Thanks for your reply, Scarfe. I too have a laptop and a phone for taking notes but there's something about the acting of writing in a notepad... it slows things right down and my thoughts seem to... unfurl more. I insist, at the very least, of writing in my journal at the end of each day. Sometimes it's nice to have a break from the computer screen.
'Compulsive' is an interesting word Drusy - my thing with writing in notebooks is almost like a compulsion sometimes. I do most of my 'proper' writing on my laptop but I use notebooks for jotting ideas when I'm away from the computer screen, and also for my journals. Also, notebooks can have a certain aesthetic appeal can't they?
I'm 1/2 way to 28 and have 7 active notebooks, 3 in retirement (finally filled them to capacity), and 1 I just started yesterday for a dream I had about a town during the Depression era. If I include my diaries, that makes 7 in retirement. If I include the files on my laptop I continuously add to, and each file is considered a 'notebook', then I have something around 14 active notebooks. I can't remember the exact number right now because I'm at work, but you get the idea
I have two. One of them is filled with random ideas and passages. The other still has about 100 or so blank pages, and I keep this one in my nightstand drawer just in case I want to write something when I'm in bed. I should add that I do most of my writing on my computer.
I have dozens. I can't count them all right now because they're scattered all over the house. Most aren't full. I love notebooks, and I use all kinds - regular size spiral bound, pocket sized Moleskines (I love these - they have tassel bookmarks and elastics to hold them closed), stenographer's notepads (I wrote the entire first draft of my novel in a series of these), and so on. The ones I've bought most recently are kind of expensive, because they have hard backs so I don't need a clipboard or anything to write in them. I'm always making notes of story ideas, and I almost always use notebooks for that. I just can't get used to the idea of keeping notes on a computer.
When I want to safe the note, I write an article and put it somewhere where somebody wants it. If its not about two birds with one stone, I just don't do it.
I only have one, it's full. I do nearly all my writing on the computer. I should add that my handwriting is an abomination from the deep dungeons of Hades.
I have "notebooks" everywhere, all over the house. Some spiral and lined, some glued and unlined, small journal styles, index cards, napkins, etc. I don't know what's in each one, I just grab something when I need to write and I use whichever page(s) I'm writing on during a project while I'm on that project, and then that's it. I write all of my songs by hand on paper in a spiral bound, college ruled notebook, but I write my fiction stories on the computer (desktop or laptop depending on my mood) and I have "reams" of note pages in digital form as well.
I forgot to mention that I have lots of incoherent or single paragraph word files, equivalent of a notebook, I also do have a notebook by my bed in case I have a dream that is so dam real I might be able to recreate it in some small way (normally they are just absurd in the -cliche alert- cold light). I do not keep a journal because frankly cut and paste would speed matters up a great deal for most days.
A box full. Unfortunately they're multi-purpose filled with shopping lists, book must-haves, movie must-rents and notes like don't forget to pick up light bulbs - but inbetween this junk are loads of mini scenes, ideas, observations, lines of conversation for my characters and plots.
Off the top of my head? I have twenty some-on spiral single subject notebooks, two three subject notebooks, a 4in binder full of blank paper, one binder full of old story ideas, six composition notebooks, a box of printed out writing scenes, a full manuscript in a box, and one writing tablet. All of which are dedicated to writing. They're a mess too. I don't usually tend to seperate my story ideas into seperate notebooks because I tend to just grab the closest one I have and start writing out what's on my mind. Recently though, I have tried to seperate my writing skits from my actual story ideas, so they occupy most of the notebooks. I do have one notebook that has the start of a story in it (five chapters in) that I haven't used for anything else. The small writing tablet I have is mostly for on the go cases where I get an idea while I'm out running errands. Oh! I also have a locker-sized dry erase board from Wal-Mart that I use for writing/drawing. It works great when you just want to write down a quick note/idea.
I honestly didn't realize (I was forced to put a z rather than an s in this, dam yanks) people really kept diaries. I kinda thought it was one of those myths. Really is interesting to see how many do.
I think I have about 10-15, at age 14. I really love my notebooks but I hardly ever write in them anymore. They're all multi-purpose notebooks, but mainly focused on writing.
haha at age 14 I was a county swimmer, then I found beer and cigarettes. Anyway, my point is, don't do it, I regret it, bad point made badly.
Trust me, beer and cigarettes don't really attract me too much... I can't say the same for the people in my classes, though xD
Off the top of my head? 14 or so. A lot of them aren't full (or even half way), I just like having them around the house. And I buy more whenever there's a sale. Most of my plot bunnies are typed on the computer, but the actual writing part -- the first draft and revising -- I do in notebooks. Computers distract me easily.
I have no idea, they are all over the place; it's the same with pens and pencils, but the thing is I prefer to write directly onto my laptop.
My poor notebook is lying open next to me, begging me to finish the damn chapter already. Story of his life.
...none... i start writing whenever i have something worth writing and i keep writing till i finish it... i don't keep notebooks full of bits of stuff that will never get developed into complete pieces of work...
On the shelf beside me I have 3 Journals (2 that are full and need to be filed) and 4 spiral notebooks. Sometimes, I like to write by hand, but usually it's too slow. For ideas on the fly, I use Notes on my phone - wrote most of a prologue that way. I do my 'Pages' every morning before I start writing and have 2 boxes full going back many years.
