Make your new notebook retro. Like school retro! Wrap it in wallpaper like the 90s. Hopefully you did to and you're not thinking "what the hell is he on about".
wow this made my brain audibly clunk - 100% i did this!! i wrapped all my school exercise books in wallpaper and gift wrap and then they would tear in my bag and look incredibly tortured LIKE I WAS AT 13. thank you for this memory
honestly when i was forced to move to ical because it had become untenable for my little pen and paper appointments diary to continue, i was heartbroken
I relate to this so much. Jess Fostekew once made the mistake of asking me, as a bit of easy audience interaction at the start of a show, what my favourite piece of stationery was. I said a new notebook, but that I also found it stressful (for many of the same reasons as you) and it descended into a mini therapy session with 100 strangers listening in. Arrgh.
This made me go out and buy a new sketch book. I finished my last one a few months ago, right before my dog passed away. I felt like well this one has a drawing of Moo in it, so I can never start another one because it'll be too hard to get through drawing her again. But it'll be ok just needed a reason to get that fresh start
Oh im so sorry. Moo sounds like she was an excellent friend, and a few months is no time at all - hope you’re kind to yourself and take things slowly! Good luck with the new sketchbook xx
About 25 years ago, I bought the best ever notebook while living in Germany. It's a Clairefontaine one, A5 size, lined, paperback (but reassuringly solid) and wirebound. No pretentious wanky message on the cover, and the loveliest, smoothest paper I've ever written on – even my biro scrawl looks reasonable on it. Had a look online and I suspect they're still making them: https://pensplus.co.uk/products/clairefontaine-a5-wirebound-notebooks-random-colour?variant=43718340477185. I've been gifted or bought a squillion notebooks before and since, and nothing has ever come close for me.
Oooh thank you these are excellent - I am normally suspicious of online but this glowing rec has piqued my notebook interest! I will give them a whirl!
Hello, I am a maniacal notebook and note keeper 👋 I have, at numerous points in my career, had other full-grown people in important jobs stop meetings to look at my notebook and make other people in the meeting look at my notebook because I have neat handwriting. I once made the error of thanking them and alluding to the mild child abuse I endured that resulted in said handwriting. That was an error. But, I can definitively say that the best notebook is a Moleskin, soft black leather cover, lined. They feel thick and sturdy, they have a little envelope/folder at the back to keep loose bits. Each one lasts me about 18 months and the only pen to use with it is a bic Crystal. I prefer blue.
This sounds perfect!!!! I am going to one of those fancy stationary places next time I’m in town (don’t trust online, need to feel the sturdiness) thank you!
Thing is you’ll look back in ten years time and see how cool your sketchbook is because it’s yours and not trying to be like someone on Insta! This is what keeps me going
I have taken to using large A4 soft bound notebooks, lined, no punch holes, and a stack of BIC biros to write out my research notes for the next book. A pack of five different colour covers, coded by me for content. Makes me feel as in control as I did when I was working for A levels several hundred years ago.
The bath problem is something to do with low blood pressure, I can't lie in one for more than 15 minutes either.
wonderfully/painfully relatable…my latest coping mechanism when I finally manage to write in a new notebook is to start on the second page, as if I’ll eventually think of something so genius it’ll be worthy of the first page of The Beautiful Notebook
Funny, I grew up with writers as parents and we were surrounded with bits of paper and notebooks and my dad was always pausing to scribble in a pocket notebook, or he’d pause the movie to murmur and write something down.
So when I grew up and was given my very first blank notebook of DREAMS, or IDEAS, I immediately started writing about two ants who were friends, or played hangman, or tried to sketch my grandmothers profile.
And as an adult I don’t have anxiety about new notebooks. I do mark the occasion by announcing it to people for a week or two, and I make sure to tell my barista because he’ll give me a free drink. Love that kid, he keeps me on task.
But the actual notebook content. Very similar to your notepad content. Sometimes I try to have one for journaling and one for lyrics, and one for poems. And then I’m carrying around…….3 notebooks?!
Absolutely not.
One notebook full of lists and loves and maybe a semi decent poem. Until the next notebook comes along. 😝
Make your new notebook retro. Like school retro! Wrap it in wallpaper like the 90s. Hopefully you did to and you're not thinking "what the hell is he on about".
wow this made my brain audibly clunk - 100% i did this!! i wrapped all my school exercise books in wallpaper and gift wrap and then they would tear in my bag and look incredibly tortured LIKE I WAS AT 13. thank you for this memory
Most welcome! If you use a notebook at your shows we are now expecting wallpapered notebooks!
This made me snort with laughter throughout. Very relatable.
all i want in life is to make people snort like the goat man x
Oh my god the Charmed callback! I loved those witches!
This has also made me feel like I'm really missing out by keeping everything electronically. I shall have to acquire a suitable notebookpad.
honestly when i was forced to move to ical because it had become untenable for my little pen and paper appointments diary to continue, i was heartbroken
I relate to this so much. Jess Fostekew once made the mistake of asking me, as a bit of easy audience interaction at the start of a show, what my favourite piece of stationery was. I said a new notebook, but that I also found it stressful (for many of the same reasons as you) and it descended into a mini therapy session with 100 strangers listening in. Arrgh.
Black pen is best if you ever want to reread your notes. Some of my old diaries are almost illegible because my younger eyes didn’t know this.
Your toy monkey deserves to be the subject of a heart-rending children’s story. Like the Steadfast Tin Soldier.
Maybe the real notebook was the goat man we met along the way
This made me go out and buy a new sketch book. I finished my last one a few months ago, right before my dog passed away. I felt like well this one has a drawing of Moo in it, so I can never start another one because it'll be too hard to get through drawing her again. But it'll be ok just needed a reason to get that fresh start
Oh im so sorry. Moo sounds like she was an excellent friend, and a few months is no time at all - hope you’re kind to yourself and take things slowly! Good luck with the new sketchbook xx
About 25 years ago, I bought the best ever notebook while living in Germany. It's a Clairefontaine one, A5 size, lined, paperback (but reassuringly solid) and wirebound. No pretentious wanky message on the cover, and the loveliest, smoothest paper I've ever written on – even my biro scrawl looks reasonable on it. Had a look online and I suspect they're still making them: https://pensplus.co.uk/products/clairefontaine-a5-wirebound-notebooks-random-colour?variant=43718340477185. I've been gifted or bought a squillion notebooks before and since, and nothing has ever come close for me.
Oooh thank you these are excellent - I am normally suspicious of online but this glowing rec has piqued my notebook interest! I will give them a whirl!
Hello, I am a maniacal notebook and note keeper 👋 I have, at numerous points in my career, had other full-grown people in important jobs stop meetings to look at my notebook and make other people in the meeting look at my notebook because I have neat handwriting. I once made the error of thanking them and alluding to the mild child abuse I endured that resulted in said handwriting. That was an error. But, I can definitively say that the best notebook is a Moleskin, soft black leather cover, lined. They feel thick and sturdy, they have a little envelope/folder at the back to keep loose bits. Each one lasts me about 18 months and the only pen to use with it is a bic Crystal. I prefer blue.
This sounds perfect!!!! I am going to one of those fancy stationary places next time I’m in town (don’t trust online, need to feel the sturdiness) thank you!
There are a couple of Moleskin shops around the city that I love. But if you love stationery then give The London Graphic Centre in Soho is smashing.
I'm convinced the best notebookpad is the Nuco Composition Book because it's very like OOH COOL but also quite chill.
does it have dots 🥹
sketchbook tours on insta always remind me of how janky my own sketchbooks are 😭
Thing is you’ll look back in ten years time and see how cool your sketchbook is because it’s yours and not trying to be like someone on Insta! This is what keeps me going
ty :))
I have taken to using large A4 soft bound notebooks, lined, no punch holes, and a stack of BIC biros to write out my research notes for the next book. A pack of five different colour covers, coded by me for content. Makes me feel as in control as I did when I was working for A levels several hundred years ago.
The bath problem is something to do with low blood pressure, I can't lie in one for more than 15 minutes either.
low blood pressure! of course! i'm not just a little weakling! or rather i am, but perhaps medically
Working my way up to using a notebook. Currently at the used envelope stage.
wonderfully/painfully relatable…my latest coping mechanism when I finally manage to write in a new notebook is to start on the second page, as if I’ll eventually think of something so genius it’ll be worthy of the first page of The Beautiful Notebook
YES! I never start on the first page. Too much pressure.
I second this! I skip the first page, sometimes the second if I’m particularly nervous that my first entry won’t be good enough
Funny, I grew up with writers as parents and we were surrounded with bits of paper and notebooks and my dad was always pausing to scribble in a pocket notebook, or he’d pause the movie to murmur and write something down.
So when I grew up and was given my very first blank notebook of DREAMS, or IDEAS, I immediately started writing about two ants who were friends, or played hangman, or tried to sketch my grandmothers profile.
And as an adult I don’t have anxiety about new notebooks. I do mark the occasion by announcing it to people for a week or two, and I make sure to tell my barista because he’ll give me a free drink. Love that kid, he keeps me on task.
But the actual notebook content. Very similar to your notepad content. Sometimes I try to have one for journaling and one for lyrics, and one for poems. And then I’m carrying around…….3 notebooks?!
Absolutely not.
One notebook full of lists and loves and maybe a semi decent poem. Until the next notebook comes along. 😝
Ok I’m glad I’m not the only one who’s inexplicably petrified of doing my notebooking “wrong” so better not to start at all.