KEEPING A WRITER’S SCRAPBOOK
Some writers find it really useful to keep a scrapbook and the best way is with an easy scrapbooking method. There are writers who may keep a lovely book filled with neatly tacked in images or inspiring prose, or some may just keep a jumble of images and scraps of paper in a box or drawer or even tacked on to a clipboard.
In essence, easy scrapbooking is simply a collection of words and images that stimulate and interest the creative mind.
Bear in mind, not every creative mind is the same. You will not fail as a writer if the idea of keeping a scrapbook – even easy scrapbooking bores you. If you do it out of some sense of duty, then it becomes the opposite of stimulating – a dull and boring task.
Personally, I do follow the easy scrapbooking method. If see an image that really draws me in and makes me think, then that’s one I will keep.
KEEPING YOUR EASY SCRAPBOOKING FRESH AND INTERESTING
I confess I am not terribly organized and the images and ideas I do keep spend a while in a drawer before I add them to the scrapbook. If I have been really busy I may not look at the scrapbook for a while and by the time I do I may have more or less forgotten what’s there, so when I do open the scrapbook again everything is fresh and interesting all over again.
If you decide that collecting images and articles etc. is something that might be useful to you, then you can simply buy a plain old kid’s scrapbook and begin to collect your content. It doesn’t have to be fancy and I’ve seen beautiful and expensive scrapbooks left empty after their owners have got bored with them – it’s what’s inside the scrapbook that counts.
INSPIRATION
Be selective – do not just cut and keep any old thing to bulk out your scrapbook, begin to recognize what inspires you. Don’t allow clutter of paper and images to build up when deep down you know they are of little interest to you – however much you think they should!
If you see a picture in a magazine that makes you stop and think – that is worth cutting out. A newspaper article that makes you wonder what happened next, how and why, is also worth cutting out and keeping.
You may find looking at your images gives you ideas – write these ideas down and keep them. In fact, a golden rule with ideas is to write them down always. It is amazing how easy it is to forget them.
You can also use your scrapbook to keep any other ideas you may have – even if you don’t have a clue how you are going to make use of them. They may be some use in the future or they may form the root of other ideas.
Whether you decide to do some easy scrapbooking or not, is up to you. However, if you do, remember it is just one part of the creative writing process. The most important thing as always is the writing.
Although keeping a writer’s scrapbook can be a great help, there is a lot more to creative writing, but don’t worry I have lots of great creative writing tips for you here.
Don’t let motivation be a problem – be sure and click here for a great motivation exercise.
Don’t forget to plan your story – there is an easy way to learn the art of planning a story right here.
Best of luck with your writing.
Grace 
No comments yet.