A notebook is a writer’s secret weapon. It’s where we generate and record our ideas. It’s where we note down those little plot bunnies that come to us in the middle of the night. It’s where we refine those ideas and turn them into something beautiful. It’s our private little space where we can let our imaginations run absolutely wild.

And so, here are some simple tips for getting the most out of your writer’s notebook.

1. Write without a filter.

Your notebook is never going to be published. No one else ever needs to see it, so don’t be afraid to write everything that comes into your mind. Sometimes those stray ideas that jump straight from your pen can be the most fruitful. So don’t be afraid to go off-topic, or to write something bizarre. If it occurs to you, write it. Filtering what you put in your notebook will kill your creativity.

2. Keep it messy

When you get a shiny new notebook, it feels like a crime to scribble in it. But it’s not a crime. In fact, having a good old scribble on the first page is one of the best things you can do. Once you’ve desecrated the first page, you won’t feel as shy about squeezing notes into the margins or scribbling diagrams when you need to.

3. Use it to observe the world

A large part of writing fiction or poetry is finding new ways to express the world around us. When we write a story, we show how the world appears through our senses. Therefore, it’s a valuable exercise to notice the world around us and try to describe it to ourselves. This will help us to find new ways to bring our imaginary worlds to life in our stories and poetry.

4. Use it to free-write

Free-writing is a great pre-writing technique to get the creative juices flowing. Unfortunately, modern technology doesn’t lend itself well to it. It’s all too easy to edit our work on a computer, and typing on a phone can be clumsy. You don’t want that when you’re free-writing. When you’re free-writing, you want to get those words down fast without going back to tidy it up. A notebook and pen will let you do just that.

Try and free-write in your notebook for a few minutes every day.

5. Use it when you’re stuck

Have you ever been halfway through a story and suddenly found yourself stuck with no idea where to go next? I know I have.

When that happens, the best solution is to go back to your notebook and write down your problem. Then, once you have defined the problem, brainstorm solutions.

6. Don’t leave home without it

No matter where you are and no matter what you’re doing, keep that notebook with you. You never know a story idea, a beautiful phrase or an interesting character might suddenly appear in your mind. And believe me, when that happens, they don’t stick around for long. So be ready for them!