Without a Notebook

Some people have notebooks they fill with quotes, ones from celebrities, political figures, other writers, even their moms. I’m not one of those people. While I might be momentarily inspired by something I read or hear, it is not lasting. Going back to the same words of encouragement do nothing for me.

I generally find inspiration from new situations and new experiences. Or barring that from favorite books. A notebook filled with “you can do it” only makes me feel worse when I continuously fail.

Right now it is not a lack on inspiration that keeps me from writing, it’s a lack of experience. All my life I’ve been told to “write what I know.” But I don’t know all that much. I haven’t gone out and experienced everything there is to experience. So rather than collecting a notebook full of inspirational quotes, I’m trying new things (but not foods, because I will always be a picky eater) so that when the time comes that I need to write about something, chances are I will have experienced something close to it.

Or maybe not. But for now? I’m off to go make experiences.

At the age of six, Eliza was certain of two things. The first was that she had stories to tell. The second was that she had no talent for illustrating them herself. Talent or no, she still wrote and illustrated her first book, one that should be located and locked away if only to prevent her parents from embarrassing her terribly by showing it off alongside baby pictures. Now she spends her days writing stories that she isn't embarrassed to show off after a little bit of polishing.

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