The Notebook(s)

February 21, 2009 at 11:43 pm (Uncategorized, writing)

Today I took some time out to decorate my notebook. I have this little writer’s idiosyncrasy when it comes to my notebooks — if it’s plain or ugly, I can’t write in it. That’s how important the act of committing words to ink and paper is for me. Anything else is temporary, even writing on the computer. But, writing on paper is permanent and entails commitment. By using nice notebooks, I commit myself to making each written word worthwhile.

front cover (from a mcdonald's placemat)

(this was an impromptu photoshoot, so excuse my camera phone’s inability to take good pictures.)

back cover collage

Here are some close-ups:

corner

detail

Some other notebooks I’ve decorated:

paint on canvas

my thesis notebook

old t-shirt

I’ve also collected notebooks from some of my travels. Actually, I didn’t really realize it until recently, but I usually buy notebooks as souvenirs anywhere I go.

singapore (flight attendant's uniform)

singapore

hong kong

china (from a mentor)

france (from a mentor)

indian mantra notebook

india

indian sari cloth

india

cultural center of the philippines

filipinas heritage library

Some other notebooks (I can spend hours and hours in the bookstore just looking at notebooks):

klimt planner (from my boyfriend)

the notebooks i use for interviews

a gift from my editor

I’ve always loved notebooks. Call me old fashioned, but the page always had more appeal to me than the computer screen. There’s just something about the physicality of writing something down on paper that makes it feel real.