Could it be magic?
At school I loved the start of term when we got to have new writing books, new pencils, pens, erasers … I always felt a little thrill thinking of all the wonderful things I’d write in those notebooks, the amazing essays and stories that would find their way onto the page. For me, something magical happened with a new notebook. It was as if all the stories I ever wanted to write, full of undiscovered and fascinating things, were already contained in those pages and all I had to do was open the cover and get started. Of course, now I realise it was simply a fresh surge of creativity which came with that belief but, to be truthful, part of me still holds on to that magic.
I love stationery stores and can spend hours just browsing the wonderful array of products. There’s still that little zing whenever I purchase a pristine new notebook and pen - preferably matching and in bright snazzy colours. Part of me still believes that there are amazing stories hidden right deep in the centre of me that will only be unleashed via the pages of that new notebook. Those beliefs worked fine, of course, when I wrote stories on paper, but now I write straight to computer it’s different. Somehow a shiny new blank page glaring at me from the monitor doesn’t hold the same appeal.
Right now I’m between edits on my next release and trying to get back into the WIP but feeling uninspired. Last week there was a sale at my local computer shop and I bought a new wireless mouse, keyboard and mouse mat, wondering if they would have the same appeal, and effect, as a new pen and notebook – would they work their magic in the same way? I even changed the background colour of the computer screen to pale yellow – which apparently stimulates the brain – in the hope it would act like blank pages from a new notebook.
It was fun for a bit, until the novelty of having something new wore off. It wasn’t the same feeling as having that new notebook. But then I’m older and wiser now, and know that writing good stories is down to old-fashioned hard graft, not rituals and brightly colored pens – although I still believe there’s a huge chunk of magic involved. But hard graft aside, I might just pop by the stationery store this lunchtime … there was a nice multistripe notebook in the window that just happened to have my name on … 
Who says you have to write on the computer? If pen and paper work for you, go for it. Many a class novel was written that way…
Kim,
I still get a little rush of pleasure in a stationary store and LOVE journals of any sort. In London, I found the neatest store–The Paper Chase. My friends had to drag me out before I bought one of everything.
I can’t go in the Navy exchange, a drug store, Target, etc. and not walk down the stationery aisle. Oh, all the notebooks, pens, pencils. I love it! I love journals too! I’m always trying to win them.
I write with pen and paper. Can’t bring myself to write on this infernal machine.
When I’m researching a novel, I write my notes with a fountain pen on Circa paper from Levenger’s. Tools make a difference–the fountain pen soothes me in a way other pens don’t, and the quality paper helps keep my notes organized.
Oh, and for you pen nuts, I use three: A Sensa Fountain Pen, a Namiki Retractable and a Cross Townsend. A good pen is a joy.
If you ever want to go to reader and writer heaven, visit the Levenger’s headquarters store in South Florida. But be prepared to spend all day and lots of money on things you didn’t know you needed before you saw them!