Michelle! This was gorgeous! And so timely for me personally - I actually just started a similar notebook after seeing Jordan's posts about it, so you've really had a ripple effect haha. I think it will help me engage more deeply with what I read and will help retain the small "aha" moments that strike me for longer.
I really loved seeing this in both essay form and poem form - so cool to see how you explored the same idea in both. This was a really beautiful piece :)
Ahh I love the idea of us all keeping our little commonplace books! Being able to share bits and pieces of this one in Monday group was so buoying and supportive, I'm so grateful to get to write with you all 🤍
My grandpa called his a common book, and I’ve been keeping one for years. Mine are mostly quotes, or words I love, and sometimes phone numbers or addresses. My biggest lesson from Yoda this year has been to just start writing, and I’m still terrified of getting started on it every time I sit down to do it. You keep taking up space, my friend. Your writing is too important!
You've been keeping one for years!! Your grandpa had one! I love all of this and now I'm desperate for sneak peeks into everyone's notebooks 😂 And that advice from Yoda ... man, I needed that. Thank you thank you, friend 🤍
The way I GASPED with joy when I saw a new essay from you!!! 🫶 Thanks to you introducing me to commonplace books a few weeks ago, I’ve tentatively started using mine, feeling truly wrong in using entire pages to occupy a single quote. It’s become my own personal practice of taking up space, where I usually feel like I have to use up every line with cramped writing to ensure I’m making the most of the journal. The brilliant theme that you pulled through here of “mess” is so relatable.
This was so good Michelle. I remember you reading the first bit of it a few weeks ago on a Monday morning and have been eager to hear the rest ever since! I love love the idea of being willing to follow the heat, especially when you don't feel in control or have a plan. I feel like for me it takes a while for me to get into a state where I allow myself to be messy or really play with my creativity. And maybe it's a practice like you said. Thanks for inspiring me! I love the idea of keeping a notebook for this - "a container to hold my chaotic nectar—an unorganized mix of excerpts, interesting facts, writing exercises, and observations that hum." 💛
I can totally relate, about it taking a while to get to a place of being able to get messy creatively. I really notice how the more distant/cerebral work of planning, outlining, organizing, etc. just feels sooo much safer and more comfortable to me than diving in without a roadmap. I'm hoping to practice the messy part more in the new year and build that muscle—though I keep having to stop myself from turning THAT into some over-structured plan 😂
Thank you so much for reading, Makayla. And I'd love to hear if you do end up starting some sort of commonplace book!
Michelle! This was gorgeous! And so timely for me personally - I actually just started a similar notebook after seeing Jordan's posts about it, so you've really had a ripple effect haha. I think it will help me engage more deeply with what I read and will help retain the small "aha" moments that strike me for longer.
I really loved seeing this in both essay form and poem form - so cool to see how you explored the same idea in both. This was a really beautiful piece :)
Ahh I love the idea of us all keeping our little commonplace books! Being able to share bits and pieces of this one in Monday group was so buoying and supportive, I'm so grateful to get to write with you all 🤍
I feel the same way! I can’t wait to read more of your longer pieces 🥰
My grandpa called his a common book, and I’ve been keeping one for years. Mine are mostly quotes, or words I love, and sometimes phone numbers or addresses. My biggest lesson from Yoda this year has been to just start writing, and I’m still terrified of getting started on it every time I sit down to do it. You keep taking up space, my friend. Your writing is too important!
You've been keeping one for years!! Your grandpa had one! I love all of this and now I'm desperate for sneak peeks into everyone's notebooks 😂 And that advice from Yoda ... man, I needed that. Thank you thank you, friend 🤍
The way I GASPED with joy when I saw a new essay from you!!! 🫶 Thanks to you introducing me to commonplace books a few weeks ago, I’ve tentatively started using mine, feeling truly wrong in using entire pages to occupy a single quote. It’s become my own personal practice of taking up space, where I usually feel like I have to use up every line with cramped writing to ensure I’m making the most of the journal. The brilliant theme that you pulled through here of “mess” is so relatable.
Taking! 👏 Up! 👏 Space! 👏 I love it so much, especially as a sneaky way to push yourself.
And thank you so much for reading, and for the sweet and encouraging comment 🫶🏻 it means so much!
This was so good Michelle. I remember you reading the first bit of it a few weeks ago on a Monday morning and have been eager to hear the rest ever since! I love love the idea of being willing to follow the heat, especially when you don't feel in control or have a plan. I feel like for me it takes a while for me to get into a state where I allow myself to be messy or really play with my creativity. And maybe it's a practice like you said. Thanks for inspiring me! I love the idea of keeping a notebook for this - "a container to hold my chaotic nectar—an unorganized mix of excerpts, interesting facts, writing exercises, and observations that hum." 💛
I can totally relate, about it taking a while to get to a place of being able to get messy creatively. I really notice how the more distant/cerebral work of planning, outlining, organizing, etc. just feels sooo much safer and more comfortable to me than diving in without a roadmap. I'm hoping to practice the messy part more in the new year and build that muscle—though I keep having to stop myself from turning THAT into some over-structured plan 😂
Thank you so much for reading, Makayla. And I'd love to hear if you do end up starting some sort of commonplace book!
Fabulous writer, thank you. I wish I could afford to subscribe. Sincerely, gratitude for sharing.
Thank so you much Faith, that means a lot.