Moleskine Notebooks; Have One?

Hemingway Jones · Jan 2, 2007

ENfield3-8303 said:
I've been using them to keep notes and outlines for my stories for some time now, they're a bit more expensive than common sprial bound notebooks but much classier.

Agreed. The only issue with them is that they should come with some stickers or something. I have a line of them on my shelf by my desk and it is difficult to differentiate them when they are all shelved! It's just one black book spine after another.

Grit · Jan 3, 2007

Serial Hero said:
Does anyone put their name, address and reward on the first page like it suggests?

I put my e-mail address and cell number in mine. As a reward: "A fine cup of coffee."

..but with my luck, my Moleskine will be recovered by a tea drinker!

ProperRogue · Jan 3, 2007

Hemingway Jones said:
Still, it was an excellent travel journal. It fit right into my pocket; I could write with it standing up; and the divisions were helpful to keep my notes organized.

On a negative note, it's tough to write with a fountain in these, though I did; the finish of the paper makes the ink pool. A fine point would be preferred.

Below are the two Moleskines I used for my trip. The one with the rough sketch of "Augustus of Prima Porta" was the one in which I did all of my research in advance of the trip and the lined one was where I transcribed what I needed to know. It was also where I took notes on everything I ate, saw, did, and felt. It is a wonderful record of my journey.

Great example and I agree, nice handwriting. I wish mine was that nice. Somewhere, I have a cursive practice sheet that my wife gave me for adults from a Martha Stewart article on how to improve your hand writing. I need to dig that out and start practicing.

Just out of curiosity, since I know by your example that you use a Moleskine for your personal notes, do you also use one at work for professional stuff? Or do you use the letter portfolio that so many lawyers, bankers and other use?

Cheers,

PR

ProperRogue · Jan 3, 2007

Tracking the elusive Moleskine

Hemingway Jones said:
Agreed. The only issue with them is that they should come with some stickers or something. I have a line of them on my shelf by my desk and it is difficult to differentiate them when they are all shelved! It's just one black book spine after another.

I use a metallic silver sharpie pen to write the dates on the spine and some indication such as a subject about what is in the notebook. See Merlin Mann‚Äôs 43 Folders for some other Moleskine Hack ideas.

Cheers,

PR

Hemingway Jones · Jan 3, 2007

ProperRogue said:
Great example and I agree, nice handwriting. I wish mine was that nice. Somewhere, I have a cursive practice sheet that my wife gave me for adults from a Martha Stewart article on how to improve your hand writing. I need to dig that out and start practicing.

Just out of curiosity, since I know by your example that you use a Moleskine for your personal notes, do you also use one at work for professional stuff? Or do you use the letter portfolio that so many lawyers, bankers and other use?

I use a metallic silver sharpie pen to write the dates on the spine and some indication such as a subject about what is in the notebook. See Merlin Mann’s 43 Folders for some other Moleskine Hack ideas.

Cheers,

PR

Thank you for your kind comments, much appreciated.

If you could post that cursive practice sheet that would be great. I would like to see that and perhaps it could help us all who aspire to write like Tom Wolfe.

At work, I use a plain old spiral-at-the-top Steno Book notepad that the bank provides. These notes are such a mess, they do not warrant anything nicer!

I also keep a leather journal at home, so many of my notes are copied into the journal or else they are used for articles I write, posts here at the Lounge, or my fiction endeavors.

The metallic silver sharpie pen idea is marvelous! Thanks for mentioning it. Finally, a solution.

Ruby Slippers · Jan 8, 2007

I adore moleskine books, and have used them for several years as the "important" books. I carry the pocket sized sketchbook with me everywhere, which is wonderful because it is the perfect size, but I also own the larger size.

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I'm quite obsessive with my chosen materials for these; when I first began using these books I drew only in Micron pens. These are not so ideal as they have a tendency to fade over time (so I've been told), so I was on the lookout for a more permanent fixture. I then found out about rapidograph pens, which I adore and use exclusively for the pocket size. I never use pencil or any other tool.

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However, I take greater liberties with the larger size, as I tend to bring that along for more involved pursuits. I have used markers, watercolor, gouache, brushes and bottled ink, good old ballpoint pen, and many other media in the larger size, given that it seems more freeing to take more chances.

I also enjoy the moleskine "cahiers", which are available in the same sizes with a thinner paper. These I use for school notes and homework assignments, tiny sketches, and everything is in pencil.

For me, the appeal of the moleskine is in its history, aesthetic and practicality. I love the fact that I can tuck one in my purse or pocket and in its own pocket, I can stow away show tickets, business cards, and tiny mementos (such as a dried flower or a coin or something sentimental and silly like that) and each book has its very own history, like an album in itself.

My favorite thing to do is visit museums in different cities and draw whichever dinosaur skeletons they have.

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Hemingway Jones · Jan 8, 2007

Brava!

Ruby,

I love what you do with your Moleskines. Those are wonderful drawings.

Thanks for posting them.

Canadave · Jan 9, 2007

Yes, great post. Love the illustrations. Now we expect that ALL your posts will be illustrated!

David

poetman · Jan 9, 2007

Hemingway Jones said:
...But I just about filled up my tabbed Moleskine in Italy.

It has tabs for "Facilities," "Sights," "People," "Food," and "Bed." I didn't really follow these, but divided it up by city: Rome and Venice. It probably would have been better had they left the tabs blank.

Still, it was an excellent travel journal. It fit right into my pocket; I could write with it standing up; and the divisions were helpful to keep my notes organized.

On a negative note, it's tough to write with a fountain in these, though I did; the finish of the paper makes the ink pool. A fine point would be preferred.

Below are the two Moleskines I used for my trip. The one with the rough sketch of "Augustus of Prima Porta" was the one in which I did all of my research in advance of the trip and the lined one was where I transcribed what I needed to know. It was also where I took notes on everything I ate, saw, did, and felt. It is a wonderful record of my journey.

What size moleskine did you use? I have a pocket size version. It's unlined, (possibly the sketchbook version?) but I find it akward to carry. First, the hardback and thick size make it uncomfortable to put on my pocket. Also, when I use my fountain pen in it--I think even my rollerball-- the ink never seems to "catch" in the page. The finish of the paper has a type of gloss to it, which makes the ink dry oddly. Barnes and Noble has a similar pocket size leather brown journal with a thicker paper. The brown leather cover has a long string which wraps around the journal.

Hemingway Jones · Jan 9, 2007

.

It was a pocket version and the pen I used was a medium point, so it took a bit of finesse, but it worked.

Willi_Goat · Jan 9, 2007

I picked up on a few months ago not really knowing what I would use it for. It only took a day or two to figure it out, I use it to keep track of the Geocaches I find.

Ruby Slippers · Jan 9, 2007

Thank you, Mr. Jones and Mr. Dave, how nice of you to say!

Also, thanks to whomever posted the link to the moleskine hacks!
These are so great, I think my obsession with these little books is about to take over.

And now proof that nothing is sacred...silliness.

poetman · Jan 11, 2007

WOW!! I changed my mind! I love these little suckers! I had the sketchbook, which was terrible. I prefer blank pages (it makes me feel more free; I was never one to stay in the lines) and this was the only on available. However, today I wrote in the plain notebook and the squared line notebook: unbelievable difference. I also compared the pocket version to a Barnes and Noble brand soft leather journal I have. The hardback and string on the Moleskine definitely render it superior! It's wonderful to discover the neglected beauty in something!

Canadave · Jan 11, 2007

Do you mean that the notebooks take ink better than the sketchbook, poetman?

David

poetman · Jan 12, 2007

Canadave said:
Do you mean that the notebooks take ink better than the sketchbook, poetman?

David

David:
Yes, absolutely! The sketchbook has some oily substance on it, which precludes the page from receiving the ink. After writing on the sketchbook with a fountain pen, it clearly looks like the ink is just sitting on the page and cannot sink into the fibers. The "Plain" notebook and the "Squared" notebook take well to fountain pens. Now, I'm just using the sketchbook as a "To Do" list; this way, when the book is full, it's over. It's funny, I have a new appreciation for these books. Now, when to use which one: decisions, decisions.

Canadave · Jan 12, 2007

One last question...does the fountain pen ink "bleed" to the other side of the page? Can you write on both sides? (I guess that was 2 questions.

)

David

scotrace · Jan 12, 2007

I've not had any bleeding at all in either the larger size, pocket size or the small thin paper ones with Noodler's black or Pelikan inks.

griffer · Jan 12, 2007

I just picked my up first one yesterday at a stationary & pen shop in mid-town.

What a perfect size!

poetman · Jan 12, 2007

Canadave said:
One last question...does the fountain pen ink "bleed" to the other side of the page? Can you write on both sides? (I guess that was 2 questions. )

David

David:
With my pen, it does not bleed. I wrote with a Phileas, both in fine and medium nib. However, I suppose it depends on the amount of pressure as well as the length of time for each stroke. I have not tried other fountain pens, so know no point of reference, but my Phileas looks like it dispenses a good deal of ink, and still it does not seep through. One page in particular, where I wrote with the medium nib, I expected it to bleed and the other side was fine. You could see the shadow of ink, but nothing more. Yet, I also do not write slowly--I suppose if you write at a slower speed, you increase the chance of bleeding.

Hemingway Jones · Jan 23, 2007

ProperRogue said:
I use a metallic silver sharpie pen to write the dates on the spine and some indication such as a subject about what is in the notebook. See Merlin Mann‚Äôs 43 Folders for some other Moleskine Hack ideas.

Cheers,

PR

Absolutely brilliant idea! Thank you for that. I went to Staples today and it is working marvelously. High regards!

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