Photo Credit: Natasha Rivett-Carnac
I have a new strategy lately that I’d like to share with you. Recently I finished a diary I’d kept for seven years. Needless to say it had become worn and well-loved. It came everywhere — to three countries we took-up residence in during those years — and had “coupled” with me. It was like a favorite pair of shoes and came to symbolize that chapter of life.
I guess it’s no surprise then I do the opposite now, but it’s surprised me: I find myself writing on scraps of paper.
Here's why I like it: It’s freed me from a potential “writer’s block” of opening up a new notebook. It makes me feel like I can experiment because it’s not “real” — it will get thrown away. Surprisingly, organization-wise, it’s not been a problem. I’ve got a pocket in the back of my laptop case where I keep them all for the rare 10 minutes I get to type them up but you can also put them in a folder or box. I like the texture it provides too. I can spread them out, cross stuff off without being precious — there’s big pieces, small pieces, etc. For an artist-parent any strategy has to be practical. I create “hot spots” in my house — by the cooker, by the door, in the diaper bag, and so on — so I've always got pen and paper to hand.
So if you’re between projects or just want to try something different
Get some notecards or rip out a few notebook pages
Put them around the house with a pen
Make a folder or box to store them in
When you get 10 minutes type them up in a “notes” document
You're done. It's that simple.