The Value of Daily Journaling.

We All know from experience that creativity isn’t a constant. There are days it flows like a raging river. And then there’s those periods of drought.

When we’re low on fresh ideas, we have Chat GPT, AI Script Assist, and other tools. There are times even those don’t seem helpful.

I’ve found this is where my daily journaling can help.

Outside of my work here at Summit, I try and make it a point to write something every day. If I don’t write something down, I record notes into my handheld device. I have a file on my laptop entitled “Well of Relatables.”

These are notes, quirky observations, memories, and odd thoughts. Some are just one or two sentences. Then, there are those that are almost a short story. Their primary purpose is for color and imagery and not strategy. I try to keep them not too personal, but in a way others can appreciate. And then there are times, I just let my imagination go off in its own direction. The point is, I’m writing. And I have a well of ideas to draw from, if needed.

Over time, I’ve been able to categorize them by subject.

For instance, under Beauty Parlor, I listed some odd memories from when I was quite young, and my aunt operated a beauty parlor out of my family home’s basement.

There’s beauty products. Then there’s beauty supply store sized beauty products. Giant, missile-silo sized cans of Aqua Net and swimming pool-sized tubs of Dippity-Doo. I don’t know what smells worse, the hair perm or the collard greens on the kitchen stove. That lady has tin foil in her hair. Put her next to the TV so we can get better reception.

You have to be a certain age to remember Aqua Net and Dippity-Doo hair gel. But they can be easily replaced by current popular brands. The smell of hair perm and bad TV reception aside, I was able to garnish some color for a local beauty supply store.

You don’t have to operate your own salon to get great insider discounts on beauty supplies. You can buy direct from Beauty Supply Plus in Pelham.   

There’s Auto Repair.

Points, condenser, distributor cap; our dads didn’t need mechanics. Each had their own timing light and kept the family car in tune. They adjusted the timing, rebuilt the carburetor, put in fresh plugs and serviced their own brakes. Dads didn’t change. Cars did.

That one came in handy on more than one occasion. It was a set up for a local auto service center. The premise being there’s no DIY with cars anymore. The tone of the message was different from my observations. But the color and imagery spawned my script.

Because of computerized emission controls and electronic fuel injection, the days of doing your own auto service are long gone. That’s why Mayfair Auto is your trusted auto service provider. Form simple tune -ups to complete engine overhauls, each technician is certified………

Grocery Store Lines.

The coupon lady is taking forever. I’m face-to-face with the headline. “Ben Afleck and J-Lo Call it Quits!” My only diversions are the Reese’s, Milky Ways, and Twinkies. It’s Hollywood trash and junk food hell. This is a conspiracy. The National Enquirer and The Mars Wrigley Company pay old ladies with tons of coupons, so we’re all stuck, lured by their stuff.

That one’s kind of out there, I know. This one will probably never get used. But we’ve all been stuck in grocery lines because of the coupon lady. And we need somebody to blame it on. So, why not big corporate America?

Even if your observations and notes never see the light of day, you’re still writing. You’re exercising your greatest asset, your imagination. Let it work for you.

 

Respectfully

Mike –The Reel Architect.