‘I’m awful, I’m awful’: writers spill the secrets of their diaries

What is it like to read your diary later in life? Sheila Hancock, Tracey Thorn and Rae Earl share their stories.

I love stuff like this. Thanks to Matt Kaspar for sharing it with me.

Hobonichi Planner A6 Book (January Start) – HOBONICHI TECHO 2016

The 2016 version of the planner I have used as a Daily Log for two years now (and foresee myself using as long as I live if possible) is now available for sale. They first went live last night but the rush was so great that it crashed their servers pretty hard. Yes, it is that popular and for good reason. I just checked and things seem a bit more stable now so, if you are in the market for a good paper planner filled with wonderful details and fountain pen friendly paper now is your chance.

If you want to get a sense of how I use mine, I wrote a bit about it on my personal site.

How The Ballpoint Pen Killed Cursive

The ballpoint’s universal success has changed how most people experience ink. Its thicker ink was less likely to leak than that of its predecessors. For most purposes, this was a win—no more ink-stained shirts, no need for those stereotypically geeky pocket protectors. However, thicker ink also changes the physical experience of writing, not necessarily all for the better.

While I disagree with the premise, that cursive was killed by the ballpoint pen, I agree with some of the points made to support the argument such as the one above.

Morning Pages Should Be Like Skimming Stones – Matthew Lang

Your morning pages should be like this. Just writing, seeing where it takes you and never worrying about that writing coming back. It’s an exercise to clear your mind and nothing more.

Yep. Though I too find it very hard to do. It’s hard to let go and just write everything that pops into the mind. It’s a practice that, like meditation, one just has to keep at and stop beating themselves up over how bad they are. And that takes letting go of one’s ego and pride. And, if there’s anything that most writers are full of it’s ego and pride.

Holly Hubbard: Commonplace Book // Motivational Speech

Whenever I come across something I like in a book or online, I copy it down onto a card. I don’t just make cards for overtly inspirational stuff; I also have sections in the box for funny things, good descriptions, dialogue, and research. I’ve been keeping the cards since the start of the year and have managed to build up a nice collection with very little effort on my part (which is the main criterion for any self-improvement project I’m actually going to stick with).

A nice idea. Sort of like building one’s own Oblique Strategies.

Can old world be more modern than new school?–Signalv.Noise

To much goodness to quote a single bit. Click through and read it. What we believe in.

Mad Max: Fury Road Began as This Drawing — Subtraction

A wonderful example of the importance of the fundamental skill of drawing to the complex art of moviemaking: this image is a comic strip-like storyboard produced by visionary director George Miller as the first draft of what would become “Mad Max: Fury Road” (at least according to this tweet from user Will McCrabb).

See the original notebook sketches for Pac-Man

Pac-Man’s creator Toru Iwatani shows his original notebook sketches from the iconic arcade game that turned 35 this year.

Very cool!