“Shelves of glass viles filled with colourful - sometimes shimmery! - elixirs for story telling magic”?! Hell yes count me in 🤩 I’ve felt the same way about my favorite journals, where I’m almost too intimidated to write in them. But one of the most valuable things I’ve learned is that I don’t need to be precious with my notebooks—I’m allowed to bring my art process as it is—messy and unfiltered and a little disjointed.
Applauding! And love how you worded that: "But one of the most valuable things I’ve learned is that I don’t need to be precious with my notebooks—I’m allowed to bring my art process as it is—messy and unfiltered and a little disjointed."
Those ink bottles! 😍 where did you find them?! My own ink collection has been growing this year and I totally that feeling of conjuring up entire worlds. Ink contains some sort of power in it doesn’t it?
Ferris Wheel Press! They are a stationery company near me (I'm in Canada) and I am one of their creative ambassadors so I get their inks to test for free and its THE BEST.
Really loved this post! I have always struggled to allow myself to play in my notebooks. I thought they had to be pristine for future historians 😅 but life is much better as I've learned to relax and just write. ALSO my book club is reading The Palace of Illusions, which I would recommend for you based on your fantasy request ❤
I use my moleskin notebooks to....actually take notes. Ha!
I'm still old school about grocery lists (written out) and keeping an actual appointment/schedule book, so I've got a pile of moleskins on hand. When I fill one up, I'll flip through it to see if there's anything I need and then I run it through the shredder.
That notebook flatlay is SO PRETTY!! I wantssss it precious!!! And I totally know that feeling of being too intimidated to start a pretty notebook. Now I write my favorite writing quote (We read to know that we are not alone - CS Lewis) at the top of the first page of each new notebook so it's officially been "broken in" but by someone smarter than me hehehe.
And thank you SO much for linking my post!! Seriouly, so so appreciated.
I'm always so scared to start writing in a new notebook, something about the empty pages is intimidating. But I love the way you wrote about this, it makes me want to find one of my unused ones and just START. Lovely post, you're so talented 🤎
I found you through Mika's page and I'm so glad that I did. You are so insanely talented, wow. Now I want to draw some hands? I have totally felt that hesitancy to write in the too pretty notebooks, but once I did, they ended up holding some of the best memories. I have seriously slacked in my journal/notebook keeping over the last few years. Typing in notes or a draft just doesn't hit the same as pen to paper! Looking forward to enjoying more of what you have to share :)
You're such a talented artist. I love the style of your picture of yourself (I think?) making the sort of shrug face, and the mermaid-style Oscars dress!
Meaghan, applauding your points about a notebook being the writer's place to write what they'd like. I recently bought a beautifully bound Nota notebook that feels like a full manuscript, and I thought, I'm going to let myself write whatever I feel like in this notebook. And it's wonderful! I write with a pen and sometimes with brightly coloured markers; I write what I feel or what I think, and a lot about the people I love. I'm really enjoying the creative freedom.
I've always hesitated to write on my pretty notebook because, like, what if I ruin it with half-baked ideas and cringy dialogue? But the whole point of notebooks is to keep our inspirations without judgment.
You've convinced me - it's time to put my notebooks to use!
My notebook is my bear app (ipad) I just drop everything there and when there comes a moment to structure and finish something like my current Novellas, all I need is to drag and drop.
I think it was a drawtober video from Vonnart in which one of the tips to improve your art was just to “add hands” and that is why in my little webcomic the characters are no longer with their hands inside their hoodies pockets lol
Thanks so much for the mention! It was a blast seeing your red carpet drawing come together.
Notebooks have always been a struggle for me. I was given a classic Moleskin for Christmas and I decided that I was going to make myself use it. I started carrying it everywhere. Keeping it handy. At first all I used it for was typography layout sketches and marginalia that exceeded the limits of a book page. Now it's also where I write down songs I want to include in my Collage Paper Playlist series. Ideas for things I want to try in my work. Small collages made from vintage issues of ife magazine I found at an antique mall.
At that same anitique mall I bought an old portable typewriter and it is the best art supply I've ever purchased. I love using it and I look for excuses to type up anything. I've started typing out passages from things I'm reading and taping them in my notebook becuase I don't know what else to do with them. It serves no practical purpose, but every time I flip through my notebook and I see bits of cut out paper with that gorgeous typewriter font, it makes me happy. I'm starting to realize that, in itself, is enough of a reason.
I love this about the typewriter, and I'm also a little jealous. I really want an antique typewriter, for not other reason than I would like to have it haha For you it makes practical sense! I imagine you can use it for some amazing creations!
Good luck with your new project, I hope the clients love it! Such a great point to describe a notebook as your own space, like a diary it holds our innermost thoughts.
Oops sorry, I read "agent" and thought you were pitching to a new client - my head is all over the place, I need to write things down in a notebook, I guess! I enjoyed your post.
“Shelves of glass viles filled with colourful - sometimes shimmery! - elixirs for story telling magic”?! Hell yes count me in 🤩 I’ve felt the same way about my favorite journals, where I’m almost too intimidated to write in them. But one of the most valuable things I’ve learned is that I don’t need to be precious with my notebooks—I’m allowed to bring my art process as it is—messy and unfiltered and a little disjointed.
Yes! Exactly as it is. I'm like you, the process is messy and i like it that way!
Applauding! And love how you worded that: "But one of the most valuable things I’ve learned is that I don’t need to be precious with my notebooks—I’m allowed to bring my art process as it is—messy and unfiltered and a little disjointed."
ahh thanks :)
Those ink bottles! 😍 where did you find them?! My own ink collection has been growing this year and I totally that feeling of conjuring up entire worlds. Ink contains some sort of power in it doesn’t it?
Ferris Wheel Press! They are a stationery company near me (I'm in Canada) and I am one of their creative ambassadors so I get their inks to test for free and its THE BEST.
OMG I did not know “creative ambassador” was a thing! Did you reach out the them or did they reach out to you?
I reached out to them! (Instagram)
Congrats - that’s a sweet deal 😃
Thank you! Its definitely the best thing to come out of instagram for me haha
Really loved this post! I have always struggled to allow myself to play in my notebooks. I thought they had to be pristine for future historians 😅 but life is much better as I've learned to relax and just write. ALSO my book club is reading The Palace of Illusions, which I would recommend for you based on your fantasy request ❤
I mean, we cant NOT consider the future historians. But i like to think they will enjoy decoding some messy chaos. :)
And thank u for the recommendation, just looked it up and this sounds excellent
I use my moleskin notebooks to....actually take notes. Ha!
I'm still old school about grocery lists (written out) and keeping an actual appointment/schedule book, so I've got a pile of moleskins on hand. When I fill one up, I'll flip through it to see if there's anything I need and then I run it through the shredder.
That's what I do too. I even had comments about it. Not going with the times... They work for me, so I will keep using them. Glad I'm not alone.
I love moleskin notebooks. Lechturn is a good one too for the price
through the shredder!? A moleskin!? Hardcover!?
Paperback. We shred everything. We've had bedbugs, so we're super careful not to give the little blood suckers more hiding places.
Oh no! That would do it for sure.
That notebook flatlay is SO PRETTY!! I wantssss it precious!!! And I totally know that feeling of being too intimidated to start a pretty notebook. Now I write my favorite writing quote (We read to know that we are not alone - CS Lewis) at the top of the first page of each new notebook so it's officially been "broken in" but by someone smarter than me hehehe.
And thank you SO much for linking my post!! Seriouly, so so appreciated.
haha broken in! Yes! You get it
I'm always so scared to start writing in a new notebook, something about the empty pages is intimidating. But I love the way you wrote about this, it makes me want to find one of my unused ones and just START. Lovely post, you're so talented 🤎
Ack! Thanks so much for checking out Authorstrator. And yes! Dont let those beautiful notebooks gather dust!
I found you through Mika's page and I'm so glad that I did. You are so insanely talented, wow. Now I want to draw some hands? I have totally felt that hesitancy to write in the too pretty notebooks, but once I did, they ended up holding some of the best memories. I have seriously slacked in my journal/notebook keeping over the last few years. Typing in notes or a draft just doesn't hit the same as pen to paper! Looking forward to enjoying more of what you have to share :)
Oh my gosh, hi welcome! I just checked out your stack and lolled at your blurb. Thanks so much for your kind words and for reading!
Hiiiiiii, I loved the part about your journaling!
Thanks for reading!
You're such a talented artist. I love the style of your picture of yourself (I think?) making the sort of shrug face, and the mermaid-style Oscars dress!
haha yeah she's become sort of my avatar - not exactly like me but she stands in for me :)
Meaghan, applauding your points about a notebook being the writer's place to write what they'd like. I recently bought a beautifully bound Nota notebook that feels like a full manuscript, and I thought, I'm going to let myself write whatever I feel like in this notebook. And it's wonderful! I write with a pen and sometimes with brightly coloured markers; I write what I feel or what I think, and a lot about the people I love. I'm really enjoying the creative freedom.
As always, great post!
Thanks Marisa! So glad to hear your enjoying your notebook!
I've always hesitated to write on my pretty notebook because, like, what if I ruin it with half-baked ideas and cringy dialogue? But the whole point of notebooks is to keep our inspirations without judgment.
You've convinced me - it's time to put my notebooks to use!
Yes!!! So happy to hear it! Mark that beautiful notebook up!
My notebook is my bear app (ipad) I just drop everything there and when there comes a moment to structure and finish something like my current Novellas, all I need is to drag and drop.
I think it was a drawtober video from Vonnart in which one of the tips to improve your art was just to “add hands” and that is why in my little webcomic the characters are no longer with their hands inside their hoodies pockets lol
Have a wonderful day!
haha that's exactly like me, I always tried to hide the hands!
Love this!
Thanks Jillian!
Thanks so much for the mention! It was a blast seeing your red carpet drawing come together.
Notebooks have always been a struggle for me. I was given a classic Moleskin for Christmas and I decided that I was going to make myself use it. I started carrying it everywhere. Keeping it handy. At first all I used it for was typography layout sketches and marginalia that exceeded the limits of a book page. Now it's also where I write down songs I want to include in my Collage Paper Playlist series. Ideas for things I want to try in my work. Small collages made from vintage issues of ife magazine I found at an antique mall.
At that same anitique mall I bought an old portable typewriter and it is the best art supply I've ever purchased. I love using it and I look for excuses to type up anything. I've started typing out passages from things I'm reading and taping them in my notebook becuase I don't know what else to do with them. It serves no practical purpose, but every time I flip through my notebook and I see bits of cut out paper with that gorgeous typewriter font, it makes me happy. I'm starting to realize that, in itself, is enough of a reason.
Thanks for keeping me company! haha
I love this about the typewriter, and I'm also a little jealous. I really want an antique typewriter, for not other reason than I would like to have it haha For you it makes practical sense! I imagine you can use it for some amazing creations!
I've never been a fan of the Oscars so thank you for making it fun!
Every one should have a vintage typewriter! I never knew pressing keys could make me so happy.
I've definitely been incorporating it into designs and collages. But even just the sight of that type in my notebook, bliss!
Good luck with your new project, I hope the clients love it! Such a great point to describe a notebook as your own space, like a diary it holds our innermost thoughts.
Oh thanks so much! I don't have clients - just readers! haha
It really does. Diaries are your mind just spilled out on a page! So personal to everyone
Oops sorry, I read "agent" and thought you were pitching to a new client - my head is all over the place, I need to write things down in a notebook, I guess! I enjoyed your post.
Thanks so much for reading!