Hopes and dreams, doubts and fears
Poems and prose throughout the years
My notebooks hold
The tales untold
The joys, the pain, the laughter, tears
There is something elegant about composing in handwriting. The swirls and whirls of ink, the scratched out mistakes, smears on the paper… These are the truest expressions of my heart. In this electronic world, some might think it foolish or sentimental to keep a notebook. Maybe it is. But my notebooks are a little anchor to the past. They are my ideas, raw and unfiltered. Phrases, fragments of sentences, bits of conversation, rants and ravings I will never put anywhere for anyone else to see. It’s mean, it’s dirty it’s unforgiving and unforgivable. It’s hopeful, uplifting, inspired and inspirational. It’s art and it’s garbage. It’s marvelous and embarrassing. It’s beautiful and it’s ugly. And totally, completely mine.
I agree with you about the power of handwriting… electronic recording just can’t match it. It’s like the old vinyl vs CD/MP3 arguments!
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Good analogy! Thanks, Al!
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It’s the grit that makes it perfect 🙂
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Perfect choice, Meg. I still love when spiral notebooks are on sale for the school year and I always buy some to write in!
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Yes! Me too! 😃
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Some of my posts originate in handwritten form. There is something magical about writing with pene and paper. Sometimes, I feel the ideas are fluid. You don’t always get that with a keyboard.
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I have a few boxes of notebooks… Many filled, some waiting to be filled. I love writing in them. I wrote a post a long time ago about my notebooks (I think it was called jackpot)… They are every single thing you said. And I’ve never been able to get most to understand my love of little stationary shops and Staples. ♥ 📒
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Ah! Me too! I always scour Marshall’s and TJ Maxx for cool notebooks, too!
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Yes! Oh…And my daughter has inherited this, too. She is currently writing a story about her life living inside one of her favorite tv shows! Okay, she did ask me what to write so it was my suggestion, but she ran with it… I can’t wait ’til she lets me read it!
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Oh that’s so coo!
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Yes!!! I could never part with my journals. I don’t use them anymore but the have my life in them from 13 years old. They are my best friends.
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Yeah, seriously! I love having the chance to see what I was thinking about all those years ago. And sometimes it gives me ideas to use for current projects!
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Exactly!
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I’ve not been much of a journal keeper since mine got discovered (and exploited) as a young teen…I’m just getting back to it more recently. I was shocked to see how ‘rusty’ my handwriting had gotten. There is something magical though, the way thoughts stream to paper. I am glad you are keeping your art garbage. 😉
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I remember you posted a poem in your handwriting a few months back. You have lovely handwriting! I’d be hesitant to journal if I thought it could be used against me, too. Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your perspective) my husband isn’t all that interested in my writing so the chances of him looking at then are negligible.
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Well, I literally wrote about *trying* to show my husband my sex poems, and he flat-out said he didn’t want to see them. For some crazy reason, he still encourages my writing though…
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Also, thank-you! I appreciate that. It’s interesting how differently they teach cursive now.
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Right! Well, he appreciates your talent even if the content is well… uncomfortable? for him?
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I think that’s sort of it! He liked the one I wrote last week about our first kiss. That one was safe. I think we (you, I, and other poets) want to dive into places our significant others aren’t always ready to go to. Yet, they are (sort of) ok if we go there. At least, this is my current working theory. Time will tell me more. Hope you enjoy this evening!
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I still keep mine.
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I’m not surprised by that! I definitely think of you as a notebook guy! 😊
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Well said. I loved handwriting until the arthritis in my wrist and thumb made it too painful to do, but I do keep notebooks where I jot down POV while writing, keep track of pages per chapter and the names of characters as I write. They also come in handy for sudden ideas when away from the computer.
https://mhsusannematthews.wordpress.com/
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Yes! I keep bits of conversation and even phrases I like the sound of stored in the notebooks for future use. Thanks, Susanne!
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Love notebooks and handwriting, especially with ink pens 🙂
Suzannes Tribe
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Lovely reflection, Meg. I think there is a significant difference between handwriting and typing. My first conceptual outline of a book is always handwritten. There’s something about the freedom and flow, writing in the margins and drawing arrows. Those notebooks are treasures 🙂
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I do the same thing: write it in notebooks and on index cards! And sometimes when I’m stuck I revert to handwriting to get the ideas flowing again! 😀
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I hadn’t thought of going back to the notebook when stuck. Great idea. I tend to get “unstuck” on long car rides and then I’m scribbling on receipts at the side of the road! I should keep a notebook in the car. Hmmm.
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I love handwriting and yours are not bad at all 🙂
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I still love writing by hand! Although that sample is much neater than most! 😃
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Hi from another A-Z blogger. I enjoyed this post – I love notebooks and use them in tandem with my laptop… I could never give them up and go completely electronic!
Susan A Eames from
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Thanks, Susan! I feel the same way!
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I love this! I sometimes don’t like what my handwriting looks like, but I love seeing the creative process take place from my heart to paper. I scribble a lot! Everywhere. 🙂
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Me too! It can be a mess but it’s a good mess!
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I so so so love notebooks and i feel the same way about them !
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Thank you! Glad you enjoyed!
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☺️💕
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