A Writer’s Notebook

Posted on by

Just finished reading Ralph Fletcher’s book, A Writer’s Notebook: Unlocking the Writer Within You and I’ve already poured quite a bit out into my own writer’s notebook. It feels good. For a long time I’ve been purposely not writing because I don’t want to face so many of my thoughts. But it’s not just that. Somehow I started feeling like anything that came out of me and onto the page had to be perfection on arrival. I know better than that intellectually, but emotionally I clung to that hang up. Fletcher’s book really helped me accept how closed off I’ve become. I wasn’t always like this, but I’d say it’s been a good ten years.

What I liked best about Fletcher’s book is that there is no judgement. If doesn’t matter how good, bad or silly your ideas are. Writing is a process and most of what comes out might not be “good.” But what does good mean anyway? If it came from you, it’s good, whether it becomes part of a finished piece of writing is sort of secondary. You can’t ever make a finished piece of writing without being open to whatever thoughts and ideas are flying around in your head. I love that Fletcher shares some ideas for stories he’s written in his own writer’s notebook in their most primitive form. I’m thinking specifically of his idea for a story about a place where words grow like plants. He admits that the idea might be silly, but I think that’s the point. A lot of ideas sound silly in their infancy. We’re all silly in our infancy. But if you aren’t brave enough to be silly, corny, stupid, embarrassed, even ashamed, then how will you ever be creative? I have to learn to be open to this. And I think that will be the theme of this blog: Learning to overcome fear. I am terrified of failure, and I have to get over it—here and now. Writers fail. And teachers fail. Every lesson can’t be successful. I can’t go into teaching thinking every day will be magical. And if I’m not willing to fail, I’m never going to be any good at this. By this I mean teaching, writing and life in general.

So thanks Ralph Fletcher. I will continue keeping my writer’s notebook. And I will keep your book close by to remind me that being fearless means dropping the pretense and letting yourself be silly sometimes.

1,305 thoughts on “A Writer’s Notebook”

  3. My brother suggested I would possibly like this
    blog. He was totally right. This put up truly made my day.
    You cann’t imagine just how much time I had spent for
    this info! Thanks!

  4. It’s really a nice and useful piece of information. I’m
    satisfied that you simply shared this helpful info with us.
    Please keep us up to date like this. Thank you
    for sharing.

  5. I do not know if it’s just me or if everyone else encountering problems with your blog.
    It appears like some of the written text in your content are running off the screen. Can somebody else
    please provide feedback and let me know if this is
    happening to them as well? This might be a problem with my internet browser because I’ve had this happen previously.

    Kudos

  14. Simply want to say your article is as astonishing. The clearness for your publish is simply excellent and i can think you are knowledgeable in this subject. Well together with your permission allow me to grab your RSS feed to stay up to date with approaching post. Thank you a million and please continue the rewarding work.

  16. Heya fantastic website! Does running a blog such as this require
    a great deal of work? I’ve absolutely no knowledge of computer programming however I was hoping to start my own blog soon. Anyways,
    if you have any recommendations or tips for new blog owners please share.
    I know this is off subject however I just needed to ask.
    Cheers!

  17. We’re a bunch of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community.
    Your site offered us with useful information to work on. You have done a formidable activity and our whole group might be
    thankful to you.

  19. Normally I don’t read article on blogs, however I would like to say that this write-up
    very pressured me to check out and do so! Your writing taste has been amazed me.
    Thanks, very great article.

  23. Definitely believe that which you stated. Your favorite reason seemed to be on the internet
    the easiest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I
    certainly get irked while people think about worries that they plainly
    don’t know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top and defined
    out the whole thing without having side-effects , people can take a
    signal. Will probably be back to get more. Thanks

  24. Aw, this was an exceptionally good post. Spending some time and actual effort to
    create a good article… but what can I say… I
    put things off a lot and don’t seem to get nearly anything done.

  25. Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it.
    Look advanced to more added agreeable from you!
    However, how can we communicate?

  26. I know this site provides quality based articles and other
    data, is there any other website which provides these things in quality?

  27. I wanted to thank you for this great read!!
    I definitely loved every little bit of it. I have got you bookmarked to look at new things you post…

  28. I am really impressed along with your writing abilities as well as with the
    structure in your blog. Is this a paid theme or did you modify it your self?
    Either way keep up the excellent high quality writing, it is uncommon to peer a nice blog like this one these days..

  29. Remarkable things here. I am very happy to peer your post.
    Thank you a lot and I am looking ahead to touch you. Will you kindly
    drop me a e-mail?

  31. Oh my goodness! Amazing article dude! Many thanks, However I am
    having problems with your RSS. I don’t understand the reason why I cannot join it.

    Is there anybody else getting similar RSS problems?
    Anyone that knows the answer can you kindly respond? Thanks!!

  32. Pretty nice post. I simply stumbled upon your weblog and wished to say that I’ve
    really enjoyed surfing around your blog posts.
    After all I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I’m hoping you
    write again very soon!

  34. Unquestionably consider that that you stated.
    Your favourite justification seemed to be on the internet the simplest factor to take note of.
    I say to you, I definitely get annoyed at the same time as people consider
    worries that they plainly do not understand about.
    You controlled to hit the nail upon the highest as well as outlined out the entire thing with no need side effect , folks can take a signal.
    Will likely be back to get more. Thanks

  35. Thanks , I have recently been searching for information about this subject for ages and yours is the greatest I have discovered till now.

    However, what in regards to the conclusion? Are you sure
    in regards to the source?

  38. You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this topic to be actually something that I think
    I would never understand. It seems too complex and extremely broad for me.

    I am looking forward for your next post, I’ll try to get the hang of it!

  39. Hi there Dear, are you in fact visiting this web page regularly, if so afterward you will without doubt
    get pleasant experience.

  40. This is a topic that’s near to my heart… Best wishes!

    Exactly where are your contact details though?

  41. It’s really a cool and useful piece of info. I’m happy that you
    simply shared this helpful information with us.

    Please stay us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.

  42. Hi it’s me, I am also visiting this web site regularly, this
    web site is truly good and the people are really sharing fastidious thoughts.

  43. Hey there would you mind stating which blog platform you’re working with?

    I’m looking to start my own blog in the near future but I’m having a tough time making a decision between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and
    Drupal. The reason I ask is because your design and style
    seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something completely unique.
    P.S Sorry for being off-topic but I had to ask!

  44. The other day, while I was at work, my cousin stole
    my apple ipad and tested to see if it can survive a 30 foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My iPad is
    now destroyed and she has 83 views. I know this is completely off topic but I
    had to share it with someone!

  46. Amazing things here. I am very glad to see your article.

    Thanks a lot and I am taking a look ahead
    to touch you. Will you please drop me a e-mail?

  47. Superb blog you have here but I was curious about if
    you knew of any community forums that cover the same topics
    discussed here? I’d really love to be a part of group where
    I can get advice from other knowledgeable individuals that
    share the same interest. If you have any
    suggestions, please let me know. Thank you!

  48. Link exchange is nothing else but it is only placing
    the other person’s website link on your page at proper place and other person will also do similar for you.

  49. Everything is very open with a very clear clarification of the issues.
    It was really informative. Your site is useful. Thanks for sharing!

  50. Excellent goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff previous to and you’re just too magnificent.
    I actually like what you’ve acquired here, really
    like what you’re stating and the way in which you say it.
    You make it entertaining and you still take care of to keep it wise.

    I can’t wait to read far more from you. This is really a
    terrific website.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *