Notebooks

(Generic illustration)

I thought most of my Moleskines were basic black, but as I've corralled them into a single drawer, I can see that I've also used other makes in different colours and even a few of the digital ones and a whole heap of the smaller Cahier journals in that fetching Kraft Paper brown (They were the least expensive).

Curiously enough, the place I've filed them almost makes them disappear, yet I realised there's some good content within.

Yes, I downsized from the ancient, fondly remembered Time Managers to Moleskine when I was still working in an office and found it so much better than carting around a Black-and-Red notebook like everyone else.

I can't tell now whether people are still using them as much because most Londoners seem to be using A5 notebooks, although I suspect they are really props to reserve space in coffee shops.

But the interesting thing is the material I've accumulated. Aside from projects and assignments, there are notes from meetings and notes of personal projects which I've been re-purposing, like the ones I found, which can be made into a set of mini reference books about novel writing.

For example, this black Moleskine had a built-in text recognition system that meant notes could be transferred directly to electronic.

And then there is the treasure trove of comments, like this set of notes from a fire evacuation.

Nowadays, there's improved scanning software (Text Sniper) that can read even my scruffy handwriting. and convert flip charts into PowerPoints.

1) William Gibson Spook County 

2) Coupland - latest paperback 

(after JPOD)

Hotel evacuation - chefs - hairspray 1 engine

drinkers x 2 slow suited

the band 5 people convex sneakers → black hat emo.

stairs back; lifts open empty

roll call

But what's all this about? I'm looking through some of the notes to help me write a couple more textbooks. 

There are three in my mind: 

Writing a novel, writing plots, and writing characters. Let's see how I do!