These are a few of Julie Andrews’ favorite things.  And now that I’ve got that song stuck in my head, let’s talk about a few of MY favorite things…to write about.  Or your favorite things to write about.  Well, really, we’re taking about the Content List.

Ultimately, that’s what a content list is, a list of favorite things to write about.  An evergreen well of inspiration you can return to time and time again.  Kind of like one of our writing prompts, right?

NO.

Writing prompts and a Content List are like opposite sides of the same coin.

If writing from your inexhaustible well of a Content List is like coming home then writing from our writing prompts is like going on a trip.  A trip directly away from your comfort zone and away from any plans or preconceived notions you may have.

Your Content List is custom built by you to create a feel and identity for your Notebooking content.  You can use it as inspiration to challenge yourself or chronicle your growth.  You can use your Content List as a checklist to help ensure the dynamic diversity of content you envision.  Ultimately, your content list should serve as a guide to creating the kind of content you want in your notebook.

If your Content List is like a guide then a good writing prompt is like a muse, inspiring you to strike out into the creative unknown.

Hard to believe though it may be, we work very hard and discuss at length what writing prompts we put out.  There’s a good reason for that.

A quick google search will yield some of the worst writing prompts you can imagine.  Prompts like:

“Write about your summer vacation.”

or

“Write about something that frustrates you.”

REALLY?!

Our goal with writing prompts is a little more productive and, dare I say, much more useful.  I’m sure that you could, with very little forethought, write about your frustrating coworkers but what does that get you?  Frustrated.

In the Notebooking Nerds method, a writing prompt is designed to nudge you out of your comfort zone and down the road to growth and creativity.  Of course a good writing prompt is only half of the equation.  How you use it is the other half.  Actually, come to think of it, how you use it is more than half.  Way more.  Here’s why:

The best way to use a good writing prompt is to follow it out of your comfort zone.  This means it’s something you haven’t thought about very much before and certainly something you haven’t written about, at length, before.  Ideally, the first time you see it is the first time you’ve thought about it.  It may not be the best thing you’ve ever written but going along for the ride with a good writing prompt is the best way to train your creativity to flow quickly and on command.

Does that mean that you can only use a writing prompt once?  Not exactly.  When I use a writing prompt I try to not use it again until some time has passed.  That way, when I go back to it, it seems fresh.  You don’t have to though, you could try it on for size again and again.  Of course, after a while, it isn’t nudging you out of your usual writing because it has become your usual writing.  At that point simply add it to your Content List and enjoy it!

As you can see, there is a big difference between writing prompts and your Content List.  Both are helpful in creating dynamic content and fostering well-rounded growth as a writer and a thinker.  Just remember, the quality of the writing prompt you use is just as important as the quality of your Content List.