A Tale of Two Notebooks
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Two Notebooks
I carry two notebooks with me at all times.
And a pen.
The notebooks are useless without a pen, and no matter where you are, folks look askance at you trying to scribble notes with blood or dirt. So don’t be that guy. Bring a pen.
Sorry, right, back to the notebooks. I carry two of them, and I’ll tell you why.
Notebook the First
This is my general, day to day notebook. It’s the pink flowerty notebook in the pictures above, and you can see a glimpse inside it from the first picture up there. This notebook does two things for me.
- It keeps my to-do lists, separated out by day.
- I use it for note-taking when I’m learning something that I intend to utilize elsewhere. (such as reading a focus manifesto or doing some research on use cases)
I went through several pages before I worked out a format that worked for me.
For my to-do lists, I have a few important areas:
- Date in the upper-right corner, boxed. Day of week, Month, day, year. “TUE Dec 27 2011″
- “Big” column in the left.
- “Smaller” column in the middle.
- Sometimes, a “Shopping” column on the right
I can fit a whole week on a single side of a page most of the time, but I don’t stress over it too much.
Every morning I sit down and make my list for the day. What are the BIG things I NEED to get done today? (As a programmer, sometimes these carry over). I try to keep this list small and focused. Big things are MUST do items. My workouts go here, as well as my major work projects or time-consuming meetings.
The “Smaller” list is stuff I need to remember to do, like “reload my ipod with different music” or “email mom about visiting this weekend” or “blog post about shadow spec”.
The “Shopping” list is just things that I need to remember to pick up next time I shop. I found I would think of things in the middle of the day at work and then forget them for WEEKS when I’m out shopping (which is why I was out of both tamari AND nutritional yeast for like two months there).
Each item gets an empty box drawn next to it, and I color in the box as I complete a task.
Next day, I move any unfinished items down (assuming I still want to do them) and remake a brand new list.
I can glance back and see finished/unfinished tasks over time, and I also tend to be more focused in my daily activities, KNOWING what I intended to finish today.
I picked up this book from the dollar store and I like it because it has lines and closes with a magnet clasp. I write small enough to fit two or three lines of text within a single printed line, but I need the regimentation of pre-printed lines to keep me straight.
Very Important Note: This is an iterative process. That means I am constantly evaluating this method and asking myself if it can benefit from changes. Expect more posts on this notebook as I tweak my processes and find successful modifications.
Notebook the Second
My second notebook is my writer’s notebook. It has very little structure, and I frequently tear pages out of it and put those pages in the folders of my Idea Box (a hanging file folder box that has a single folder for each major story idea I have, as well as folders for “random ideas” and other things I want to keep track of in a single place.)
This notebook gets lists of things I want to write, late-night scribbled notes about stories (note to self: these are more legible if you turn a light on first), mind-maps, and planning.
I try to keep it so that there’s a single purpose for each page (this makes it easier to plonk the idea into the correct folder).
This is the gray/red flowerty book in the images at the top of the post, and you can see three different inside-pages from it — two mindmaps and a planning/notes page.
I picked up this book from Barnes & Noble, on their cheapo rack. I like it because the pages are unlined, the outside binding is HARD and protects the pages, and it is spiral bound, so the pages lie completely flat when I’m writing. I want no lines for this so that I don’t feel hemmed in when I’m being creative, and I HATE sketching and writing in books that do the bulgy-fold thing where it’s bound.
Why Two?
Surely, a single book COULD encompass both of these needs.
However, I find that I don’t want my creative ideas slapped higgledy piggledy in between my checklists, and I want a combination of no lines and lines for various purposes. Sure, carrying two notebooks is more of a pain than just one, but that’s why they’re both half-size books instead of full-size. Together, they’re like carrying a single spiral notebook, size-wise.
Also, you’ll note the lack of moleskine brand notebooks, beloved by writers and artists alike.
First off, they’re too expensive for me. (What can I say? I’m frugal.)
Secondly (and more importantly), none of them fit the “spiral bound, blank page, hard cover” requirements I had for my creative notebook.
Benefits
I am forcing myself to make a habit of building my expected activity list for the day and the result is that I am GETTING MORE DONE.
Period.
Instead of getting home and flumping in front of the computer to immediately begin wasting ti– playing Warcraft, I now have this LIST of things that I wanted and needed to get done today. Things not finished? Maybe check that off the list before turning off my brain, hey?
Also, I’ve been much better about scribbling down quick story ideas with my creative notebook. As a result, I’ve been more apt to think about my story ideas, because I’m less afraid I’ll lose something.
No internet access required.
I’ve tried digital methods. I really have. Heaps of apps (some written by MYSELF) and there’s just something about pen on paper for this kind of thing that WORKS for me.
Find out what works for YOU, and do it. Don’t be discouraged by early failure — the first ten pages or so of my daily notebook have all kinds of junk in them. Food logs, wasted space, different layouts and styles for checklists and headers … it took me a while to find something that clicked, and I’m so very glad I stuck with it.
You
Anyone else have or want a creative notebook, or a great method of checklisting? Do you know what does and does not work for you?
At any given time I have fifty eleven thousand (yes it’s a number) notebooks with writing in them, and a few I got just because they’re purty.
My daily To-Do list goes on a scratch paper from school when I’m working by myself, but if I’ve got a co-teacher then we write it on a white board and erase as we go. (I love a clean white board).
My creative stuff. The MOST important things I remember, because otherwise they’ll get lost. Period. I’m bad at organizing.
But right now I have a red spiral bound notebook that is in my laptop bag. Also, I don’t have just one pen. I keep 10 with me, all different colors in their own little pre-packaged case. I like to color-coordinate, even if I’m disorganized with the physical notebooks.
For example – all poetry is written in blue, usually with lots of scribbles. All EV (urban fantasy universe) is in green. All LC (SF) is in purple. LU (sort of Sci-Fantasy … fanfictiony.. I’m not sure what it is yet…) gets circled in yellow (yellow’s too light to write the notes themselves in). Korean language studies are light blue, while historical studies are light green. Really Important Stuff is in red.
Now I need to go to bed like I should have two hours ago.
Casi´s last post ..A Fieldtrip
I LOVE whiteboards. <3
I also like being able to look back through time at previous to-do lists, though, so neither scrap paper nor whiteboards quite meets my needs.
Also, *raises hand*, I too am totally addicted to notebooks. I try to be picky and reasonable, but there's a part of me that always perks up at the thought of a trip to the office supply store. *laugh*
Nice color-coding scheme! I think I'd get too lazy with it unless I had a system that made each pen within easy reach regardless of where I was (right now, I take my book everywhere but it has nowhere for pens on it, so I scramble whatever writing implement I can find)
The notebook and the pens are always side by side in my laptop bag, and both fit into my purse. So … where one goes, the other follows.
I’m totally with you on the pen and paper thing! I’ve tried over and over again to get into digital calendars and list keeping (I’m a BIG list maker). I love the convenience of digital solutions, I find I’m rarely without an internet connection and the ability to access things on my phone or any computer is nice. However, I find that I just won’t use them. It’s kinda counter intuitive but it just takes too long to put things into a digital list, espcially on mobile devices. I can write something out in my Uncalendar much faster than I can put it into my phone or computer and access it much faster later on. I do have to remember to cary the darn thing with me everywhere, but that’s pretty much habit now!
*laughs* I was about to suggest uncalendar for you, but you beat me to it!
In doing some modifications to the above system (yes, already, shush. *giggle*) I ran across uncalendar again and I think it’s CLOSE to what I want, but not quite there.
Then again, I may go through a few more iterations and basically re-invent uncalendar (lol) and end up using it. Who knows?
I do voice to text when I’m making a to-do list on the phone, then copy paste. I do that once a week.
What’s “uncalender” ?
Uncalendar is a really neat trick-you-into-being-organized calendar system. It’s a purchaseable notebook (online only, not available in stores) that’s actually run by a home-grown company.
It’s worth a quick google search – LOTS of folks adore it and swear by it, and they have plenty of high quality pictures of the inside (as well as videos of folks telling you how THEY use THEIR uncalendar) available.
What is a “focus manifesto?”
I’m a construction and manufacturing project manager (very structured) now working in a research environment (little or no structure) and finding it hard to organize using my old processes. I think something along the lines of Agile might help, but I’m not sure, and need to learn more. Currently, I’m trying to find as many good ideas as possible and working them into my own system.
Focus Manifesto was this (the free version of the PDF)
> http://focusmanifesto.com/
I’d love to hear more about your organization trials and tribulations. That kind of journey always interests me!
Thanks Tami, I’ll check out the Focus Manifesto.
I’ve been thinking about writing something about my journey, and my boss tells me I should write a book on flexible project management since we have had pretty good success. Unfortunately, I find that it’s not so much a system as it is a state of mind. Wouldn’t that make a great book:
“Chapter One. Keep a flexible state of mind. THE END.”
Something to think about anyway…
I’m very interested to hear your thoughts on project management, especially from the point of view of a programmer, since you must use flexible methods. I’d love to hear anyone’s thoughts on the subject, for that matter, either here or via e-mail at willydd3@gmail.com.
I don’t think I know enough to speak intelligently on project management. Every time I start to think I understand it, people interfere and the whole thing gets destroyed.
Numbers are SO well behaved by comparison!
At one time in my working life, I swore by my Day-Planner. That was also before the ubiquity of electronic planning devices—sure, I had Outlook, both at work and at home, but . . . Outlook. Yeah. Um, no.
Now, of course, as Tami noted, there is no dearth of apps available on any (and every) platform one might own/use. I do very little list-making, and when I do create something on the computer, I generally print off a copy to keep at my desk.
Increasingly, though, I find myself turning to Evernote, which is pretty much platform-agnostic. What I really need to do, though, is to look for a means to integrate Evernote with some sort of calendar app (or actually research into Evernote itself) to generate reminders to myself. The beauty of Evernote is that I can use it everywhere, for just about anything. And now that Skitch is integrated both on the desktop and—at least—on iOS (and, I believe, on Android), I can annotate any kind of image with notes, arrows, or even flowers, if I’m Tami-inclined.
Of course, having the tools isn’t enough: I also need to remember to use them when the opportunity to do so presents itself. I’m workin’ on it. ;)
Hee hee. I love that Tami-inclined = skitch flowers.
<3<3
Thank you for plugging Evernote, too. I still haven't found the niche for it in my life, but you and Bre both swear by it, so I know it's good. <3
Just a couple examples of how I used Evernote today:
1. Clipped a recipe for Key Lime Pie from Serious Eats (seriouseats.com, I believe), which I will probably forward to Janet at some point. Or which I will pull up next time we’re in Florida, since Eric & Diane have a key lime tree. :D
2. Clipped a travel packing checklist, from onebag.com, to help me become a lighter (read: not overpacked) traveler. I will print the checklist out when I get home, and after modifying it to better fit my specific needs.
I agree that notebook entries get confusing between notes scribbled on the fly and notes that are in organised lists.
I tried turning a notebook upside down and starting from both ends, but I didn’t like that.
But what is worse is defacing my notebook with large scribbly letters when I am in a hurry and copying something down while doing something else (on the phone, talking to someone etc.). After a couple of pages of entries like that I start to fall out of love with my notebook.
I started an online list that synced between my iPhone and laptop would help – I use Wunderlist – but really it just means I have digital notes and notes on paper. And in my experience there is nothing worse that having more than one source or place to keep notes.
I used to just keep a piece of paper folder in thirds. When it was full, I tore it up and started another. And it was easy to slip into my shirt pocket.
I used to exercise more control. Now I exercise less control and half of my tasks die gently on their own by simply becoming redundant or less appealing.
A good tip I gave to myself is to look at my lists less frequently.
I know this must sound like I am being facetious or ironic, but I think a lot of this note-taking fixation has more to do with the person that with the tasks.
I have just relinquished control a bit.
I use iCal on my laptop for ‘must be done by then or you’re in big trouble’ notes and I put an email alert so that I get a reminder – they’re the best solution for the really important ones.
I use Moleskine – I like the way they don’t fall apart, and that makes up for the few extra ££s over and above the cost of something else.
I love paper and pens, art shops and graph paper and tubes of paint and coloured crayons and all that stuff. I think note-taking is partly about love of the materials.
David Bennett´s last post ..Happy New Year!
^_^ Great write-up!
For me, I have things that I want to accomplish which would naturally drop off my list if I didn’t maintain it. It’s one thing if it’s something unimportant that doesn’t get done, but another thing entirely when I am not actively working towards goals that I think are important.
And a lot of my note-taking is DEFINITELY, as you said, love of the materials. :D
I carry notebooks and pens with me everywhere. The pens have this strange, supernatural ability to disappear just seconds before I need them. (I believe they are now living happily in the Unpaired Sock Universe.) The paper, though clearly purposed to receive brilliant story ideas, is instead spotted with phone numbers I don’t recognize and haphazard lists of grocery items. And all written in blood or dirt, of course.
I have that disappearing pen problem, too!!
And so few notebooks have a suitable pen-attachment apparatus!
Why is that? It makes no sense at all. I realize that pens come in varying diameters, but still . . .
I don’t know! It seems so simple and obvious, yet I’ve almost never seen it done elegantly.
[...] Pages ripped from my creative notebook. [...]