This is such a refreshing wonderful perspective on writing.
I keep almost all of my ideas in Google Keep. And I label most of my poetry ideas just with the word poem in the title so that I can search poems verses podcast or music ideas and find everything i need when i need it.
Once I finish a once I finish a poem, I put it in a folder titled unpublished if I’m not immediately sending it off for submission. And I have a folder of poetry that has been submitted, and if it gets rejected, it goes back into an unpublished folder. sometimes I have put together a poetry collection where I write all of the poem specifically for the collection, but sometimes I have found a common theme or through line and pulled previously published poems and poems from my unpublished folder.
I tend to work on multiple projects at a time that is just my nature running my own small press and music production studio. So organization has been imperative for me since I started writing classical music at the age of five (so I’ve had a lot of time to practice organization).
I completely relate with Taylor’s process to keep all of her creative integrity, which is why I started my own small press. Specifically so that I could do what I want on my own timeline and if I’m not feeling it, I could take a break. It also works very well for me because when I approach putting together a collection of my poetry into a zine I am able to do what I want without anyone telling me what to do. I can add envelopes into the book with poetry inside or pop-ups and mini books inside the book and I am the one in charge and no one can tell me that I should scale back or do something different.
Taylor’s lyricism and intertextuality always blows me away and sucks me in into a world that I love getting lost in. So I am so excited to be immersed in this workshop.
I even created a taylor Spotify playlist specifically for the evenings I sit down and work on this workshop.
Which note taking app would you, or anyone else here, recommend? I love the concept of a second brain, and have started in notion, but I can never seem to keep it up and it all becomes pretty messy.
Hi Sophie! I have been using google docs for years but I have been really into ONE NOTE specifically. everyons eeems to love notion like you said and it just doesn't work for me. I'm not really sure why :/ I have found that the google docs search function isn't always fool proof but the ONE NOTE one really helps. I love that in one note i can have different notebooks (for example, I have a writer's notebook, a household notebook, a general to-do list notebook,) and then pages within each notebook. I have used the search function and it will find things within any notebook regardless of what notebook I am currently reading. I hope this helps and let us know in the future if you found any new tricks!
Interesting! I use OneNote for work and Notion for my writer stuff. My OneNote at work is literally a second brain and I refer to it all the time, however my notion just never get off the ground. I can't believe I never thought about using OneNote at home, it always felt like a work thing 🤦♀️🤦♀️
maybe because you are familiar with it, that would help. I see it two ways - one is that it's nice to keep the interfaces separate for your brain, and two is that if you're familiar already with notion it gives you a leg up!
This is a great analysis and creative thought thread. I’m very scattered right now writing in multiple genres and feeling like I’m not accomplishing a thing.
i feel your pain; I love writing in different genres and have a lot of related, but different concepts in mind constantly. I love how this second brain system helps keep it all separate, but organized! as John noted below, the search function of this system is the real magic! Thank you for reading :)
Hi, what a nice and informative article you have here! Thank you. As for your first question, I maintain a poetry journal/notebook where I jot down points regarding a particular poem that I have to write so that I know what to include in it. I also write down a list of words that I could use in the poem. While I write the actual poem in Google Docs. My notebook shows what goes into the making of a poem. As for your second question, I mostly write down ideas and metaphors when they strike me. Because otherwise I forget them. Sometimes, I write those ideas in my notebook and sometimes in Google Docs, where I type my poems. I also note important writing prompts whenever I come across any. If I am occupied in a project and I get an idea or a great prompt for another poem, I just write it down for later use. And I generally work on one project at a time. I also sometimes take up older, not up-to-the-mark poems and revamp them based on feedback from peers.
I love this sentence: "My notebook shows what goes into the making of a poem" - that's so beautiful... the behind the scenes of a poem!! wow, now I am inspired :) Yes, you're doing all the things already! Keeping track of your ideas and the places they take you even if you can't use them now. I know I (we all) have forgotten many a brilliant idea because don't keep track. And one thing that happens to artists and writers is we sometimes start to catastrophize and think that this is our "only" or "last" idea, and that's simply not true, ever! Keeping track of our ideas reminds us how abundant our brains are, among other things! Thanks so much fo reading!
SO many good points in this week's lesson. One response from my own practice: I am, as you wrote, digital all the way, for a number of reasons but especially this one: the Search function. If I need to find a phrase from an old essay, or a journal description of how I actually lived through that crisis 20 years ago, I can at least remember a search term and voila, up it pops. (Well, most of the time.) Also, this month's cool-word-I've-always-wanted-to-use: susurrate.
Thank you so much for reading!! I've been an avid journaler and notetaker all my life, and guess what? My "photographic" memory only takes me so far. I can totally "See" the page in my mind, but which notebook is it in? If only journals had a ctrl+f... After learning about this system, my life has been changed!!
I should confess, my digital journal only goes back to 2005. Any further back and I'm totally at the mercy of my wonky memory. That's where Taylor's what-ifs come in!
As someone who's doing the splits between paper and digital (and who types way too slowly with 2 thumbs) a clear system of organisation is essential. Partially sold my soul to Microsoft but it's not as organic as pen and paper. Haven't found the perfect solution but got 2 novels written (but not published). So yes, I need the input! Thank you.
Yes, I still do soo much paper... our brains work differently whether we are typing or handwriting; I don't think I could ever give up my physical notebook. But I am way more careful now to go and type up the notes I'll for sure need later. Congratulations on having written 2 novels!! I have done the same (also unpublished currently) and wow it's a LOT of work!
one of them is historical fiction set in 1950s New York and Paris, France, and one is a speculative/science fiction novel about pop stars. My goal is to query the speculative when it's ready, and revamp the 1950s novel as it was my first, and very much a practice novel. What about you?
This is such a refreshing wonderful perspective on writing.
I keep almost all of my ideas in Google Keep. And I label most of my poetry ideas just with the word poem in the title so that I can search poems verses podcast or music ideas and find everything i need when i need it.
Once I finish a once I finish a poem, I put it in a folder titled unpublished if I’m not immediately sending it off for submission. And I have a folder of poetry that has been submitted, and if it gets rejected, it goes back into an unpublished folder. sometimes I have put together a poetry collection where I write all of the poem specifically for the collection, but sometimes I have found a common theme or through line and pulled previously published poems and poems from my unpublished folder.
I tend to work on multiple projects at a time that is just my nature running my own small press and music production studio. So organization has been imperative for me since I started writing classical music at the age of five (so I’ve had a lot of time to practice organization).
I completely relate with Taylor’s process to keep all of her creative integrity, which is why I started my own small press. Specifically so that I could do what I want on my own timeline and if I’m not feeling it, I could take a break. It also works very well for me because when I approach putting together a collection of my poetry into a zine I am able to do what I want without anyone telling me what to do. I can add envelopes into the book with poetry inside or pop-ups and mini books inside the book and I am the one in charge and no one can tell me that I should scale back or do something different.
Taylor’s lyricism and intertextuality always blows me away and sucks me in into a world that I love getting lost in. So I am so excited to be immersed in this workshop.
I even created a taylor Spotify playlist specifically for the evenings I sit down and work on this workshop.
Which note taking app would you, or anyone else here, recommend? I love the concept of a second brain, and have started in notion, but I can never seem to keep it up and it all becomes pretty messy.
Hi Sophie! I have been using google docs for years but I have been really into ONE NOTE specifically. everyons eeems to love notion like you said and it just doesn't work for me. I'm not really sure why :/ I have found that the google docs search function isn't always fool proof but the ONE NOTE one really helps. I love that in one note i can have different notebooks (for example, I have a writer's notebook, a household notebook, a general to-do list notebook,) and then pages within each notebook. I have used the search function and it will find things within any notebook regardless of what notebook I am currently reading. I hope this helps and let us know in the future if you found any new tricks!
Interesting! I use OneNote for work and Notion for my writer stuff. My OneNote at work is literally a second brain and I refer to it all the time, however my notion just never get off the ground. I can't believe I never thought about using OneNote at home, it always felt like a work thing 🤦♀️🤦♀️
maybe because you are familiar with it, that would help. I see it two ways - one is that it's nice to keep the interfaces separate for your brain, and two is that if you're familiar already with notion it gives you a leg up!
This is a great analysis and creative thought thread. I’m very scattered right now writing in multiple genres and feeling like I’m not accomplishing a thing.
i feel your pain; I love writing in different genres and have a lot of related, but different concepts in mind constantly. I love how this second brain system helps keep it all separate, but organized! as John noted below, the search function of this system is the real magic! Thank you for reading :)
Hi, what a nice and informative article you have here! Thank you. As for your first question, I maintain a poetry journal/notebook where I jot down points regarding a particular poem that I have to write so that I know what to include in it. I also write down a list of words that I could use in the poem. While I write the actual poem in Google Docs. My notebook shows what goes into the making of a poem. As for your second question, I mostly write down ideas and metaphors when they strike me. Because otherwise I forget them. Sometimes, I write those ideas in my notebook and sometimes in Google Docs, where I type my poems. I also note important writing prompts whenever I come across any. If I am occupied in a project and I get an idea or a great prompt for another poem, I just write it down for later use. And I generally work on one project at a time. I also sometimes take up older, not up-to-the-mark poems and revamp them based on feedback from peers.
I love this sentence: "My notebook shows what goes into the making of a poem" - that's so beautiful... the behind the scenes of a poem!! wow, now I am inspired :) Yes, you're doing all the things already! Keeping track of your ideas and the places they take you even if you can't use them now. I know I (we all) have forgotten many a brilliant idea because don't keep track. And one thing that happens to artists and writers is we sometimes start to catastrophize and think that this is our "only" or "last" idea, and that's simply not true, ever! Keeping track of our ideas reminds us how abundant our brains are, among other things! Thanks so much fo reading!
SO many good points in this week's lesson. One response from my own practice: I am, as you wrote, digital all the way, for a number of reasons but especially this one: the Search function. If I need to find a phrase from an old essay, or a journal description of how I actually lived through that crisis 20 years ago, I can at least remember a search term and voila, up it pops. (Well, most of the time.) Also, this month's cool-word-I've-always-wanted-to-use: susurrate.
Thank you so much for reading!! I've been an avid journaler and notetaker all my life, and guess what? My "photographic" memory only takes me so far. I can totally "See" the page in my mind, but which notebook is it in? If only journals had a ctrl+f... After learning about this system, my life has been changed!!
I should confess, my digital journal only goes back to 2005. Any further back and I'm totally at the mercy of my wonky memory. That's where Taylor's what-ifs come in!
As someone who's doing the splits between paper and digital (and who types way too slowly with 2 thumbs) a clear system of organisation is essential. Partially sold my soul to Microsoft but it's not as organic as pen and paper. Haven't found the perfect solution but got 2 novels written (but not published). So yes, I need the input! Thank you.
Yes, I still do soo much paper... our brains work differently whether we are typing or handwriting; I don't think I could ever give up my physical notebook. But I am way more careful now to go and type up the notes I'll for sure need later. Congratulations on having written 2 novels!! I have done the same (also unpublished currently) and wow it's a LOT of work!
Well done! What genre?
one of them is historical fiction set in 1950s New York and Paris, France, and one is a speculative/science fiction novel about pop stars. My goal is to query the speculative when it's ready, and revamp the 1950s novel as it was my first, and very much a practice novel. What about you?
Building a Second Brain sounds great, and I found the audiobook on Spotify!
I hope you enjoy it!! I ended up buying a discount copy once I returned my library book because it was so valuable to me.