I spend a considerable amount of time writing — by hand. While typing is my profession, writing by hand is a conscious choice I make purely for pleasure. In the recent past, I’ve realised I now spend my days with more than one notebook.
A journal
Most people reserve journals for late-night reflections. I use mine first thing at the office. It helps me settle in, compose my thoughts, and make my mistakes before the day truly begins. It primes me for whatever lies ahead.
The office notebook
This is my practical daily driver. I use it to list tasks, capture meeting minutes, record decisions, observations, and open questions. It’s my “note it before it’s gone” repository.
The practice book
This one holds the random leftovers — stray thoughts, ramblings, ink tests, and occasional evidence of pen maintenance (blobs and scratchy nib marks). It’s often an old, half-empty diary that has earned a second life.
You will also notice how my handwriting changes depending on the notebook. When journaling, my writing becomes more deliberate and personal. In the office notebook, I don’t worry much about appearance — it’s functional and fast. But back at home, in my comfort zone while experimenting with pens, I return to practicing cursive. It took me three to four years of consistent effort to reach this stage, and I’m genuinely happy with the progress.
The surprise package
What I’ve slowly come to realise is how these different notebooks shape not just my writing, but my thinking.
- The journal forces me to reflect before I act.
- The office notebook is my external memory — reliable and utilitarian.
- And the practice book is my safe space. Here, there are no rules. I can write upside down, diagonally, make mistakes, and be completely free.
Do you have more than one notebook, as well? I’d be curious to know what those are for.
The Wordsmith 
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