The inconvenience, the awkwardness, the much slower pace at which I can get my thoughts down...
\nI've had a selection of small notebooks in the drawer of my bedside cabinet for ages, still snuggly wrapped in their cellophane jackets. Nothing as flashy as a Moleskine but that doesn't matter.
\nI've made the effort of buying new pens, nice pens that feel good in the hand. One sits wistfully on top of my bedside cabinet, separated from those notebooks by an inch of wood and the Scott Sigler novel it rests upon.
\nThey are no good to anyone separated like this so I get one out of the drawer, unwrap it, and place it ready for use should inspiration strike. It's only small, incredibly pocket sized, and I wonder if that's part of the problem.
\nSmall notebooks can be hard to write in comfortably whilst fitting only a little on each page. Am I unintentionally hamstringing myself with such choices? Am I more likely to write by hand if it is an easier experience?
\nDoes size matter?
\nI often vow to make more of an effort, that this time will be different. It never is, never has been. At least not yet!
\nPerhaps it never will but that doesn't mean I should stop trying.
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@colinwalker \"the much slower pace at which I can get my thoughts down\" - my personal experience is that the \"quality of my thoughts\" are better when I'm forced to slow down.
@jemostrom I often forget the nuance of what I was going to say so capturing it as it manifests is crucial.
I know the struggle you're talking about, Colin. I have Simplenote installed on my phone, and I find it really easy, and even enjoyable, to type ideas into that. It's one of my favourite apps.
\nBut, as you probably picked up from my recent poem, I'm pretty concerned about the place of phones in our lives. I think they're a far bigger intrusion than most people will admit. So, over the last few weeks, I've been trying to reduce my use and incorporate traditional writing tools into my creative process. What that's meant is, putting the phone in my backpack (so it's not in my pocket and easy to grab) and putting a notebook and pencil in my pocket.
\nIt's been a bit of a battle to leave my phone tucked away, but after a few weeks, it's become easier, and I can honestly say I'm starting to enjoy writing in the notebook--particularly with a pencil. (I bought a few Palomino Blackwings, and a friend of mine sent me a selection of nicer pencils, and they make quite a difference.)
\nLike you, my handwriting is pretty bad, although, interestingly, it's better with a pencil than with a pen. Perhaps because of the extra bit of friction. And I know what you mean about small notebooks being a bit frustrating to write in, although I'd argue that a phone screen is even smaller, and, for me, even clumsier. I've got big thumbs and I regularly hit wrong letters!
\nLike you alluded to in one of your other posts, I like the separation of drafting and editing. It really frees me up to try things. And it breaks my habit of always being on my phone.
\nI do think it takes time though to break the habit of whipping out a phone, and to see the benefit of creating the awkward, slow way. I guess we each have to experiment and weigh up the pros and cons of different tools and approaches.
\n(Sorry for the wall of text. It's just something I've been think about a lot lately.)
@colinwalker When I use electronic devices I tend to jump from idea to idea without really thinking them through. Using pen and paper I manage to really think about the question and if I get another idea I just make a one-two word note and come back to it later. But we are all different so ...
Appreciate your thoughts Chris, and don\u2019t apologise for the walk of text.
\nI\u2019m an impatient writer, always looking to get my thoughts out before I lose interest in them. I\u2019ve chastised myself many times for it, make a bid for redemption but fall back way too easily.
\nI\u2019ll get there eventually.
@colinwalker @jemostrom I heard that a) \u201cthinking\u201c is best done by hand, while b) \u201cbringing it down\u201d should be done by typing. As a more analog person I agree on a), for b) I often use (please, don\u2019t laugh) a mechanical typewriter - allows a good flow for me.
@colinwalker Thought #1: Replace the small notebook with a larger one and see what happens. Nothing fancy. A cheap drugstore one will do. Thought #2: Maybe you're not a paper guy. It's OK. Be you.
@colinwalker I recently switched from a small Moleskine notebook to a Leuchtturm 1917 Master Slim. It\u2019s A4+... massively oversized. Took me a while to get used to the bigger size, but now I love it.
@kulturnation I really like using pen/paper and especially doing sketch notes ... but unfortunately I rarely have the time to actually use them. Since most of the time I need to publish my material electronically and it takes too long to do it twice ?
@jemostrom I first think about a topic, then I write it down. Writing down is much faster then. With a computer I tend to do to much fine tuning before the piece is done. But it depends on your job, of course.
@jemostrom (There is Feridun Zaimoglu, a German author who \u201cprepares\u201d all his novels in notebooks, and when he feels ready he types it down with his electric typewriter right out of his head)
@kulturnation Yeah, I've tried doing it the \"paper outlining/planning\" way first and then converting it to electronic form for the lectures/course. I can't do it, I end up with 1-4 very nice lectures in the beginning and then panic. But it's a character flaw of mine :D
For me the difference was the system. Bullet Journal changed everything for me. It wasn't left up to chance. It doesn't matter how nice the notebook or pen, if you don't have a system and routine everything else falls about.
\nTake a look at using one of your notebooks to convert to a Bullet Journal and try to stick with it during an entire calendar month. You'll be hooked like the rest of us.
@kulturnation Same here. Also, when using the computer I often end up doing everything but work on the project at hand. Paper helps me think clearly and, more importantly, focus.
@jemostrom Or it is just a well established workflow :) #whateverworks
@kulturnation your explanation sounds better ?
@patrickrhone @sketchbookb I\u2019ve asked for something bigger for Christmas. Until then I\u2019ll see if I can last more than a week with a pen. I feel like I should be a paper guy, I used to be.
\"With a computer I tend to do to much fine tuning before the piece is done.\"
\nI'm the same.
@kulturnation Nothing wrong with mechanical typewriters, there\u2019s a certain je ne c'est quoi to them, a real old school satisfying feeling.
That you've written three posts about it suggests you want to be. :)
@jemostrom This is always my issue - the time and duplication of transcribing or converting from paper to type. While I can see the appeal it usually frustrates me as it feels like doubling the work.
\nPerhaps it\u2019s worth it in the long run.
Trust Patrick to bring some common sense. ;)
Thanks, I\u2019ll look into that. Are there any good resources you can point me to?
@colinwalker Had to laugh when I read your \u201ethere\u2019s a certain je ne c'est quoi to them\u201c - read \u201ea certain je ne sais quoi\u201c this morning in George Saunder\u2018s short story \u201eVictory Lap\u201c (in: \u201eTenth of December\u201c) - is this French commonly used?
@kulturnation Yes, it\u2019s used quite a lot in English - the French just sounds so much more mysterious ?
@colinwalker I believe it's completely worth it. For me it's quality over speed. Also, as the Field Notes guys say: \"I'm not writing it down to remember it later, I'm writing it down to remember it now.\"
I've got a Moleskine pocket notebook at the moment (got it for half the usual price on the Book Depository), but when I've filled that I'm going to try Field Notes. They look a lot better (thickness-wise) for actually carrying round in your pocket.
There is an incredible and admirable amount of passion about the written word, as opposed to the typed word.\nThanks for all the comments folks.
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Thanks, Colin--for the fixing the bug and mentioning my newsletter!
My pleasure Chris.
Thanks for all the comments folks.
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@colinwalker Chiming in a bit late here but I find if I write a list of things I need to remember on paper I don\u2019t usually have to refer to it again. Digital lists are different. They don\u2019t lodge in my brain as easily. Writing things down makes a stronger connection in my experience.
@stefp Absolutely. Writing things down is excellent for the memory which is why it's always good to summarise things when revising for exams.
@colinwalker My exam days are well over but I always enjoyed paper mind maps. The trend for digital mind-mapping has always struck me as going against the original ideas laid down in the Tony Buzan book. They don\u2019t work the same.