Why Do I Like Workbooks? by Diana Lynn

Please welcome a new author to Writers Fun Zone, Diana Lynn, as she shares why she likes workbooks and about the one she just created for novelists. More on that below.

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Why do I like workbooks?

Why do I like workbooks? Hmm… well… okay here it goes:

There are workbooks for learning or gathering pertinent information. Planners for meals, parties, or logbooks for tracking lists whether its groceries, gift giving or budgeting.

There are coloring books to relax. Diaries and journals to log who you are, your history, or the things that make you happy or sad. Tracking workbooks for diet and exercise, logging inventory or miles, breaking bad habits or starting good habits.

There are journals with a prompt or two, or to hunker down with a blank journal and make your own workbook.

Use it in bed, sit outside by the pool, sit in a coffee shop… feels like this should be in poem form— 

I like my workbook and they like me
Take it to the pool
Write something cool
In a coffee shop sitting on a stool
Sipping my brew
Use a pen
Use a pencil
My imagination is fueled
Write a plot
Write a scene
Working with my muse
My characters have come unglued
Fondue at the zoo!
Workbooks in school
Learn something new
Make a list
Recipes for the barbecue…

Okay, okay, I’m losing it here so let’s leave the poem writing to the professionals.

Whether it’s for fun or practicality, there’s a workbook out there waiting to become a part of you.

There was the pros — what about the cons?

However, if I come up with pros, there’s gotta be some cons, reasons why workbooks don’t work. I think it’s an individual preference, but here’s some cons against using a workbook:

• I don’t like using pen and paper.
• Who wants to carry a workbook?
• It’s awkward, too big.
• Or: It’s too small and there isn’t enough room to write.
• I prefer technology.

Speaking of technology, that was me. I thought I was so savvy. I could type my notes, retype, have my spelling auto corrected.

What a win-win process for writing a story and to be able to continually add notes for plots, character traits, quirks, problems and so on. I could easily write a scene. Ih boy, technology is the way to go.

If I wasn’t at home, well, I could find a workaround, right? I’d write a text, or email to myself, find a piece of scrap paper, then shove it in my pocket or purse to later add to my computer document.

Or I could use my smartphone and use a note app or even Google docs. That way my notes could be accessed anywhere anytime.

It was a good theory. 

That is, until it was time to work on my story draft, writing, editing, adding inspired notes and other details. But what I found was a lot of holes in my theory.

That scrap of paper was now a wadded mess because it went through the wash in the pocket of my jeans or scrunched beyond belief at the bottom of my purse.

Where the heck was the note about my character meeting a handsome rogue?

Dang, it wasn’t in the story file, couldn’t find the email or a text note.

I’d search for my documents unable to find what I needed. I knew the tidbit was good and I need that note now!

It’s technology, it’s supposed to be user friendly, easy to find. Sure, it is. Except when it wasn’t.

One Place, One Physical Place

What I really needed was once place to log all the details so when it was time to write, I’d use my computer to type my narrative and keep my story consistent in the workbook with all the pertinent information.

You may have noticed that I referred to writing a story several times while musing about why I love workbooks.

I was having problems with a story I penned. Actually it was the second story in a trilogy.

I was sure I had all the details needed to keep story two consistent with story one. I knew I wrote those details down. But low and behold… I couldn’t find them.

What I needed was a story workbook for plotting story, characters and scenes. What I found were how-to write a story workbooks, but I didn’t want the how-to portions.

After searching for exactly what I wanted and not finding anything to fit my needs I made my own workbook. After working with a few fellow writers and sharing the idea, I decided to share it with the world and publish a book that could help others.

Here it is:

Build A Story, A Writer’s Workbook is now available on Amazon.

Check it out. It may be right for you.

 

 

 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Diana Lynn has a passion for creative expression and has published both fiction and non-fiction books. Her latest creation is a workbook for writers, Build A Story, A Writer’s Workbook. Diana developed the book as a way to keep her story elements all in one place while continuing to write her Dare to Love women’s fiction series.