A paper notebook can change your world.
Notebooks have been an invaluable part of my life since I learned cursive writing. This article is my love letter to them💖.
If you’re already an avid notebook user, then most of what I write here will probably be familiar, possibly entertaining, or prompt a fresh look at your own notebooks.
If you’ve never developed the notebook habit or dropped it long ago, I hope to inspire you to start one now to support your creativity.
Notebooks aren’t only for angst-ridden teenage girls.
People have kept notebooks for centuries to get to know themselves; learn; vent feelings; capture thoughts, questions, and dreams; get their work done; and cope with the world around them. Some of them changed the world with the help of their notebooks.
Writers, artists, musicians, actors, engineers, mathematicians, scientists, politicians, farmers, manufacturers, law enforcement, teachers, business and community leaders—notebooks have been part of almost every profession there is. (Not to mention serial killers…)
Men famous for their notebooks as well as their success include Leonardo DaVinci, Beethoven, Ben Franklin, George Patton, John D. Rockefeller, Bill Gates, George Lucas, Leonard Cohen, Peter Jennings, and David Sedaris.
Famous women whose notebooks are still studied and enjoyed today include Marie Curie, Frida Kahlo, Anne Frank, Emilie Davis, Isabelle Eberhardt, Virginia Woolf, Marilyn Monroe, Sylia Plath, Flannery O'Connor, Mindy Weisberger, Susan Sontag, Joan Didion, and Anne Truitt.
Austin Kleon, notebook-er extraordinaire.
Keeping a paper notebook is an indispensable habit for even the most avid technology users.
One of my favorite examples is Austin Kleon, who describes himself as “a writer who draws.” For years he has maintained a very popular blog and newsletter (125k+ subscribers and growing) and has written four excellent books.
He’s been keeping 3 separate types of paper notebooks for over 25 years. He even bravely shows some of their innards to his paid newsletter subscribers (blocking the personal stuff, of course).
He’s open about his process and the fits and starts of being creative every day. He shares how he uses his notebooks to keep going even when his well of inspiration runs dry.
The benefits of keeping a notebook.
It’s all about YOU. A notebook is a safe place to experiment with ideas, vent feelings, write down all your ideas (crazy or not), take risks, celebrate wins, process mistakes, and cope with difficult things. It’s a great way to have some “me” time regularly.
It’s fun! While I caution that this can become a huge distraction, decorating your notebook with stickers, stamping, etc., is another way to express yourself.
Disconnecting is good for your mental health. Keeping notes on a digital device can be distracting because all those other apps are just a finger tap or a ding away. A notebook stands alone. It can’t do anything but be written in. Plus, it doesn’t need updates, batteries, or a charging cord.
You can use it for everything. If you start out using a notebook for one purpose (e.g., to-do lists), you can add anything else you want to it: sketches, journal entries, ideas for your next project, etc. You never know when or where inspiration will strike. Memory is unreliable.
Support your creativity. Every time you read through your notebook, each idea can borrow from or build upon the best parts of other thoughts and develop over time.
Focus. Your mind can only handle so much at any one time. Dump all of your thoughts into your notebook, so you can pick and choose what to work on.
Let go of “The Judge.” Keeping a notebook is a great way to keep your internal critic at bay. You’re just writing things for your own consumption. The grammar police can take a hike, no one will see that drawing, you can finally work through that insane idea that you think has possibilities.
Build your organizing skills. If you devote a notebook to your work or a hobby or interest, it’s good place to plan your projects, deal with obstacles, keep track of what worked and what didn’t, take notes from classes and workshops, build a list of resources, and celebrate completed projects.
For fun, read “The Manly Tradition of the Pocket Notebook,” which explains why every man should carry one.
Decide what you want to use your notebook for.
When, where, and how often you want to have your notebook available is key to selecting the right type and size. However, don’t let those decisions keep you from grabbing a notebook and just getting started. And you have complete freedom to change what you put in the notebook as you go along.
Everyday writing: Any notebook/pen-or-pencil combo will do.
Drawing, sketching, painting. Pens, markers, and paint can bleed through pages. Pencils and crayons can smudge. If you don’t care about those issues, then any notebook will work.
Over time you’ll learn what you like and what helps you enjoy the process of writing, such as higher quality paper, colorful pens, etc.
You need just two things to start.
A blank notebook. Any notebook. One you already have is fine. It can have blank, lined, graph, or dot grid pages. For portability, choose a notebook that’s no larger than a composition notebook ($.97 at Walmart) and no smaller than a pocket notebook. My favorite size is A5 (5.8” wide x 8.3” long), which is the size of the Artist’s Loft notebook at the top of this article.
Something that makes marks on paper. Pen, pencil (regular or mechanical), crayon, marker, fountain pen.
Consider giving every new interest a notebook.
When I started quilting in 2003, I set up a notebook to track projects, organize fabric snippets, and document each quilt and to whom it was given.
Using that notebook was so helpful, I decided that any time I took up a new hobby or interest, I’d devote a notebook to it. When I decided in 2019 to finally learn watercolors, I set up the notebook shown above. It has added so much enjoyment to my painting.
I hope your notebooks bring you the same satisfaction, fun, and courage to experiment.
I’m delighted that we’re connected, and I hope you are too. If you haven’t already, please read my About page to learn more about CN.