Science is built on a foundation of careful observation, and recording one’s observations in great detail are important for later expansion: looking things up, continuing to expand on ideas and make linkages. With limited memory storage and recall capacity, though, we need a little help to bring back the details from sojourns in thick forests or the bottom layers of long-forgotten cities. In addition to helping you build on what you initially capture with the five senses, you need to have good reference material when you’re ready to write up your processes and results. The clearer and more detailed the descriptions, the easier your peers can evaluate the work, possibly even replicate your findings in an attempt to confirm your conclusions. So, the level of detail is key to maintaining the level of scrutiny required of a strong scientific discipline.
You take such good notes, Bryn! They’re so organized and pretty to look at. I’m not that way at all. My notes are usually scrawled across a page sideways and written in my cramped scrawling handwriting. Which is fine, but I’m in awe of all the beautiful note takers!
And the sketch of your colleague reminds me of a time in high school I turned in math homework and my teacher said it was “fine, but I may not want to doodle the words I hate math across the top of the page- surely there was a better use of my time”
Bryn, this has been a glorious glimpse into your gorgeous notebooks! I love the diversity of what you record in them, and the different layouts you’ve come up with - and your sketches are wonderful. I’m looking forward to exploring your links to other fabulous notebookery later - such a treat! And you’re so kind to link to my posts, too. 😊 Thank you!
Really fascinating! I think what’s struck me most about hearing all of you (Mark, Jillian, Rebecca anyway) discuss your note taking habits is how utterly different they are from mine. I read all of your stuff and I think, “oh, we must have minds that work the same, we come out with like output,” but then I discover that you have this labyrinthine system of organization behind it. Bryn, I feel like I’ve been given a guided tour into the workings of your mind and that is really cool; thank you.
This post is an absolute delight! I loved the tour of your notebooks--especially the one with quotes behind doors!! I've never seen anything like that before! It reminds me of those interactive books I used to read as a child. The most exciting thing I've learned during my short time on Substack is just how innovative we all are when it comes to notes. Like, I knew a lot about historical notes, but not a lot about note-taking today. And-wow! Posts like this make me SO happy!
Tom's observation about the variety of the notebooks and styles resonates. It's so good to see these little evidences of thought. Thoughts we ourselves know most clearly. What a wonderful thing to share ... a glimpse inside. I can see why Jillian has such delight with her work. And, lordie, your notebooks are works of art, too, Bryn. Loved this post.
Somehow your post slipped through my inbox but I'm glad I located it. It was a good read Bryn!
It's amazing how many notebooks you have and use for so many different purposes. Thanks for sharing.
Your pencil artwork of the building is exquisite.
As far as keeping track of my ideas, I was using my regular spiral notebook. But I keep thinking of all these ideas when I'm not near my notebook. So I either jot them down in the Notes app on my phone or in a spreadsheet on my computer. In fact, I have a sheet dedicated to just my ideas. I've numbered them and then I have a short description of what I want to write about. Then I color-code it in the beginning depending on whether it has been written but not posted or written and published. It's a good way to keep track of everything.
You take such good notes, Bryn! They’re so organized and pretty to look at. I’m not that way at all. My notes are usually scrawled across a page sideways and written in my cramped scrawling handwriting. Which is fine, but I’m in awe of all the beautiful note takers!
And the sketch of your colleague reminds me of a time in high school I turned in math homework and my teacher said it was “fine, but I may not want to doodle the words I hate math across the top of the page- surely there was a better use of my time”
Bryn, this has been a glorious glimpse into your gorgeous notebooks! I love the diversity of what you record in them, and the different layouts you’ve come up with - and your sketches are wonderful. I’m looking forward to exploring your links to other fabulous notebookery later - such a treat! And you’re so kind to link to my posts, too. 😊 Thank you!
Really fascinating! I think what’s struck me most about hearing all of you (Mark, Jillian, Rebecca anyway) discuss your note taking habits is how utterly different they are from mine. I read all of your stuff and I think, “oh, we must have minds that work the same, we come out with like output,” but then I discover that you have this labyrinthine system of organization behind it. Bryn, I feel like I’ve been given a guided tour into the workings of your mind and that is really cool; thank you.
This post is an absolute delight! I loved the tour of your notebooks--especially the one with quotes behind doors!! I've never seen anything like that before! It reminds me of those interactive books I used to read as a child. The most exciting thing I've learned during my short time on Substack is just how innovative we all are when it comes to notes. Like, I knew a lot about historical notes, but not a lot about note-taking today. And-wow! Posts like this make me SO happy!
A lovely compendium of observations and ideas! And thank you for showcasing the rest of us!
Now you need to do a post on your favourite writing instruments! ;-)
Tom's observation about the variety of the notebooks and styles resonates. It's so good to see these little evidences of thought. Thoughts we ourselves know most clearly. What a wonderful thing to share ... a glimpse inside. I can see why Jillian has such delight with her work. And, lordie, your notebooks are works of art, too, Bryn. Loved this post.
Somehow your post slipped through my inbox but I'm glad I located it. It was a good read Bryn!
It's amazing how many notebooks you have and use for so many different purposes. Thanks for sharing.
Your pencil artwork of the building is exquisite.
As far as keeping track of my ideas, I was using my regular spiral notebook. But I keep thinking of all these ideas when I'm not near my notebook. So I either jot them down in the Notes app on my phone or in a spreadsheet on my computer. In fact, I have a sheet dedicated to just my ideas. I've numbered them and then I have a short description of what I want to write about. Then I color-code it in the beginning depending on whether it has been written but not posted or written and published. It's a good way to keep track of everything.