Tag Archives: writing

Leila Slimani’s Notebook

The Moroccan-French author Leila Slimani was featured in the Wall Street Journal magazine in December, talking about some of her favorite objects. Included are a notebook and pen! In the front is a notebook. I’ve been writing everything in notebooks since I was 18. We write because we don’t want to forget, and it’s something … Continue reading Leila Slimani’s Notebook

My Pen Collection, 2022

Fans of writing tools seem to fall into two groups: the pen/pencil people and the paper people. But for most of us, both are important, as the combination of pen and paper is sometimes more important then each thing on its own. My focus has always been on paper, in the form of notebooks, but … Continue reading My Pen Collection, 2022

Joan Didion’s Notebooks

It looks like Joan Didion would qualify as a Notebook Addict of the Week— she left behind at least 38 blank notebooks when she died. Joan Didion’s notebooks are being sold as part of an auction of many of her belongings, including books, artwork, furniture, sunglasses and more. I’ve written about Joan Didion before– her … Continue reading Joan Didion’s Notebooks

Bob Dylan’s Notebook

In this past weekend’s New York Times there is an article about the new Bob Dylan Center in Tulsa, OK, where all his archives are stored. The collection includes a variety of artifacts, including Bob Dylan’s notebook shown below, in which he made notes for lyrics, many of which evolved into the final version known … Continue reading Bob Dylan’s Notebook

An Art Critic’s Notebooks

In the Guardian, Adrian Searle writes about his usage of notebooks: One for dreams, one for writing down things you might otherwise forget, one for composing drafts and organising your thoughts: in the end, they all get mixed up, but that’s half the fun of keeping notebooks. You could use your phone, but it isn’t … Continue reading An Art Critic’s Notebooks

Notebooking as a Writers’ Habit

Writers’ habits don’t just emerge. We cultivate them—they are first aspirational, and then superstitious. If something works once, we hope it will work again. Years ago, in graduate school, I noticed how certain poet friends would casually, but with intent, remove a small notebook from their jacket pocket or bag and jot something down. I … Continue reading Notebooking as a Writers’ Habit

Notebooks from Hancock Hill

How would you like to sit at this desk and do some writing in a notebook? That desk is on Hancock Hill, in Alpine, Texas. It’s been there for 40 years. At first, the guy whose idea it was to put the desk there just stashed a notebook in the drawer so he could record … Continue reading Notebooks from Hancock Hill

Tracking Yearly Goals in a Notebook

I loved this post from the “Writing at Large” blog, about tracking goals and resolutions in a notebook. The dense lists and checked-off boxes are very satisfying. My “resolutions” are, however, S.M.A.R.T. goals: specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound. I manage them using the least used notebook that I had lying around (a Baron Fig Confidant), … Continue reading Tracking Yearly Goals in a Notebook

“Who Needs a Ratty Old Notebook?”

Mark LaFlamme at the Lewiston Sun Journal isn’t so sure if he still needs notebooks, but you’ll find his musings on the topic quite hilarious! The humble reporter’s notebook, slim enough to slide into a back pocket, used to be my best friend. My partner in crime. My lover.  OK, maybe not my lover. That … Continue reading “Who Needs a Ratty Old Notebook?”

Books to Inspire Notebooking

Shaunta Grimes at The Every Day Novelist has some interesting posts about notebooking. This one was particularly appealing to me: 10 Books That Will Make You Want to Keep a Notebook I was familiar already with a couple of the notebooking books she recommends. Joan Didion’s Slouching Towards Bethlehem is a classic, and contains the … Continue reading Books to Inspire Notebooking