Should you keep an Idea Journal?
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Should you keep an idea journal?
This is probably the most controversial opinion I have about writing practice, although I’ve got one big name on my side.
Should you always keep an idea journal with you?
Well, it depends.
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
The general take
Since I decided I wanted to be a writer, I read hundreds of articles, dozens of books, watched thousands of videos and attended several courses both live and online. The suggestion of keeping a notepad with you at all times to jot down ideas, eavesdropped conversations, notes about a fancy character met in the subway or any piece of sudden inspiration is repeated over and over like a mantra; as if this simple practice will solve every problem you’ll ever encounter in your creative career.
“My books are nothing if not a coded diary of everything clever ever uttered within earshot.”
An unpopular opinion, but in good company
While I agree with the concept of having a brain dump always available (though I think your phone is more than enough for that purpose) I’m not sure you should keep every idea that pops into your head. This approach will surely suit some, but not everyone.
Borrowing the words from one of the most successful and prolific writers of our time:
“A writer’s notebook is the best way in the world to immortalize bad ideas. My idea about a good idea is one that sticks around and sticks around and sticks around.”
On a certain level, I share his belief; but again, it depends. I, myself, have had stories dwelling in my mind for weeks, months, even years, and sometimes taking notes about them is a complete waste of time. This is because they’re still gestating, and you can’t freeze the process of formation of their limbs when they’re still nothing more than stumps.
On the other hand, not everybody has the luxury of living like Stephen King does. You might be juggling three kids, a demanding job, a lazy partner, an ill parent, and you might find your brain overwhelmed by worries.
So, what works for you—or for Stephen King—may not work for someone else.
Photo by Green Chameleon on Unsplash
Some writers might find it useful
Before even discussing the matter, I think it’s important understanding who can find it useful. For example, if you are a blogger or a youtuber and must hit publish at least once a week, maybe an archive of ideas to explore is not such a bad thing to have. This is literally what I do for this blog: I keep a list of ideas in Notion and I tick them off once I’ve expanded them into an article. A couple of big advantages of having such a list in Notion specifically (and not on a piece of paper) is that I can access it from any device as long as I’ve got an internet connection and I don’t have to worry about space or order, as I can turn any title into a full-blown page.
If you’re working on what you plan to be the only book you’ll ever write, being it your memoir or a how to guide, you also probably want to jot down everything. This is your masterpiece; you’ll find time to cherry-pick the diamonds among the rough.
If you’re a poet, that’s probably a good habit to have as well. I remember having a Moleskine constantly in my pocket when I was at Uni and those notebooks turned into a sort of poetic journal, from which not only I can retrace my emotions during those turbulent years; but the scrimmage from that little notebook turned into a poetry collection which I published when I was only 21.
Photo by Marcos Paulo Prado on Unsplash
Another instance in which I would try to jot down most things is if you suffer from a severe case of the writer’s block. If the blank page remains blank more than a couple of sessions a week, check your journal and write about the first thing that seems interesting. A word of warning on this: in the early stages, especially if your self-esteem is quite low, looking back at what you thought was worth saving from oblivion can be discouraging. Should this be the case, please remember: this little game works only with no judgement. An idea journal is not supposed to be beautiful and well written. On the contrary; it’s supposed to be like a large wardrobe. You don’t normally show your wardrobe; you just store clothing in it.
Show the world your best clothes: not the mess of your wardrobe.
Finally, if you’re a published author with an established routine and a strong voice, I wouldn’t let the soup go cold to go find your notebook. I wouldn’t get out of the shower with shampoo still on my head either. If that specific idea has disappeared when I put my towel on, probably I’ll get a better one when I sit down to write.
You should keep notes about what you’re writing, what you want to write, or ideas you still don’t know how to develop, though. The brain is optimised for idea generation after all, not idea storage; but not all ideas are worth keeping, believe me. Trying to keep all your moments of inspiration is like having a log with every single meal you’ve ever eaten. Just remember the good dinners, your life will be much better.
My very first notebooks. I carried them with me at every lecture, every trip, every party.
The answer
Ok, after all this blabbering, I still haven’t answered the question: should you keep an idea journal?
I don’t know.
It depends on you, on your goals and your journey, but hopefully in this article there is something that will help you make the right decision.
