Stationery Spotlight: Letters and Doodles to Kickstart Creativity

Abrams, September 2016

Finding the time to write can sometimes be hard to do. Work, school runs, bedtime routines… there are many things in life that can get in the way.

The other battle is once you’ve sat down to write, your inspiration disappears and that blank space on the page can be incredibly daunting. No matter how long you sit there, the words will not come.

This is why I like writing prompts. Your brain is like a car engine. It works better when it has warmed up. Today I wanted to share two books that I’ve found so helpful.

Form letters by Laura Olin is a series of letters where you fill in the blanks. In the form of a workbook, it has a series of pages that include a letter to an internet friend who you’d like to know better, a note of encouragement to yourself, a letter to your sibling, your valentine and the ex whose instagram you’re stalking.

‘Fill in the blank notes to say anything to anyone.’

If you need something to get the creativity going, this book could be perfect. You never know what these letters will spark.

Nate Padavick, Chronicle Books, September 2016

If drawing is more your thing, then Doodle Theory will be the book for you. I find doodling so helpful especially when I feel a little stuck. Drawing is a good distraction for me. Doodle Theory is great for all those doodlers out there.

I tend to doodle a lot. My notebooks are full of pages of notes which are surrounded by drawings. Each page in this book has the beginnings of a doodle. You can then continue them to create anything you like although the occasional page has a prompt on it.

I’ve loved using this book. It’s a lot of fun and great if I am trying to work through a story in my head and need to step back for a while. It helped me, it could help you too.

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.