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.
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!
Thanks Rebecca! I’ve been very fixated on your inclusion of more sketches in your posts, as well as the portability of your hiking notebook. (I might be reaching out re: that system you came up with, with the leather strap.)
Awwww Bryn, thank you! It was a post right here on Substack that woke me up to the fact that I’d done nearly two years of mixed media art course in the last three years - and that I’d stopped! I’m so pleased to have got going again with it!
My pocket notebook is by Traveler’s Company - it’s their passport size - and I use dot grid inserts. My strap is a 23cm leather buckled strap intended for strapping a bicycle basket to handlebars - it’s from a bike shop on Amazon!
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.
But wouldn't the world be so boring if all our minds worked in the same way? I spend enough time in my own head--it's nice to get a break once in a while :)
Also: it's amazing that we have such different processes and yet we can produce output that makes sense to other people.
Thanks Tom! I love that observation, how the output is similar, but the inside is so variable. And I’ve always thought my thinking is very tangential, but labyrinthine has a nicer, whimsical quality to it 😅
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!
Aw yay! Thanks Jillian! I enjoy your posts because of the slices of inner life you share with everyone, perhaps more so with folks like ourselves and your lovely friend. It’s been fun learning from you and others on here, picking up little tips and tricks to adapt to my own workings. 🥰
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”
Thanks Camille! Don’t be fooled though - I didn’t show you the pages of scrawl or where I just write “This is a stupid meeting” over and over 😅
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!
Thanks Rebecca! I’ve been very fixated on your inclusion of more sketches in your posts, as well as the portability of your hiking notebook. (I might be reaching out re: that system you came up with, with the leather strap.)
Awwww Bryn, thank you! It was a post right here on Substack that woke me up to the fact that I’d done nearly two years of mixed media art course in the last three years - and that I’d stopped! I’m so pleased to have got going again with it!
My pocket notebook is by Traveler’s Company - it’s their passport size - and I use dot grid inserts. My strap is a 23cm leather buckled strap intended for strapping a bicycle basket to handlebars - it’s from a bike shop on Amazon!
I’ve taken to using the strap just around the house, or in places I know. When I’m OUT out, I actually DO now prefer the ‘princess and the pea’ pouch I’ve mentioned here: https://rebeccaholden.substack.com/p/44-how-to-wear-your-notebook
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.
But wouldn't the world be so boring if all our minds worked in the same way? I spend enough time in my own head--it's nice to get a break once in a while :)
Also: it's amazing that we have such different processes and yet we can produce output that makes sense to other people.
Oh my gosh yes--one of the things I love about Substack is learning how differently people think and construct their worlds in writing.
Thanks Tom! I love that observation, how the output is similar, but the inside is so variable. And I’ve always thought my thinking is very tangential, but labyrinthine has a nicer, whimsical quality to it 😅
I’ve always found your way to thinking to be very systematic and ordered, so it was really cool to see what lays behind it.
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!
Aw yay! Thanks Jillian! I enjoy your posts because of the slices of inner life you share with everyone, perhaps more so with folks like ourselves and your lovely friend. It’s been fun learning from you and others on here, picking up little tips and tricks to adapt to my own workings. 🥰
A lovely compendium of observations and ideas! And thank you for showcasing the rest of us!
No worries, thanks Mark for checking this out and for the inspiration!
Now you need to do a post on your favourite writing instruments! ;-)
That would be an exceptionally short post 😂
Pens, pencils, markers, fountain pens, paint brushes... you could do them all!
Okay well when you put it like that! 🤓🤓
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.
Thanks, Mark ☺️ I’ve enjoyed reading about everyone’s inner workings, and it just got me to thinking a bit more about my own.
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.