Writers and Their Notebooks

Writing in a notebook is about transferring things from the world to your brain, not to your notebook.

le Journal est le lieu où Thoreau pense sa vie, se construit : il garde les idées originales, relie les éléments de cette mémoire écrite et commente sa propre évolution. Il formule aussi les questions et les hypothèses qui vont orienter son action à venir. Le Journal constitue de la sorte un très précieux moyen d’observer sa vie intérieure, ses int

Tierney, who has been journaling for decades, believes the practice helps him record meaningful data. “I keep track of every single travel day, of every day that I’m home after seven, and of how many nights I’m away and what’s causing that.” But it also helps him think through bigger life questions, track his progess toward long-term goals, and cap

Sometimes the act of funneling thoughts into physical form on paper can be a key part of self-actualizing and can give us the sense that our mental wanderings and discoveries are now being held accountable by us and will not be forgotten.