WE HELP BALANCE THE NARRATIVE
Make sure you read all the instructions before you get started. There are places where you might want to adjust your design to make it more personalized for you. Also, pocket folders are a neat way to keep organized. We give instructions on where to put them at the bottom, but some users love to create them between each section so everything stays together. This will make more sense when you read how they are used below.
INTERACTIVE WRITER'S NOTEBOOK KIT
Technology has become a game-changer for writers. But all the time, it's just not convenient or easy to add important information to a file on a computer, phone, or tablet. You have to make sure you have good reception, your phone is charged, and know your content is saved without fearing technological glitches. And for teen writers at school, you don't want to get caught in class with your phone out if there's a no-phone rule in place.
There's an easier way for writers to to stay organized without all the tech worries writers-on-the-go sometimes experience. A Writer's Notebook (or two) to create storytelling magic! Notebooks are a handy, easy to carry, purse/backpack-friendly, and affordable way to jot down character details, ideas, plots, notes, random thoughts, lyrics, pitches, and more, all in one place, without needing to rely on technology.
Here, we explain how to put together an interactive Writer's Notebook. One side is writing and the other side is for storing resources, networking, research information and more.
There's an easier way for writers to to stay organized without all the tech worries writers-on-the-go sometimes experience. A Writer's Notebook (or two) to create storytelling magic! Notebooks are a handy, easy to carry, purse/backpack-friendly, and affordable way to jot down character details, ideas, plots, notes, random thoughts, lyrics, pitches, and more, all in one place, without needing to rely on technology.
Here, we explain how to put together an interactive Writer's Notebook. One side is writing and the other side is for storing resources, networking, research information and more.
Writer's Notebook
Notebook #1 - Outside Cover
Label and decorate the outside with drawings, stickers, crafts and flair. Make sure it's a creative reflection of you, but also make sure it's easy to identify as the Writing side and that it is highly visible on the cover.
Inside Panel
Organization: These arrow tabs are an easy way to mark a page you want to easily go back to. They're affordable and convenient and won't make your notebook bulky. Just remove the packaging, then hot glue the entire pack to the top of the panel. When you need one, peel one!
Storage: Under the arrow tabs, glue one A7 size envelope onto the panel. In it, I would store things like business cards that I might collect in a day, maybe a few dollars if I'm going somewhere to write and do not want to carry a purse or backpack, or maybe my library card for the day. It's your notebook! Store whatever you want to in it.
Quick Tip: To secure the envelope closed, of course you can fold the flap into the envelope like old school. Or, you can adhere some VELCRO adhesive or other adhesive tabs to the little point on the flap and onto the envelope to make sure the flap stays securely fastened, especially if you're going to store money inside.
Pages 1-6
Table of Contents: On the very first six pages, front and back, of your notebook, write Writing Table of Contents in bold ink on the very top line of each page. Use these pages to number or color-code your notebook. You will be able to easily and quickly flip to the pages you need.
Quick Tip: Don't waste any paper by skipping the backs of pages. Use every page, front and back of your notebook.
Page 7
Start writing!
Label and decorate the outside with drawings, stickers, crafts and flair. Make sure it's a creative reflection of you, but also make sure it's easy to identify as the Writing side and that it is highly visible on the cover.
Inside Panel
Organization: These arrow tabs are an easy way to mark a page you want to easily go back to. They're affordable and convenient and won't make your notebook bulky. Just remove the packaging, then hot glue the entire pack to the top of the panel. When you need one, peel one!
Storage: Under the arrow tabs, glue one A7 size envelope onto the panel. In it, I would store things like business cards that I might collect in a day, maybe a few dollars if I'm going somewhere to write and do not want to carry a purse or backpack, or maybe my library card for the day. It's your notebook! Store whatever you want to in it.
Quick Tip: To secure the envelope closed, of course you can fold the flap into the envelope like old school. Or, you can adhere some VELCRO adhesive or other adhesive tabs to the little point on the flap and onto the envelope to make sure the flap stays securely fastened, especially if you're going to store money inside.
Pages 1-6
Table of Contents: On the very first six pages, front and back, of your notebook, write Writing Table of Contents in bold ink on the very top line of each page. Use these pages to number or color-code your notebook. You will be able to easily and quickly flip to the pages you need.
Quick Tip: Don't waste any paper by skipping the backs of pages. Use every page, front and back of your notebook.
Page 7
Start writing!
- Journaling
- Drafting
- Developing Stories
- Creating Poetry
- Developing Characters
- Outlining Plots
- Arranging Scenes
- Charting Settings
- Other
Research Notebook
Notebook #2 - Outside Cover
Label and decorate the outside with drawings, stickers, crafts and flair. Make sure it's a creative reflection of you, but also make sure it's easy to identify as the Research side and that it is highly visible on the cover.
Inside Panel
Print out this list of Literary Terms as a reference to make your stories and characters stand out. Tape or glue it to the inside panel. Make a frame around it if you choose.
Quick Tip: Check here for other downloadable freebies that can make your writing more engaging!
Pages 1-4
Table of Contents: On the first four pages of your notebook (front and back), write Research Table of Contents on the top line of each page in bold ink. Use these pages to number or color-code your notebook so you will be able to easily and quickly flip to the pages you need.
Note: we don't want to waste any paper, so when we refer to pages, we are referring to the front and back of a single page, so that would mean two pages.
Page 5
About Me: This would be a great space to practice writing your professional writer's bio. Challenge yourself to write several versions of the same bio in different word counts. Decorate with drawings and stickers. Ex:
[insert example]
Quick Tip: We encourage using pencil. Revisions are cleaner.
Page 6
Favorite Things: On the back of page five, write My Favorite Things at the top of the page. On this page, write all your favorite authors, books, magazines, poem titles, song titles, album covers, besties, high schools, colleges, universities, anything you consider a favorite!
Pages 7-10
Affirmations: On the top of this and the next four pages, front and back, write My Writing and Creative Affirmations in bold ink. On these pages, each day try to journal one line of what you want to manifest in your life as a writer or creative. Every day, read one of those lines then add another affirmation to it. Ex:
7/1/2018: I will join a writing organization for teens.
7/2/2018: By the time I am 25, I will have written at least one, three-act play.
Page 11
Goals. Download this S.M.A.R.T. Goals Worksheet and tape or glue it to the page. Then, use it to help you map out your goals. Revise or rework them as you need to.
Quick Tip: It would be good to write these in pencil.
Page 12
Reflections. On this page, reflect on the progress of the goals you wrote down on page 11.
Quick Tip: Write these in pen for a permanent reminder of how you felt when you reflected.
Pages 13-16
Resources. Write this label at the top of the next four, full blank pages. On these pages is where you can write web addresses, social media tags, book titles, resource titles, magazine titles, etc., so you can refer back to them later.
Pages 17-20
Think Tank. Write Think Tank at the top of the next four pages. On these pages, you'll write down all your thoughts, ideas, quotes you come across and want to remember, or just doodles.
Label and decorate the outside with drawings, stickers, crafts and flair. Make sure it's a creative reflection of you, but also make sure it's easy to identify as the Research side and that it is highly visible on the cover.
Inside Panel
Print out this list of Literary Terms as a reference to make your stories and characters stand out. Tape or glue it to the inside panel. Make a frame around it if you choose.
Quick Tip: Check here for other downloadable freebies that can make your writing more engaging!
Pages 1-4
Table of Contents: On the first four pages of your notebook (front and back), write Research Table of Contents on the top line of each page in bold ink. Use these pages to number or color-code your notebook so you will be able to easily and quickly flip to the pages you need.
Note: we don't want to waste any paper, so when we refer to pages, we are referring to the front and back of a single page, so that would mean two pages.
Page 5
About Me: This would be a great space to practice writing your professional writer's bio. Challenge yourself to write several versions of the same bio in different word counts. Decorate with drawings and stickers. Ex:
[insert example]
Quick Tip: We encourage using pencil. Revisions are cleaner.
Page 6
Favorite Things: On the back of page five, write My Favorite Things at the top of the page. On this page, write all your favorite authors, books, magazines, poem titles, song titles, album covers, besties, high schools, colleges, universities, anything you consider a favorite!
Pages 7-10
Affirmations: On the top of this and the next four pages, front and back, write My Writing and Creative Affirmations in bold ink. On these pages, each day try to journal one line of what you want to manifest in your life as a writer or creative. Every day, read one of those lines then add another affirmation to it. Ex:
7/1/2018: I will join a writing organization for teens.
7/2/2018: By the time I am 25, I will have written at least one, three-act play.
Page 11
Goals. Download this S.M.A.R.T. Goals Worksheet and tape or glue it to the page. Then, use it to help you map out your goals. Revise or rework them as you need to.
Quick Tip: It would be good to write these in pencil.
Page 12
Reflections. On this page, reflect on the progress of the goals you wrote down on page 11.
Quick Tip: Write these in pen for a permanent reminder of how you felt when you reflected.
Pages 13-16
Resources. Write this label at the top of the next four, full blank pages. On these pages is where you can write web addresses, social media tags, book titles, resource titles, magazine titles, etc., so you can refer back to them later.
Pages 17-20
Think Tank. Write Think Tank at the top of the next four pages. On these pages, you'll write down all your thoughts, ideas, quotes you come across and want to remember, or just doodles.
Page 21
Research: Start your work here. Use the rest of the notebook (except maybe the last 16 pages) to write research notes or jot whatever you need to for character research, plot development, social, cultural, historical and other anthropological research, subject-specific research (medical, legal, pathological, financial, psychological, etc.).
Research: Start your work here. Use the rest of the notebook (except maybe the last 16 pages) to write research notes or jot whatever you need to for character research, plot development, social, cultural, historical and other anthropological research, subject-specific research (medical, legal, pathological, financial, psychological, etc.).
Word Hoard
A Word Hoard is your own, personalized dictionary of new vocabulary that you can include in your writing or that your characters can use as their dialogue. In your Interactive Writer's Notebook, it goes in the very back. Here is how you arrange it:
Start where the back two panels meet. On the Resources notebook, on that last page, turn the notebook landscape and write Word Hoard in the center, across the top, in bold ink.
Then, make four columns across. Label them as follows:
Word. Write the word.
Part of Speech/Etymology. Write whether the word is/can be used as a noun, verb, adjective, or adverb. Then, write the etymology. This means, where did the word derive, or come from?
This is important because if one of your characters uses this word and, let's pretend your character is French, your readers might connect with the character even better if they read that he or she is using authentic language.
On the other hand, if you don't do this, it could verify for your readers that you didn't do your research and that there is no way a character from XX would use a colloquialism from XX.
Definition. Look the word up in a credible dictionary and write it down.
Example from literature, film, or a song. This will show you how to accurately use the word in context.
Fill this page, then flip it up and write on the back, coming down from the top to the bottom. Ex.:
[insert example]
Start where the back two panels meet. On the Resources notebook, on that last page, turn the notebook landscape and write Word Hoard in the center, across the top, in bold ink.
Then, make four columns across. Label them as follows:
- Word
- Part of Speech/Etymology
- Definition
- Example from literature, film, or a song
Word. Write the word.
Part of Speech/Etymology. Write whether the word is/can be used as a noun, verb, adjective, or adverb. Then, write the etymology. This means, where did the word derive, or come from?
This is important because if one of your characters uses this word and, let's pretend your character is French, your readers might connect with the character even better if they read that he or she is using authentic language.
On the other hand, if you don't do this, it could verify for your readers that you didn't do your research and that there is no way a character from XX would use a colloquialism from XX.
Definition. Look the word up in a credible dictionary and write it down.
Example from literature, film, or a song. This will show you how to accurately use the word in context.
Fill this page, then flip it up and write on the back, coming down from the top to the bottom. Ex.:
[insert example]
Organization
Pocket Folders are a great way to store information on additional pages without having to tote around a folder! Make pocket folders to hold the following:
[put example here]
- Handouts
- Worksheets
- Interview notes
- Other
[put example here]
Final Tips:
1. Make sure that you date each page daily on the top left or right corner so you can easily identify what you wrote and when.
2. Pages are front and back. Don't waste paper. So, page 1, then the back of page 1 is page 2.
3. All attachments should be taped, stapled or glued inside the notebook.
4. Cut papers to make them fit. No pages hanging over or folded and tucked between pages. You might lose some vital information.
That's it! Enjoy your Interactive Writer's Notebook!
1. Make sure that you date each page daily on the top left or right corner so you can easily identify what you wrote and when.
2. Pages are front and back. Don't waste paper. So, page 1, then the back of page 1 is page 2.
3. All attachments should be taped, stapled or glued inside the notebook.
4. Cut papers to make them fit. No pages hanging over or folded and tucked between pages. You might lose some vital information.
That's it! Enjoy your Interactive Writer's Notebook!
How to Assemble Your Interactive Writer's Notebook
Instructional Video
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