I’ve always loved stationery. Every time I go to a store, I head to the stationery aisle to peruse their collection of pens and notebooks. When my family or friends don’t know what to gift me for a birthday, they always fall back on notebooks.
A couple of months back, I was thinking of writing about my collection of notebooks and found
’s notebook ecosystem (a perfect term she coined). I felt so seen and inspired. So, this is my version.If you’d like to find inspiration on what to use notebooks for, or you’re like me and love getting a peek into people’s notebook ecosystems, this is for you.
1. (Regular) Journal
Probably the most important notebook to me is my journal. I’ve kept one since I was about seven years old and have gone through numerous journaling phases. I can’t recall what I wrote in my journal before I was ten years old, but when I started boarding school at that age, my journal became a home for my many complaints about how much I hated school and wanted to return home. Then at a point, I tried scrapbooking using pictures of my classmates and I from the yearbook and had everyone sign in it. I have it till this day, and it is satisfyingly cringey. I’ve tried morning pages – three pages of stream of consciousness writing every morning – and was shocked by how much I had to say when I started writing.
For a while, I struggled with consistency and being vulnerable because I had an underlying fear that someone would read my journal (it happened when I was younger). But I decided on a bare minimum – to journal every Sunday night – and I’ve stuck with it for years now. I’ve also reiterated to myself that my journal is meant to be a space where I can be as free and messy as I want to be. I can’t expect to do that when I write as if someone is watching me. And if anyone ever violates that privacy, it’s on them.
My journal has become a place where I come to untangle the mess of my mind. I reflect on whatever matters are at the top of my head – the ones I fixate on for too long, or am too embarrassed to say out loud. Sometimes amazing advice and answers pour out of me; other times, I have nothing but questions, and most times, I leave feeling lighter. I also use it to document what is going on in my life, so when I return months or years later, it’s from a place of distance and with mirth or awe that life was once that way. Sometimes, I create prompts for myself: a letter giving advice to my past self, if I could do anything I wanted, what would I do? etc. Occasionally, I write quotes I like and want to remember.
A while back, I wrote about journaling here:
2. Gratitude journal
This is a journal where every night, I sit to recall my day and write three things from it that I’m grateful for. Even if it was a terrible day and the only thing I can write is how cathartic crying was, how relieving a deep sigh felt, or how I’m glad a situation wasn’t worse than it was, I try to write something. As someone who finds it effortless to cling to the bad, this is my attempt to make room for the good, to acknowledge that it exists, and my life isn’t just a tangled mess of terrible things.
3. Writing notebook
I’ve been writing stories since I was about six years old, and for most of my life, I’ve known I wanted to become a writer. When I was around 14 or so, I spent a considerable amount of my holiday money on a beautiful notebook that called out to me, and it became my first ‘writing notebook’. In it, I wrote ideas, first drafts, and I allowed myself to imagine and plan writing projects. So many of my stories and essays started from this notebook. Somehow, it lasted me over 4 years, and I finally got another one in 2023, my current one. It is home to many ideas – some that never see the light of day, journal entries to figure out characters, plots, themes, or essays when I feel stuck, some first drafts for stories or even for this newsletter.
4. Notebook for learning about writing
I’ve had this for over five years, and it contains many notes on the art of writing gotten from articles, workshops, webinars, books, etc. It’s lots and lots of information on pre-writing, writing, and revising short stories.
5. Reading journal
I started this last month and wondered why I never started one all these years. Here, I record: the name of the book I’m reading, the date, whether it’s my first time reading it, and then I include quotes I like, rants about the book, annoying characters, connections or predictions, writing choices I liked, etc. It’s already so fun, and I’m excited to record my reading journey non-digitally, beyond Goodreads and Storygraph.
6. Prayer journal
This is also a recent development owed to my journey of re-discovering and rekindling my faith through a gentler, more gracious, and tailored approach. It contains my thoughts, reflections, questions, doubts, prayer requests, etc. It has been comforting letting all of these out on the page rather than leaving them stuck in my head.
7. My list notebook
Here, I write random lists. A list of hobbies I’d like to try. A list of places I’d like to go to. A list of literary magazines I want to get published in. A list of things I’ve done this year that I’m proud of. Just lists and lists and more lists.
8. Notebook for my writers’ group
This book, a birthday present, is specifically dedicated to the virtual writers’ group I started last year for African writers. It contains ideas and plans for our meetings, feedback from members, brainstorming sessions, doodles from when I’m talking during meetings, and my hand needs something to do, and this was where I planned this writer’s journal I created.
9. Crochet notebook
This was also a birthday gift from a friend, and I use it to plan crochet projects, and I write crochet patterns in it.
10. Drawing notebook
Last year, I suddenly felt the desire to start drawing. I want other creative outlets, aside from writing, that aren’t digital, and drawing fits this. So, I picked up a notebook I got from a trip to the EU office in Abuja (even though it has lines on alternating pages😡). At first, I used it for weekly virtual art dates with two of my friends and art lessons my nephew and I had with my sister, an actual artist. Sometimes, I found something fun on Pinterest and drew it. I haven’t used this book this year, but I really want to get back to it. There’s something about creating with your hands, even if you aren’t good at it.
These are my current (mostly) active notebooks and what I use them for. I hate that I don’t have the means to splurge on stationery like I’d like to (manifesting it though ✨) or the access to a wide range of exceedingly pretty notebooks in my beloved Nigeria. I feel limited.
That aside, I have a notebook wish list. I want to start a scrapbook. It seems like such a fun and exciting idea to document your life using mementos. I’d also like a notebook dedicated to learning – for all the many random topics I want to sit and explore in depth – and while Notion is amazing(!!), I’d still like an actual notebook for learning, like the ones I had when I was still in school. Last on my list is a commonplace notebook. Just a place to put a vast collection of things I come across that resonate.
Thank you for reading! How about you?
❀ Do you have notebooks or a notebook ecosystem?
❀ Do you have a notebook wish list?
❀ Is there anything I mentioned that you’d like to try out?
I can still remember when you bought your first writing notebook, I couldn't understand why you would spend so much on a note book?😂
I really enjoyed reading this!
I have a journal that I keep religiously. I love it so much. I just started journaling last year and it’s been a wonderful practice for me, especially as a writer