The writer’s notebook is an essential tool. Its power lies in the fact that it’s more than a school activity. Authors from Dr. Seuss to Jane Austen kept track of their ideas in journals.
As a writer, I’m particular about my notebook. I want hardback with lined paper, preferably narrow ruled, the larger the better. I can use a composition book in a pinch, but unlined pages are worthless to me.
Consider ways to give your students choices for their writer’s notebooks. Spirals, composition books, or journals they bring from home are easy options. Do you have friends with stacks of unwanted journals they’ve received as gifts?
If your students come to you with a standard spiral or composition book, consider ways to allow them to customize. Collage, photographs, paint, or contact paper go a long way! Remember that the things we care about as writers matter to our students, too.