If You're a Writer There Should Be a Notebook by Your Bedside

There is some advice that when it is given to a writer it leaves them scratching their head as to what it could mean and why someone would go out of their way to tell them something so strange. 

Well, that's how I felt when one of my creative writing teachers told me that one of the best practices I could adopt as a writer was to put a notebook beside my bed and never go a night without it there. 

Well almost 10 years later I've done as he said and it's made a world of difference so now it's time for me to pass this advice on to you.

If you're a writer, there should be a notebook beside your bed.

Most writers know that story ideas can come anywhere at any time. While walking to work, cooking dinner, taking a relaxing shower, and the worst one yet - just as they are about to fade off into the land of dreams and have a good night's sleep. 

There's no need for you to have to jump out of bed and fumble around in the dark or turn on an overly bright light, ruining all chances of going back to your previous state of rest - or worse ruining the rest of your partner or roommate. A notebook by your bedside is the perfect companion for these late-night thoughts. 

This notebook doesn't have to be anything fancy, chances are you already have one lying around just waiting for the opportunity to use it. Or any cheap notebook will do even if it's one you got in a back-to-school sale and it has some cartoon characters on it that you have never heard of. 

You also don't need to spend an extraordinary amount on writing supplies, just a simple pencil or pen that you will be able to scribble your ideas down with, but at the minimum a pen that won't spit ink all over your sheets.  

Even these ideas don't have to be anything clean, fancy, or perfect - one of my favorite routines is waking up in the morning, grabbing my notebook, and rating myself on how close to the lines I was since most of the time I don't bother to turn on a light (or open my eyes) when scribbling these late night ideas.

Last night I managed to write sideways on the page - but it was sort of straight so I gave myself a 6/10. 

Keeping a notebook by your bedside is also a great way to get into the habit of writing down things about your day and things you may need to get done during the next one. This process of late-night unwinding can help improve your sleep by getting you off of your phone and letting all of your thoughts be set aside until the morning. 

If anything it never hurts to give it a try or to keep one beside your bed just in case of that one day where an idea strikes you and you want to commit it to paper as soon as you can before it begins to slip away. 

Best of luck! 

With love, 

B.K. xo xo

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