Creating an Acting Journal

I’m working on my acting journal.  It’s an important tool for recording all things related to acting.  Tips, techniques, character ideas, observations, people, everything.  An actor’s journal is the repository for ephemera uncovered, for whimsy, magic, delight and all things that go bump in the night.

I am really excited to get this ball rolling as I’ve already encountered a number of excellent tools, techniques and ideas that are worthy of recording.  I also recently read this note taking article by Tim Ferriss.  (You may know of him from his best selling book The Four Hour Work Week.)  It’s a great article and I’m looking forward to employing the indexing technique he outlines.

The hiccup is that I am having trouble settling on a notebook to use.  I have one that I would love to use, but it is no longer available.  I could use the one I have, but once it’s filled I’ll have to use another style of notebook.  It may seem silly, but if I absolutely love the notebook I’m using and then have to replace it with something I am less thrilled with I know that I will be frustrated and sad.  I’m solving this problem by going with another notebook that I know I will be happy to replace with a different style when it’s filled up.

This works well for me in a couple of ways.  I have something of a perfectionist streak and starting with a notebook that is less than perfect gives me permission to play with it, to be less than perfect.  I’m going to be learning in so many ways, pressuring myself to be perfect will get in my way.  And when I am ready to replace it, I won’t stress myself out looking for an exact replica.

In other news, The Big Bang Theory has proven to be a delightful way to practice identifying The Eight Characters of Comedy.  If you have a geeky side or are close to people who are in touch with their inner geek I highly recommend The Big Bang Theory.