Page eaters

What is a page eater?  While it may sound like a Harry Potter creature that didn’t make the cut, a page eater is a method for getting through lots of pages in your notebook.

Obviously, there’s more to it than that.  A page eater is, basically, anything you can write about at length and easily.  This could be anything from heady thoughts on a scholarly topic to a funny list of fictitious band names.  It might sound like cheating but, as you’ll see, page eaters have many benefits and have the potential to create great content.

First and foremost, page eaters destroy the tyranny of the blank page.  They can give you a sense of accomplishment and momentum.  Writing a lot, through the use of a page eater, is a great morale booster.  Always reminding you that you are a content creator with a lot to say.  Helping you to avoid whining (NO WHINING!!).  A few good page eaters in your content list and your notebook will flow out of you, through your hand, into a compelling, dynamic and multifaceted notebook.

Some examples include:  Funny lists, observations about your surroundings or people, personal recollections viewed in a new light, notes or reflections on a skill you’re trying to learn, brainstorming or flow charts. Basically, anything that’s compelling or entertaining enough to get you writing.

This begs the question, “Shouldn’t all items on my content list be page eaters?”  Hardly.  I suppose you could do that and you would burn through notebooks easily and you might even be proud of your notebook, at first.  Eventually, without challenging yourself, your notebook will be repetitive and boring.  It might be fun, even easy, but make sure you try to stretch your abilities every now and then.  Being able to see your growth over the course of a notebook is some of the greatest content of all.