My grandma once said, "First years don't always follow a traditional calendar year, Honey.” I like to remember her words when the rhythm of life inaugurates a new era. A tender loss, triumphant start, or unexpected move—the seasons of life turn, turn, turn.

The process of selecting topics for my commonplace book is fairly intuitive. The choices I make come from the topics I come across in my daily life. Each topic helps manage my records while directing where I’d like to go next. The beauty is I don’t have to be overly strategic at the start.

Dwelling on current woes in home and work life is normal. As an artist, introspection is often the way to a wellspring of ideas. If you are isolated at home because of pain or fatigue, deriving inspiration from seemingly mundane or limited experiences can help you cope.

Life can become hectic. For many of us, the idea of linear and structured planning and personal writing can seem overwhelming. That’s the challenge we are going to explore here. Soon, you’ll move from a commonplace book to your own greater works. This is what we term “curio writing.” So, let’s work together.