What is in your Moleskine?

[shinobi77]

I just wonder every now and then what other people actually write in
their little black books. In mine, I write my interpretation of daily
events though sometimes it takes a significant jolt to make me come up
with something to write. There are also notes on what I do in the
office or garden. I call mine the little "book of ideas". I just jot
down whatever comes to mind. These so called ideas that may or may not
be useful but I do believe some will come in handy someday.

Share what you do with your Moleskines!

[sutton]

I write:

• Field notes: observations of my surroundings, like the strange thing
the grocery cashier says to the lady in front of me.
• Observations: thoughts that occur to me.
• Notes on reading: when I come across interesting quotes, or
something in my reading connects with something else.
• Books I want to read/Movies I want to watch.
• Ideas for gifts for various people. (Have done this two years now
and it makes Xmas shopping/birthdays a LOT easier.)

And other stuff, but that's the main content. I use a little code or
abbreviation for each of these categories, so they are easier to find
later. (especially the gifts)

[Leonard]

I write:

Notes of all types, I use my Moleskine primarily as an analog alternative to my BlackBerry and ThinkPad tools.
It's a method of capturing thoughts and ideas which are important to me going forward.
I find it rather relaxing to use, and a great way to recover my hand writing. After years of laptop use, my handwriting was going away.
Now I'm able to read what I write (how novel...) and I find the intrinsic experience of putting pen to paper very satisfying.
Another method that I now employ is to start at the front with my calendar, and then begin from the last page, after flipping it over and write towards the center. My goal is to use all the pages, and I keep a table of contents in the front (for the front) and the same applies to the back.
Previously I was finding myself with random unused pages, as every time I wanted to start a "fresh page" I would skip a few, to allow continued note taking for the prior topic , but ended up with wasted pages, disorganized due to the jumps.
Finally I did try tabs but did not like the way that worked (or didn't) for me.  Numbering the pages and having a table of contents works for me.

--
Leonard

[Mike De Bruyn]

Just a couple of thoughts expanding what you have said here ...

On Wed, May 28, 2008 at 1:00 PM, Leonard <mobile....@gmail.com> wrote:
> Another method that I now employ is to start at the front with my calendar,
> and then begin from the last page, after flipping it over and write towards
> the center. My goal is to use all the pages, and I keep a table of contents
> in the front (for the front) and the same applies to the back.
> Previously I was finding myself with random unused pages, as every time I
> wanted to start a "fresh page" I would skip a few, to allow continued note
> taking for the prior topic , but ended up with wasted pages, disorganized
> due to the jumps.
> Finally I did try tabs but did not like the way that worked (or didn't) for
> me. Numbering the pages and having a table of contents works for me.

For many years I have kept daily logs. Each time I start one I skip
the first few pages to be an index. Then I begin numbering each left
page with odd numbers starting at one, in the upper right corner. As
I go, I make notes sequentially, skipping only one line between them.
Each note is preceded with a date/time notation to the left (in a
margin to make scanning for dates easier.) Under the date/time I will
put a symbol such as ->15 (follow up on page 15) and on the page 15
note I'll put 12<- (previous entry on page 12, for example). So in
addition to an index entry (which will look like NEW FURNACE: 12, 15,
18) I have them chained forward and backward for ease of reference. I
find it a whole lot quicker to look back in the chain than go to the
index if I'm already writing a note and know the previous entry.

In addition, my front cover has a taped in (tape at the top only so I
can flip) phone directory and, under that, a yearly calendar. The
back has various material, depending on my specific environment.
(Sometimes various reference info, for example).

I photocopy the pages frequently as a backup and carry the some of
they key pages for a while when I start a new book.

I also took to taping in phone message slips, business cards, and
various other bits of paper right over the note so I had everything in
one place.

Of course, which of these ideas makes sense depends on your
environment, your purpose, and the size of your log book.

Recently I've seen software which works with a camera phone to let you
scan, index, and possibly OCR your documents. I'm not sure I see
myself doing that given my current needs.

--
Cheers,
Mike

[JimL]

Mostly boring stuff :)

Daily (or whatever) travel, expense, mileage/cab, and contact log,
chronological from front to back. "TODO" and shopping lists from back
to front of book.

I didn't realize how much I was losing in non-reimbursed or deducted
simple everyday expenses, or on those little slips of paper in the
pockets, desk, etc. Last thing each work day is to update the log.

A separate, thinner Cahier's book holds the most current phone/email/
contacts list. Reservations/confirmations numbers are in the chron
front section of the first book.

The scond pocket of my double-pocket business cardcase holds recent
bus cardsreceived -- so I guess this makes it three objects frequently
carried in a should bag. But, those along with a USB memory stick
have gradually decreased the 3-5 lbs of folders and paper I used to
carry.

Now, waiting for the prices to fall again on those new digital book
readers.

[put...@gmail.com]

In the past, my Moleskine--large, ruled notebook--was divided into
sections that supported my fiction writing. The sections were:
Characters, Plots, Story Ideas, Titles, Dialogue, and Drafts. This way
I had different sections for the various elements of storytelling.

Then last year I bought my first-ever Moleskine planner. It was
great...for a while. But then I became annoyed at having to carry
around two Moleskines: one for planning and the other for jotting down
ideas.

That's when I decided to make my own Moleskine-like notebook,
combining the functions of both a planner and a notebook. You can
check it out here: http://www.writedamnnow.com/2008/04/handmade-moleskine-gtd-planner-for.html.
It has served its purpose well. (You can see in one of the photos how
I color-coded my fiction sections.)

-Mark

On May 27, 10:36 pm, shinobi77 <jeffongm...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Speedmaster]

Great question/thread.

My journals are a lot like what we used to call a 'baby book' in years
past, but for our entire family. My kids are in primary school now and
I keep an almost-daily journal of what our family experiences, does,
learns, etc. I also put in stubs from hockey game and movie tickets,
vacation subway passes, etc.

My hope is that many years from now the kids will have the journals to
look back on and reminisce.

Chris
http://amateureconblog.blogspot.com/

[ren...@gmail.com]

I use my Moleskine for everything!

notes from therapy, to do lists, grocery items, poetry, writing,
sketches, I fill it up with everything that's in my head
and things I notice or need to do in my everyday life.

I have been online for a long time. I started an "online journal" in
1997, and have kept it up (as a "blog") to today. As a result, I crave
the pen and paper comfort of a moleskine. the privacy. the
tangibility.

I have about 11 blank moleskines to use in the future. I am so devoted
to them, that I've purchased one or two every so often throughout the
years.

I guess I consider my moleskines to be part of ME, in a way. And I
like that.

Renee Altson
incite hope
www.ianua.org

[euicho]

> ...Right now
> I'm using an 89 cent spiral notebook to scribble notes and I send myself
> emails into my GMail account. My messages are indexed and searchable and
> I can tags to them so my information is at the ready.

I know this is deviating from the topic, but you may find evernote.com
worth checking out. Its basically like what you are using gmail for,
but has some great features like the ability to take photos of things
(like your scribbled down notes) and It will recognize text in the
photos. It isn't perfect (still in beta) but it recognizes my
handwriting very well, and I am no master scribe! You can email your
notes/photos to a private address it sets up for you so you could
continue to enter info like you do now. The aim of the website is to
store anything memory-worthy forever. I just joined in a few weeks ago
and love it so far. There is a full review here:
http://machinist.salon.com/feature/2008/04/16/evernote/

If anyone wants an invite I have 20, so just email me at
eui...@gmail.com and I'll send you one.

That said, for me the act of writing in my Moleskines is so unique and
rewarding that I think I will always have one with me. Right now I
have a large and 2 pockets (one is one of the bright red B&N ones that
I couldn't resist getting).

One pocket-sized stores basic reference stuff (first aid, cpr,
survival tips), my poetry, and photography info (when I take a film
photo I record the settings/location to remember later). The red
pocket-sized holds notes, to do lists, and sketches. I used to use
pocket cahiers for this and love them for their perfect size, but I
felt like using something more permanant.

My large ruled is just a good ole journal for thoughts and daily
events!

[shinobi77]

Thank you everyone for sharing. So far, it has been fun and rewarding
to see how different people have similar uses for their notebooks. It
is also equally interesting to find that some have very unique,
creative and useful means of utilizing their Moleskines.

Of course, these notebooks are not quite as cheap as others in the
market and they do carry a feeling of legend to them so that one is
tempted to reserve its pages for memories that are worth recording. I
do encourage everyone to write often especially those who are just
starting to jot things down in their journals. Soon, your inner self
will flow through your pen onto the pages of the notebook and there
you will see a reflection of a rather unknown you. This is therapeutic
for most people nowadays just as a blog is a good medium for releasing
stress. There is however an added pleasure in using a pen on paper
that no electronic medium can duplicate.

Please continue to share what you write in your favorite notebooks!!!!

[John Truong]

When I catch myself feeling like that, I throw my Moleskine against
the wall. No, really. I don't 'whip' it so that it gets really
damaged, but just hard enough to put a little ding in it. It breaks
the ice. Or, you write a bit of fluffy nonsense in it to get it started.

It's like having a new car. At first, you park at the other end of the
parking lot away from other cars. Once you get the first ding in it,
you'll be jumping curbs and driving on the grass in no time.

--
John Truong

On 5-Jun-08, at 4:15 PM, John Mayson wrote:

>
> I think my problem is I think of the Moleskine as being so pristine
> that
> only writings worthy of earning the notebook a place in the
> Smithsonian
> belong in there, so I end up writing nothing.
>
> --
> John Mayson <jo...@mayson.us>
> Austin, Texas, USA
>
> >

[broo...@gmail.com]

Google ate this the first time, so here it goes again.

I have several Moles and here's how they break down:

a large lined notebook that contains my almost complete outline of
Romans. It will probably be finished with other books.
2 pocket lined, 1 full. They contain stories, story and essay
kernels, books to buy, etc.
1 blank reporter that has design ideas for various projects, in
various states of completion.
I also have a pathetically empty Boston city notebook. It was handy
when there, but can't fill much in in two days.

I have other notebooks, of various brands handling other dedicated
content, such as a coffee roasting log. But those would be for
another group, I suppose.

[euicho]

On Jun 5, 4:15 pm, John Mayson <j...@mayson.us> wrote:
> I think my problem is I think of the Moleskine as being so pristine that
> only writings worthy of earning the notebook a place in the Smithsonian
> belong in there, so I end up writing nothing.

I had my first moleskine for a whole year before I wrote a single
stroke in it, so I definately know how you feel! I solved this like
John Truong: Just start at a random page toward the middle and start
writing. If its a journal, start on page one, date the top, and start
writing about what you did today, and whats on your mind. We always
have worries or stresses we need to talk about, thats what my large
one is for. If its not a journal, just jot down some random ideas, or
doodle if you're one of those people that doodles when on the phone
(the women in my family *all* do this. I think its a learned
behavior...)

On Jun 5, 8:29 pm, "brook...@gmail.com" <brook...@gmail.com> wrote:

> I also have a pathetically empty Boston city notebook. It was handy
> when there, but can't fill much in in two days.

I was debating with myself about this and I think the next time I'm
going to a big city I'll buy one several weeks or more in advance.
That way I can write down all sorts of things I want to do while
there, then when I get there I can write down things to do in the
morning, write down random things during the day, and at night journal
what I actually managed to do/remember. It'd be great to look back on
years later, and you could remember cool things you did/wanted to do
but couldn't for the next trip.

[Smitty]

I currently have three Moleskines in use, plus another diary. I bought
the non-Moleskine about nine years ago, started a journal, but, like
others have mentioned, felt things were not profound enough and never
developed the habit. With the purchase of a few new fountain pens, I
decided to start anew. I've now entered about 50 pages (it's 5x8 or
so). It's my personal record of thoughts, things I want to remember or
ponder, etc.

I bought a package of black Cahiers a few years ago to take to Europe
on a business trip. I didn't get much written there - kept notes in
the laptop instead. I've now started putting major work-related
thoughts and ideas at the end of most days in one. It's a good record
to have, and not being electronic, it's great to go back through and
actually read through, rather than search for certain terms.

I also have a pocket-sized file folder Moleskine. This holds blank 3x5
cards (Levenger - yet another addiction!), regular white index cards,
and some cards with colored backs and slits to hang over the edge of
books as page markers (I think I got them at Office Depot). This is a
very handy thing, and a great boon for those who switch bags often.
You can always have your back-up and reference materials there by
grabbing it, plus a place to put receipts while traveling.

Smitty

[Tom Slovenski]

It is so refreshing to see that others are as addicted to Levenger and
other writing utensils as I am!
Sloman

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Tom Slovenski
Licensed Private Investigator/
Cellular Forensics Specialist
SLED License PDC2073
South Carolina
864-905-7600

[Tom Slovenski]

LOL, I'm working on one (in my head).  Still don't have my plot together yet but it's a work in progress!  And no, the real job as a P.I. is NOT what it's like on TV or novels.Once in a while you get something decent (like a case I worked on where over $230 million was gone!), but mostly it's chasing cheatin' spouses. But it pays the bills!
However, I have gotten into cell phones and am one of the few PI's around that can retrieve info. off them. Neat stuff. Check out my website at www.tomslovenski.info!

On Mon, Jun 9, 2008 at 10:19 AM, John Mayson <jo...@mayson.us> wrote:

On Sat, Jun 7, 2008 at 12:08 PM, Tom Slovenski <tomt...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> It is so refreshing to see that others are as addicted to Levenger and
> other writing utensils as I am!
> Sloman

Are you penning the next great PI novel?  :-)

(Seriously, I love those books... but I'm sure the real job is nothing
like the books.)

John

--
John Mayson <jo...@mayson.us>
Austin, Texas, USA

--

[Shmoove]

Whatever I feel like really.

Just got it today and used the first page to figure out what pen to
use. Found that my trusty .5 ballpoint that never smudges or blots is
the best. And to anyone that is hesitant about writing things down
because of hangups about it being worthwhile:

Who's notebook is it?

It's yours. Write down everything that comes to mind. I'm sure Lonardo
wrote tons of superfluous things before hitting strides. The idea is
to clear your mind. And the nonsense usually leads to sense. Or you
could just fill it with doodles, become internet famous, then sell it
for MASSIVE PROFIT. Like this from Team Fortress 2.

<a href="http://img12.imagevenue.com/img.php?
loc=loc1016&image=92175_handgentlemen_122_1016lo.jpg"
target=_blank><img src="http://img12.imagevenue.com/loc1016/
th_92175_handgentlemen_122_1016lo.jpg" border="0"></a>

[David L]

I use mine for journaling. I find it really interesting to go back
and read about happenings in my life that I had otherwise forgotten
about, and how problems resolved, etc. I number every odd page of my
large ruled Moleskine, and skip a line between entries. I use a blue
Papermate Profile, which I love, but I am looking to find an archival
roller with the same feel and characteristics.

Anyone have any ideas?

(Awesome site, btw).

[digitalzen]

I keep everything in it: journal, grocery lists, appointments (also in
my N95, I have to admit), ideas for writing (I'm a tech writer), you
name it. Everything that would have gone on the back of a business
card or a post-it or the palm of my hand goes in the Moleskine,
visually coded with a system of stars and/or boxes around items. It's
faster and far more versatile than a PDA...and I'm a geek!

[Sandra C]

I love the Moleskine. I write notes from any all meetings that I attend, i.e.PTA,church meetings, docs notes, kid's activities info, etc. I glueded a library book style pocket in the front for extra storage along with the back pocket. Also, keep knitting pattern ideas, and a few ideas that I have for a children's book.

 

Sann

--
"We don't have to let go of what we believe, but we do need to be curious about what someone else believes."
—Margaret Wheatley

 

[SourcetoSea]

Mine's with me all the time as wallet and catch-all for thoughts and
musings.

My wife and I paddled down the Mississippi River in 2005, but I didn't
keep much of daily journal. I babbled everyday into a microcassette
recorder with the intention of doing a full transcription when I got
back. Life happens, and it's still not down, although I did manage to
get a book written about the trip that'll be out this fall. I know I
could have easily taken a year off my time to write the book if I'd
been working from a written journal.

Recently took the train across central North Carolina, then rode back
home. Had the Mole in a little bag on my handlebars for quick
access!.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3087/2646825124_ebf0a391e6.jpg


More info about our canoe trip down the Mississippi River is at
www.sourcetosea.net

-John

[John Mayson]

Wow! You have an adventurous wife. I doubt I could get mine into a
boat much less row the Mighty Mississip!

[Mike McG]

Notes from meetings - bits and pieces of my novel - sermons -
observations on people/events/life.

In the end it's a stream of writing of my life. Reading over the
years it reminds me of where I've been - in many dimensions. For my
family - after I'm gone from this veil of tears - it will be a window
into who I was - and it will endure!

[sergio]

On Jul 17, 2008, at 1:20 PM, SourcetoSea wrote:

> www.sourcetosea.net
>
> -John

whoa!

can we see more about this bike trip somewhere?

___
sergio t. ruiz
network analyst
red red design
419.281.8483

[sergio]

On Jul 17, 2008, at 2:21 PM, sergio wrote:

>>
>> www.sourcetosea.net
>>
>> -John

yes, boys and girls! i am that lame!

i clipped his response which had his url in it..

doh!

anyway.. i just subscribed to his blog..

it's AWESOME..