Notebooks and journals for the ever-writing Catholic

[Jacob]

Long ago, before they really acquired their status in hipster culture as a must-have item (and then faced the inevitable backlash), I bought a Moleskine notebook.  Up until this year, I've only used it sparing for writing entries or attempting a story.  At one point, it was lost for quite awhile in the pile of mail, papers, and old magazines I keep next to my desk.

So after I found it, I went to The Web to look for ideas on how to put it to better use.  My search brought to my attention the "hacks" people have devised for their notebooks, including making them the cornerstones of their organizational systems, etc.  (In the end, I was inspired simply to use a ruler to make a monthly planner.)  I also discovered along the way the interesting subculture of pen and paper junkies who are addicted to different types of pen and ink and the paper that can handle both.

Do any of you have a notebook that you use on a regular basis for any reason, whether it be for work or pleasure?  What do you use it for?  How do you use it?  Do you like yours plain or with some kind of funky design on the cover? 

[Kaesekopf]

Moleskine pocket softcover notebook.

[Chestertonian]

I used to do a lot of creative writing...got a degree in creative nonfiction.  I was too broke for moleskin... my budget allowed for mead composition books.  everything i write is sh** now

[Dom Passerini]

I love my notebooks and journals.  I have tons, from low to high quality.  I keep one for spiritual matters (prayer life, meditations, etc), I have one with retreat notes, one for music composition, one for ideas on certain subjects, one for beer notes etc.  All kinds of wackyness!  Oh, and another one titled "letters to my wife", but it's a private journal, and maybe I'll give it to her on my deathbed or something.

[J. Austin]

I personally don't like Moleskines at all - can't see the appeal of them. I have this one of the Lindau Gospels by Paperblanks. Don't ask me how much it cost



I have a few others too. Nightingale make some nice ones.

[Dom Passerini]

I have a couple like that, but they're from the book of Kells.

[J. Austin]

one for beer notes etc.

Is that for stuff you write when you're drunk?

[Dom Passerini]

one for beer notes etc.

Is that for stuff you write when you're drunk?

I don't get drunk.  There's a manly, Catholic art to drinking (OK?), and I do it the right way. 

No, the journal is for keeping track of which beers I've tried with notes about what each one is like, and how much (or little) I liked 'em etc.

[J. Austin]

I was joking. Sorry if I offended you. 

[Lynne]

I use www.evernote.com. 

From my PC to my Kindle to my phone, it syncs everywhere...

[Bernadette]

I kept a journal from the ages of ten to twenty-two. Picking a new journal was something that I really enjoyed. I seemed to have the most success at Barnes & Nobel- they have really nice, good-quality, unique journals. Looking back on it, I seemed to prefer leather-covered, particularly suede. And they had to be thick, otherwise they weren't worth the trouble it takes to get used to them. My handwriting improved dramatically with all of the writing, and it helped me to get through some really difficult events in my life. I might take it up again.

[maryslittlegarden]

I used to do a lot of creative writing...got a degree in creative nonfiction.  I was too broke for moleskin... my budget allowed for mead composition books.  everything i write is sh** now

Ha, I have a really rusty degree in English... still trying to write that great American sentence.  Yeah... .

I have a number of generic mead type notebooks that I buy for .20 a pop at the back to school sales. 

[Maximilian]

Long ago, before they really acquired their status in hipster culture as a must-have item (and then faced the inevitable backlash), I bought a Moleskine notebook. 

Wow, so you had a moleskin before they were cool. So you're even more hipster than the hipsters.

[ludimagister]

I never go anywhere without a black moleskine 'cahier' for notes & quotations from reading, ideas, arguments and book recommendations. The pages at the back I use for more practical stuff. Takes up very little room and pretty robust.

I didn't know they were cool. Shall have to think again.

[Lydia Purpuraria]

Long ago, before they really acquired their status in hipster culture as a must-have item (and then faced the inevitable backlash), I bought a Moleskine notebook. 

Wow, so you had a moleskin before they were cool. So you're even more hipster than the hipsters.

Yes, with a capital "H" ... I'm so non-hip that I don't even know what a Moleskine notebook is. lol.