🎉 This course starts soon 🎉
Keeping a Notebook
4-Week Online Course with Oliver Baez Bendorf
Course runs again in 2024. Click below to join the waitlist to be the first to know when registration opens.
Your notebook beckons. Let's dive in!
Keeping a Notebook is not just a course; it's your invitation to cultivate a notebook practice that's uniquely yours—free from "should's," shame, or unnecessary struggle.
If you're ready to unlock the magic of a notebook that truly resonates with you, I'm here and excited to welcome you!
JOIN THE WAITLIST ➡
“My diaries keep a record of life as a miracle… For me, the diary is a tool for accessing power. I have come to recognize my diaries as travelogues and oracles that fellow voyagers can consult.”
JUAN PABLO GUTIÉRREZ
If you're yearning for a reliable path back home to the page, a place of gentle structure and creative refuge, then the notebook calls for you. Keeping a Notebook is more than just a course; it's a sharing of the very processes that have filled 75 notebooks since 2015, and inspired the books of poetry I've published.
In this enchanting experience, you're encouraged to uncover your personal "why," granting you the freedom to pursue what truly matters. The outcome? You get a fierce, flexible practice tailored to your unique self - body, magic, and life included. I'm Oliver Baez Bendorf, and I'm here to guide individuals like you deeper into your poetry.
Building a writing practice based on others' experiences or your own outdated approaches can be disheartening. The weight of "shoulds" often drowns out the initial spark that led you to the page.
Perhaps you're currently wrestling with thoughts like:
"There aren't enough hours in a day to juggle everything, let alone keep a notebook."
or
"Inspiration feels elusive lately; I have nothing noteworthy to write down."
or
"Am I a legitimate writer, worthy of investing time in keeping a notebook?"
or
"What kind of notebook could I possibly maintain, given my messy handwriting / carpal tunnel syndrome / ADHD?"
or
"I already have a notebook practice... Isn't it a "set-it-and-forget-it" situation?
Rest assured, you're not alone!
I've encountered these questions—sometimes pondering them myself. Whether you're embarking on a poetry journey or have been immersed in it for awhile, it's time to tend your foundation in the one space that's uniquely yours: a notebook.
Ready to embrace this transformative practice?
JOIN THE WAITLIST ➡“The most useful tool my unconscious has to bring forth its offerings is the journal/notebook. I have kept some version of this for thirty years. In it, I am able to write in a varied and undisciplined way. It requires no skill, unlike writing the poems. In poetry, a deep order exposes the chaos. In the journals, the disorder records patterns and imaginative structures that will later become order.
BRENDA HILLMAN
This experience is for you if you're ready to:
✔️ Shed the "Shoulds": Bid adieu to rigid expectations on how to maintain a notebook. Instead, discover methods that resonate with the magical cadence of your current life.
✔️ Nurture Quirky Habits: Cultivate muscle memory for notebook rituals that spark joy—whether you're a novice or seeking a transformation. I'll guide you, through steps that are as gentle as a soft breeze.
✔️ Infuse Creativity with Magic: Fill your notebook pages with a spellbinding surge of creativity, fueled by encouragement and the enchanting spirit of camaraderie within the community.
✔️ Peek into Mystical Journals: Delight in the pages of creative wizards like Frida Kahlo, Joe Brainard, Lynda Barry, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Dorothy Allison, Maxine Hong Kingston, Octavia E. Butler, William Carlos Williams, and more. Let their practices be your portal to a realm of boundless possibilities within your own notebook.
✔️ Revel in Scientifically Proven Magic: Experience documented benefits like improved dream adventures, enchanted sleep, reduced worry (because who has time for that?), and heightened creativity that just might have a touch of spellwork. Individual results may contain unexpected delights!
If your heart resonates with these aspirations, then join me on this escapade. I'll be your guide for the elements of a notebook practice that not only serves you, but empowers you to rekindle the subtle magic of keeping a notebook.
Join the Enchanting WaitlistBy the end of this enchanting journey,
you will have:
01
Created a core notebook practice tailored to the whispers of your soul
Not only will you discover the art of summoning your notebook into your daily life, but you'll also have support on the alchemy of beckoning your notebook to unveil its mystical wonders.
02
Ignited the spark of your own irresistible desire
Every notebook has a story, and so do you. Ground yourself in the wisdom of your "why" for keeping a notebook, embracing the strange and surprising. Let your desire be the guardian of your practice, fending off life's unpredictable twists.
03
Enchant your notebook through mystical sojourns and joyful exploits
Keeping a notebook can be easier than it has felt before. Learn how to weave magic into your pages, even amidst weariness and stress. Discover the joy of filling your notebook, ensuring you stay engaged with the art of taking notice.
04
Immersed yourself in the limitless enchantment of your notebook
In your practice, you'll find that your notebook becomes a loyal companion. Regardless of your reasons, Keeping a Notebook will unveil ways to tap into the profound fulfillment your notebook holds for you, allowing its magic to guide you on your enchanted path.
What Participants Are Saying
🌟 "This course was welcoming, engaging, easy to navigate, and plain ole fun! I feel as if I've developed an ongoing relationship with my notebook that will last years, if not forever!"
—Benjamin, Akron, Ohio
🌟 "I'm so glad we had opportunities to join live notebook times, and got to write/draw together, share questions and observations, and howl! Because I'm not a poet, I appreciated the way the prompts and live class sessions offered flexibility around writing, drawing, or other forms of notebook work [...] Thank you so much Oliver! What gifts this class and its notebook keepers are!"
—Alana, Holyoke, Massachusetts
🌟 "I loved the course. It completely transformed my notebook practice. I especially liked the different themes for each week. Not only was the course creatively nourishing and intellectually engaging, but you also paced us intentionally and incrementally towards a shift in our notebook habits. The pacing was genius."
—Jenny Johnson, author of In Full Velvet
Why Keep a Notebook?
"Shuffling through the books makes me think about why I keep them. It's not just the recording of facts but the place where I put a lot of my hopes and fears... I think of the journal as a witness, a repository and a playground. It is where I begin things or bring thoughts to some kind of clarity."
DOROTHY ALLISON
What Awaits?
Peruse the magic within "Keeping a Notebook."
Prompts:
Experience a regular flow of new creative invitations, providing inspiration and guiding your journey through the notebook. Released on a rhythm specifically designed to allow for meaningful exploration while accommodating various schedules and preferences.
Gatherings:
Engage in live, interactive events (4 in total, all through Zoom) featuring illuminating discussions, real-time Q&A, and shared moments of creative energy. Connect with your fellow writers and share the magic.
Modules:
Delve into step-by-step guidance crafted to shape your notebook journey. Uncover the secrets and wisdom of your notebook in each model, leading you to the heart of a transformative practice.
Camaraderie:
Become part of a vibrant community, a fellowship of fellow writers who share the path. Experience the joy of learning together, supporting each other, and fostering creativity.
Recordings:
Revisit or catch up on live workshops at your own pace. Immerse yourself in the discussions and teachings, offering flexibility tailored to your schedule.
Resources:
Access a treasure trove of additional tools - video transcripts, a handy mobile app, and exclusive bonus materials. Enhance your learning experience and deepen your connection with your notebook.
About your guide
Oliver Baez Bendorf, an accomplished poet, teacher, and founder of Spellworks, is set to release his forthcoming book, Consider the Rooster, from Nightboat Books in Fall 2024. With previous award-winning collections Advantages of Being Evergreen and The Spectral Wilderness, Oliver has also earned honors including a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship and a Publishing Triangle award. His work in poetry extends through teaching at institutions like the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the MFA Program for Writers at Warren Wilson College. As a trans- and queer-owned business, Spellworks, established in 2021, reflects Oliver's commitment to making the magic of poetry accessible to all.
"At any given time, I have half a dozen notebooks going at once: a couple of daybooks, some workbooks for my ‘novel,’ two sketchbooks— one of dreams and one of summers at the Grand Canyon— a diary of the coming day, and this ‘Notes Toward Poems.’" [...] I hardly ever reread these notebooks, nor find a use for them: I am joyful and free."
MAXINE HONG KINGSTON
Consider This Your Invitation
...to embark on a magical journey of rediscovery through Keeping a Notebook. It's not just another thing; it's one of the most important things—a practice that transcends time and space while grounding you in the present. Life is full, but keeping a notebook doesn't have to be a big production. It can be a way to rest, to play, a regular ritual like brushing your teeth. With support, you can build this practice slowly, bit by bit, and free yourself from the pressure of "perfect" notebooks. I'm thrilled to share this transformative experience with you. Join Keeping a Notebook, and let's delve in together.
xo
Oliver
Q's You Might Have Before Diving into Keeping a Notebook
Is this a journey for novices?
I yearn to delve in, yet fear overwhelm. Will I lose my way?
Does the course dance with the asynchronous energies of the cosmos?
What form does a notebook take? Is this akin to journaling?
Must I be a poet to walk this path of notebooks?
I took the Keeping a Notebook course in its first round. What can I expect this time?
Do I have a limited amount of time to access the course?
I see the course includes live workshops—when? What if I can't make it?
Can my notebook be digital, or must it be a physical object?
What secrets lie in the return policy?
The best moment to move toward your notebook is now.
Shed the "should" and embrace the timeless rewards of keeping a notebook. Will you join us?
JOIN THE WAITLIST ➡