The Writer’s Idea Notebook

It’s much more than a journal or diaryIt’s the writer’s place to “play” or “practice,”

like an artist’s sketchbook or a musician’s jam session

It’s where we get into the habit of putting our thoughts into words, and practice techniques that will make us better ideas

What is the writer’s idea notebook?

FREE-WRITINGWrite as much as you can as fast as you canSet a time limit; when you’re finished go back

and read what you wroteSee if there’s anything interesting you would

like to explore or develop

What happens in the notebook?

BrainstormingCreate a list of topics, as quickly as you can,

then choose one and write about itSave the list so you can add to it later; for

example, put it in the back of your notebook and revisit it another time

What happens in the notebook?

Looking at your surroundingsLook out your window and write what you

see, or listen and write what you hearDon’t just describe it; try to think about

whatever is out thereFor example, a house (lived in or abandoned)

may inspire thoughts about who lives/once lived there and it may spark a story or ideas

More Suggestions

Writing to an objectTake an object and see how many different

things you can say about itAgain, don’t just describe its physical

characteristics: what can it be used for?Where did it come from?What does it represent?

More Suggestions

EavesdroppingWrite bits of conversation you overhearListen to someone talking on the phone and

try to figure out what the other person is talking about

Watch people talking from a distance and imagine what they are saying

Observe how people behave, how they speak, how they react (be discreet)

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Test your memorySee how much you can remember about a

familiar topic

Problem solvingWorkout a problem, make a decision, or make

plansWeigh the pros and cons by writing them

down

More Suggestions

Writing from a Life ExperienceThink about an important life experience and

write down every detail you can remember. Try to remember as much as you can, right

down to the smallest bit.

More Suggestions

Creating ListsThings you enjoyThings that make you happy/sad/angryThings that bother youWords and expressions you hearPeople you know

Some Suggestions

Some SuggestionsWrite from a picture or an imageCut out a picture from an article, or a

newspaper, internet, paste it in your notebook and write about it

You could also create a story from the picture

Interview yourselfWrite on one side of the page, then respond

on the otherDon’t ask yourself things you already know,

like your age and hometown; try to find out things you don’t know about yourself

Some Suggestions

ResponseRespond to music, movies, a TV show or

anything else you hearWrite in different places besides the

classroom and your homeAnalyze a song or poem

Some Suggestions

Fill 3 pages/week with ideas, writing activities, etc.Each entry should be dated and have a description

of the activityAt the midterm point, students will present their top

three entries to the class in an interesting format and again in June

I expect your writer’s notebooks to be handed in to me each Monday

I will check for completed entries and will do an assessment of your notebook every 4 weeks

I will give you feedback on your entries so you know you’re on the right track

Expectations

Respond to the following questions in a piece of writing, a sketch, a diagram, a list, or whatever means you see fit:

– What is the purpose of the writer’s notebook?– What role has writing played in your life?– Why is it important to be a clear and effective

writer?– What do you feel are your strengths in writing?

Your weaknesses? – What do you like about the writing of others?– Why is writing a useful and important tool to have? - What function does it play in society?

Let’s get started

You have won $100,000 but cannot spend it on yourself. What will you do with the money?

If I was a teacher, I would…Describe a time that you felt frustrated. What happened? Was it resolved? How?What makes a good friend?What do you like about yourself?What invention would make your life better?What does “there are two sides to every coin”

mean to you?

More Writing Prompts/Journal Ideas