Tag Archives: journals

Books

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Outtakes 243

Books

By Cait Collins

 

Recently I received an invitation to a baby shower. I pulled the gift registry and was thrilled to see a selection of books on the list. A few days later an invitation to a baby shower for my new niece arrived. Instead of cards, the parents asked for a book with a note from the giver written inside.

Wow! In a world where everything is electronic, these first time parents are asking for books to help educate their infants. I respect their thoughtfulness and desire to give these little ones a head start. Nourishing the mind is just as important as nourishing the body. Baby Girl 1 has a book of Disney favorites, and my niece has a selection of some of my favorite Little Golden Books.

Book selections for babies are far from limited. Dr. Seuss, Disney, Aesop, Winnie the Pooh, animal stories (remember The Three Billy Goats Gruff, Chicken Little, and the Little Red Hen?), The Berenstain Bears, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, board books, touch-and-feel books, books with sound are just a sampling of the available offerings. And with the abundance of material, just think of all the memories you create when you take the time to read to your child.

Here’s another thought. Keep a journal of special moments and add photographs to the book. It will be a treasure for both you and your child. Best wishes Moms, Dads, and Little Ones.

 

Books

Posted on by
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Outtakes 243

Books

By Cait Collins

 

Recently I received an invitation to a baby shower. I pulled the gift registry and was thrilled to see a selection of books on the list. A few days later an invitation to a baby shower for my new niece arrived. Instead of cards, the parents asked for a book with a note from the giver written inside.

Wow! In a world where everything is electronic, these first time parents are asking for books to help educate their infants. I respect their thoughtfulness and desire to give these little ones a head start. Nourishing the mind is just as important as nourishing the body. Baby Girl 1 has a book of Disney favorites, and my niece has a selection of some of my favorite Little Golden Books.

Book selections for babies are far from limited. Dr. Seuss, Disney, Aesop, Winnie the Pooh, animal stories (remember The Three Billy Goats Gruff, Chicken Little, and the Little Red Hen?), The Berenstain Bears, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, board books, touch-and-feel books, books with sound are just a sampling of the available offerings. And with the abundance of material, just think of all the memories you create when you take the time to read to your child.

Here’s another thought. Keep a journal of special moments and add photographs to the book. It will be a treasure for both you and your child. Best wishes Moms, Dads, and Little Ones.

 

Writing the Memoir

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Outtakes 185

Writing the Memoir

by Cait Collins

What is the best way to prepare to write a memoir? Like any other genre, there are numerous approaches to researching and writing a personal story. The following are a few suggestions for getting started.

Write from memory. I began writing Tables and First Love Forever Love by drafting chapters based on my memories of events, places, and people. After completing the draft, I’d read and edit the piece, making notes of facts I needed to check. I’d research the missing information, make the necessary changes, and polish the chapter before presenting it to my critique group. I find getting the basics on paper and then filling in details works best for me.

Go through family photo albums to get inspiration. Sometimes there is a glimmer of an idea for a scene, but the memories just don’t click. A picture can jog the memory and spark your imagination. With the photograph nearby, the writing flows and soon you have a draft of the chapter.

Look for letters, journals, school memorabilia, and yearbooks that might lend insight into your project. My father’s military papers and his notes and writings have been as valuable as I write Tables.

Music is a good trigger. Download some of the songs from your youth and listen to them while you work. If you are describing how you met your spouse, sit back and enjoy “your song” or the music played at your prom.

If you think you would like to write a memoir for your children and grandchildren, try journaling. I’m not suggesting you write about putting carrots in the crock pot on a daily basis; however, keeping notes about vacations, holidays, and special events will help you when you begin to write your story.

Getting started may be the hard part, but once you determine your theme and the events you want to record, the project will move along quickly. The memories will flow and you’ll find yourself laughing and crying as you write. That’s good because those emotions will translate to the writing. Just remember to focus on the reason you are working on the memoir, and let that be your guide.

The Journal Jar

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Outtakes #34

 The Journal Jar

I believe writers should write something every day. I do have an advantage as my job requires me to write. That does not mean it’s always easy to be creative in my commercial endeavors. Unfortunately, sitting at the computer forcing words on to the screen does not always provide useable material. That’s when I look for alternative inspiration.

A Secret Sister gave me the best gift for a writer—a Journal Jar. The jar is full of slips of paper with writing assignments. Subjects include music, art, family, friends, school days, holidays, and dreams. I have a special journal I keep with the jar. When I get stuck or don’t have hours to sit at my computer, I pull a slip out of the jar, paste it to the top of a blank page, and begin to work on the request.

There’s true liberation in this type of journaling. The writer is not confined to reciting historic events in a who, what, where, when, why format. Instead he is permitted, encouraged to relive an event. Recall the sights, scents, sounds of the occasion. What about creating your dream job? What would you do? How do you envision your day? What kind of education would you need? In a few minutes, a couple of pages are filled with creative details.

Not only does the Journal Jar provide a creative outlet for the writer, it is a record of the times. It may also give your children and grandchildren a chuckle when they read about your youthful exploits.

So where do you find Journal Jar strips? My Secret Sister found mine on-line. Fire up your favorite search engine and browse the web for journaling supplies. Don’t forget a book or notebook to record your assignments. Oh, yes, you’ll need a pen. I like gel pens in different colors. Open your journal and your mind. It’s fun.

Cait Collins