I find myself taking notes, writing lists and just plain doodling simply because I enjoy doing it. Not because I need to write everything down, but I like writing in a nice notebook with a nice pen.

Also, it does feel great to get some of those ideas out of my head and down on paper - less stressful not having to remember them all the time!

So, do you write stuff just because you can?

Absolutely! I carry a notebook of one kind or another on me at all times. I recently tested a bunch of notebooks as well to find a paper I liked best so next year I will not only carry a notebook with me at all times, but a small daily planner. I forget way too many dates, ideas and appointments!

you're not alone. Once i even did this thing called random writing and drawing. I just took out a notebook and started writing random stuff :lol:

I keep interesting facts and trivial in standard school composition notebooks, song lyrics in another, original stuff as well. I also have note pads in my computer room that I "doodle write" on all the time. I get pleasure just in the simple act of putting pen/pencil to paper. Up until a few years ago whenever I sat down in front of the TV I had a clipboard and pencil in front of me and a board spanning the arms of the chair acting as a desk. Nowadays I just keep all my writing stuff beside me on a table in the living room. Often, instead of a board I now use a pillow, I'll have a clipboard and pencil in front of me just to doodle write on during commercials. I carry a pen with me whenever I go out. I'd carry a small notebook except for the simple fact that I'd ruin it within days because I sweat so much! Putting it in my pants pocket would bend it severally. What I need is a small renewable notebook in a hard plastic cover! Anyone know of any? 8)

I am currently using a Field Notes notebook, the inner and outer cover of which I have sealed in 3M Scotch packing tape. Made in the USA, distinctive looks, cheeky humor and fairly sweat-proof.

You could do the same with a Doane Utility Notebook, but I know you dislike them because they are not college-ruled (one of my beefs with them as well but I manage to get two lines of text in every line since I can use the graph as a guide!)

Also, the Moleskine Volant has a laminate cover, but I cannot recommend them, despite their having more value for the money page quanitity wise because the laminate peels off from the cover too easily.

Another option is a Clairfontaine staplebound notebook. I really love their paper quality and it even works quite well with many fountain pen inks. The cover has a clear plastic laminate to it and seems (thus far) to be of the type not to peel away from the cover. It too is a good value.

The only reason I prefer the Field Notes or Doane Utility notebooks over it right now is that the two former are both American made and the Clairefontaine has a multi-color (orange, blue and yellow) cover that is too bright for my taste when it comes to the classic, unassuming notebook.

So far, Field Notes is my preferred "everyday" notebook because their marketing is just more to my appeal. I believe Field Notes uses slightly thinner paper than Doane Utility does, but still did not bleed through with a Lamy AL-Star fountain pen using an extra-fine nib and Noodler's Bulletproof Black ink.

Shipping from Doane and Field Notes were exactly the same, time-wise and Field Notes seems to base shipping costs on weight rather than Doane's sliding scale according to cost (I have never understood shipping by cost rather than by weight - I mean, a few lightweight items that cost more than a few bulky and weighty items -should not- cost me more in shipping!)

Plus, Field Notes tosses in some freebies with each order. I got a nice wooden pencil, a Bic Clic pen, an old-fashioned calendar like my grandparents used to have all over their house that came free from the Rexall drugstore in their small town, a "general-purpose band of rubber" (black rubber band) - all carrying the Futura Bold Field Notes brand name - and one sticker of The Coudal Logo.

Yeah, "free" crap, clever marketing, classic looks and Made in the USA do it to me every time. Still, a few strips of that clear, wide packing tape and you may just be able to get a notebooks you can live with and not sweat through!

Onelongegunman: How about making a slipcover for it out of oilcloth? That way you wouldn't have to worry about it ever getting wet, and you could just pick whichever notebook you prefer!

Everyone, I feel less strange now :) Writing just to write IS a nice experience.

How would one do this? Oh and where does one purchase oilcloth... Hmm and I wonder if I could make one with some sort of adjustable spine to contain slightly thicker or thinner notebooks, also, would it lay flat when opened? So many questions, but your idea really struck me as a superb one, so I hope you don't mind me asking!

Oilcloth is flexible, it'd take on whichever shape your book has.

I was thinking more of a small pouch, to really keep water off the pages as well. But you can make a version to just slip on the cover. Just take a large, flat rectangle of cloth, fold the sides over so they partially cover the sides of your book and allow it to slip in and out easily...
You can glue or seam the edges, glue would be more waterproof, seams possibly sturdier... or you can seam it, then add glue to the seams for waterproofing.
If you're really adventurous, you can even add a small gusset with a zipper to the edges, you know, like some wallets have?

...this would be a lot easier to explain in pictures.

As for oilcloth, I'm not sure. They sell tablecloths made of it, could just buy one of those to use. Or possibly a fabric supply store, or any place that sells supplies for sailing. Or even one of the rain coats/trousers made for children, if you find a cheap, plain one.

You know, I'll grab some fabric and take pictures of what I mean later :) I don't have oilcloth, but any fabric should work for showing how to do it.

Sounds like a good idea guys. I like the pouch idea, completely covering the notebook. What I had envisioned was a small notebook that was secured into a hard plastic case that would open and allow use of the notebook with out it having to be removed. Once the notebook was used up, replace it with a fresh one.

But for the pouch idea vinyl cloth would work just fine. For a slip cover, why not a thin cloth, maybe cotton or linen, then treat it with Scotch Guard? I've heard tell that Scotch Guard will make cloth water repellent for a goodly amount of time. What do you think? :roll:

bardharlock, I found a tutorial that shows what I mean :) Just replace the fabric with something waterproof, and there you go. You don't need interfacing if the fabric itself is already sturdy/will keep the shape.

http://moonstitches.typepad.com/photos/book_cover/index.html

Awesome, mansikka. My sister-in-law has a sewing machine and likes to sew, I bet I could talk her into a nice little cover!

It's not all that much work, so yeah, you probably could :)

onelongegunman: I've never used scotch guard, so I honestly don't know. The website says it helps repel spills and stains, so it probably depends on how waterproof you want/need it to be.

wwwwooooooww. so u ppl love to write and draw all because of a few nice pens and pencils and notebooks and paper? or are you addicts to this stuff because you love to write or draw? you know, i wonder how you can keep the habit of writing things down cause i wanna do that but i dont know how to get into the habit. like, what if you think of something while ur in a tight situation? like while you are driving? and when ur laying in bed?

Cool idea! Thanks for the link! I hate to sew, so I bet I can come up with something that doesn't require sewing! I'd use heat and bond instead! :wink:

Yeah, why not! Or glue, or whatever works :D

Yes!



Keep a small voice activated digital recorder in the car with you. Keep a pen and notebook on a bedside table along with a table lamp.

I love to write. I never learned to type and I only type with five fingers so I can only squeak out 50 words per minute. Plus, there is just something more intimate about putting pen or pencil to paper and seeing that line appear, thin and dark, on the creamy smooth virgin surface; giving my thoughts, my imagination, my intangible dreams life of their own, outside of my skull.

It's a very romantic notion, in my mind at least. So, I write by hand most things.

[quote:b07c239e8e="bardharlock"]
I love to write. I never learned to type and I only type with five fingers so I can only squeak out 50 words per minute. Plus, there is just something more intimate about putting pen or pencil to paper and seeing that line appear, thin and dark, on the creamy smooth virgin surface; giving my thoughts, my imagination, my intangible dreams life of their own, outside of my skull.

It's a very romantic notion, in my mind at least. So, I write by hand most things.