The simple practice of keeping an idea notebook has been absolutely essential to my research and writing over the years, and it’s something I often recommend to thesis students and others who are starting a large complex project.
I designate a small spiral notebook as my idea catcher. It’s not for writing notes from texts or critical sources that I’m using, or for writing formal drafts. Instead, it’s for capturing my own ideas, which sometimes can seem elusive at certain stages of the writing process. I teach students several forms for distinguishing their own ideas from those of others in the note-taking process (such as writing a precis or using Cornell-style notes), and I use similar strategies myself. But the idea notebook is for those ideas that occur to you at odd moments of the day — usually when you’re not at your desk.
Of course, your cell phone, smartphone, netbook, tablet, or other mobile device undoubtedly has one or more notepad or notetaking functions. You could also use Evernote to create an always-with-you “notebook.” But personally, I find that that the analog notebook works better for me for this purpose, both for quickly capturing my thoughts (I can scribble faster than I can Swype) and for skimming through old entries.
Some specific ways I use my idea notebook include:
- Jotting down questions, thoughts, and ideas that relate to my current research or possible future projects. I typically get better ideas while I’m cooking or exercising than I do when I sit down at my desk to think about something.
- Noting problems, questions, and doubts I have during the research process. Often I find my way to a solution while writing about the problem in just a few minutes. It’s also helpful to flip back and see that I tiptoed through the same Slough of Despond for a few days while writing the last chapter, and to realize it’s just part of my process.
- Journaling for 5-10 minutes at the start of my work session. I’ve found this to be a helpful way to get focused and in the right mental state for writing. Sometimes I just restate the key ideas for a project (“I am writing about X in order to show Y”); sometimes I set a specific goal for that morning’s work (“Today I want to figure out . . .”).
Pick a notebook that’s small enough to fit easily in your bag(s) but not so big that you will feel intimidated by its blank pages. I like 4″x7″ or 5″x8″ lined notebooks and have been a devoted Black n’Red user for several years. Whether it’s Moleskine or classic Mead that suits you, try keeping an idea notebook for a few months and see how it fits into your writing and research process.
Do you keep an idea notebook? Let us know in the comments!
[Creative Commons licensed image by flickr user simonov]
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12 Responses to Why I Keep an Idea Notebook
pelf81 - October 26, 2010 at 8:08 am
I don’t keep an idea notebook per se, but at the beginning of every year, I get a diary into which I write everything, from appointments to research data, to “to do” lists, to my expenses :D And I have been keeping my diaries since 2004, and I’ve found it to be very crucial, especially whenever I needed to look for some data or some other information (because I can almost always remember writing it down).
So yes, I definitely agreeing to keeping a notebook of some sort :D
archaeo42 - October 26, 2010 at 8:51 am
Yes I definitely do. Mine is kept on my nightstand since most of my ideas or possible solutions to problems seem to come to me as I’m falling asleep. I learned long ago that no, I will not remember it in the morning and must write things down.
mark_r_harris - October 26, 2010 at 5:07 pm
I find that a digital voice recorder is handy for this purpose. You can use it in the car (where ideas often come to me) or as soon as you finish your shower (ditto). If I wake up groggily in the middle of the night with an idea, I reach over to my bed-stand, and capture it on the DVR. The recording capacity of one to three hours, depending on the machine, also makes the device useful for other purposes, such as taping a lecture for later re-listening. You can easily upload audio files to the computer, so I have even used my DVR to create “voice emails” which I send as attachments to regular emails. This is my favorite gadget.
keisha1995 - October 26, 2010 at 5:24 pm
@mark_r_harris- I like the idea of the mini-recorder. That’s a good idea for me since I tend to lose track of those notebooks.
saraid - October 26, 2010 at 6:03 pm
I keep a Rite-in-the-Rain notebook on my person, in a pocket, any time I’m not seated somewhere. The paper is waxed so that it’s rain-proof, and I’m always able to jot down a thought whenever I need one. I started the practice in high school and have maintained it through the present.
blendedlibrarian - October 26, 2010 at 7:55 pm
I agree it’s essential to have a notebook handy at all times to capture ideas as they occur. Others in the field of creativity have written about it as well. You may find this post of mine of interest, and in the post I point to a good article on a guide to capturing creativity.
drj50 - October 27, 2010 at 9:55 am
I carry a small (roughly 3×4 inch) pocket calendar that I use for my personal life. (I use an electronic calendar to manage my work schedule.) In the pocket calendar, I keep a stack of 2×3 inch post-it notes for lists, brainstorms, etc. Every day or two I transfer these to someplace more permanent.
I also keep a small digital recorder in my car. I find it especially helpful on long trips, as I spend the first couple of hours remembering things I had meant to take care of before I left : -)
On occasion, when I get a brainstorm while walking for exercise, I have used my cell phone to leave notes on my home answering machine.
sarajean - October 27, 2010 at 10:19 am
@mark_r_harris – I’ve programmed a shortcut key on my cell phone to start its voice recording feature. It’s not good for extended recordings, but it works for middle-of-the-night ideas, ideas that come up while sitting in traffic, and the like.
pfzenke - October 27, 2010 at 11:21 am
I like to create audio notes on the go using the iPhone’s Voice Recorder app, or I write myself an email to remember the idea. In the office I use Post-It notes for capturing and organizing ideas.
kkent66 - October 29, 2010 at 6:15 am
I go back and forth–I have a place in MacJournal for this, and definitely use it, but a notebook would be better or at least a good back up for when I’m not in front of the computer. I’m a total notebook fetishist, too, it’s just hard to keep one sacrosanct…and not fill it with all kinds of other things. You’ve inspired me to try again though!
rgalsup - November 1, 2010 at 6:14 am
Some may want to consider using electronic journals. I published a blog entry describing three electronic journal applications, iDailyDairy, The Journal and Penzu.
gmd1057 - November 2, 2010 at 2:26 pm
From the 1970s to the 2000s I kept noteslips or similar paper records for ongoing projects.
In the last five years I have instead started to keep documents on the desktop of my laptop, automatically backed up remotely multiple times a day (all computers die at some point).
For multiple topics within a large project, I keep a folder with multiple documents on the desktop. When working a lot on something, I’ll keep the relevant desktop document opened and reduced, for fast access when I have a thought while doing something else.