I think every single creative should read this post, I really hope your writing and thoughts get the exposure they deserve. You’ve taken all the things from my head and put them into this post…have you read Big Magic?
When I was able-bodied, I always had the desire to write and to draw but my perfectionism wouldn’t allow me. Now I have more time and a lot more time alone, I started to seek out other artists (mainly on TikTok & YouTube) who had the same fears and they showed how they overcome the fear of ruining something.
I have found stickers and swatching are my new best friends!! The first few pages I just test out new materials or old materials in a new way, once the page is full of colours and patterns somehow the sketchbook/journal becomes accessible.
I also believe language plays a big part…I like to scribble, doodle, play and make mess. When I approach it like that, it’s like I’m a kid again just having some fun 😊
You’ve brought up lots of internal thoughts and I’m super grateful for that 😊
I have not read Big Magic! Definitely looks right up my alley!! ++ yes I always place a big sticker on the first page of my new journals, I find it really takes the pressure off!!
100% relatable! Initially I was bogged down with my journal looking the 'right' way or looking like someone else's that I saw and admired online but it wasn't MY journal and I didn't enjoy using it. Now, I've simplified things and journal in a way that I really enjoy!
Absolutely LOOOVVVEEE this piece! One of my constant mantras is "don't let perfect be the enemy of good" and junk & bullet journaling has really helped me with that! In the book "Joyful," author Ingrid Fettell Lee talks about a study showing that people who USE their things (burn the fancy candles, use the nice perfume, etc) are proven to be happier, and journals are a perfect example of that. Really love your posts (and content on TikTok!) Thank you!
I love Arthur too! Before the cartoons were shown on UK television, I was familiar with him as well as his friends and family through the interactive storybook software my parents bought me for the big computer we’ve had at the time. I cannot forget the story of the tortoise and the hare narrated by him!
Oh my goodness, Daniela! This was me through and through! Until I’ve decided to commit to restarting and finishing my Creative Writing course in September. I’ve finally opened a journal, saw how precious it was, yet kept writing in it on a daily basis, only skipping one day! I’ve finished it last month so ordered a new, identical one and am nearly halfway through it as well! No one sees the mistakes as I write in fountain pen and am fortunate enough to have fancy script writing :)) Everyone just comments, “WOW!!! What beautiful handwriting!” Fear overcome ✍️
As someone who used to journal a lot during my adolescence and loved to write, I’ve fallen away from the habit often due to feeling bad about poor handwriting, sloppy thought organization, or feeling embarrassed by the journal content not being “worthy” of the writing. This post is soooo spot on for me and it has inspired me to try and get back into a practice that I once really enjoyed!
Okay obsessed with this post. I am definitely both the person who is terrified to use a notebook and also the person who dives into one with doodles, unafraid of what it looks like (it just depends on the day 😂). Big YES to the sticker thing though. Stickers are stickers! They are for sticking! Stick them! (I was even just pondering making a post about that idea after finishing a sticker collage on my notebook). Perfectionism is so boring, creativity comes from fearlessness.
I watched Arthur every morning as a kid! The best! 🙌 I used to be like this with notebooks but not as much anymore. I wrote a big post about bullet journaling over on my Substack and made sure to include tips for what to do if you "mess up a page." Ultimately, I want people to stop worrying about that, but I figured maybe knowing that there's an aesthetically pleasing way to cover something up would help people feel less nervous to start. And on your note about patina, I have a leather notebook cover and I love that it's getting scratched up and worn. It gives it character and feels like it's aging with me!
I love how you tied in Arthur with notebooks. I grew up watching Arthur, so it brought a smile to my face 😊 "You’re the one with the potential, not the notebook!" - EXACTLY. This was such a great post!
I also love watching Louise Carmen notebook videos and I have no one to talk about it with! I need one in my life honestly.
this post resonated so much with me! thank you for putting into words so many of my thoughts. i’m a first grade teacher and i still show arthur episodes occasionally during indoor recess when it rains or when we have a little bit of free time at the end of the day. my students love it!
I confess; I have like 10 unused notebooks somewhere because I don’t want to ruin them… and stickers from 90s (mine) and 80s (my cousin’s) because apparently we share the anxiety of using them and obviously now they will not have any glue left 😂
I watched Arthur and now my children do too 🥹
I think every single creative should read this post, I really hope your writing and thoughts get the exposure they deserve. You’ve taken all the things from my head and put them into this post…have you read Big Magic?
When I was able-bodied, I always had the desire to write and to draw but my perfectionism wouldn’t allow me. Now I have more time and a lot more time alone, I started to seek out other artists (mainly on TikTok & YouTube) who had the same fears and they showed how they overcome the fear of ruining something.
I have found stickers and swatching are my new best friends!! The first few pages I just test out new materials or old materials in a new way, once the page is full of colours and patterns somehow the sketchbook/journal becomes accessible.
I also believe language plays a big part…I like to scribble, doodle, play and make mess. When I approach it like that, it’s like I’m a kid again just having some fun 😊
You’ve brought up lots of internal thoughts and I’m super grateful for that 😊
I have not read Big Magic! Definitely looks right up my alley!! ++ yes I always place a big sticker on the first page of my new journals, I find it really takes the pressure off!!
100% relatable! Initially I was bogged down with my journal looking the 'right' way or looking like someone else's that I saw and admired online but it wasn't MY journal and I didn't enjoy using it. Now, I've simplified things and journal in a way that I really enjoy!
Absolutely LOOOVVVEEE this piece! One of my constant mantras is "don't let perfect be the enemy of good" and junk & bullet journaling has really helped me with that! In the book "Joyful," author Ingrid Fettell Lee talks about a study showing that people who USE their things (burn the fancy candles, use the nice perfume, etc) are proven to be happier, and journals are a perfect example of that. Really love your posts (and content on TikTok!) Thank you!
Needed this reminder! Might crack open a new notebook today and go wild. It's about time.
Pssssssttt I still love Arthur…😊😊😊
Me too!! It's an excellent show.
I love Arthur too! Before the cartoons were shown on UK television, I was familiar with him as well as his friends and family through the interactive storybook software my parents bought me for the big computer we’ve had at the time. I cannot forget the story of the tortoise and the hare narrated by him!
Oh my goodness, Daniela! This was me through and through! Until I’ve decided to commit to restarting and finishing my Creative Writing course in September. I’ve finally opened a journal, saw how precious it was, yet kept writing in it on a daily basis, only skipping one day! I’ve finished it last month so ordered a new, identical one and am nearly halfway through it as well! No one sees the mistakes as I write in fountain pen and am fortunate enough to have fancy script writing :)) Everyone just comments, “WOW!!! What beautiful handwriting!” Fear overcome ✍️
omg yes a bonus of actually using your stuff means being able to purchase a new notebook!!! Congrats on finishing your creative writing course. ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you 🥰 I’ve still got nearly a year to go on my Creative Writing course but I’ll take that as prophecy! x
Arthur will be riding his bike straight through my hesitation in many creative sessions to come. Thanks for sharing such a lovely reminder! 🚲💡
As someone who used to journal a lot during my adolescence and loved to write, I’ve fallen away from the habit often due to feeling bad about poor handwriting, sloppy thought organization, or feeling embarrassed by the journal content not being “worthy” of the writing. This post is soooo spot on for me and it has inspired me to try and get back into a practice that I once really enjoyed!
Okay obsessed with this post. I am definitely both the person who is terrified to use a notebook and also the person who dives into one with doodles, unafraid of what it looks like (it just depends on the day 😂). Big YES to the sticker thing though. Stickers are stickers! They are for sticking! Stick them! (I was even just pondering making a post about that idea after finishing a sticker collage on my notebook). Perfectionism is so boring, creativity comes from fearlessness.
Also your meme has me CACKLING.
I watched Arthur every morning as a kid! The best! 🙌 I used to be like this with notebooks but not as much anymore. I wrote a big post about bullet journaling over on my Substack and made sure to include tips for what to do if you "mess up a page." Ultimately, I want people to stop worrying about that, but I figured maybe knowing that there's an aesthetically pleasing way to cover something up would help people feel less nervous to start. And on your note about patina, I have a leather notebook cover and I love that it's getting scratched up and worn. It gives it character and feels like it's aging with me!
I love how you tied in Arthur with notebooks. I grew up watching Arthur, so it brought a smile to my face 😊 "You’re the one with the potential, not the notebook!" - EXACTLY. This was such a great post!
I also love watching Louise Carmen notebook videos and I have no one to talk about it with! I need one in my life honestly.
The Louise Carmen videos are soooo wonderful! I am also craving one….tysm for the kind words! We love Arthur
I keep going back and forth between digital journals or paper and this has me wanting to go back to paper
this post resonated so much with me! thank you for putting into words so many of my thoughts. i’m a first grade teacher and i still show arthur episodes occasionally during indoor recess when it rains or when we have a little bit of free time at the end of the day. my students love it!
all of those episodes you listed are ones that are still permanently in my brain
Life lessons learned!!!!!
I confess; I have like 10 unused notebooks somewhere because I don’t want to ruin them… and stickers from 90s (mine) and 80s (my cousin’s) because apparently we share the anxiety of using them and obviously now they will not have any glue left 😂
The interesting thing is my journal is very far from aesthetic or pretty.
But when some friends see it they think I'm the artist of the year.