I posted this on my blog but thought I'd potentially get more feedback here. If you want to see all the images and see the post on my blog click here.
I’ve been in this community long enough to know I am not alone. Us pen and paper folks aren’t generally one notebook people. I have quite a few but imagine I’ll be getting even more in the future. This post is both my ponderings on the idea of a notebook use strategy as well as an open call to find out what yours are. If you have a particular strategy or way you use your notebooks please share!
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My notebook strategies may be quite boring so if you just want to share yours skip to the comments. Think you might be interested? Here’s a look into the mind of the man behind PPIL.
I have on average 7 notebooks I am using at any given time.
- Since the middle of August my primary notebook has been a TWSBI medium grid. I chose that notebook because it is relatively fountain pen friendly and as my primary notebook I knew I would be writing in it with a wide variety of pens. I also chose the grid version because I am using the bullet journaling method and a grid seems to work best.
- My second notebook is the one that is always in my pocket. I have a Big Skinny leather passport wallet that holds a Scout Books pocket notebook. It’s my on the fly jotting notebook. If I go in a store I can take notes or ideas, create small list, etc. without having to bring in my primary notebook. It too is relatively fountain pen friendly. Anything that is of importance that goes into this notebook eventually gets copied into my main notebook.
- I also have a Moleskine Folio A4 Notebook that is used for brainstorming or business ideas that need a bigger canvas when I am using fine point fountain pens or ball/gel pens. It doesn’t take a wet fountain pen well but I have used it for taking notes for a while and there are just some times this large size (slightly larger than a standard sheet of 8.5×11″ paper) works well. I used it for Greek vocabulary and writing practice so I could get a lot of information on a spread as I needed to reference some of it as I wrote more of it. This notebook usually goes where ever my laptop bag goes. If I leave my bag at the office as I often do it stays there too.
- When I got the TWSBI medium grid notebook for bullet journaling I went ahead and picked up a large blank TWSBI notebook. It isn’t as big as the Moleskine A4 but there are times I just love the blank fountain pen friendly pages. I thought it was going to be exclusively for calligraphy practice at first but it basically gets used whenever I want a larger canvas for my fountain pens that isn’t loose leaf.
- An actual journal. I like to write stories but I’m not great at it. I want to keep a regular journal but so far I have been horrible at it. After a review of some scout pocket notebooks I did on my personal blog Scout Books sent me some more to try out including a few Mega notebooks. They are slightly wider than my main TWSBI but short enough I can slip it into my bullet journal and be held in by the elastic strap. I have a few dated pages where I have attempted to record my thoughts and a few weeks of sermon notes from church in it. My hope is that by carrying it with me nearly all the time I will record my thoughts more often as I get a break here and there. The primary problem is that a father of a newborn, a 1 year old and a three year old who is runs his own business and is at the whim of his clients just doesn’t get all that much down time. I value reading over writing and I make time to read books that are important to me. I hope to start making more time for writing before long as well.
- My quotebook. As I just mentioned I’m not great at writing down what I’m thinking but one thing I have found helpful to me is writing down what other people have said. I’ll write out verses or quotes from Spurgeon sermons. I’ll write out quotes from books I am reading or quotes I see online. It helps me record them to memory and it is a great chance to use different fountain pens. I’ll usually take any part of a quote that seems to really punch and write it with a Pilot Parallel or my Safari with a 1.9mm nib. I’ll use multiple pens with multiple inks to make writing them out more interesting and will sometimes try a new script out in here. Like I've already said I don’t have loads of extra time so calligraphy practice isn’t usually on the top of my list but this notebook incorporates that with something I am already doing. This notebook is probably the most important to second most important to me behind my primary notebook.
- Ink Journal. I am currently using a Large Moleskine grid notebook for this but it has become obvious it isn’t up for the challenge. I’d like to find something that can handle a wet dip pen as that’s what I use for ink samples I want to see on paper but don’t want to ink another pen with. Starting from the front each ink gets a full page writing and ink sample. If I have it in two very different pens setups like a broad and and extra fine I’ll sometimes do this part twice. From the back of the notebook I give each ink three lines for some basic info and a patch of ink for easier comparison between many different inks.
I get that seven notebooks sounds like a lot but each has its own purpose. I have flirted with moving to a few more but keep coming back to this strategy.
I have several others that I wouldn't say are in my regular rotation but that I use from time to time. I have a cheap store brand small yellow pad that is always on my desk in case I have to get something on paper in a hurry while I’m on the phone. I have a Calligraphy Notebook that I use sporadically. I have a 2013 Moleskine pocket planner that I was using before I started the bullet method that I have to go back and reference from time to time. I also have a handful of others that always seem to be around. I’ll grab them from time to time when I feel like a change.
I can’t wait to hear how you all use your notebooks!
- Heath
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