please, carry a notebook
August 15th, 2007
If I’ve said it once, a lot of other people have said it a thousand times. If you want to work or even have a hobby in the creative world, you have to…let me repeat…HAVE to carry a notebook.
This has been written about time and time again online as well as in various books. In fact, a google blog search of “always carry a notebook” returned more than 20 results of recent posts on the topic. The reason why? Creativity is difficult, often impossible, to schedule.
How many times have you been out and about, minding your own business, when BAM!…the idea of the century slams into your noggin. Maybe you see an interesting person who would be perfect for that character you’re writing or maybe you see a blender in the household appliances aisle and you want use it for inspiration in your next architectural design. For me, often I’ll hear someone say something or I’ll randomly connect an idea for a story that I don’t want to forget. And the way I don’t forget, is by writing it down.
Every great writer, painter, designer…all of them have a notebook. Most of them carry it with them everywhere. Maybe not on their person, but it’s never far away. That “notebook” sometimes takes the form of a voice recorder or a digital camera, but the simplest, easiest, and most flexible idea-gatherer around is a simple pen and paper notebook.
My notebook of choice is a trusty Moleskine Small Squared Notebook
But that’s not your only option. Here are some great alternative information gathering ideas:
Digital Camera or Camera Phone: More and more, these devices are including audio or video recording capabilities so that you could easily record snippets of ideas. This is probably a great option for filmmakers, photographers, and anyone else whose art is ultimately visual.
Audio Recorder: I’m going to recommend going digital since cassettes are going the way of the dodo (or already have). The benefits here are obvious; there’s no need to write anything down, you can record how something actually SOUNDS, and if you like the sound of your own voice, you can hear it over and over and over again when you review later. You see journalists use these a lot in movies, but as a musician, I find myself using a recorder of some kind (usually on my phone) to record a lick that I hear or maybe even sing a melody that jumps into my head.
PDA or Smart Phone: I was a longtime user of Handspring then Palm products and there’s a lot to be said for a digital interface; especially in regards to syncing that information later. For some of you, it will make more sense to use an electronic handheld device to write notes. I would imagine you code jockeys out there would like that better…or maybe anyone in the tech sector that will use technology because you can.
My motto: whatever works for you.
So no matter what you use, use something. You’re a creative person and there’s no way you’ll remember every idea that comes to you during the day. Write it down! That song might be the next “One” or that novel idea might be the next “Fight Club
What do you do to capture your creativity on the fly? Or do you feel the need to do so at all? Sound off!
