Do THIS if You Want to Write More...

[@LewisLittle66]

I so relate to this. One of the best things I've changed recently is to allocate 30 minutes at the end of the day before I go to bed. Half an hour, screens off, just me, a notebook and a pen. I still sometimes write other times of the day as well, but that last 30 minutes is now sacred to me. I reflect on my day and what I've achieved, and it really does help me sleep better.

[@GareTheBear]

I love this! Writing right before bed is something I'd love to implement

[@BabyBackManiac]

This is a great video...clearly influenced by the Neistat brothers. And Love it!

[@GareTheBear]

Thanks!!! They definitely have an influence, for sure! I'm glad you liked this one😁

[@christopherlarson7579]

Hey bro, once again, great video! Something that worked for me was writing dialogue between me and myself. Ask yourself a question and then answer it the best way you know how in the moment, or if you don’t know the answer, look for it, and then write the answer you find. I’ve been told that this sounds schizophrenic but you’d be surprised how many answers your already have for yourself that just haven’t risen to the surface and become articulated. Some people say “you’re your own worst enemy” but you’re also your own best friend and greatest resource. By sitting there and meditating on questions and answers between yourself and then writing the dialogue down, you’ll most likely go through one of those notebooks within a few weeks.

[@GareTheBear]

Dude I absolutely love this!!! Will be implementing!

[@christopherlarson7579]

@@GareTheBearoh hey I also noticed you’re a lefty. When you have a chance, look into the Zebra Dry series or the Zebra X20 or X30. The ink is rich, smooth, and dries SO much faster than most of the other gel pens!

[@jsmxwll]

something that helped me when i was trying to develop a writing habit was having a framework to explore an idea in place. when i was working on fiction i'd take a story idea and write it out on one page. the next day i'd write the same story from a different perspective. i'd repeat that until i'd explored enough perspectives that it was hard to find a new one. then i'd write which i thought were the strongest and weakest perspectives and why. when i was working on non-ficiton or idea exploration i'd pick a few writing frameworks and use one per day to explore the idea then write a summary of my thoughts on the strengths and weaknesses of each framework.

[@GareTheBear]

That's awesome! Sounds like a great way to get a story together!

[@jsmxwll]

@@GareTheBear i like that it gives me something to write about without me having to think to hard about the "what to write part". that's where i always get stuck. building your own prompt generator with some index cards is also super useful if you get stuck on the what to write part.

[@the-gadgeteer]

I'm getting strong Van Neistat vibes - and I'm not complaining 🙂I have some of the same "issues" that you do although mine is a tug of war with analog vs digital note taking/journaling. I love paper and pens, but I love being able to quickly type my ideas and later have the ability to search for and find them.

[@GareTheBear]

Van is a massive inspiration! I've found for me that you can have both digital and analog. My main issue with digital (and it's entirely my own fault) I get distracted way too easily and wind up not typing much. It's all about finding which method (or combination) works best for you! Thanks for watching my friend!🫡

[@blue-ew8mh]

i relate to this so much, this has inspired me to write more of my ideas, and start to write in my pocket notebook every day, thank you for the amazing video.

[@GareTheBear]

Glad to hear that! It means a lot that my video had such an impact on you and others😁

[@ebayposhman]

I think whatever u are doing is working , great content , don’t be so hard on yourself,go to the notebook it will flow

[@GareTheBear]

I appreciate that a lot! Thank you!

[@Angayasse]

I absolutely love your videos, these no nonsense, straight and honest thoughts. Thank you so much for sharing them.

[@GareTheBear]

You're very welcome! I love making these videos so it is so great to hear that others love watching them! Thank you!

[@tschuiwrt4970]

I relate to every word you say. Same here. Never stop sharing your thoughts 🙏

[@GareTheBear]

Thank you! That's great to hear you relate. Glad you enjoyed this one!😁

[@auriannahoward5943]

When I journal I mainly just let my mind go wild and write random stuff. My creativity is like a MAD HOUSE

[@GareTheBear]

That's GREAT!!! Keep doing that!

[@burneshollyman2621]

Van Neistat with OCD is your inspiration. Nice.

[@GareTheBear]

He's a massive inspiration! Love every one of his videos🔥

[@lisam5576]

You need to watch the very first video by the channel Blank First Page. In that video, where he's setting up a new notebook, he talks about his selection process. Watch it. It's a good perspective on the compulsion to do things "in order" with notebooks - which I think many of us, myself included, do frequently.

[@GareTheBear]

For sure!!! I've watched his video about 10 years of field notes, so I'll have to watch some more of his stuff

[@jdmregal]

I feel the same. I think because I like the thought of using what I have before using new stuff.

[@GareTheBear]

100%!!! I think that's pretty much it for me

[@dylanmagoiofthethalasso4032]

I totally understand what you're going through about going in a specific order. I personally feel like it's a little bit of an OCD tendency. I miss your live streams but I know life happens.

[@GareTheBear]

I loved the livestreams! Can't wait to be able to do them again!

[@elistia]

Have you ever considered that you might write more if you didn't restrict the order in which you accessed the notebooks? Like a certain notebook miiiiiiight be trying to get your attention or a certain idea might be trying to attract your attention to a certain notebook but you've restricted yourself to going in a particular order. It's just a thought. I'm 50 years old and been writing since I was kneehigh to a grasshopper and only very recently discovered all of the ways I've been getting in my own way by putting restrictions on how I express myself. It felt a bit gross and icky to slowly start letting some of those restrictions go but the words started flowing a bit easier. I'm definitely still a work in progress but just figured I'd share my experience. I'm type A all the way and crave structure but years have taught me that some rules should be broken...that the ends justify the means sometimes.

[@GareTheBear]

Right on! I appreciate your insight, I'm right there with you. Still trying to find my way! All the feedback is handy, and I'm grateful for it!

[@gasparuhas]

Hey Gare! I have to say that I feel you, HARD on this one haha.. What helps me is the fact that with each notebook I start, I try my hardest to fill it out by the end of the year, or, when something new happens in my life. What fills me out more is the fact that I like to decorate my notebooks with all kinds of stuff, movie tickets, magazine pictures, and I even go out of my way to compile a few pages with say logos, pictures from NASA or anything else that pops into my head, and I print it out in my local graphic shop. In color of course. But just like you, I am aiming to achieve that discipline where I'd first grab my notebook instead of my phone.. That's like my ultimate goal.. And as I've left the social media that was harming my attention span, this is still a challenge haha.. But as you said, everything takes time and practice, just gotta Start! 🤓😁

[@GareTheBear]

Love this! Thanks for sharing. And you're right, just gotta get started! All the details will work themselves out down the road

[@totovader]

One suggestion: try to stop the practice of taping up the mini composition books in order to protect them. I use the same ones, and I found that after carrying them for more than a month they don't hold up all that well. The pages stay and the binding works fine, but they start to look very worn. I also clip the corners of the pages so that I can thumb to the first page that I haven't processed, and this makes it so they don't hold their shape. I have found that by keeping them fragile, I am more inclined to use them quickly. I'm also less critical of what goes in them. Hence, I write more.

[@GareTheBear]

Sounds like a great strategy! Thanks!

[@prettyinpink2102]

Great video. I can relate. I subscribed to your channel

[@GareTheBear]

Glad you liked it! Thank you so much for being here! Enjoy the channel!

[@marctestarossa]

i think i just need to buy a new notebook. or 5. then i will definitely write more. and a new pen. and a couple of new exciting inks. and some apps for my ipad. and an e-ink tablet. and a new notebook.

[@GareTheBear]

Gotta do whatever works best for you to get yourself inspired to write!

[@DL-idk]

Lucky for you for only having pocket notebooks to burn through. I find myself staring at dozens of bigger, thicker notebooks that have been sitting there for years but only want to use the most recently purchased one.

[@GareTheBear]

That's gotta be rough🤣

[@marctestarossa]

i made the rule to use up all notebooks that i currently own. most of them aren’t empty, but mostly empty. and that needs to change. so i take three of them (because i need 3 at a time) and use them as i want. don’t worry about what is left of the ribbon. when they’re full they get labeled with dates and contents and boom, one is gone from the random stash to the (more or less) organized archive and i can move on. but i still have 4 huge leuchtturm a4+ master notebooks and have no idea what to do with them.

[@GareTheBear]

Very nice!

[@MuddyDuck...]

Thanks for sharing this interesting video 👍 Remember, a great writer once said, "Less is more." It's a philosophy that can apply to not just writing but also to any creative work, like vlogging. Hint - his 'Four Rules of Writing' could be really inspiring for you, and they're all about keeping things simple and impactful. So instead of pushing yourself to constantly write more, give yourself permission to relax and go with the flow. Writing isn’t about forcing the words out-it’s about letting them come naturally. Some days, you might only write a little, and that's completely okay. Other days, when you’re feeling more inspired, you might find yourself writing pages and pages effortlessly. Focus on quality over quantity. It’s not about filling ten pages with words; it’s about capturing your ideas clearly and powerfully, even if it’s just a single paragraph. Sometimes, a few well-chosen words can have a bigger impact than long-winded explanations. Trust yourself and your voice. Embrace the process, and let your creativity shine through in whatever amount feels right for you. ATB

[@GareTheBear]

Thank you for this!!! Definitely implementing this advice🫡

[@EvelineUK]

I am currently at day 112 of writing in my pocket notebook, number 4 right now, and your videos were my 'just start' push I needed. Maybe you should rewatch your earlier videos. ;)

[@GareTheBear]

Very nice!!! I need to give the older videos a good binge!😎

[@terrystrong9787]

At least you’re honest

[@GareTheBear]

I try my best!

[@vanessa8282vr]

🥺🥴thank you 🙏 I thought i was fhe only one. I literally buy sets of notebook and use up 2 or 3 and than there willl be set of notebooks there nothing they sit there and i go months on end without writing 😨is like i get anxious to write and when i finally do write im anxious about writing 😐idk if this make sense to anyone. But ur video made me feel like im not the only one so thank you 🙏

[@EvelineUK]

Whether you journal or just keep notes on things, you are allowed to skip days, weeks, months, even years, and then go back to it. Having gaps in your writing is OK. And when you start writing again, remind yourself that it's only paper, and you don't have to show anyone.

[@GareTheBear]

This 100%!

[@GareTheBear]

I'm glad this video made you feel that way! Just know you don't need to put pressure on yourself to write. Just write what feels right and when it feels right! No pressure!😎

[@Lambertcottage]

Ok, i am the same way. I feel guilty if I write in a new bought notebook before I write in the ones I got a year ago. I MUST write in order 😂 I love my pen and gear pocket notebooks. Something about opening the package of 3 right? I must buy more 😆😆

[@GareTheBear]

🤣 I've been trying to resist that urge myself!

[@robthequietoriginal]

So I am the type of person that does not give out advice on how to motive one's self or life advice in general, but I do enjoy sharing the things that I myself have learned about using a pocket note book. I too, have a bunch of blank note books, enough to last me for 60 years if I use up one a month (damn you Amazon), and I have them sitting in front of me on my desk. However, I do not share the same angst about these empty books you are experiencing because I do not dwell on the next book, but rather the next page. The potential of what can be is somewhat dreadful, but it has helped me just narrow my focus down to one page, one thought, one sentence, or even one word, rather than one full notebook. Which brings me to my next point: I have been using pocket notebooks for about 16 years and with the 40 that I have used and are sitting my shelf, not a single one has all the pages used. Heck, even one has only one note in it which reads: "7-5 Diet Pepsi" and the rest of the note book is blank pages. I have no issue with not seeing each page filled because I would be putting upon myself the idea that using all the pages in my notebook would be the perfect and fulfilling thing to do. For me it is not about having the perfection of full notebooks on my self, but rather keeping in mind that perfection is the enemy of good enough and that for me good enough means that I have my thoughts, ideas, and the occasional grocery list written down so those things do not clutter my head and give me space in my head to function as a person. I hope what I said was clear enough to understand. I thank you for the video and I hope you achieve your goals.

[@GareTheBear]

That's great!!! Thank you so much for this (and for taking the time to type it all out!)

[@terrystrong9787]

What kind of pen do you use?

[@GareTheBear]

Currently I use the Pilot G2 1.0mm

[@marctestarossa]

@@GareTheBeari love the smoothness of the g2, emptied several 0.7 cartridges, but if you have wet hands, they tend to smear a lot. even after the notebook was sitting on a shelf for weeks i would still smudge the writing just by turning the pages. i totally went fountain pen several years ago and i could never go back. i found the perfect pen and ink for me, it’s dry, waterproof and a 10 € bottle keeps me going for months and years.

[@Patgah]

I ain’t gonna lie you look so good with this hairstyle.

[@GareTheBear]

Thanks!

[@andreweye3358]

When did you get the fancy new watch?

[@GareTheBear]

It's been maybe a month or so? Got it at Walmart😎

[@anastasialevina1203]

It's the first time when someone is speaking so slowly, but I'm still interested and watched the video without speed adjustments. I wonder why is that. But anyway - great job!

[@GareTheBear]

That's awesome! Glad to hear I'm doing something right for ya🤣 Thanks for watching!

[@JosephDickson]

Morning or evening pages will force you to write more and without a filter

[@GareTheBear]

I like that!!

[@jdmregal]

What if you started with breaking the page into hour blocks, then note something that happens every hour. Not terribly profound really, but it gets you writing something every day.

[@GareTheBear]

I like this idea!!!

[@kjvav8755]

The longest journey starts with the first step

[@GareTheBear]

10000%!!

[@marctestarossa]

so does a short trip to the supermarket. and sometimes that feels like the longest journey i ever took.

[@GareTheBear]

The first step is still how you get there🫡

[@codework-vb6er]

Do volunteer work and then write from experience.

[@GareTheBear]

Good idea!!

[@bryansammis998]

We all have that similar issue. Sometime life just shows us a “blank” day. Then one day comes, you write so much, your pen dries up🖋️✍️📓😉👍

[@GareTheBear]

You're absolutely right!😁

[@bryansammis998]

Luckily,at least for me, filling my my mini-composition notebook journal is an easy process. First! My raw medical information ( which will be transferred to a larger, and dedicated medical log) , a morning prayer, the days”filler”(assorted daily information from important to BS any everything in between) and end the day with a bedtime prayer.

[@GareTheBear]

Easy money!!!

[@kingmakandal]

What kind of pen do you prefer for your notebooks ?

[@GareTheBear]

Currently I prefer the Pilot G2 Gel Pen 1.0mm!

[@chlonley]

Writing is your brain break 😮

[@GareTheBear]

😲

[@andrearivera6168]

I'm in the same writing slump.

[@andrearivera6168]

And I dig your watch. Where did you buy it?

[@GareTheBear]

Welcome to the club😎

[@GareTheBear]

I got it at Walmart!

[@andrearivera6168]

​@@GareTheBear I went out and bought that watch. I'm stoked!

[@GareTheBear]

@andrearivera6168 NICE

[@Themusechampion]

This has van neitstat feels

[@GareTheBear]

Heck yeah! He is one of my greatest inspirations!🫡

[@LazyStory]

Pilot G2 ! Not even waterproof. You should get a new pen. If you prefer Pilot, go for Pilot Acroball .... if you liked something nicer, the Pilot Acro 1000

[@GareTheBear]

I'll have to check those out! I enjoy my G2s for the time being, though😁 thanks for watching!

[@frost4695]

Very good video, my distant friend, you're doing well, don't give up this case, keep going! Let me ask you, my distant friend, why do you use rods with a thickness of 1.0 and not 0.5, because with such a thickness of the line, your handwriting looks less neat?

[@GareTheBear]

Thank you! I prefer the bold tip because I like when my writing is bold! I'm willing to sacrifice penmanship for that🤣

[@Anzy.99]

yeah, but why

[@GareTheBear]

why not? 🤣

[@tacticalpencil]

​@@GareTheBearCan you link me the colored labels you have on the side of your notebooks please 😢? I could use them. Ty for your video

[@GareTheBear]

I don't have a link, but they sell em at Walmart and on walmart.com you just need to look up "color coded labels" and they'll pop up! Thank you for watching!

[@marctestarossa]

i think i just need to buy a new notebook. or 5. then i will definitely write more. and a new pen. and a couple of new exciting inks. and some apps for my ipad. and an e-ink tablet. and a new notebook.