The A-Z blogging challenge continues on with the letter I. And with everything going on in my world the ideas for I were rather slim. As I thought about it, idea seemed like the perfect word. Since I started blogging, I have admired those who are able to consistently blog on a daily basis. Where does all that daily inspiration come from?
And how does one effectively capture all those inspiring ideas?
I tend to use the following to capture ideas I have:
1. Notebooks/Journals: I have them in all colors and sizes.
2. Microsoft Office OneNote: an electronic notebook of sort.
And I have learned that I lose ideas when I fail to take a few moments to write them down.
What have you found works for you?
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I’ve had a habit since childhood of keeping a “doodle” pad wherever I go, and I still do that. I have stacks of them now, plus journals. For the last few years, however, I also use my phone to make notes of my thoughts and, of course, to take photos of anything that somehow bring ideas to life for me. Most of my inspiration comes from my interaction with people and ordinary observations as I go along each day. The Bible is a great source for me. It is always relevant to every issue that arise.
It’s interesting to go back and look at all those old notes. Great to see how we have evolved over time.
Before the internet, I tried to keep everything in my mind and try to recollect. Sometimes successful sometimes not. Thank you Wanda for sharing. Blessings.
Yeah, the older I get the less I’m seeing I am able to recollect without some assistance 🙂
Great post! I too have carried a notebook with me since I was a kid. It’s really cool to look back at old journels now and see what I’ve written in them. I still keep a notebook in my purse. I also use evernote.r It has an app for my smart phone that automatically syncs to computer.
I signed up for Evernote but have yet to actually use it much.
I do the same things, although I don’t use OneNote; I have a little file with text documents in it that I stick ideas in.
Like you, if I don’t write it down right away, I forget. Once I was mowing and thought up something great. Of course I didn’t stop, thinking I would remember it. By the time I finished it was gone. Drat!
It seems some of the best ideas pop into my head when I in the midst of doing something totally unrelated.
Blessings and prayers,
andrea
Hi Andrea, blessings to you & yours.
It is really hard to blog about things everyday (hence why I’m only on G of the A-Z Challenge right now!). Is OneNote easy to use? A friend of mine suggested I should use it, but it seemed less convenient than just writing in a notebook / blog.
As well as notebooks / journals, I take photographs and make short videos of interesting things I see (when possible) so that I can remember them more clearly when I finally find time to blog about them. 🙂
Hi Lilia, I like the idea of taking photographs and short videos to use as idea prompts. I have fallen behind on the challenge this year as well. I participated in the very first challenge.
I usually jot my ideas in my notebook/journal as well. Just like you, sometimes I would have ideas pop in my head when I am driving or in the middle of something, whereas I can’t get to my notebook. Sometimes I try remember to write it down later, but sometimes I forget. Blessings to you!!!
For those times a recording device would be handy. But I haven’t really gotten into use those for note taking yet.
It has been a good challenge to blog every day–I’m doing it on two blogs! But it forces me to write every day–I LOVE IT! It’s great to get into the habit as I plan to submit a proposal for a 30-day devotion book. I record my ideas everywhere BUT on the internet–sticky notes of all shapes and sizes, my Bible reading Journal, backs of envelopes, etc. What’s amazing to me is that the vaguest jottings can almost always spur my memory as to what I intended to write about.
Nice blog–I’m glad I found you!
Hi Shelly, wow two blogs on A-Z challenge that is really impressive. I look forward to visiting your blog.
Hello, my friend! I make notes when I think of an idea. Sometimes I just have to sit and think a while. Actually on this year’s challenge, I am doing a serialized story of fiction, adding to it every day and creating as I go. I really enjoyed reading your post today. Now I am on my way to visit with others. Best regards to you. Ruby
Hi Ruby, what a creative way to tackle the challenge this year.
I enjoy journaling, but just like blogging I don’t do it every day. Sometimes it flows out and sometimes, like for some of these A-Z’s it’s definitely been a challenge! But it’s been good for me.
Hi Brenda, I too have those days that I just can’t seem to get the words flowing and I have learned not to really push it.