My First Commonplace Notebook

I just found out about commonplace notebooks and HAD to start one of my own. Hopefully this video can help you if you are considering the same. I will break down the what, why and how of commonplace notebooks, giving you the basis you need to start.

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[PastorJeremyCollins]

Do you have a commonplace notebook already? if so let me know what you use.

[michellek]

Now you need a fountain pen to write in it!

[DayleneK]

One thing I do in my common place, is leave a side margin that is quite large. The purpose is that I can come back and add comments, further thoughts or notes at a later date.

[andreemartin]

I am a notebook's girl. A journal for my documentary reading, one for my fiction reading, one little cheap notebook in my back poket, one scrap journal for collecting whatever info (that one is a chaos). Doodling, scribbling, writing all the time. Thanks for the video and sorry for ma approximative english.

[dr.d]

Thank you for the video. While I never called it a "commonplace notebook" or a "journal", I have been writing in notebooks what I have found important, helpful or things to remember from my quiet times, prayer life, sermons and books that I read for most of my life (I'm 70). I have boxes of notebooks. But for me it has been very helpful. And someday they will make good fireplace kindling for someone. 🤣

[fidesx]

Welcome to the commonplace world! I've been keeping one for years, but I end up changing the format every new notebook I get. I started off keeping a bullet journal and commonplace book together, grouping commonplaces from one book together. That got frustrating because I would be behind on commonplacing and not know how many pages to save for each book before moving on to the next one (which I was already reading), or having the quotes from each book split up if I just used the next page.

Then I decided to just mix up quotes from everything all together, no real structure. I kind of liked this a lot because it's a good look into what I was reading/thinking about at that time. I still like thumbing through those books. But it is really difficult/time-consuming to find any specific quote that I remember writing down. That said, sometimes I think the friction of looking for something is helpful and leads to serendipity as you see other quotes you were reading at the same time. This may be my overall favorite way.

Currently I have a dedicated commonplace book, a decently nice one with a faux-leather cover, that I have organized by topic. I did this under the influence of the school I teach at, which has students organize their commonplace books by topic, and by being convinced of the value of actually giving quotes an actual "common place" to go back to in order to find things related to what you're writing/thinking about. I do find this very helpful when trying to FIND quotes I know I took, but I miss the serendipity/unexpected connections of the purely chronological method.

I generally use A5 books - I have used Moleskines, Leuchtterms, Rhodia (my current fave). I've ALSO gotten into fountain pens, so I'm trying out some other fountain-pen friendly notebooks/paper now. I just got a cover kind of like yours but not leather that holds three thin A5 notebooks, and I'm enjoying that a lot. I'm also using Obsidian on the computer for notetaking, so I think my ultimate workflow might be a non-structured physical commonplace book that gets periodically transferred and organized digitally.

[VaughnSanders]

Written notes are definitely helpful for me. I keep a journal for work notes. I have a separate planner for my daily agenda and goal setting. I’ve recently added a traveler’s notebook that contains my common place for general thoughts, task and book notes. It’s a work in progress and I don’t love have so many different places but that’s the only way I could ensure I could go back and find information.

[catherinehubbard]

Ancient Romans would have gone nuts over paper notebooks and the mad variety of pens and pencils we have. They wrote on wax tablets with a stylus, and they didn’t have a comfortable cursive for rapid writing.

[PreacherJimC]

From one Pastor to another, I've been writing and keeping a commonplace notebook since becoming a Christian in 2008. I love to read about my old thoughts and journey.

[midnightdoxology]

I clicked on this video because of the notebook… then I saw your tattoos, then you mentioned Beekes systematic, then I subscribed… now I’m happy.

[lisaryall]

I am going no particular structure in my current commonplace book. My first one I tried to do a table of contents but it wasn’t organic for me

[ashleygovender]

Thank you for your video. I have also been using note books for the last 30 years. Only this week I set up an A6 note book in a leather case. I never thought about calling it a common place note book. I need something I could carry with me all the time. Thank you for your ideas. I too am a Pastor working in Durban, South Africa. Patiently waiting for volume 4 of Joel Beeke's Reformed Systematic Theology to land in SA. Blessings.

[thesolidnick]

Great video! Really enjoyed how you explained it. Nice production too, btw. I just keep a pocket notebook and write whatever I need and comes to mind. Keep it up

[CarolR-wn]

I’m a mess 😂 I have a journal for travel, life, and a reading journal, a hiking journal, a sketch journal, a work notebook and a planner 😂 stick to your micron. Fountain pens are awesome but much more work. Haha

[Matildajane]

I have started using the Commonplace idea too. I bought a 400pg fat one from Temu and I am putting the index in the back so I don't have to guess how many pages I might need. I am using it for absolutely everything with a 4 colour multi pen to semi colour code it. 😊

[authorscout]

I understand, apprecciate, and even share you enthusiam. But your vidoe focused more on product/self promotions than it did how to actually start a common place book.
Perhaps reconsider doing thw video. Much luve to you and yours! ❤🤭

[johnpsmith]

I am an avid commonplace book creator. I started about 14 years ago and it was originally a collection of quotes and thoughts and religious minutiae. During the intervening years I have changed significantly and also spent much more time writing in these books. Being a bit OCD I have certain books for certain things: All are A6 size (or so) - Moleskine squared for quotes I have personally heard from speakers at church (on my 4th now) around 4000 quotes so far, Rhodia bullet for my direct scripture recordings and artwork. I fell in love with illuminated manuscripts many years ago and have over the last almost 7 years started copying the scriptures word-for-word with various lousy artwork thrown in. My goal is to complete scriptures 4 times so each of my children will have a handwritten set from me, when I eventually pass on. I use the Leuchterm 1917 bullet point for scriptural commentary. And finally I have a Rhodia blank for my carry everywhere to collect my thoughts at any given time so I can peruse them later or research them etc... Some of these go into my commentaries, but most of the time they are simply an interesting way to keep track of those things i used to wonder about but then forgot before i could actually do anything with.

I look forward to future videos from you.

If I were to only every pick on notebook it would be the Rhodia. They are the highest quality in my opinion. And all of them are hardbacks.

For economic reasons I am switching to A5 size and using other brands on my next trip through the Bible. for the A6 sizes I have never found any economically priced notebooks that compete with Rhodia, Leuchterm or Moleskine. But I have come across several off-brand A5 sizes that compete quite well and often for 1/3 to 1/2 the price.

[bernieskuuipo]

I have a many notebooks, total stationary addict here 😂 thank you for sharing your thoughts here. Have fun 🎉

[bunyan]

Thomas Jefferson kept a commonplace notebook.

[LydiaQ]

If you are planning to earn some money from the products you use and advertise I warmly recommend to pronounce the names correctly. There is a lot of app which can help you with that!