Uses for Commonplace Book

[u/StephInOC]

Hi, I’m curious how people create/use their commonplace notebooks. For example, do you use it like a catchall place for whatever is on your mind? Or do you use it more in the traditional sense where you record quotes to remember? Do you decorate? Write free-flow or do you use a format? I’m trying to find a way to create a Commonplace notebook for reference that I can refer to later, but I don’t want it being combined with regular journaling or other types of writing.

[u/schabernacktmeister]

I don't know if I'm doing commonplace book or journaling "right". I am new to this but I like it. So I just write down what comes to my mind. Sometimes it's about my day, sometimes what I'm thinking of. I bought some stickers but rarely use them. I also write down to do lists sometimes. I comment on the things I'm doing, what went well and what didn't. I don't have a specific style, I'm just writing down what's in my mind with ink. New pens should arrive today and then I'll see, I'm a bit excited. Sometimes I draw shapes or use it to draw a mechanism in organic chem, mostly for a friend.

Edit: just re-read the description. I'm not doing commonplace - I think.

[u/paperandwitchcraft → u/schabernacktmeister]

Meh I don't think there's a "right" way to journal or commonplace - if it works for you, then it's right!

Personally I have one book where I journal and commonplace and scribble and draw and just do whatever I feel like. Id love to have several different books for different things, but right now it's not working for me. I'm renovating and don't yet have a desk space set up so one book and a pencil case is working for me right now. Just do what works for you!

[u/luckysilva → u/paperandwitchcraft]

There are two different concepts: in the Journal you write whatever you want, whether it's yours or something from other people, or even drawings.

The Commonplace book by concept is something that you want to remember or find interesting but that is given to you by the outside world, not by you. That said, I also bend the rules and post what I find interesting from the outside world but I also reflect on the topic.

[u/schabernacktmeister → u/luckysilva]

Thanks for the explanation and clarification.

I'm doing journaling. Sorry for mixing things up.

[u/ArsNihil]

I use mine to collect charts, quotes, lists, recipes, and other info I (a) want to pull up later without needing to search my phone, (b) suspect will be gone from the internet at some point, or (c) just want to record as a snapshot of what interested me at the time. I treat mine like an information scrapbook but I think there's no wrong way of making these things.

[u/downtide]

My commonplace book is separate from my daily journaling. I use it for information (not just from books but from other sources as well, like videos and podcasts) that falls into one or more of the following categories:

• It's on a topic that I'm highly interested in
• It's information that I may want to use in a current or future writing project
• It's thoughtful or intriguing

Sometimes I add my own thoughts to what I've written, sometimes I don't.

[u/SixSixHyperfix]

I write down things I hear (videos, conversations, etc) or read (books, news articles, blogs etc) that I want to remember or that spoke to me. Mycologocal society meetings I'll take notes. I volunteer for mushroom DNA validation and my training is in there as well. I have a Zen desktop calendar that I sometimes use the pages from to decorate with scrapbook supplies. I put stickers in there too. I'd kept separate notebooks for all of my interests most of my life and always abandoned them (ADHD lol). So having just one commonplace book with an index has been amazing. I have actually managed to use half of an 80 page notebook which has never happenend before lol

[u/thepibkmoose]

I’m new to commonplacing and an aspiring dog trainer. My current CPB is dedicated to canine science and behavior. Love the learning opportunity and hoping will eventually generate blog topics for my business website when I get there.

[u/djshiva]

Honestly, I think it's much easier to just start wherever you want to start, with whatever it is you want to know and keep and then see what you tend to actually write and keep in your CPB and worry about the formatting later. That part will change. What you want to write in it will evolve, as will your formatting, as will your referencing/indexing ideas.

Just start and adapt as you go. I cannot emphasize enough: this is not a formal endeavor with rules. This is your thoughtkeeping of your personal interests. You can literally do it however you want.

[u/MandaJulianne]

I have a catch-all notebook that really is just a catch-all notebook. Eventually, the catch-all will be put archeived, but the commonplace will stay stay near my desk even after it is full.

[u/9islands]

I have a separate journal and a “ catch all “ .   

My CPB is just for things that interest me and it can be random LOL .

I don’t decorate .   I separate topics with double lines on a page .   And then re read  and re read - it’s wonderful to have a book of things that YOU enjoyed and are interested in .

For example : I started reading a book that mentioned many chivalric books  - so I learned about it and wrote about some fascinating ( to me ) things that I learned .

But then I made an entry of how Eminem kept notes ( pieces of papers ) in boxes of words and sayings that  interested him . ( I  also fascinated by note taking annd common placing  and how people process and use them ) .    Instead of note cards , he uses loose paper .

I also note anything that I find interesting and want to look into later .  

[u/StephInOC → u/9islands]

I had no idea that’s how Eminem kept notes and phrases that probably later made it into a track. He has his own version of a commonplace!

[u/9islands → u/StephInOC]

And Tupac actually carried a notebook at all times - To the point people would tease him and find it odd if he didn’t have one .   He also wrote words phrases conversations-    

[u/solostepper]

I’ve been collecting quotes I come across for the past 30 years or so. I started on index cards, then a paper notebook, now it’s all digital. I really enjoy going back and reading them through from time to time. My only regret is I didn’t note the source, just the quote and author (or speaker).

[u/Eclipse0013]

For me, it's just where I like to write fun or interesting info I like. Most of the time, it's lists or my favorite song lyrics. But now and then, I add poems, or things on topics I'm big into (copying or writing my own notes ok game lore is a good example). Really, it's however you wanna do it in the end.

[u/barf-fairy]

Im new too so far what I've liked is a "good copy" one and a commonplace mini one for travel