All posts by Kevin

Ask The Nerds: My Notebook is Falling Apart

Our First Question! Matt P. from South Windsor, CT asks, “I’ve been carrying my notebook in my back pocket for about 5 months. The binding is falling apart. Is there anything I can do to save it?”

Great question! Unfortunately, this has happened to me on several occasions. First things first. Triage! Is it fixable? I’m sure a quick google search could provide a tutorial about book-binding and you could use that as a guide on how to proceed. But since you asked me, I’ll tell you what I’ve done in the past.

In a pinch I’ve used several crossing layers of transparent tape. Packing tape has been the best but scotch tape will work. That said, the best thing is to use glue on the spine if possible. Then, hold it shut and tight with a clamp or a heavy book until dry. Finally, consider sealing the torn pages with tape. Bear in mind that glue can affect your notebook’s ability to lay flat.

Finally, it’s time to consider whether you were just being too hard on your notebook or whether it’s a quality issue. Either way you might want to look for a sturdier notebook in the future.

As an example, the Rhodia Webnotebook I got a few years ago is about the toughest notebook I’ve found. I’m not saying that it could repel a Mongol Horde, but I’m not saying it wouldn’t either. No word on whether they are still made that well. Lemome makes a cool notebook that seems tough as nails and lays very flat. I haven’t used it yet so I can’t comment on it’s horde resistance.

Thanks for the question!

5 readily available notebooks worth mentioning

Notebooks, ReviewsKevin

Moleskine

Let’s get this one out of the way. Here’s the pocket sized ruled Moleskine. You can find them in all sorts of brick and mortar stores but, if I’m being honest, you shouldn’t. It’s not that these are that bad ¹but that there are so many better options that are cheaper and seem to have quality control standards.

Does it lay flat? Of course not². How’s the paper? Thin as a legal pad’s and too smooth to reliably get a roller ball writing. Also, it’s worth noting that after opening it this far for the picture, it didn’t want to close completely even with the help of the elastic band.

Leuchtturm1917 A6 Softcover Grid

Next, we have the Leuchtturm1917 (pronounced LOYCH-turm) soft cover in pocket size (A6). This is a good notebook with great features such as: Lay flat design³, numbered pages, perforated pages in the rear, archival stickers in the pocket⁴, and a table of contents in the beginning.

As you might be able to see, this is their grid orientation. Unfortunately, the grid is sub 5mm making it a bit too small for my enjoyment.

FIELD NOTES

I don’t remember where I got this Field Notes notebook. Just in case you’ve been living under a rock ⁵ this is a passport style notebook. If you followed our method for getting started, you’ve probably seen these. I like them, they’re nice. But, I like thicker notebooks better. If you’ve only used these you owe it to yourself to try a “big boy/girl” notebook.

Conceptum A5 by Sigel

Speaking of which, here’s my current favorite. The Conceptum by Sigel in Steno-size (A5). This thing has too many features to list here but let’s just say it has ALL THE FEATURES⁶! My only complaint is that faux stitching around the cover. It looks okay from afar but up close it reminds me of those “nice” editions of classic literature found at Barnes and Noble. Nice from afar but SUPER cheesy up close.

As you can see it lays “mostly” flat and in fact it lays completely flat when using. With great paper and generous ruling, writing in this notebook is a pleasure. Who cares about a little fake stitching!?

Blackwing Slate

Finally, we come to the Blackwing Slate. You may have noticed something odd about these pictures. Yes, they all have the same pencil. That’s a Blackwing 602 and it came with this notebook. It’s an amazing pencil (yes, pencils can be amazing too).

This thing has great paper and thanks to it’s unique binding ⁷it lays completely flat making it a pleasure to write in. Unfortunately, it isn’t available in pocket sized (A6)…yet.

I hope this was helpful. As of the time of writing, these were all available online. Enjoy and write well!

Notebook Review: Lemome Thick Classic with Pen Loop

Notebooks, ReviewsKevin

This notebook caught me a bit off guard. While searching Amazon for notebooks (something I do too often), I found this notebook. It seemed to have pretty good reviews but, as I’m sure you know, Amazon reviews are often suspect. The number of times 5-star reviews are something along the lines of, “Arrived on time, 5-stars!” or “All the pages fell out, 5-stars!” are so numerous that I don’t really bother with reading them. A quick google yielded very little information, although apparently they make some sort of bullet journal which means that any review will be heavily skewed in favor and probably on Pinterest¹.

On a whim, I bought it. I’m glad I did. This thing is pretty great, though not perfect. Let’s take a look.

While the cover is probably some sort of fake leather it feels nice and seems like it would be quite durable. It has the standard elastic closure in black and a ribbon bookmark in dark brown. I thought that these being a different color would bother me, but it turns out I don’t care. Not even a little bit. The Lemome sports a binding that is almost identical to the Palomino Blackwing Slate. This is what caught my eye originally since it the Slate is one of the greatest notebooks of all time with an incredible binding that easily lays flat without any strain to the binding. It also has a pen/pencil loop on the spine much like my beloved Slate. While I love that it’s there I don’t often use it. I guess, in that respect, it’s kinda like the ice cream shop at the end of my street.

Of course, one of the things that makes the Slate great is that it’s paper is so pencil friendly. How’s the Lemome handle pencil? Awesome!

Normally, I don’t like to include writing samples in notebook reviews. Why? It’s not because I’m embarrassed of my handwriting (although I probably should be). I don’t like putting writing samples in a review because I’ve talked to other reviewers that do this and they tell me they get inundated with requests of this pen or that marker. Ugh.

But, the Lemome has pretty smooth 125gsm paper. I was curious about what it could do and I figured I’d post my findings. Let’s start with pencil since I like pencil. I wrote with the Tombow Mono 100 2B, the Kuru Toga 0.5mm in HB and the Palomino Blackwing (MMX to those in the pencil community thanks to the intrepid Johnny Gamber.) As you can see in the “Smear Test” column, only the Blackwing smeared at all and that took some work. I suspect that it would be fine under normal usage. All the others wouldn’t budge even under excessive agitation (I’m really trying to avoid the term “heavy rubbing,” oops!). The smoothness of the paper seems to be great at locking in just the right amount of graphite but it does seem to have a bit of equalizing effect on different grades of graphite e.g. different grades appear more similar than on other paper but it’s extremely smudge resistant yet erases well. Not unlike Rhodia’s paper or Sigel’s Conceptum notebooks.

I threw a few other pens in there just because I had them close by. The only other thing I want to mention is the fountain pen. Readers will possibly remember that I HATE fountain pens. Mainly because, with a combination of being left handed and having bad handwriting, I’ve got a serious case of sour grapes (but, then again, fountain pens are so fussy I’m OK with their absence). The fountain pen in question has no branding and I received it as a freebie when ordering a Midori Travel Notebook knock-off from China. The notebook was really good but the pen they gave me is the worst fountain pen I’ve ever tried. It spews so much ink that just writing on the sheet left both of my hands stained somehow!

The reason I wanted to include it is to show that this torrent of ink doesn’t show through at all! 125gsm! Believe the hype!

This picture brings up another feature that I never thought I’d see. The thicker stock card before the first page of any notebook is usually glued to the first page as part of the binding. All these years I’ve simply ignored the first page because of that. It’s just annoying having the first page of a notebook be useless but there’s nothing that can be done about it…Or so I thought.

As you can see here, there is a crease right where the first page is glued to the cardstock cover. That crease was not put there by me. It came like that. I know it isn’t a huge deal but it shows an attention to detail that shouldn’t be ignored. Also, I love the minimal branding.

Now on to the binding. Being a soft and different material than the cover, it’s supposed to be able to lay flat, completely and easily. Does it?

Boy Howdy that’s flat!

So, are there any downsides? Well sure. Chief among them is the paper.

“What!? I thought you said it was great!!!!” you say.

“It is.” I reply meekly.

“Then what’s the problem, weirdo!?” you berate.

OK. So, the paper is really great and thick enough for the naughtiest of ink fountains. But that means that the notebook is going to be really thick too, right? Well, it is thicker than any other A5 notebook I own but only has 180 pages. That’s 90 sheets. Is it worth a notebook with fewer sheets if they’re really good sheets? That’s up to you. For me the answer is yes. Especially since they are still around 15$ at the time of writing this review.

Another downside is the pocket in back. While most notebooks that have a pocket in back have the accordion folds reinforced with some sort of fabric the Lemome has only the cardstock. This might be a deal breaker for some people but I use the pockets in my notebooks all the time and I’ve never had a pocket break on me and that includes some cardstock-only pockets.

So long as we’re here, I’d like to point your attention to the opposite page. Yes the crease is there too. I love the attention to detail!

When we look at the back we see that the minimal branding has gone from minimal to understated. Classy. And a far cry from all those bookstore notebooks that look like they’re were designed by Ed Hardy’s tee totaling, daisy gardening grandmother.

All in all, I really like this notebook and can’t wait until I get to it. I might pick another before word gets out and the price goes up. You should too. Or don’t, I’m not your boss.

What NOT to put in your notebook

Filling Your Notebook, The SystemKevin

We spend a lot of time trying to give you ideas about what to write in your notebooks. We don’t, however, spend any time discussing what NOT to write (other than whining). That’s for a very good reason. We don’t want to stifle you nor your writing.

I guess it’s time to stifle you.

Don’t put grocery lists. Don’t put to do lists. Ordering Chinese food for a group? Want to have everyone write down what they want to make ordering bearable? Don’t use your notebook.

As a general rule, if you aren’t going to need it in a day, month, etc. find something else to write on. A Spartan, for instance.

And now we break that rule

Some years ago I was an usher at a friend’s wedding. One of my usher-ly duties was to introduce the wedding party as they entered the reception. Just so I wouldn’t muck it up, I wrote their names phonetically and the order in which they were entering. Having no other paper I reluctantly used a page in my current notebook. Years later it serves as a unique souvenir.

Circumstances that are out of the ordinary can be a good reason to bend some rules a bit. You might be glad you did.

6 Questions that Demand an Answer

Filling Your Notebook, Writing PromptsKevin

Having a hard time getting your creative juices flowing? In a bit of a slump? we find that usually a good question is all it takes to get that pen moving. Try these on for size:

What is a lasting childhood memory that, in the light of adulthood, couldn’t have happened due to absurdity? (Personally, I have a memory of an episode of Sesame Street in which they instruct the viewer on proper butt wiping technique. Nope! No way that happened.)
What would your “deranged millionaire” hobby be if you won the lottery tomorrow? (By the way, travel doesn’t cut it as deranged. Helicopter pilot might and nose spray collector definitely does!)
Describe the best time you had doing a mundane and/or menial task. What made it enjoyable?
Have you ever bought something you knew you weren’t going to use? A book you would never read? What was it? Why did you finally go through with the purchase? (I’m actually REALLY curious about this one, please write in and tell us!)
Describe the best time you had at a fast food place.
Uncommon uses for a superpower. For instance, using telekinesis to win an oyster opening competition (they exist!¹).

The Pencil Idiot’s Top Pencils

Reviews, Writing UtensilsKevin

My name is Kevin and I’m an idiot for pencils.

You might think this is because they’re erasable or because they’re archival or maybe you think it’s because they’re comparatively cheap or because they write very nicely. You might even think it’s because they evoke a sense of open ended learning we all experienced in childhood. You wouldn’t, necessarily, be wrong but there’s more to it than that.

I love the process of using a pencil. The sound as it scratches across the page fills me with a feeling of productivity. The variance in pencil brands and grades makes choosing which pencil to draw out of the cup very fun and sometimes even whimsical. Taking a break from writing to sharpen a pencil while my brain still churns on tends to coalesce my thoughts into something more expressible. Some smell amazing yet some don’t smell at all ¹. I love all these things about pencils and so much more! So without further ado and in no particular order, here are my top pencils!

Apsara Absolute My favorite offering from Hindustan Pencils², the Apsara Absolute sports a smoothly lacquered hex barrel that is a graphite grey with a slight warm copper tinge and a blue end dip. Its core is thicker than standard lending it some break resistance. While ungraded, it says “Extra Dark”, the core seems to me a bit like a 2B and the point retention is very much like a 2B. I have no idea what wood these are made of (White Fir?) but it looks like Incense Cedar but doesn’t smell like it. It sharpens very well and my box³ came with a very good eraser and a little plastic sharpener that works so well it’s in my top 4 sharpeners! These pencils write VERY smoothly and would be worth a try at 3 times the price. As of the time of writing you can find these for around 5$ a box.

General’s Layout No. 555 Sporting a large round barrel and an extra thick core that is very smudge resistant considering how dark it writes. The General’s Layout also has surprisingly great point retention, meaning it stays sharp longer than it ought to given how dark it is. It is a phenomenal pencil! The Layout has scratchy feedback which can be a refreshing change of pace compared to the buttery smoothness found in other premium pencils. The printing on the barrel is white and uses a classy vintage type face⁴ which, unfortunately, wears off really quickly leaving a plain gloss black. Actually, the plain gloss black is kinda boss now that I think of it. The best part of these fantastic pencils is that they’re sold at most craft stores!

Palomino Blackwing 602 There’s a near endless amount of people waxing on and on about Blackwing pencils. I’ll try not to add too much. I like all the Blackwings I’ve tried and the 602 is my favorite. The ferrule is cool too.

Mitsu-Bishi 9800 B Oh sure, when talking about Mitsu-Bishi pencils it’s almost sacrilege to not mention the venerable Hi-Uni. And, of course, Those are great if a bit pricey (for pencils, at least). But the 9800 is a simple green pencil that is extremely well made and writes VERY smoothly. What’s more, they won’t break the bank. They’re made of Incense Cedar⁵ so they sharpen well and smell great while doing it. Also, they say “Matured” on them and who doesn’t like a bit of nonsensical branding?

Tombow Mono 100 2B Here is the peak of what Tombow offers and they do not disappoint. They’re smooth, dark, well lacquered and have a cool cap with a white stripe. The box they came in is basically a display case for your desk. Having come out in 1967 as a high end drafting pencil, using one fills my mind with images of pocket protector clad “buzz cuts” using slide rulers to get to the moon. Great image, great pencil.

Well, there you have it. 5 pencils that a pencil idiot loves…today. I might have 5 new pencils next week. I’ll try to update this regularly.

The secret to easy flowing content

Content List Ideas, Filling Your Notebook, The SystemKevin

Page eaters

What is a page eater? While it may sound like a Harry Potter creature that didn’t make the cut, a page eater is a method for getting through lots of pages in your notebook.

Obviously, there’s more to it than that. A page eater is, basically, anything you can write about at length and easily. This could be anything from heady thoughts on a scholarly topic to a funny list of fictitious band names. It might sound like cheating but, as you’ll see, page eaters have many benefits and have the potential to create great content.

First and foremost, page eaters destroy the tyranny of the blank page. They can give you a sense of accomplishment and momentum. Writing a lot, through the use of a page eater, is a great morale booster. Always reminding you that you are a content creator with a lot to say. Helping you to avoid whining (NO WHINING!!). A few good page eaters in your content list and your notebook will flow out of you, through your hand, into a compelling, dynamic and multifaceted notebook.

Some examples include: Funny lists, observations about your surroundings or people, personal recollections viewed in a new light, notes or reflections on a skill you’re trying to learn, brainstorming or flow charts. Basically, anything that’s compelling or entertaining enough to get you writing.

This begs the question, “Shouldn’t all items on my content list be page eaters?” Hardly. I suppose you could do that and you would burn through notebooks easily and you might even be proud of your notebook, at first. Eventually, without challenging yourself, your notebook will be repetitive and boring. It might be fun, even easy, but make sure you try to stretch your abilities every now and then. Being able to see your growth over the course of a notebook is some of the greatest content of all.

You need to know this before you buy a notebook

Adventures in Notebooking, Notebooks, Reviews, Tips & TricksKevin

Notebooks come in many shapes and sizes making finding the one that is perfect for you just a few google searches away. One option that’s often overlooked is ruling. Here’s a brief overview of the most common options.

Ruled

Ruled is simply lines going across the page allowing you to write words without the sloping up or down as you go along the page. Pretty standard but if all you’re doing is writing it really works best.

Blank

Are you an artist? Do you write with HUGE letters? Are you a rogue cop who can’t play by the rules? Blank may be just the thing for you.

Grid

Often called graph as it resembles graphing paper. This one is useful for drawing diagrams, cartography, or your oyster knife prototype. That said, I personally like grid as it allows me to turn the notebook sideways and also have a line I can write on without my sentences taking that plunge towards the end of the line. Also, I’m getting really close to perfecting my oyster knife design.

Dot Grid

This is the polarizing one. Dot grid is a pattern of dots where the lines of a grid would intersect. This ruling is kinda like Bob Dylan, either you love it or you hate it. Very few people are indifferent although many people just ignore the dots. I thought I would love dot grid but I kinda hate it. So, I guess the only way to know is to try it.

Those are pretty much it. That said, the spacing and darkness of rulings can make all the difference. Try to find one that fits closely to your preferred handwriting size. Or don’t, I’m not your boss.

No bullwhips please

Adventures in Notebooking, Nerd MisadventuresKevin

When I was younger I saw the Indiana Jones movies. Like many of my generation, it left an indelible mark on me. One of the most lasting memories I have of the third film was the notebook. In my mind’s eye, it was stuffed with all sorts of cool stuff. It had fold out maps and pages. It had all sorts of odd things stuck in the pages¹. I wanted one. I wanted my own that was filled with my own cool stuff. In retrospect, it’s what led me to buy my first Moleskine at a bookstore. That desire is also what led me to fail utterly in filling it but that’s beside the point. Now, years later, not only can you get all manner of leather notebooks online and there are even websites devoted to people’s notebooks that are just filled with dynamic looking ephemera strewn throughout.

Here’s the problem. Those notebooks are a lie.

You might be thinking, “I could do one! It could be a travel journal and I’d record all the cool places I’ve gone and fill it with souvenirs from my Hemingway-esque travels!” I don’t know what your travel budget is like but if it’s like a normal person’s, it would take you a LONG time to fill. Not to mention that, at least when I travel, it’s not all champagne and bullfights.

I’m not saying you can’t go make a notebook look like that, you could. It might even be fun. Lot’s of people do it. It’s called scrap booking and I understand that it was very popular 10 years ago.

So, what to do? Should you stick stuff in your notebook? What’s a Notebooker to do? Well, binding issues not withstanding, its simple, when in doubt be genuine. That thing you want to put in your notebook, why do you want it there?

Because it would make your notebook look cooler? Meh.

Because it means something significant to you and puts you in a good frame of mind? Go for it!

Are you putting something in your notebook because you’re in the mood to put something into your notebook? That’s disingenuous. Don’t do that.

So…

Movie ticket stub? Meh.

Cigar band from the cigar you had the night you realized you were in love? Yes!

Sticker with the quote about the tides? That’s scrap booking.

Ode to the Bic Cristal

Reviews, Writing UtensilsKevin

Ode to the Bic Cristal

December, 1950. During the throws of the Korean war (the Forgotten War) and just in time for the Christmas shopping season, Bic introduced the Bic Cristal.

With its pencil-style hex barrel made of polystyrene that evoked a futuristic look and practical functionality. It’s tungsten carbide ball machined to within 0.1 microns and enough water resistant ink to reportedly write over 2 kilometers.

The Bic Cristal has a permanent exhibit in the Museum of Modern Art.

In 2006 Bic announced they had sold they’re 100 Billionth!

Want to try one? Check under your seat! No, I didn’t put one there “Oprah Style”, that’s just where they usually are. I mean there’s over 100 billion of them, they’re basically everywhere.

If you haven’t tried one in a while (their shelf life is 3 years remember) give them a go. The Easy-Glide ink is some of the best I’ve seen in a ball point and my favorite is the original. The 1.6 Xtra Bold is so smooth it’s almost like glass.

Sounds like we sold out, right? Like we’re selling Bics? We’re not. I just like cheap pens. Probably the most classic “cheap” pen, the Bic Cristal writes REALLY nice and is friendly to even the worst of paper qualities. At less than 20 cents per pen a Cristal punches WAY above its weight-class.

6 Things to make your notebook better

Content List Ideas, Filling Your NotebookKevin

Having trouble getting your content list going?

Not to worry. We’re here to help. As we all remember from elementary school (or whiners remember from earlier today) the easiest way to get something done is to copy someone else! Here’s a few ideas for your content list for you to copy. We won’t tell on you. Remember, you might copy an item or 2 from this list but the writing is all your own.

Recipes

Be sure to leave some space to write about how cooking went and what you will do different in the future.

Quotes

So long as the quotes are good and they’re not the only thing you write, have at it.

Skill Development

Is there a skill you’re trying to learn or master? Good! Writing about it can help you to develop faster.

Esoterica

Feel like writing about the ridges on the side of a quarter or the history of the motor lodge? Great!

Make stuff up

Don’t know anything about the ridges on the side of a quarter nor the history of the motor lodge? Make it up! It’ll probably be funny.

Your own experiences

Obviously. That said, don’t be in such a rush to record stuff that you miss the point. If you didn’t learn anything then it might as well have not happened. What did you learn? What went wrong? Was it funny? Would you do it again?

And as always, NO WHINING!

Oh my aching back!

Adventures in Notebooking, Nerd MisadventuresKevin

I roast my own coffee as a hobby. It sounds complicated, and in some ways it is, but if you can make popcorn without burning it then you could roast coffee too¹. If, however, you want to get good at roasting you need to control some variables. Between coffee bean type, roast level, degassing times and brewing methods it would behoove you to take notes. This is the story of these notes.

As I sit here and, using my favorite pencil, scratch out this story I am uncomfortable. My back hurts, my hands feel trembly and my poor lactose intolerant tummy is full of pizza.

This all started because I wanted my coffee roasting to be good enough to supply gifts of coffee to friends and loved ones. In order to roast some truly great coffee, I would have to do what I do best…Get systematic!

I began by keeping a roasting log. I recorded what I roasted, how I roasted it, when I roasted it, how I brewed it and how it tasted. I got a pretty good idea of what I was after and how to get it².

Then I had a radical thought, “What if I suck at this?” It was time to go back to the “Big boys.” And by “Big boys” I mean local cafes known for their coffee. So, like a pilgrim, I went. Notebook in hand and tasting notes to follow. Turns out I did pretty good. My coffee was better, or at least closer to what I wanted in a cup-o-mud.

Next, it was time to challenge the mighty throne of the “Big, big boys” and hit a popular cafe chain to see what all the fuss was about. Well, their coffee was crap. Not a huge surprise there, but it was reassuring. It should have been obvious. My coffee was fresher and I was using better beans. Hell, my bean suppliers won’t even sell something as crappy as “Mermaid logo coffee”³ because those grades of coffees are usually so caked with mold they have to use a pickaxe to break it up! But, I digress.

So my coffee was good. Good enough to gift with confidence. That could’ve been the end of the story. It probably should have been.

But, of course, it wasn’t. Remember when I said that I was systematic? Good because here we go again!

I didn’t stop at “Coffee place with pretentious nomenclature”, I went to doughnut shops too. While there, taking notes on yet another sub par cuppa Java, I had a doughnut. I liked it. A lot! And yet I seem to remember having better in the past.

I bet you, dear reader, can guess what happened next.

Now that I had a Doughnut Tasting Log I took it upon myself to seek out the tiny mom and pop shops in search of the perfect Glazed⁴! At one such “doughnut hole in the wall” I witnessed what appeared to be a reunion among elderly military veterans. This made me happy so I paid attention. One of these veterans, let’s call him “Suspenders”, had a birthday coming up in a week. Taking this as a Notebooking related excuse for more “Round Gold” (doughnuts) I determined that it would be rude to Suspenders if I wasn’t in attendance.

I’m happy to say that witnessing an elderly birthday celebration in a doughnut shop at 7:30 in the morning is a simple and pure pleasure I won’t soon forget. I’m less happy to say that I apparently look “young enough to know how to work a camera.”

After snapping a few photos and listening to what is wrong with young people these days, I was invited to meet my new friends at the same place and same time (7:30am!) tomorrow.

It must be said that I genuinely like these people. They’re charming, fast with a joke and constantly laughing. And so despite enjoying sleep, I, along with Suspenders, Petey, Eleanor, John, Jon, Millie and “The lady missing a few teeth” ⁵, have become a member of the “Old Farts’ Club” (their name, not mine) and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

So, why does my back hurt? Well, “The lady missing a few teeth” (let’s call her Patty since that’s her name), who is full of piss and vinegar and insulin, was in a “bit of a pickle.”

An inkling of decency and a longing for brevity prevents me from going into details but suffice to say, I helped her move today.

So when you think to yourself that you want your notebook to be ever changing and evolving or when you think to yourself that you want Notebooking to be a portal to adventure, remember this:

A promise of bad pizza and ailing backs are not part of coffee roasting!

Be careful what you wish for!

Snowed in, huh?

Filling Your Notebook, Writing PromptsKevin

I don’t know where you live, but where I live I could be snowed in this time of year with very little notice. If I get snowed in I’ll usually put a movie on or grab a book off the shelf. Sometimes, however, I’ll use the opportunity to Notebook. Here’s a few writing prompts to entertain you until it’s time to start shoveling snow.

Pick a thing that’s not on your Content List that you like and describe why you like it. This could be anything from something small like cold pizza to something longer like the sound of different types of laughter.
Choose a moment in your life that you recall vividly. Now describe it from someone else’s perspective.
Look around. Choose the most common or boring inanimate object. Describe it in the most exciting, interesting or romantic way you can.
Write a “Knock-Knock” joke.
Build a menu, whether for a restaurant or an event, that focuses on a bizarre theme. Such as: pregnancy cravings, childhood comfort foods, cooking only by geothermic steam, savory cupcakes/desserts, etc.
Describe a nesting doll based on people that have influenced your life. Who would these dolls depict? In what order? What would they be wearing? Are these people you know or people who’s work influenced you?

I hope these entertain you and don’t forget the hot cocoa!

Spartan Notebook Review

Adventures in Notebooking, Notebooks, Reviews, Tips & TricksKevin

This review is problematic. I’m not really sure how to begin. Ya’ see, the Spartan is one of my favorite notebooks (using that term loosely) that I’ve ever used. Unfortunately, you can’t buy it. Neither can I, but I made mine for free and so can you. I guess, I’ll start at the beginning.

The Spartan is eminently modular. Pages can be added and removed at any time. This means it can be whatever you want it to be, whenever you need it to be it. Try that with your Moleskine! Would you like something for your Jot Points since your chosen notebook is A5 or larger¹? A Spartan has you covered. Making a shopping list and don’t want to fill your notebook with such banality? The Spartan will happily serve as a sort of notebook junk filter. Maybe you’re beginning some projects and want to be able to file your notes later. This is where the Spartan shines. The Spartan notebook is so effective because it is so versatile. It will do anything you want it to. It can be a scratch pad, a Jot Points referee, a planner or even your main notebook! The Spartan has you covered.

Here it is! As you can see, the Spartan is just note cards held together by a binder clip. This may look simple, it is. This may look stupid, it might be. Luckily, the Spartan is possibly the most useful “notebook” I’ve ever come across. I personally prefer a small binder clip and 3×5 inch note cards as I keep my Spartan in my back pocket. I prefer lined cards as they help me keep my writing legible yet compact². The clip I’m using is silver in color. I bought a multi-color pack over 10 years ago and the first one I grabbed was this one. It still works fine.

On the back I have a lined card turned over. I use this for shopping lists in portrait orientation, hence using the non-lined side. I’m not a madman³!

Here I’ve taken the guts of my Spartan and spread them out for you to see. (Oh the humanity!) I like to use different color cards labeled with marker to make “folders.” Sometimes I’ll use just 2 “folders” like “work” and “home.” Other times I’ll use topic specific cards like “NotebookingNerds.” Alternatively you could use colored cards to indicate different topics or projects. Just don’t go changing them too often or it’ll get crazy.

I also like to keep a card with some Post-its on them. You’d be surprised how often they come in handy when you have them on you.

Here are a few ways I use my Spartan:

Shopping lists or To-do lists⁴
Jot Points when I don’t have the opportunity to notebook
Contact numbers or email addresses
Project notes⁵
Recipes ⁶

I, also, have a note-card holder that I use as a miniature filing cabinet so to speak.

What I don’t do is try to use a Spartan as a more permanent notebook. A Spartan is ephemeral, temporary and a fantastic companion to your notebook. In fact, when used in tandem with a notebook, a Spartan can help you get the most out of your notebook.

As long as you understand a Spartan’s limitations and strengths it won’t let you down. Give it a try.

Jot Points

Adventures in Notebooking, Filling Your Notebook, Tips & Tricks, Writing PromptsKevin

Jot Points are quite simply jotting down a point or thought on something that helps to remind you when notebooking later. It sounds simple and, really, it is. That doesn’t mean that we can’t make it better.

Chances are you’ve already done this. Especially if your chosen notebook isn’t of a size that allows easy pocket carry. There’s also a good chance you’ve done this poorly (I know I have).

Let’s say you’re at a grocery store and see a sign that makes you think of something funny to notebook later. A bad Jot Point would be “Funny sign.” Maybe that’s enough to go on later on but maybe it isn’t. I’ve done this and later, when I have my notebook in hand, I’ve got nothing. What sign was it? Why was it funny? Oh well. A better Jot Point could be, “Is gluten free toilet paper a thing?” That really gives you enough to remember.

Another way to improve your Jot Points is to include a specific phrase if you’ve got one you want to use. Let’s say you’ve decided to eat healthier, as you’re leaving the grocery store you could Jot down:

Got healthy food

Plastic sacks of aspiration.

And when you’ve finally given up your new healthy regime:

Ate Twinkies

The depths of my depravity

Jot Points are notes for the future you. Be kind to future you.

Lastly, we come to the question of what to write your Jot Points on. Given that we’re a notebooking blog you might think we have a clever, innovative solution. We do. But that’s not what Jot Points are about. Jot Points are about slapdash notebooking reminders. In that spirit here are some ideas for places to put your Jot Points:

Back of receipt
Palm of non-dominant hand
Envelope
Notebook (why not?)
Top of your non-dominant foot
Birth certificate
Cancelled postage stamp
Side walk (chalk required)
Stranger’s forehead (consent required)
Spare bit of paper

Why you should keep contact info in your notebook

Adventures in Notebooking, Benefits of Notebooking, Tips & TricksKevin

Isn’t it easier to put someone’s number/email/whatever into your mobile device? Yes. Obviously. In fact, I find that when I make a call it’s usually from my phone (imagine that!). Since that’s where the number is going to get used it should go there.

But Contact Info? No, that’s different and possibly more important.

Thing’s to write down after meeting someone

Name This one is surprisingly easy to forget.
Appearance Be kind. Also, try not focus on clothes as people tend to change their clothes. This is mostly to help you recognize this person in the future.
Job/hobbies Basically, this is why you know them or where you know them from
Personal details Do they have kids? How many? Are they all human? Spouse? Human too?
What are they into Or more specifically, what are they excited to talk about? It shouldn’t take you very long to find this out. People usually talk about things they are excited to talk about. That’s why they’re talking about them.
Something you like about them As you’ll see later, this has many benefits.
Finally, a few things you talked with this person about This, too, will help in a few ways.

After your initial meeting with someone, you’ll want to write this stuff in your notebook. Then, when you see them again, you will have all this minor but important information to draw on for conversation.

As an example, I recently met Doug.

Name Doug
Appearance Horn-rimmed glasses, greying buzz cut and ready with a friendly smile
Job/hobbies Works with computers in some way. Into gaming, both video and tabletop. His wife, Peg, isn’t. Likes hiking.
Personal details No kids. One wife (Peg)
What are they into Hiking. Star Wars RPG. Just bought a smoker.
Something you like about them Big booming laugh when he gets excited
Finally, a few things you talked with this person about Hiking, his knee surgery & subsequent recovery, and he bought a smoker but it hasn’t arrived yet.

The next time I see Doug I will have looked over these notes and already have several questions to ask him:

Got in any good hikes lately?
How’s Peg?
What have you been playing? When Peg let’s you! (insert knowing chuckle here)
Have you used your smoker yet? How did it turn out?

That’s potentially a half hour of conversation without mentioning the weather once!

When you talk with people in this manner they will gravitate towards you. Everyone loves to feel heard and remembering details about them makes them feel valued. This also takes the pressure off. We often worry about what to say during an awkward conversation. Here’s the secret: Don’t say anything. Just ask a few good questions and listen. Then go and update your notes. Be specific and as detailed as you can. If someone tells you about their ailing grandmother and after a month you approach them with, “Don’t you got a dead guy on the way?” you need better notes. (And possibly a soul)

Who do you record then?

You will never go wrong writing notes on everyone you meet. If you never see them again then you’ve wasted a few lines of your notebook and a few minutes. If, however, you do see them again… You will be the most likable person they’ve met in a long time.

It isn’t a bad idea to use this with people you’ve known for a while, either. Honestly, I should use this when I talk to my wife half the time!

Sigel Conceptum Review

Notebooks, ReviewsKevin

Conceptum by Sigel

It is ironic that the first notebook I review for NotebookingNerds.com may be the last I ever buy!

First let’s talk, I find that most reviews tend to follow a pattern of listing tech specs then finishing with whether or not the reviewer likes it. I say, “Horse Apples! Let’s change it up!”

I love this notebook! Here’s why: It’s chock full of features. Like most notebooks in this style it has an elastic closure, ribbon bookmark and a pocket in back.

But wait! There’s more… It has not 1 but 2 ribbon bookmarks¹! There’s also a pen/pencil loop if you’re into that sort of thing.

It has your standard fabric reinforced pocket in the back but this one has a little slot for cards. I haven’t used it for cards so I can’t speak as to its efficacy but just knowing it’s there makes me happy.

As if almost on a dare the Conceptum continues to add features! Like this small friction pocket in the front cover.

Add to all that a Table of Contents, numbered pages and perforated pages in the back and you’re looking a one great notebook.

But that’s not why I love it. I don’t love it for the good paper ² nor the contrasting red elastic although those are nice.

I love this notebook because it lays flat easily and has slightly wider than average ruling. I tend to write pretty small but some notebooks have ruling so minuscule (I’m looking at you Leuchtturm 1917!) that even I have a hard time using it. The Conceptum’s ruling is very generous in their A6. On their A5 it’s downright wide ruled! This is a refreshing change of pace compared to other notebooks which tend towards 5mm width ruling, grid or dots.

Now on to the downsides. There’s only one, the covers. Well, 2 technically since a notebook has 2 covers. The covers on the models I have have this faux leather appearance and some cheesy faux stitching around the edge. I’ve seen some other cover styles that don’t have this cheese though. It doesn’t bother me too much.

Is it the perfect notebook? No, that was the Guildhall A6 but they’re not made anymore. Is it close enough and won’t let you down? You betcha!

How to find YOUR notebook

The SystemKevin

Now you’ve done it. You went and listened to us. You filled some Passport-style notebooks, assessed your writing and you’ve got your content list pretty close to perfect. Now what?

The next step in our method is to “Find your notebook” but there are so many options ¹ out there. What’s a Notebooker to do?

Relax. We’re here to help. Here are a few guidelines to assist you in navigating the notebook store ²

Size Since the common style of notebooks are of European descent they tend to follow the European size system. It’s really simple, at least as it pertains to notebooks. A4, A5, and A6 are the most common sizes. A4 being roughly letter sized, A5 being half that, and A6 being half of A5. Imagine taking a letter sized piece of paper (actually slightly larger) and that’s A4. Then fold it in half and you’ve got A5. Fold it again and BOOM! A6. Since numbers are easy to mix up we’ve come up with a esoteric taxonomy that might help but is mostly for fun. A4 we’ll call “Letter size.” Let’s refer to A5 as “Steno size.” That’s fun. Lastly, if we call A6 the “Pocket size” we’ll at least which one will fit in a pocket. Steno sized (A5) is far and away the most popular which means the most options. Unfortunately, Steno sized is also kinda tough to fit into a pocket. Carrying a bag? Great!
Paper Let’s talk paper. These days pretty much every notebook uses “acid-free, archival” paper ³ so don’t worry about that. There are, however, 2 things to consider. 1) Paper quality. There’s a TON to say about this but for the purposes of this article let’s just say that good notebooks have good paper and unless you have a penchant for fountains then you’ll be fine.⁴ 2) Printing. Basically, you have to ask yourself whether you prefer blank, ruled or grid printing on your pages. Most notebooks are available in many different configurations so it should be easy to find what you want.
Features Most notebooks have the 3 standard features. Those being: Ribbon bookmark, Elastic band closure, and Pocket in back. These features are so ubiquitous that it’s hard to find a decent notebook without them. Personally, I’ve come to rely on them but if you don’t care then more power to you. Here are a few other features that are becoming more popular: Table of Contents on the first few pages, Numbered pages, and perforated pages in the back for easy removal. If you want these you might have to look around a bit but you’ll find what you’re looking for no problem.
Lay flat design This is a feature important enough to warrant it’s own bullet point. A notebook that lays flat, quite simply, makes it easier to write in. This feature is my personal obsession and I suffer under it. Can you use a notebook that doesn’t open flat? Absolutely! When using a notebook, there are only ever 2 sides. The side you’re writing on and the side you’re not. A notebook that lays flat keeps the pages flat while writing. A notebook that doesn’t requires you to either write on a curved surface, not write as deep toward the spine or allow the opposite side to raise up, mummy like, while you write. If these don’t bother then congratulations! There’s a lot more notebooks that you can use that I can’t.

Now that we’ve covered that, here’s one piece of advice I’ve noticed over the years: The flashier the notebook’s exterior the worse the interior tends to be. That beautiful leather covered notebook with the Celtic knot work stamped into the front you saw at Barnes and Noble for 30$ probably has cheap binding that will only lay flat if you break it and bad paper.

6 Reasons you should start with a Passport-Style notebook

Notebooks, Reviews, The SystemKevin

If you have read our “Getting Started” page you’ll know that we recommend getting started with a 3 pack of Passport-Style notebooks such as Field Notes, Word., Fabriano, etc. There’s a good reason for that. Actually, there’s a few good reasons¹:

Take out the guesswork It’s all too common when starting any project to become paralyzed by options². This “analysis paralysis” could easily become a problem with Notebooking since there are so many notebook and writing implement options out there. This way you start with an easy-to-find option.
There’s 3 of them Passport-Style notebooks usually come in 3 packs³. This gives you 3 chances to get started and go through the write/assess cycle without having to buy anything else. By the time you’ve gotten through all 3 you’re sure to be a Notebooking expert!
They’re short Being usually anywhere from 24 – 64 pages allows you fill a notebook with relative ease. Both lending you a sense of accomplishment and more frequent chances to assess your writing.
They are small They tend to be 3″ x 5″ or very close to it. This means that you can easily slip it into your purse or back pocket. This allows you to carry your notebook with you. This not only helps you build the habit of Notebooking and thinking about Notebooking but it also may help to inform your future notebook decisions like whether to carry it with you or not.
They’re cheap! Most 3-packs of Passport-Style notebooks clock in at around 10$. If we recommended a 50$ notebook to start that would place a bit too much pressure on you. Skip Starbucks twice and you’ve got enough to get a 3-pack. No one should have to skip Starbucks more than twice, I’m not a monster⁴!
Good Paper Most, if not all, Passport-Style notebooks I’ve used have had pretty decent paper. As you probably know, I prefer pencils and ball-point pens. I don’t, however, believe everyone should use them⁵. Luckily, the paper quality on most of these is such that you could even use a fountain pen if you insist. ⁶

You may find that you like the form factor of a Passport-Style notebook so much that it becomes “Your” notebook. Great! Though, do yourself a favor and try a different style of notebook at some point. You might be glad you did.

How to build your Content List

Content List Ideas, Filling Your Notebook, The SystemKevin

Have you ever sat down to write in your notebook? You’re excited, but then you have trouble getting it started? We’ve all spent time staring at a blank page. A blank page of a notebook is a tyrant, demanding a task you don’t know how to accomplish.

Your best defense against this feeling is a Content List. A Content List is a list of 5-10 topics written on the last page of your notebook. Before you even start writing in your notebook, it’s helpful to take some time and write a list of topics you’re going to write about in your notebook. Make that list on the last page of your notebook so that it’s always there for you when you need it.

The Content List is the heart of Notebooking. Without it, you are at the mercy of the tyrannical blank page. These topics are there to give you guidance and inspiration as to what to write. Your Content List acts as a muse and serves as a shield against that judgy blank paper.

“Sounds good?”

“No, rhetorical question guy, sounds great! Gimme that Content List!”

“Nope!”

You make your own. Making your Content List is simple but not always easy.

Guidelines

First, let’s set down some guidelines. Items on your Content List should:

Be something you can write about. Obviously. Writing your notebook entirely in French might be cool but not if you can’t speak it.
Be interesting. This should go without saying but, just because you can write about something doesn’t mean it will be interesting enough to do so. I could write about all the technical specifications involved in ball-bearing ratings but absolutely no one wants that!
Be very specific. Writing “funny stuff” on your Content List helps no one.
Avoid being too private. Don’t live in fear that the wrong person will open your notebook. To paraphrase everyone’s grandma, “If you can’t write something nice, don’t write anything at all.”
No whining! We joke about whining a lot but the fact is that nothing puts you into a bad place faster than whining. Additionally, nothing is worse to read than whining. If you avoid whining now there will be so much less cringing when it comes time to assess your Notebooking.

The Big 4

Most anything that ends up on your Content List can be put into 4 categories.

Interests

Whether hobbies, scholarly pursuits or any combination thereof, putting an interest of yours on your Content List means it’s something you enjoy thinking about and will, therefore, enjoy writing about. Moreover, there should be some capacity for growth and reflection. Otherwise, what’s the point? As an example, consider cooking. Cooking is an interest of mine. Putting “Cooking” on my Content List is ok. Putting “recipes”, “new foods I want to try” and “what I learned watching cooking shows” is fantastic.

Humor

Everything from funny observations to silly lists to (God help us) “Dad Jokes.” Humor is important in keeping things light and keeping your notebook from feeling intimidating. Everyone loves to laugh and that includes you, plus it’s entertaining. There’s nothing wrong with sharpening your funny bone¹.

Page Eaters

A page eater is any topic you can easily wax on and on about. The goal here is to get through pages. Moving through pages creates momentum and adds a sense of accomplishment. Page Eaters are often an interest or something humorous but it can also give you tacit permission for other uses for the pages. Mapping out thoughts, writing down observations, recording entertaining quotes, or nearly any inefficient use of paper are all fair game. Try to be specific with your Page Eaters as they could easily become the “bread and butter” of your fun and dynamic notebook.

A Challenge

This is the tough one but it is probably the most rewarding. While not technically necessary, chronicling a path of hard-won wisdom and growth is incredible. The good news is that it can be pretty open-ended. Whether it’s keeping track of your exercise plan or figuring out how to be a better conversationalist, trust me when I say that the familiar cruelty of the blank page will keep you accountable. If you do this, looking back through your notebook will become a motivating journey towards success.

As with all things Notebooking, your Content List will change and evolve over time. The key is that the more diverse and specific your Content List is, the more it will help when the words aren’t flowing. You don’t have to write only what’s on your Content List, but when that blank-page tyrant is staring you in the face, you’ll have an ally waiting for you on the last page who can prompt you to always write well.

Writing utensils for notebooking

Reviews, Writing UtensilsKevin

Without something to write with a notebook is pretty useless. They’re not good at putting out fires or even bullet proof. I suppose you could use it to make a weird, minimalist, flat mouthed puppet but that gets old after the first month or three ¹

Fortunately, there are many options. Unfortunately, there are MANY options! Let’s begin with a general rundown to get us started.

Pens!

Most pens can be broken down into categories based on their writing mechanism.

Fountain pen

This is your old school, fancy pants pen. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Sometimes I like my pants very fancy indeed. At the heart of any fountain pen is a nib and a reservoir of ink. As you draw the tip (nib) of the fountain pen across paper the ink flows onto the page. Most inks are water based. This means that the quality of paper in your notebook becomes VERY important. Don’t despair, there are some great options which we’ll get into at some point.

Fountain pens look cool and have tons of options. If spending hundreds of dollars trying to find just the right shade of black ink sounds fun, then, enjoy your rabbit hole. As a left handed person fountain pens are a disaster for me. First there’s ink smearing by my south paw as it clumsily bulldozes the page. Second most fountain pens don’t seem to like being pushed across the page rather than pulled by you elitist righties. Sour grapes? Yup.

Ballpoint pens

Ballpoint pens use a much thicker ink that is applied when a tiny metal ball at the end of the pen rolls along the page. While they are much more lefty friendly they’re basically everywhere. Don’t believe me? Go check your couch cushions, I’ll wait. Found one? Told ya’

There’s certainly a lot to say about ballpoint pens but I won’t. They work very well, they can be found very cheap (or free) and there are also very nice ones out there if the Bic Cristal isn’t for you.

Roller ball pens/ Gel pens

These are basically ballpoint pens that use different ink and tend to be more temperamental, also some of them leak. And now that I’ve made every pen aficionado curse at me I’ll say this. They offer a unique feel and writing experience that you really should try as you can find them pretty cheap at pretty much any place that sells ballpoint pens.

Fiber tip pens

The darling of the scrapbooker, artist, and notebooker alike. These are basically markers. Fine tip markers. Precision engineered, incredible markers. Look, these are awesome and they can usually be had for less than a fancy coffee drink so you definitely owe it to yourself to try one. That said, I usually don’t use them. Why? I don’t know, maybe I forget them? Although, my wife is an artist and so they tend to disappear on me.

Pencils

Ah, pencils. The real reason I forgo my fiber tip pens. Pencils use a very soft form of carbon called graphite. As it is dragged across the page the graphite leaves a line of itself on the page. Pencils can be erased yet if left alone will outlast every form of ink. It’s just carbon. Sure, it can smear but if you use the right pencil and the right paper it’ll be fine. Also, they smell like pencils!

There’s also mechanical pencils which you don’t get to sharpen and don’t smell like pencils but, I guess, they work too.

While that’s not all the options you have (brush pens, crayons, finger paints), those are the major ones. In future articles we’ll be exploring the ins an outs of each more thoroughly.

Right now, however, the main point is that whatever you choose it should at least work and be comfortable in your hand and ideally it should get you excited to write.

Welcome to Ask the Nerds

Ask the Nerds!Kevin

This area is where we will be answering the questions you send in. Believe it or not, we already have a few questions that came in! I promise that if you send us a question we will answer it…eventually. Please be patient with us as we also have day jobs. Stay tuned!

Welcome to NotebookingNerds!

Filling Your Notebook, The System, Tips & TricksKevin

At its essence, notebooking is putting thoughts on a page. These can be your thoughts about your life, other people’s thoughts that you want to record, or some combination of the both. But by putting them in your notebook, you mark these thoughts as ideas you want to hold on to, revisit, or explore.

Here at Notebooking Nerds, we believe in the power of notebooking. The simple act of writing down thoughts on a page will help you think more clearly and write more expressively. The problem is, most of us don’t know what to do with a notebook after we’ve bought it. What should you write? Does this make the cut? These questions can kill whatever spurt of creativity we started with.

Of course, there are added benefits to keeping your thoughts in a notebook, such as…

You become a creator of content, rather than a consumer.
A notebook can be a customizable souvenir of your life.
Becoming consciously aware of your thoughts will make you a better conversationalist.
You will become more aware of the details that make stories great.
Notebooking builds the habit of creativity.
Writing with pen and paper links you to every other literate person in history
It is a non-corporate, ad-free, no user-agreement or “signing your life away without knowing it” way to entertain and improve yourself daily.

Sounds good? Read on…

Beginning to notebook is easier and more enjoyable than you think. In fact, before discovering this method, I would liken keeping a “journal” to pulling teeth. Notebooking is more like dental hygiene – not a lot of work but a little bit of work regularly.

Step 1: Get a Passport style notebook pack

You’ve seen these. They’re getting to be everywhere thanks largely to the marketing tenacity of Field Notes. However, there are other, possibly more appropriate brands. Don’t get me wrong, I love Field Notes. That said there are other brands and some of them might be better for your purposes. For now, however, get just about anything. The key is that they are usually cheap, come in 3 packs and are short enough that filling one is pretty easy.

Step 2: Get a writing implement

I could go on and on about pens and pencils (in fact, I have). The most important thing here is that you have something to write with that is comfortable and works with your Passport style notebook. For example, if you’re going to use a fountain pen then you probably should avoid Rite in the Rain. ¹

You don’t need to spend a lot (though you could). Ideally, however, whatever you choose should get you excited to use it.

Step 3: Build your content list

This is where we diverge from the obvious. Go to the last page and write “Content List” at the top. Then it’s time to think. Come up with a list of 5-10 types of things you would like in your notebook. They can be nearly anything: Things you find funny, a meaningful moment, something that would entertain you to write about, etc. Now is the time to ask yourself questions like: What do I want this notebook to feel like? Are there any skills I’m looking to develop? If I’m stuck at the DMV, what could I write about that would entertain me enough to pass the time? There’s really only 2 rules.

It’s okay to choose things that you think would make your notebook more cool. It’s your notebook.
Nothing that involves whining about something. NO WHINING EVER! Whining is writing poison. No one (including yourself) ever wants to read someone whining. If you feel the need to whine and ruin a perfectly good notebook in the process, get a diary and some crayons.

Step 4: Spend 20 minutes…Daily

Now it’s time to get writing! For 20 minutes a day look over your content list and think. If something occurs to you that you want to write in your notebook, do so. If not, no big deal. The point of this exercise is twofold.

To get you writing.
To build the habit of thinking about what to write.

The combination of both of these thought processes will make you better at writing and better at deciding what to write. No matter what, don’t look back at what you’ve written. Just write.

Finally, try not to go more than 20 minutes. I’m sure that some days you’ll be able to write for an hour straight but take my word for it, “It’s frighteningly easy to burn out this early in the game.”

Step 5: 21 Days Later…Assess!

It is said that it takes 21 days to make something daily a habit. I have no idea if that’s true but it seems to work for most people. Maybe you can form a habit in 2 days but I can’t. Once you’ve done your 21 days of writing, chances are, you’ve filled at least one of the 3-pack. Now is the time to go back and read it. What did you like? What made you cringe? Don’t worry, we write crap from time to time. The only time to worry is if you think all of it is gold. The chances of that happening your first time out is basically 0%. If you think it’s all genius then I implore you to be a bit more critical. The point of notebooking isn’t just to make you feel cool but to create cool stuff and improve yourself by getting those creative juices flowing.

Step 6: Find “Your Notebook”

There are hundreds if not thousands of options when it comes to “Your Notebook”. The point of this section isn’t to list them all and review them all. That would take longer than you or I have. There are several very good websites that review notebooks and a few google searches can net you all you want to know and more. Instead, I want to ask you a few questions:

How big do you want your notebook to be?
Will you be carrying it in a pocket or purse or backpack?
Will you be carrying it at all?
What type of writing implement will you use?
Should your notebook have a pen loop or do you have that covered?
Do you want blank, ruled, graph or dotted pages?

In the future, we will try to have articles regarding all these questions as well as something akin to reviews that will help you make a decision.

Just remember, no matter what you choose, there is no perfect notebook. And once there is it will get discontinued one month before you find it.

Now – Dive in!

You now have your notebook, your pen (or pencil), your revised content list, and the habit and practice to write good content. Now all you need is a vehement opinion on the Oxford comma. (kidding) You have all you need. Get writing!

A final word of advice: You don’t ever have to stop using the content list. Hell, if you don’t want it in the book put it on an index card in the pouch that’s usually at the end of the notebook. In fact, most notebooks have perforated pages at the end so you could tear it out when you’re done with it. And remember, the more you reflect and honestly assess your writing the better you get. It is never a easy or comfortable process but it’s always worth it. Always.

Please drop us a line to let us know how it went! We love hearing from fellow Notebooking Nerds!