When I was in sixth grade, reading Dickens and Hawthorne and the Brontës, I’d bring sentences I didn’t understand to my dad — a geophysicist with a poet’s soul.
I absolutely love this. I've kept what I've called a commonplace book for years as well, though I don't use mine in quite the same way (no surprise, right?). Very fun.
Also yes to this in particular: "I know what Hank Lentfer meant by it, but the truly great thing about my commonplace book is that I get to spend time thinking about what I mean when I write it." Same.
Well, it's mostly journal-cum-quote-collection--maybe not what a commonplace book is "supposed" to be according to the article you linked to. (Which I really liked. I hadn't thought about it as a place to *organize* things so I could come back to them.) When I read something that strikes me as profound (either for content or being well-written) I copy passages down. I haven't generally had a purpose in mind, just collecting.
I really like the idea of staying organized somehow. My book is the same level of chaos of my brain. :) I’m thinking of getting some sort of notebook system that would let me carry around multiple notebooks at once.
I get that—but I wouldn’t want to carry that much around! Dilemmas…
But I do like the tactile-ness (tactility?) of actual pen and paper. Sometimes I do both: copy into a notebook and also type into the computer to make it searchable. The latter is also more portable. Still. Notebooks!
My digital notes let me organize by hashtags, which I really need when I want to find that one poetry idea from two months ago! But the physical one seems so much more cozy.
Hi Jes, I found you via a Note from Jodi. I've always kepts diaries and journals but had never heard of a commonplace book... I'm inspired!
What I might do is try to sneak the practice into my current journal until it ends, and then start my own commonplace book as an experiment with the next journal.
I'm very much in favour of all of us being more analogue and I think this is a great example. Thank you for sharing.
Your grandmother's binder is the strongest argument here: a commonplace book is the only diary that shows how a mind works rather than what a day contained. Do you find yours reads differently now that you know someone may inherit it?
This is what I have been calling a writers notebook. I have piles of them, less now that I'm primarily digital, but I miss the pen and paper versions. Overheard dialogue. Fragments of memories. Incredible sentences. Names to use for characters in my work. Drawings of strangers on a train. Ideas for this or that. Always carry a notebook. And a pen.
I love it because I remember the active writing something down more than I remember the act of thinking it or hearing it. I don’t know if that makes sense but
I do copy quotes out into a book, but I love this idea of a commonplace book! And I love that you are unapologetically scholarly. I still feel a bit 'silly' about leaning into being scholarly, as if I'm being pretentious or getting ideas above my station, or something! But you've inspired me to embrace it more, thank you.
Thank you for saying this! I’ve felt silly too sometimes, especially writing explanations of philosophers, but it truly makes my thinking more interesting! I’d love to know when you begin!
I absolutely love this. I've kept what I've called a commonplace book for years as well, though I don't use mine in quite the same way (no surprise, right?). Very fun.
Also yes to this in particular: "I know what Hank Lentfer meant by it, but the truly great thing about my commonplace book is that I get to spend time thinking about what I mean when I write it." Same.
That is so fun to know! I’d love to hear about your commonplace book!
Well, it's mostly journal-cum-quote-collection--maybe not what a commonplace book is "supposed" to be according to the article you linked to. (Which I really liked. I hadn't thought about it as a place to *organize* things so I could come back to them.) When I read something that strikes me as profound (either for content or being well-written) I copy passages down. I haven't generally had a purpose in mind, just collecting.
I really like the idea of staying organized somehow. My book is the same level of chaos of my brain. :) I’m thinking of getting some sort of notebook system that would let me carry around multiple notebooks at once.
I get that—but I wouldn’t want to carry that much around! Dilemmas…
But I do like the tactile-ness (tactility?) of actual pen and paper. Sometimes I do both: copy into a notebook and also type into the computer to make it searchable. The latter is also more portable. Still. Notebooks!
My digital notes let me organize by hashtags, which I really need when I want to find that one poetry idea from two months ago! But the physical one seems so much more cozy.
I do feel very cozy — I have so many I could build a book igloo and live inside it.
Hi Jes, I found you via a Note from Jodi. I've always kepts diaries and journals but had never heard of a commonplace book... I'm inspired!
What I might do is try to sneak the practice into my current journal until it ends, and then start my own commonplace book as an experiment with the next journal.
I'm very much in favour of all of us being more analogue and I think this is a great example. Thank you for sharing.
Your grandmother's binder is the strongest argument here: a commonplace book is the only diary that shows how a mind works rather than what a day contained. Do you find yours reads differently now that you know someone may inherit it?
I should do this again!
Yes! You should!
This is what I have been calling a writers notebook. I have piles of them, less now that I'm primarily digital, but I miss the pen and paper versions. Overheard dialogue. Fragments of memories. Incredible sentences. Names to use for characters in my work. Drawings of strangers on a train. Ideas for this or that. Always carry a notebook. And a pen.
Yes! Let’s all make a rush on new notebooks!
I love it because I remember the active writing something down more than I remember the act of thinking it or hearing it. I don’t know if that makes sense but
Exactly!
I do copy quotes out into a book, but I love this idea of a commonplace book! And I love that you are unapologetically scholarly. I still feel a bit 'silly' about leaning into being scholarly, as if I'm being pretentious or getting ideas above my station, or something! But you've inspired me to embrace it more, thank you.
Thank you for saying this! I’ve felt silly too sometimes, especially writing explanations of philosophers, but it truly makes my thinking more interesting! I’d love to know when you begin!