The Notebook Habit
December 6, 2019

I've written before[1] about the advantages and disadvantages of using 
a notebook and a pen to write longhand drafts. But a year and some on 
from that post, I thought I'd re-assess the topic and discuss my 
current setup.

I carry around two notebooks. One is small--3x5-ish--with a Fisher Space Pen
clipped to the cover. This notebook comes with me every time I leave the house.
In it go story ideas, thoughts, the details of interesting books I run into, and
mundania such as the car's tire pressure and shopping lists. This is the
all-purpose "data capture" notebook. Every writer/poet/artist should carry at
least this one kind of notebook everywhere they go. You may think you'll
remember that great idea until you get home, but honestly, you probably won't.
It will drift off into the clear, blue sky if you don't promptly get it on
paper. 

The other notebook that often (but not always) comes with me when I leave the
house is a black Rhodia Webnotebook I tuck into my backpack for sitting at the
doctor's office or waiting at the car dealership for an oil change. I also take
it with me if I'm doing research or attending a conference or have decided to go
write at a coffee shop or the local park. It comes with me when I leave town,
along with a fountain pen (or two or three). Into it go longer bits of writing:
story scenes, essay explorations, blog post ideas. This is also where I capture
any additional "stolen writing[2]" when I have unexpected free time.

Over the past year-plus, I've noted several advantages of using a notebook and
pen. As Neil Gaiman[3] says, they are "solar powered. You can drop it or get it
wet and probably pretty much all of your work will continue to be there." (He 
also says that you're unlikely to get distracted because you're working 
offline--which is yet another bonus.)

For me, a big advantage is that pen and paper are "instant on/instant off." You
can start writing faster than any laptop can boot up, stop mid-sentence or even
mid-word if something interrupts, and go back to writing instantly when you
return.

I've found enough advantage in using a notebook and a pen that I plan to do more
of it next year. While your mileage may vary, if you're looking for a way to
shake up your old writing habits, a notebook and pen may be just the thing to
try.

[1] https://www.andrewgudgel.com/blog/what-we-leave-behind-ii.txt
[2] https://www.andrewgudgel.com/blog/stolen-writing.txt
[3] http://youtu.be/NXu917cxuF4?t=34m30s

(c) 2019 by Andrew Gudgel 
email: contact [at] andrewgudgel.com