by Debra Sennefelder
Happy August!
I cannot tell you how thrilled I am that August has finally arrived. July felt like the longest month ever, yet it also felt like the fastest month ever. Some days I felt l blinked, and three days passed while other days seemed to stretch into twenty-seven hours. Go figure.
A new month means a blank slate. No pressing deadlines to deal with, and my favorite commercials start airing. Can you guess? Back-to-school commercials! I just them. Commercials about school supplies – notebooks, pens, binders, highlighters, and bags!
As a kid, back-to-school shopping was my favorite activity. A new school bag, a new lunch box, a bunch of new clothes and new notebooks! I just love a good notebook. Show of hands who’s with me.
A couple of weeks ago, I popped into Barnes & Noble over at Union Square in NYC for a bit of browsing. Of course, I had expectations that I’d leave with a haul of books (it was that kind of day where all I wanted was coffee and books). So, imagine my surprise when I left with only one item, and it was a notebook with one inspiring word on the cover – Write.
The inspiration word, size, thickness, and narrow lines had me heading to the checkout with the notebook in hand.
When I purchased the notebook, I didn’t know what I’d used it for, but after a couple of days, I finally decided which project I wanted to start brainstorming in the notebook. Writers use notebooks for brainstorming, plot ideas, characters, backstory, or plot ideas. I’ve used notebooks for all those things, plus I’ve used them for courses I’ve taken. Currently, I’m taking an online marketing course and have a section in my large daisy-covered notebook dedicated to the class and the actions I’ll be taking in the fall. I have another notebook for goal setting. Plus, one that contains my running to-do list. There’s a red one I use as a gratitude and scripting journal. A pink one has many story ideas and backstory for a series that I’d like to write one day. While another one is dedicated to a course on author business and estate planning.
My stack of notebooks makes me a very happy author. Now, are you crazy about notebooks too? I’d love to know.
P.S. - The next Food Blogger Mystery is available for pre-order and will release on 9/28/21. To celebrate the upcoming release, I'm hosting a giveaway.
Debra Sennefelder is the author of the Food Blogger Mystery series and the Resale Boutique Mystery series. She lives and writes in Connecticut. When she’s not writing, she enjoys baking, exercising and taking long walks with her Shih-Tzu, Connie. You can keep in touch with Debra through her website, on Facebook and Instagram.
Wishing you a happy August, happy back to school spirit, and happy book launch. I'm with you in celebrating all three.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Saralyn.
DeleteDebra, how I envy your organization skills. I have several notebooks, but none are organized by subject matter. Not one of my most useful character traits. Write on!
ReplyDeleteHi, Gay. Some days ( a lot of days in 2021 so far) it's so hard to stay organized. Thank goodness for these notebooks. They have come in handy. :)
DeleteI can do it with a calendar, but after a page or two of brainstorming in a notebook, it gets discarded. Good luck with your launch.
ReplyDeleteI love my author notebooks! I love it even more when I can find what I wrote at the time I need it!!
ReplyDeleteGood luck on the launch!!