Field Notes Brand
I pick up interesting prompts from other “web writers.” Strictly bloggers, in the purest sense of the term, material written for online consumption only, and styled as such, frequently with pointers and hints. That’s how I first stumbled on the Field Notes Brand, and later, as I determined, its style, size, and shape fits me best.
The notebooks themselves? I’m less impressed. The cover artwork is frequently outstanding, but I sheath my notebooks, stuff them inside a canvas carry-all cover, so the artwork is then lost. The quality of the paper? I don’t know — it’s notebook paper?
To their credit, the little notebooks, first grabbed me, and helped shape the way I work, to this day. The actual notebooks themselves? While I was attracted to the size, shape, and feel? The paper is only OK, and the number of pages is limiting.
In a recent late-night search, I discovered both Field Notes Brand and the revitalized Moleskine brand offered newly released “reporter’s notebook” size.
Funny regret, and one I’ll just have to live with, but the “reporter’s notebook” size of journal was my favorite. It was about half a steno pad, lined, but the lines were mere guidelines, as I would just write quick notes to prompt recall. I looked for those notebooks for years, only to switch to the more manageable A6 (?) size, 5 x 3&1/2 inches.
The bullet journals, usually larger format for most, I found a methodology that works for me, in the smaller size, and I much prefer the dotted-grid style over regular lines or plain pages.
Recently, what I read online, the paper quality of the Field Notes brand isn’t that good; I don’t know; I never tested it. I did find cheaper, knock-off, bulk blank books in my preferred dot-grid, thank you Field Notes brand for that, and I have stack of them.
What kind of notes gets transcribed?
“They told me to ‘pick my battles,’
I think I want to put some these back.”
Just an odd inscription with a date. Useful for a future horoscope, I’m sure.
Diagrams, notes, snippets, what I had for lunch, if it was of interest, quick iconic images for myself. A record of the day, and maybe, if there was an interesting interaction, the symbol for the sign. Some ays I’ll inscribe the position and element father various planets in their orbits, just an inward notation.
At one point, I had a couple of clients’ credit card numbers written down. Crisis astrology: it’s a thing.
Moleskine brand itself was an interesting tale. Almost dead, the brand was revitalized and delivered unto the mass market, available at the Costco. I don’t know if the quality is the same as legends suggest. I have few older notebooks, mostly half full with data that I didn’t manage to correctly collate.
The reporters’ notebooks led me to the Moleskine, which then led me to Field Notes Brand, and that got me where I am. I think I still buy the occasional Field Notes Brand, if nothing else, for the brevity, fine art cover, and the pretty package.
Field Notes Brand
It’s analog in a digital world. My happy place.
the Portable Mercury Retrograde
