Reading back through the posts on our Rhodia Journal Swap Tumblr blog I came across an entry from early in the swap by Pam Hero:
“I LOVE a brand new notebook/sketchbook – it’s one of my ‘favorite’ things – yet I always have a feeling of hesitation and nervousness when confronted with a beautiful clean page.
Once again, I remind myself:
“Make up your mind to act decidedly and take the consequences. No good is ever done in this world by hesitation” – Thomas Huxley
Page 1 – COMPLETE!
Fear and reservation has been replaced with excitement of possibility…”
I can’t tell you how often I hear from folks who talk about fear of the blank page – or more specifically, fear of the blank first page. Do you feel this way? Or are you able to rip off the plastic and get writing with reckless abandon?
Sometimes I will start a new notebook by making the first page I write on a test page for the different pens that I want to use in the notebook. Then not only have I avoided some of the fear associated with making that first mark in a new notebook, I also have a page I can refer back to if I need to know whether or not a certain pen or ink will be suitable to use in that notebook (whether it feathers, bleeds, etc.). Like Kimberly mentioned in comment above, I don’t usually use the very first page as it is often unusable due to the way the book is bound. Sometimes I will also start with a couple pages at the back of the book just to get “warmed up” before I start writing at the front of the book.
Sometimes I will start a new notebook by making the first page I write on a test page for the different pens that I want to use in the notebook. Then not only have I avoided some of the fear associated with making that first mark in a new notebook, I also have a page I can refer back to if I need to know whether or not a certain pen or ink will be suitable to use in that notebook (whether it feathers, bleeds, etc.). Like Kimberly mentioned in comment above, I don’t usually use the very first page as it is often unusable due to the way the book is bound. Sometimes I will also start with a couple pages at the back of the book just to get “warmed up” before I start writing at the front of the book.
Hm… this gets me wondering…is the fear the first page of the notebook, that is blank in a new one. Or, the first blank page–which could be any of them in a new notebook, no matter how many pages skipped at the beginning before putting pen to page? That wondered, I usually do skip the first page–but not out of fear. Out of fussiness. I find that the first page often does not allow for complete flattening because of gluing or other binding issues. So, typically, I turn it and begin with page 2, which usually lays nice and flat
Hm… this gets me wondering…is the fear the first page of the notebook, that is blank in a new one. Or, the first blank page–which could be any of them in a new notebook, no matter how many pages skipped at the beginning before putting pen to page? That wondered, I usually do skip the first page–but not out of fear. Out of fussiness. I find that the first page often does not allow for complete flattening because of gluing or other binding issues. So, typically, I turn it and begin with page 2, which usually lays nice and flat
I skip the first page, but write a good thought or quote on the other side of it.
I skip the first page, but write a good thought or quote on the other side of it.
Since most fo my journalling is sequential when one is finished I have no problem starting a new one on the following day. My biggest problem is finding a new style of journal to try and having to wait until the one in service is finished.
Since most fo my journalling is sequential when one is finished I have no problem starting a new one on the following day. My biggest problem is finding a new style of journal to try and having to wait until the one in service is finished.