A thrift store find I simply couldn’t resist!

I’m a seeker. A forager; and a thrift store lover; and if a second-hand bookstore crosses my path? See you in a day or so. I’m also a seeker of words. So what do seekers have in common? We discover cool, beautiful, whimsical, odd, thought-provoking, hidden gem kind of stuff. I like to take it a step further. I love to write about an unexpected discovery. Those two words alone send a little shiver of delight down my spine.

Writing inspiration is always on my mind. A few days ago, I was at a local thrift store and my cart magically steered itself to the paper and craft section. Two glorious aisles of paper, scrapbooks, art supplies, glitter, and glue. Heaven. I reached in deep – as I’m a believer in never buying a new notebook (there are hundreds of them at thrift stores). When I flipped this book over? Well. There. It. Was.

Someone had even taken their felt marker to it and handed me a delicious writing prompt on a silver platter. They had grand intentions with their bold statement on the cover. But when I opened the notebook, sadly they hadn’t written a thing.

Once Upon A Dimly Lit Night…

From Kim’s Thrift Store Discovery

A few writing lessons from this:

1. Be willing to write something badly. Ernest Hemingway said it best, “All first drafts are sh*t.” (I talk about this extensively in your first issue of Scribbly.)
2. Sometimes a notebook with a grand gesture can be intimidating. Even when it’s a beat-up spiral bound number.
3. Don’t buy fancy notebooks as then you expect fancy writing to accompany them. Too much pressure! Trust me – there are zillions of fancy, lonely journals at thrift stores. Stick with the ugly ones.

Now It’s Your Turn!

There are few ways you can run with this, dear writer.

You can write about an unexpected discovery you’ve recently experienced.

Orrrrrrrrrr you can start your writing with “Once Upon A Dimly Lit Night”.

And just remember to write it badly.

So there.

*Did you love this? Then check out Scribbly – my quirky and gentle writing program that we snail-mail right to your home. Each issue has a theme, so all you have to do is follow the path! We make writing easy and fun for you. We’re nice like that.