Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
All right.
So you know how much we alllove to just dive deep into
things and really get to thecore of how to do stuff better.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
So today we're going
to we're going to tackle
something that that's reallyfundamental, I think, for anyone
who's into creative writing,and that's that's the the good
old fashioned journal notebook.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Yeah, the classic,
the essential.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Exactly, and and
we've been looking at some
really interesting stuff aboutthis Exactly, and we've been
looking at some reallyinteresting stuff about this you
know specifically how awell-designed journal can
actually like make a difference.
You know like one of thoseLestallion ones, Right.
So what we want to do today isreally dig into why having a
dedicated notebook for yourwriting is not just like a nice
(00:40):
thing to have, it's likeactually a game changer.
It can be.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Oh yeah For getting
those ideas down, keeping them
and and really like refiningyour craft.
Yeah, and you know it's it's soimportant these days because we
are so like digitally focused,you know totally and there's
something really powerful abouthaving that, that physical space
right to put your thoughts down, especially with something like
creative writing, where it's sopersonal, it's so nuanced.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
It's like you're
creating a sanctuary for your
ideas.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Exactly yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
You know.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Think about it.
How many times have you hadlike this amazing line for a
poem, or this brilliant plottwist, or like a really vivid
description of a character?
Speaker 1 (01:18):
Oh, all the time.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
And then you don't
write it down and it just
vanishes.
Oof gone.
Gone and it's so frustrating.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
The worst.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
So a dedicated
journal.
It's right there, it's ready,it's that anchor.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
It's like your safety
net.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Yes, and not just any
notebook.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Right the quality of
the paper.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Oh yeah, that matters
.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
The durability.
You want to know that thoseideas are going to be there for
you to revisit later like a timecapsule, almost exactly and
that all feeds into a bettercreative experience you know,
you just reminded me of a friendof mine.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
He's a playwright
okay and he's like overflowing
with ideas constantly, likebrilliant scenes and dialogue
just popping into his head.
I know the type right and heused to scribble them down
anywhere, like napkins receipts,I know, and of course he'd lose
half of them Of course.
It was a disaster, but then hefinally got himself a dedicated
notebook.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Good for him.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
Something really nice
, you know, and it was like a
turning point.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Really.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Yeah, he started
actually developing those little
sparks into full scenes andthen, you know, plays.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
I love that.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
It's amazing, and you
know the thing about durability
too.
Yeah, it's like you want anotebook that feels like it can
handle your creative energy.
You know like you can toss itin your bag, take it everywhere,
fill it up, and it's stillgoing to be there years later.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
It becomes part of
your journey as a writer.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
Absolutely A record
of all those ideas and struggles
and triumphs.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Speaking of struggles
, yeah, what's inevitable for
every writer at some point.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
Oh, you mean writer's
block?
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
And this is where the
journal becomes more than just
a place to store ideas.
It becomes a tool.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
Okay, how so?
Speaker 2 (02:55):
It can actually help
you break through those blocks.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
Really.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Yeah, there are
specific techniques you can use,
like free writing.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
Yeah, have you ever
tried that?
Speaker 2 (03:01):
uh, I think I've
dabbled in it so you just let
your thoughts flow onto the page.
No editing, no judgment, justpure stream of consciousness
sounds kind of scary, but alsofreeing it is, it can be really
liberating.
And then there are prompts.
You can use prompts, yeah, likelittle starting points to get
your imagination going like,what kind of prompts?
Well.
We saw some examples likedescribe a moment that changed
(03:23):
your life or create a dialoguebetween two unlikely characters.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
Oh, that's cool.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Yeah, and these are
just random exercises.
They're designed to kind ofpush your thinking in new
directions.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
To make those
unexpected connections.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
It's like having a
brainstorming buddy who never
gets tired.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
That's a great way to
put it and someone who never
criticizes you.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
That's key,
especially when you're just
starting out with an idea.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Right.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
It can feel so
fragile.
You know you need that safespace to experiment without
feeling judged.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Absolutely.
And the more you write, evenwhen you don't feel inspired,
the stronger you become as awriter.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
It's like working out
a muscle the more you use it,
the more resilient it gets, youknow.
It makes me think about thoselistallion journals.
They have that really thickpaper right, the 120 gsm oh yeah
so you can write with like anypen you want and no bleeding
through, which is a huge plusfor me yeah, and they have those
dashed lines too.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Oh yeah, I love that
like the perfect balance of
structure without feeling toorestrictive you can just let
your thoughts flow.
And even sketch or outline plotpoints.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
It's so versatile.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
It really is.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
And you know when
you're choosing a journal for
creative writing.
These little details really domatter.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
They make a big
difference.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
The quality of the
paper.
Like we said, it affects how itfeels to write.
Absolutely, and you can usedifferent fountain pens, you
know, without worrying about theink going everywhere.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
And it helps preserve
your work in the long run.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
Right, because this
is your legacy.
We're talking about.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Exactly, and the
strong binding is super
important too.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Oh yeah, you don't
want it falling apart after a
few weeks.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
And a nice cover like
a soft faux leather one.
It's not just about looks,though.
It makes it more comfortable tohold.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
It feels special.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
And that can actually
make you more likely to want to
write.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
It's psychological,
you know.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
It is, it can really
enhance the whole experience.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
And what about
organizational features?
Speaker 2 (05:10):
Oh yeah, those are
essential for some people.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
Like a table of
contents.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
Yes, Especially if
you're working on a longer
project like a novel or ascreenplay.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
Or if you have
multiple projects going at once.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
You can quickly find
what you're looking for without
having to flip through 100 pages.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
Save so much time and
frustration.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
And a back pocket for
those loose scraps of paper.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
Oh my gosh yes.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
You know how many
ideas end up on random bits of
paper.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
And then they
disappear forever.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Exactly, but with a
dedicated pocket you can keep
everything together.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
Inspiration clippings
, research notes all in one
place.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
It's so convenient
and you know, it's these kinds
of features that make journalslike the Listallion stand out.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
Yeah, they're really
designed with writers in mind.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
Like even the number
of pages.
Some of them have 211 numberedpages.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
That's a lot of space
for ideas.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
Plenty of room to
explore.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
It's really
impressive when you think about
it.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
It's all about having
the right tools to support the
creative process.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
Not just any old
notebook.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
Right, it's about
having a tool that's
specifically designed to helpyou write better.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
And sometimes it's
those little details that make
all the difference.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
They really can.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
You know, it reminds
me of my cousin.
She was trying to write herfirst screenplay.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Oh, wow.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
And she had all these
ideas, but she was struggling
to organize them.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
That could be
overwhelming.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
It totally was for
her.
She felt like she was drowningin her own ideas.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
I can relate to that.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
So she decided to try
using a listallion journal.
Oh and she said, the firstthing she noticed was how nice
the cover felt.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
That soft faux
leather.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Yeah, it felt less
intimidating than the sketchbook
she had been using, interesting, and she started just jotting
down scenes and character ideason those dashed lines and she
said the lines helped her keepher writing neat but without
feeling restricted.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
It's that perfect
balance.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
Right, and because
the paper was so thick, she
could even make notes in themargins.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Without it showing
through on the other side.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Exactly which can be
so distracting?
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Totally.
And then, as her screenplaystarted coming together, she
said the table of contents was alifesaver.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
For keeping track of
everything.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Yeah, all the plot
lines and character arcs.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
And the back pocket
became her research hub, all her
notes and articles and stuff.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
It's like having a
built-in filing system.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
It is, and she
actually finished a draft in
like eight months.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
That's amazing.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
I know and she
credits a lot of that to having
that organized, writer-friendlyjournal.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
It helped her stay
focused and feel less
overwhelmed.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
It's such a good
example of how the right tools
can empower you.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
Absolutely.
They can make the whole processso much smoother.
And you know it makes me thinkabout some practical advice for
our listeners.
Yeah, how can people actuallyuse a creative writing journal
to get the most out of it?
Speaker 1 (07:46):
Well, I think having
a consistent writing routine is
key.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
I agree, even if it's
just for a few minutes each day
.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
It makes a huge
difference over time.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
It's like making a
date with your creativity.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
I love that, and
don't forget about prompts.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
Oh yeah, those are so
useful.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
They can help you
overcome writer's block, but
they can also just be a fun wayto spark new ideas.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
We mentioned a few
earlier, like writing a letter
to your future self or imagininga world without gravity.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
Oh yeah, those are
good ones.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
They really get you
thinking outside the box.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
And I think it's
important to experiment with
different writing styles in yourjournal too.
Don't feel like you have tostick to just prose.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
You can write poetry,
you can sketch, you can do
whatever feels right in themoment.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
It's all part of the
creative process.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
And having a
comfortable writing environment
is so important too.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Oh yeah, like a cozy
corner with good lighting.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Or your favorite
music playing.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
Maybe a cup of tea.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Those little rituals
can really help you get into the
writing mindset.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
They signal to your
brain that it's time to create.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Exactly, and don't
forget to go back and reread
your old entries.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
That's something I
need to do more often.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
It's so valuable.
You can see how your ideas haveevolved.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
And you might even
get inspired by something you
wrote months or years ago.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
It's like having a
conversation with your past self
.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
My grandmother used
to say that she kept journals
her whole life.
Oh wow, and she would always goback and reread them.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
And she would find
new ideas.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Yeah, it was like a
treasure trove of inspiration.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
That's beautiful and
you know when you really commit
to these practices.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
The benefits of
journaling for creative writing
become so clear.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
You start to see the
results.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
You notice that your
thinking is clearer.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
Your writing is more
focused.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
You're more present
in the moment.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
More connected to
your creativity.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
And, of course, your
creativity flourishes.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
Because you have that
safe space to explore without
judgment.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
Exactly, and it can
even help you solve problems.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
Really.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
Yeah, when you're
stuck on something in your
writing.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
Like a plot point or
a character motivation.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Sometimes just
writing it out in your journal
can help you see things from anew perspective.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
It can unlock those
creative blocks.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
And, of course,
having a well-designed journal
like the Listallion can make thewhole experience even better.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
Yeah, it's all about
having the right tools.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
You know, it's
interesting to think about all
the different types of notebooksout there.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
Yeah, there are so
many options.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
You have Mlaskins,
which are classic and portable,
but paper can be a little thin.
Yeah, some people don't likethat.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
And then you have
bullet journals which are super
flexible.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
But they're more for
organization than creative
writing.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
And then there are
those fancy planners like Aaron
Condren.
Which are beautiful, but again,not really designed for
freeform writing.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
So what makes a
journal?
Speaker 2 (10:29):
like the Lestallion,
stand out.
What's the attention to detail?
Speaker 1 (10:31):
Yeah, they really
thought about what writers need.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
The thick paper, the
comfortable cover.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
The table of contents
.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
The back pocket.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
It's all there.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
So for someone who's
listening to this and thinking,
I want to start journaling.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
Or maybe they used to
journal and they want to get
back into it.
Speaker 1 (10:46):
What advice would you
give them?
Speaker 2 (10:47):
Well, first of all,
choose a high quality journal
that feels good to you.
And based on what we've beentalking about, a listallion
would be a great option.
It really would Then set somerealistic goals for yourself.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
Don't try to do too
much at once.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
Maybe start with 15
minutes of writing each day.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
Or focus on
developing one new character
idea each week.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
The key is to be
consistent.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Make it a habit.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
And don't be afraid
to experiment.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
Try different prompts
, different writing styles.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
Just let your
creativity flow.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
And, most importantly
, celebrate your progress.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
Look back at how far
you've come.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
And give yourself
credit for all the effort you're
putting in.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
Because you're doing
great.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
You know, at the end
of the day, what we've really
learned today is that adedicated journal, it's not just
a blank book.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
It's so much more
than that.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
It's a tool that can
help you unlock your creative
potential.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
It can help you
overcome challenges.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
It can help you build
a consistent writing practice.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
It can change your
life.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
So I want you to
think about this what stories
are you waiting to tell?
Speaker 2 (11:48):
What ideas are you
holding back?
Speaker 1 (11:50):
Maybe all you need is
a journal.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
And a little bit of
time.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
To start bringing
those stories to life.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
To unleash your
creativity.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
That's something to
think about.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
It is food for
thought.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
And until next time,
keep exploring those creative
depths.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
Happy writing.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
See you later.