The Noticing Notebook

One of the biggest issues I and many writers face, is the idea that if we are not sitting at our desks and writing, we are not being creative or productive. We often see other writers churning stuff out and believe we should measure ourselves against them. Not so.

Your creative practice is whatever shape it is for YOU. And the good news is, you don't always have to be writing. I think (though don’t quote me) it was Paul McVeigh (author of the novel The Good Son and many fabulous short stories) who said that before putting any words down, he practically writes the wholly novel/story in his head. I've heard other writers say the same. I'm sure the majority of this process involves a lot of seeing, hearing, experiencing - in other words NOTICING - what happens around them. 

Things people say, music on the radio, sections of books, what you see on your walk in the countryside, the hat the driver in front of you at the lights is wearing - all these things can prompt you to some thought, even if just for the moment it is only subconscious.

If you actively use noticing as part of your creative practice, it starts to become more useful. Instead of just laughing at the driver’s psychedelic hat, take the thought home and write a list of places and circumstances in which he could have chosen it. When overhearing the loud conversation on your next train journey, write down every noun, verb, adjective etc, that the speaker says. Do they mention a colour? If so make a list of everything that's that colour. The possibilities are endless once you open up your mind to the practice.

If you start a 'Noticing Notebook' you will make good use of those times you feel down about the fact you're not writing, and you’ll soon have a database filled with inspiration and prompts for those times you do actually sit at your desk or pick up your pen.

Lately, I've been noticing the weather more. Hard not to, it's always raining! In my Noticing Notebook I've been noting the sounds of the rain on the windows and writing a list of all the places someone could be stranded in a rainstorm. I've been listing different weather, good as well as bad. I've been doing the 'items of a certain colour' list based on the colour of people's umbrellas who pass me in the street. Mad, I know, but it works. 

What do you think about the idea of a Noticing Notebook? Would it help you? Start one and let me know what your first entries are.

While you are here, why not have a look around my website using the menu above. I have some of my published stories here, plus endorsements for the work I do as an editor and a facilitator. Look at my events and bookings page. I run a daily writing group, some courses, and a quarterly reading event. I would love to welcome you to one of them. And if you have any questions at all, you can leave a comment below or contact me using the contact form you will find on the menu bar at the top of the page.