10 Uses for Spare Notebooks

Brittany, who describes herself as “a thirteen-year-old writer of middle-grade fiction,” offers some good ideas for everyone who has a hoard of notebooks and can’t think of what to do with them. Here’s idea #1:

1. Keep a dream journal.- I’ve gotten some good story ideas from dreams, or at least little bits of story. On New Year’s Eve I watched the movie Inception, and somewhere in the beginning the main character says that we only use a fraction of our brain when we’re awake (or something like that).

So take advantage of that. When you roll out of bed, write down what happened in your dream, no matter how stupid or silly or weird it sounds. Obviously, not all of these will be good story ideas, but after a couple weeks of dreaming there’s always a gem or two.

Read more at http://www.hillsandcorkscrews.com/2011/01/10-ideas-for-notebook-hoarders.html

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37 Responses to “10 Uses for Spare Notebooks”

  1. Katyjeanmachine, on January 06, 2011 at 9:22 am, said:

    I have started a gratitude journal. I don’t write in it every night, but I need to get in that habit. The goal is to write a little about 5 things from my day that I am thankful for, no matter how small. It’s kinda fun….but some days it is really REALLY hard to think of 5 things.

  2. JonelB, on January 06, 2011 at 9:53 am, said:

    I use my notebooks in three categories:
    1.) Journal. Personal things go here. These are often 8×10 or similar size, for large-size use and ease of taping in things, from receipts to notes about other stories that I’m working on. Somedays I may enter nine pages, some days none. I currently have a covered, painted-upon mead 3-subject composition notebook for this use. I have had multiple compliments on it.
    2.)Story: For the single-minded use of story entrance. It doesn’t really matter what size this one is, as long as it’s above pocket size—I will also use a notebook like this as a journal in nice places, as it tends to look less used and worn. I have a moleskine reporter, lined, for such things. It also helps to not have to break up stories as much should I want to write something different in my regular journal. Currently I’m using a moleskine reporter for this.
    3.)Notes: this one is the pocket size, that I pull out in supermarkets and class and outings with friends, that i use for real life or fiction notes. This one holds my lists, my research, my ideas for stories and recipes or meals, or my lists of movies to watch during a movie binge. I’m currently using a greenroom eco notebook for this, previously it was a small butterfly and flower printed notebook in pink. Basically anything that can hold a pen will work. On the front I have a small stack of 15 or so index cards clipped with a silver binder clip, then clipped to the front with a smaller red binder clip, that also holds it open to the page I’m on. the index cards are gridded, and I use it for grocery lists or disposable knowledge, such as to-do lists, that I don’t want cluttering up my notebooks.

    Most of my notebooks can fit into one of these sections, if not: Project notebooks. I will usually section off these notebooks, and then put notes on each page regarding the separate sections of a story or project.
    I also use some notebooks simply for research I have collected on certain cultures, or things such as magic in certain sections of stories–if it is highly regulated I like to be consistent between stories.
    I need to start a notebook and/or online wikia for my made-up world that I’ve managed to fill up so quickly with cultures of my choosing.
    I could also see a notebook functioning as a sort of food weekly planner–working out the meals each week with what you have in the pantry on one page, and laying out the menu on the next page.

  3. Tweets that mention Notebook Stories: A Blog About Notebooks, Journals, Moleskines, Blank Books, Sketchbooks, Diaries and More -- Topsy.com, on January 06, 2011 at 9:54 am, said:

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  4. Johnny, on April 14, 2012 at 7:31 pm, said:

    I use my notebook as a research journal. I take Hip-Hop Dance class at LAHS for the Arts so I write down info on different types of dancers and what forms they use. I also use it as a songwriting book.

  5. Mia, on July 08, 2012 at 11:53 pm, said:

    i use mine to write songs in. also i use it to write what i think about and what i have always dreamed of. a doodle notebook is always fun too.

  6. Rizwan, on July 09, 2012 at 5:16 pm, said:

    I use my Spare Notebook for:
    For Group Work/Assignments.
    For Revision Notes
    Other Examples: Assignments, Projects and Book Reviews etc…
    Hope it will help!!!!!!!!!!! :D

  7. Ericka, on October 14, 2012 at 10:38 am, said:

    i use my notebook to wriye down funny puns and jokes, as well as poems and quotes i hear that i like. Sometimes i will also draw pics of things i like such as comic related cartoons and such.

  8. Lola penny forest, on October 18, 2012 at 11:53 am, said:

    Crap. It’s rubbish I wanted short and quick not long explanations x

  9. angelina, on November 22, 2012 at 12:11 pm, said:

    Hey! I keep a dream journal, but only because I want lucid dreams.

  10. genesis, on January 04, 2013 at 10:21 pm, said:

    i use my notebook for cutting out pics that i like from magazines :)

  11. Samantha, on January 05, 2013 at 12:58 pm, said:

    I use my notebook to write down interesting facts about anything or just something that i want to remember about an article l read about.

  12. Jessica, on January 13, 2013 at 5:39 pm, said:

    I’ve got various empty notebooks. I thought that this year, I would use one to write down my memories or good events of 2013. Write the date and the event/memory and perhaps include a picture :)

  13. ISABELLA, on January 30, 2013 at 11:08 am, said:

    I DON”T KNOW WHAT TO USE MY NOTEBOOK FOR. HELP?!?

  14. Mandy, on January 31, 2013 at 8:59 pm, said:

    I use my notebook as a journal or as a world journal where I write down what I did on vacation!

  15. mia, on February 10, 2013 at 8:35 am, said:

    food diary, calories

  16. miaxxx, on February 10, 2013 at 8:35 am, said:

    food diary, calories

  17. Molli, on February 10, 2013 at 4:44 pm, said:

    Friend diary?
    Boyfriend diary?
    Write all your friend names down and write the nice
    And bad things they do. Once youve finished your book
    Count up the overall score and find out who is your true friendb

    Boyfriend diary

    Write the dates and what gifts he buys u and when u kiss

  18. Molli, on February 10, 2013 at 4:45 pm, said:

    I want to do something cool in my notebook! IDEAS????

  19. peace rocks, on February 18, 2013 at 10:04 am, said:

    use it as a doodle notebook like write jokes you like ,
    keep some newspaper cliping you like , draw , write down some phone numbers , write down recipes , what dreams you had etc.

    HOPES HELPS YOU !!!!

  20. Anonymous, on February 23, 2013 at 11:58 pm, said:

    I use mine to jot down fun facts about animal species. It’s really cool if you want people to be impressed.

  21. Alice, on February 27, 2013 at 8:46 pm, said:

    I once got a really pretty note book, and i didnt want to waste it so i just started sticking in old photos, and old movie tickets, and short stories and my favorite quotes. Its doubled in width and is full of things i just think up.

  22. Amandaberrios, on February 28, 2013 at 11:07 pm, said:

    i use my spare notebooks to draw. And decorate them with stickers or a collage of my favorite artists. I write poems too. And for fun I did a “burn book” like the one showed at the movie of “mean girls” Ofcourse, use it for good or you can get in trouble.

  23. Ana, on March 02, 2013 at 9:15 pm, said:

    I decorated a notebook and I don’t know what to use
    It for though

  24. Megan, on March 04, 2013 at 3:23 pm, said:

    I have a lot of unused notebooks, and I have no idea how to use them. I want to be creative and have fun with them. So I’m open for ideas

  25. lynzie, on March 18, 2013 at 9:13 pm, said:

    i used mine to write songs or other artists song lyrics. i also keep a diary for my best friend an i. we write in it together like its our shared diary!

  26. melanie, on March 26, 2013 at 11:12 am, said:

    I use them for many diferent things. One i have is like a diary, where i write about what has been happening. Then i have one where i write words that nobody really uses but i think they’re interesting and antique words; in the same notebook i have phrases from texts i liked. Another one is for my poems and other people poems. And then i have one where i write down little searches i make :)

  27. ??????????, on April 03, 2013 at 2:30 pm, said:

    ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

  28. Anonymous, on April 04, 2013 at 9:16 am, said:

    i am stuck on what to use my notebook for! Help!!!!

  29. Anonymous, on April 04, 2013 at 9:18 am, said:

    I have got 3 big spare notebooks but i don’t know what to use them for!

  30. Nitpicker, on April 21, 2013 at 5:51 am, said:

    I have about a dozen notebooks that all contain stories at various stages of development because I started collecting when I was about thirteen myself and picked up about six new notebooks per year, but now I find myself wanting to keep a dream journal too. *sigh* Maybe sometime in the distant future.

    By the way, that little gem from Inception saying that we only use a tiny fraction of our brains when we’re awake? Absolute nonsense. Just take a look at anyone who has suffered brain damage – you’re not going to find that most of them simply lost the ‘unused’ part which popular knowledge claims consists of the majority of the brain. Each part of the brain has its own function, even if you might not be using each part continuously (for example, when you’re not speaking you might not need the part that controls speech).

    Anyway, enhanced brain function or not, dreams are awesome and most of them are worth writing down regardless. Sorry to be such a nitpicker.

  31. Nova, on April 22, 2013 at 7:56 pm, said:

    I have a Song writing journal, Sketch book, Diary
    And Poem journal! Hope this helps! c:

  32. jay, on April 24, 2013 at 6:34 pm, said:

    You can use a spare journal for like memories or to write songs or poem or perhaps make a scrapbook :) !

  33. Amber, on May 03, 2013 at 9:59 pm, said:

    I have a really nice Taylor Seift one that I didnt wanna waste, but then I got this idea: For a spare notebook, you could do inspiring quotes. Like, “never grow up.” Or inspiring lyrics in songs

  34. Hannah, on May 08, 2013 at 7:34 am, said:

    I use my notebook as a best friend or friend notebook. I ask all my friends to write down something in my notebook. So when I look at it, I see all their messages they give me! I call it a autograph notebook. It’s very special to me to remember how much my friends love me. :)

  35. chenuli, on May 11, 2013 at 10:34 am, said:

    goooooood ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, i wanna know wat to write in this notebook i got which has old ancient yellow pages . i dont wanna use it but i can’t keep it untouched ……… wat do i do ?

  36. waffle, on May 21, 2013 at 5:20 pm, said:

    chicken

  37. anonymous, on May 21, 2013 at 8:24 pm, said:

    I use mine as a food and calories thing and I write down lyrics of songs I like and quotes! :)

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