My routine all throughout school was to take notes in class by hand, then organize and type up those notes, and then have that nice neat packet to study from.
I am jealous of past you! That was a skill that was so completely beyond me back then. I know now that I have ADHD, but back then I just couldn't figure out how note taking worked and my memory gave me decent results. At least at the high school my kids go to, some teachers grade the kids on their notes and each teacher has their own way of wanting notes done which is not great for my ADHD daughter.
I think it is essential that everyone has the freedom to make their own notes in their own way. Note taking is a way to channel information into the brain, and every brain accepts information differently.
Thank you!! I'm honored that my work has inspired you!!! Thank you for mentioning my newsletter and sketchbooks!!!!! I adore your thumb birds and your finger monster!!!! And congrats on your new newsletter too!! 💚
I’m such a notebook voyeur. Yours are fantastic! Thank you for sharing. I recently switched to digital and mostly I’ve liked it, but I miss the texture of written pages and collages.
Thanks! I spend so much time doing digital work, I need the physical sensation of paper. But you can do some pretty useful and cool things with digital tools that aren't really possible with paper.
You're a pleasure to follow, Jason. 'Move fast and break things'; like that! College ruled paper-genius! I take the low budget approach! Happy for your additional outlet; you gotta let that energy flow!
Wowowow I’m so glad I found this. Every single link that led to another creative’s notebook or journal was incredibly inspiring. It almost felt like a crime, like I was peeking at something so incredibly private but I call myself lucky to have witnessed these.
Now I’m off to elevate my journaling. I have been wanting to do more creatively with my journaling and I love this nudge!
Thanks for reading! It's always amazing to me how much journaling invigorates the rest of my creative process. I hope you find a lot of satisfaction as you do more journaling!
I agree that allowing myself to be messy made a huge difference to my notes. I now keep most of my information notes on my phone because I love the search function. But I find if I am thinking or working out something, then pen to paper is essential. Since I did not use computers until I was an adult, that is to be expected. But I wonder if kids who have used computers since they were tiny will feel the same pull towards notebooks?
I have four teenagers and some of them still love old-fashioned paper notebooks. But they do all keep some kind of digital notes as well. The search function is pretty powerful and useful, but I like how paper notebooks leave me open to the possibility of serendipity. I might run across something perfect for a project while looking for something else.
It's the doodle effect - you don't have to stay within the digital 'lines' imposed by the software. I tried digital mind mapping but my mind needed me to draw the lines. As with everything, it's a balance.
The mixed media in your notebooks are a work of art, Jason! Sketching (even badly, which is how I roll) and collage gets my creative juices flowing. I wonder if this sprouted the seedling for your new venture?
I am just a writer. I use my notebook to write. A travelogue and just notes. I do it with a great fountain pen, special ink, and preferrably a special notebook. I love the ones by Paper on the Rocks, which are notebooks made with paper created from stone dust. They are very environment friendly.
Aug 13, 2023·edited Aug 13, 2023Liked by Jason McBride
Thank you for these kind words. I did not mean to be falsely modest. I meant to say that my notebooks are full of writing. I do occasionally try to draw or doodle, but somehow I keep returning to words.
My notebooks and the loose bits of paper I write notes all over (which litter my house) are covered in my ugly chicken scratch. And until your post I had never really considered drawing little pictures, writing larger, or even just making the notes more beautiful - but I love this idea! I am very inspired to try it.
I’m so inspired by all the ideas in this post! Those finger drawings are brilliant! I’m so honored that Noted has contributed a bit to your process!
My routine all throughout school was to take notes in class by hand, then organize and type up those notes, and then have that nice neat packet to study from.
I am jealous of past you! That was a skill that was so completely beyond me back then. I know now that I have ADHD, but back then I just couldn't figure out how note taking worked and my memory gave me decent results. At least at the high school my kids go to, some teachers grade the kids on their notes and each teacher has their own way of wanting notes done which is not great for my ADHD daughter.
Oh gosh. It was definitely NOT. A skill I had when I was a kid, more like once I got to college :)
Whew! That makes more sense.
I think it is essential that everyone has the freedom to make their own notes in their own way. Note taking is a way to channel information into the brain, and every brain accepts information differently.
I agree. I wish I could get some of the teachers at my children's high school to understand this.
Me too. Nowadays I type into the computer. I have seen text to type tablets but not sure if they would do the job.
Thank you!! I'm honored that my work has inspired you!!! Thank you for mentioning my newsletter and sketchbooks!!!!! I adore your thumb birds and your finger monster!!!! And congrats on your new newsletter too!! 💚
Aww, thanks! I feel lucky to have gotten to know you a little through the internet and still look forward to meeting some time this year IRL
I've been delighted to get to know you a little too!!! That would be such fun to meet IRL!!! 💚💚
Always appreciate a fellow notebook lover. The use of the Magic card was really cool!
Thanks! I really love the look of flipping through and seeing a lot of weird little bits of ephemera. It makes me feel like a wizard
I’m such a notebook voyeur. Yours are fantastic! Thank you for sharing. I recently switched to digital and mostly I’ve liked it, but I miss the texture of written pages and collages.
Thanks! I spend so much time doing digital work, I need the physical sensation of paper. But you can do some pretty useful and cool things with digital tools that aren't really possible with paper.
There is nothing like the feel of paper.
"Move slow and make things" is brilliant.
Thank you! I figure it's time for us to fight back a little against the disrupt everything we don't really understand crowd.
You're a pleasure to follow, Jason. 'Move fast and break things'; like that! College ruled paper-genius! I take the low budget approach! Happy for your additional outlet; you gotta let that energy flow!
Thanks!
Wowowow I’m so glad I found this. Every single link that led to another creative’s notebook or journal was incredibly inspiring. It almost felt like a crime, like I was peeking at something so incredibly private but I call myself lucky to have witnessed these.
Now I’m off to elevate my journaling. I have been wanting to do more creatively with my journaling and I love this nudge!
Thanks for reading! It's always amazing to me how much journaling invigorates the rest of my creative process. I hope you find a lot of satisfaction as you do more journaling!
I agree that allowing myself to be messy made a huge difference to my notes. I now keep most of my information notes on my phone because I love the search function. But I find if I am thinking or working out something, then pen to paper is essential. Since I did not use computers until I was an adult, that is to be expected. But I wonder if kids who have used computers since they were tiny will feel the same pull towards notebooks?
I have four teenagers and some of them still love old-fashioned paper notebooks. But they do all keep some kind of digital notes as well. The search function is pretty powerful and useful, but I like how paper notebooks leave me open to the possibility of serendipity. I might run across something perfect for a project while looking for something else.
It's the doodle effect - you don't have to stay within the digital 'lines' imposed by the software. I tried digital mind mapping but my mind needed me to draw the lines. As with everything, it's a balance.
The mixed media in your notebooks are a work of art, Jason! Sketching (even badly, which is how I roll) and collage gets my creative juices flowing. I wonder if this sprouted the seedling for your new venture?
Thanks! The origins of my new venture are definitely in the all the mixed media stuff I've been experimenting with
Nice.
I love the poem and the reality it catches.
I am just a writer. I use my notebook to write. A travelogue and just notes. I do it with a great fountain pen, special ink, and preferrably a special notebook. I love the ones by Paper on the Rocks, which are notebooks made with paper created from stone dust. They are very environment friendly.
You are more than just a writer my friend! You are a wonderful poet! I will have to check out the Paper on the Rocks notebooks, those sound cool.
Thank you for these kind words. I did not mean to be falsely modest. I meant to say that my notebooks are full of writing. I do occasionally try to draw or doodle, but somehow I keep returning to words.
More about Paper on the Rocks on their website https://paperontherocks.com/
I also have a leather cover by paper republic I like very much.
My notebooks and the loose bits of paper I write notes all over (which litter my house) are covered in my ugly chicken scratch. And until your post I had never really considered drawing little pictures, writing larger, or even just making the notes more beautiful - but I love this idea! I am very inspired to try it.
Great read, thank you.
I'm grateful this post resonated with you! I'd love to know how your experiments work out!
Thanks Jason, I’ll write a note ;) to let you know :)