If you're like me, or most writers/artists/creative people in general, then you have dozens upon dozens of gorgeous notebooks.

And all of them are completely empty on the inside.

I don't know why notebook hoarding is such a common writing habit, but it makes perfect sense to me because I spent 40 bucks on this notebook, and it's too pretty for me to ruin by writing something garbage it in, so it's going to sit in my closet forever because that's a perfect plan.

BUT WHAT IF YOU ACTUALLY STARTED USING THOSE NOTEBOOKS???

Crazy. I know.

But then I actually started doing it, and I discovered that the only thing more satisfying than a giant pile of blank notebooks is a pile of FILLED notebooks.

Don't get me wrong though, there are tons I still have no idea what to do with, but after searching the internet high and low, watching dozens of repetitive "Fill your notebook" videos and reading articles on the same topic, I have found some actual interesting ways to fill them, and most of them, ironically enough, were my own ideas, because after awhile you just get sick of hearing about bullet journals.

So here are some of the ways I've been using my notebooks! I like to think some of them might be particularly helpful for artists/writers, so tell me what you think!

1. Art Journal

I'm not sure what the exact title of this books should be, but it's my favorite one so we're starting with it. I got a fancy leather journal from Barnes and Noble, and since it was so pretty, I felt like I needed to put something equally pretty on the actual pages. So I've been writing down quotes from people/movies/books that I like, and pairing them with little drawings. I'm not the most artistic person in the world (I mean come on, I've seen the fanart. I am not artistically gifted), so I've been sticking to simpler doodles I've seen on Pinterest (a lot of the quotes are from there too, I'm Pinterest trash). But with just a little work, I think you can make a beautiful notebook.

2. Story Notebook

Writing a book is HARD. Anyone who thinks differently is lying. You need to figure out who your characters are, what the setting is, what the PLOT is. There are a lot of details that go into it, especially if you're writing fantasy and need to world build. I think this notebook is a good method for world building, actually. 

What I did was devote a notebook entirely to one story, and proceeded to fill it with stuff related to the book (the one in the pictures is specifically dedicated to the idea of me making an original story based on Ander) so I filled it with pictures, facts, quotes, and anything I thought would relate to Ander or the other characters or the world. I think it helps you get a better sense of what your characters are interested in, and what your world is really like. I started this notebook on a day where I just went to the library. For hours. And I sat there reading books on topics I thought Ander would like and writing down quotes from them that I thought she would be interested in or just ones I liked, and honestly, this has become my favorite notebook I have.

3. Character/OC book

We've all seen the lists of basic details everybody should know about their character. Hair color, eye color, height, etc. So I decided to compile all the information into one book. Well, I did kinda do something a little different with this one too. If you've read my book Wrong Side of the Law, you'll know it's centered around crime, so I decided to make rap sheets/criminal records for all of the characters. It helps me sort out all the details of what they look like, who I would cast in a movie version of the story, and who they know/have ties to in the book. But also the crimes they've committed. Pretty sure the government is watching my computer after all the things I had to google about the penalty for hacking and the different types of murder charges, but oh well. I had fun with this book, and maybe it can help you figure out more details about your OCs.

4. Newspaper clippings.

Do your parents still get a newspaper or magazines? If so, this one can be fun. I had a really fancy journal that I knew my handwriting was too messy for me to write in it, so I started skimming the newspaper and the magazines we get at my house (NOTE: WAIT UNTIL EVERYONE'S DONE USING SAID MAGAZINE/NEWSPAPER FIRST) and then I cut out pictures or quotes I liked, and glued them in the notebook. It's interesting to see the words and pictures you can pair together from different places.

5. Writing stuff

This is my oldest and most chaotic notebook. Basically, if you have an idea for a story or a book or anything really, put it in this journal. Scribble down all the details you want to remember, the characters, the soundtrack for the movie, everything. This is a place to brain dump every idea you've ever had onto so that way you don't have to worry about forgetting them. You'd be amazed how crowded your brain can feel with a ton of ideas, so this is a good way to get them all down on paper, and it can be as sloppy as you want. I also recommend using a notebook that has one of those amazing little pocket on the back cover because then you can take all the ideas you scribble in the margins of your homework and fold them up in the pocket too. I'm really pushing that pocket's limits at this point....

6. Writing prompts/one sentence stories

Sometimes there will be a writing tip or something that you like- mine is one sentence stories. I found a journal with what I felt was a one sentence story on the cover, so I decided to just fill the book with them. Maybe I'll be able to use them as story prompts, who knows. You can really fill a notebook with anything.

7.  Mementos/Scrapbook

I'll admit that I got this one from a list. This is a notebook where you put ticket stubs, pictures, anything you want to remember something. Also, you can write out specific stories or events you want to remember, like a fun little scrapbook for good times.

8. Everywhere notebook

The one thing all writers who give advice seem to agree on, or at least, from what I've seen, is that they all think you should carry a notebook around with you at all times. And I LOVE this idea. You should totally carry a notebook of some kind around and write down random things that inspire you, things you notice throughout your day or things you overhear that you want to remember, little ideas or interesting things- whatever you want. But, let's be realistic here. Carrying a notebook around is not always ideal, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE TINY OR NONEXISTENT GIRL PANTS POCKETS GAAAHHHH. And I know from experience that it's easier to write little things down in the Notes app of your phone, but I'm trying. There's a notebook in my backpack at all times, and I'm starting to switch from the Notes App to the notebook, or at least transferring the notes I make to the notebook. I think it'll be an idea I use more when I'm older and carry a purse or something. (Because honestly, I'll have to carry a purse. Girls' clothes do not have enough space for me to carry my necessary objects on me at all times, and there are a lot of them, you know the ones. Notebook, pens, salt, holy water, and silver in case of shapeshifters and demons,bobby pins for picking locks, extra cash, the usual stuff)

I think that's all the ideas I have, but if you need more, I know there are hundreds of other ideas out there like diaries, bullet journals, travel journals, actual art journals full of drawings, quotes journals, and more, but I hoped some of these ideas inspired you!