a pretty good chunk to get you on your way.  I would have added more pictures but this is a new Daily and I don't have much done yet. I promise to keep you posted on the daily

And this beauty...


This is my lovely NANOWRIMO insert for writing ideas and my novel research. This is a Moleskine Cahier Squared (sensing a pattern yet!?). The link will take you to my personal Nanowrimo page. I have avoided doing this for years because I just wasn't ready but I am going to give it my best shot.  I decorated the cover with a few pictures that motivate me and I have already been doing my planning. I also printed this nifty wrimo tracker from Ray Blake at My life in one place.   And while I have high hopes, I definitely know I wont finish in 1 month, but the push is a welcome change of pace.  Besides, who can write in the summer anyway :)

I hope you enjoyed this post and got something good out of it. If you take any of my advice and just basically love all over that blank page, please put a link in the comment section so I can check it out.

How do you Journal? Any extra tips?
Are you doing Nanowrimo?

10 comments:

  1. Yes I am doing Nano and just added you as a friend!

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  2. You are very wise for being so young...learned so much from you today...and I'm 60 years old!! Thank you! Already have signed up for everything you suggested!! I'm interested in writing children's books, so I don't know about doing the Nano thing...but journaling...creating...yes, yes YES!!!

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    1. I'm so glad you have taken something away from this! I am obsessed with my little daily inside my midori TN. Always yes to creating!

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  3. Delightful!!! Love this post....

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  4. I love it you gave me great ideas specially of the dictionary site I never thought of that, thanks:) happy journaling

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  5. Thanks for a great post, I've been meaning to start journaling for so long now and your tips will help me get there I hope :D

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  6. Okay I'm so glad I pinned this! Thanks so much for finally inspiring me to start journaling. Definitely pumped to just go for it now :)

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  7. I know this is an old post and you may never see this comment, but just in case I wanted to tell you this was SO helpful! I'm trying to get back into journaling...and stick with it this time! Thanks so much for the ideas.

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