The Importance of a Quote Book

A quote book is something you may not be familiar with. If this is the case, worry not, it’s exactly what it sounds like. A book, preferably an aesthetically pleasing one, full of quotes. Now, if you simply cannot find a well-decorated book, a plain one can do in a pinch. In fact, sometimes simplicity is key. What counts is the inside. But if you like it, you are more likely to write in it. This post is geared towards authors and how quote books help them, but honestly, I think everyone should have one at least once in their life.

A quote book, a commonplace, the golden line –whatever you want to call it, it’s crucial for a writer. Actually, it’s really not, but it’s a great tool. 😜 The interior of a quote book will be something like a peek inside your brain. It’s where you stuff anything that comes to mind that you want to remember. For writers, this is so we don’t forget all those glorious ideas that come to us in the middle of the night and mid-shower. 

The purpose of a quote book is, essentially, to keep track of anything you don’t want to forget. For me, it’s usually fragments of ideas and lines. I believe I’ve referred to my quote book before –I actually have several. The ideas inside are valuable and should be kept until we need them. I have pages and pages of ideas, images, lines and the like that I have not yet used. On their own, the words “blacksmithing songs” don’t mean much. (This is an actual line in one of my quote books) But just wait. 

Suppose it’s time for me to start a new project. I know I want it to be medieval with dragons. We’re going for fantasy, but at the same time I want it to be a different take on dragons. So I take another bit of an idea I’ve written down. Instead of huge, majestic dragons, these dragons are tiny. Barely bigger than a dachshund. And they keep the fires of forges alive, because they’re burning on the outside and dragonfire forged weapons are superior. I’ll skim my book, looking for something else to add to this idea. And I find “blacksmithing songs.” I love this idea. Blacksmiths used to sing or chant to keep the rhythm of their strokes correct. But here, they sing to keep the dragons burning. I guess the dragons are musically inclined. 

Do you see how that works? If I hadn’t written down the idea of blacksmithing songs, my blacksmiths might be dancing the cha-cha instead of singing, and that really doesn’t have the same vibe. 

But the idea crafting process doesn’t have to end there. Suppose I keep skimming. Maybe I check my other lists. I find the idea of a single dad character –one who is loving and nurturing. That’s a very different take on a blacksmith. I love it. Now I have a book idea and a main character. 

None of the ideas that go into your quote book will be enough to base an entire story off of. Well, at least mine aren’t. But when you connect these little ideas, they can become an amazing story. That’s how I made Tiger Lily. Girl who turns into a tiger. Great, love it. I need more. Check the book. Africa. Always wanted to do a story in Africa. More. See how it all comes together? 

 But how do you actually start a quote book? It’s easy. Get a notebook. Write anything you like in it. It doesn’t even have to be a notebook. I use the notes app on my phone when I don’t have paper. The note in question has reached unbelievable lengths because I get so many random ideas. I have a big notebook for full scenes, a small one to take with me when I travel, and a medium one for everything in between. I even have some for school! 

The main point is that it’s important to capture the ideas that come to you. It doesn’t matter how you do it, but you’ll want to have them to look back on. You never know when combining X Y and Z can become a great novel. 

And this wouldn’t be a complete post if I didn’t share some of the crazy things that pop into my mind, would it? To show you just how vast the well of ideas are, I give you an assortment of quotes.

Lord Timothy. (A name) 

Livid. (A great word to use)

Fragile, Natalie Layne. (A song)

The clouds are telling us something. (A line) 

Long hair cut short. (Something I’d love to see) 

And my personal favorite: Lines from real people around me. “Ey, bro, we’re gonna make your life horrible!” 

Don’t worry, that was a joke 😂.

I actually have a few friends who make quote books exclusively out of things people have said. I’ve made it into some myself. Apparently yelling at the preserved fish during biology class was quote-worthy.  

At its core, a quote book is just a tool for you to use. It’s customizable. You can adapt it to work for you. You can make it pretty. You can make it unconventional. I have a stack of sticky notes by my bed for when I wake up in the middle of the night with a glorious idea. 

I hope that I’ve inspired you to at least try keeping a quote book. I truly do think it’s one of the best tools for keeping track of ideas so that you can use them in the future, and everyone will be better off for trying it at least once.