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[Rybka]

How Do You Keep Notes?

We have probably been over this topic in past threads about writing techniques, inspiration/muse, etc., but, since we have a number of fairly recent forum frequenters, I thought it might be nice to pass on to others our "tricks of the trade".

The "tricks" I would like to hear first, are about how you take notes when the Muse does whisper in your ear. so: How do you remember not to forget?

I will start. Before 9/11 downsized me I always had paper handy at my desk or a notebook with me when in the field, and I would jot down anything that occurred to me as it did. Later I would enter my notes onto my laptop and e-mail them home. Usually these notes were only phrases. (Seldom does Muse shit spring full blown or fall from the sky and hit me in the eye.) Only on long trips, when I was driving, might I get enough material to forget before I could jot it all down.

Since I now am retired, I seldom remember to have paper with me. And even if I am just out walking my dog I will often forget my musings, or to write them down, when I get inside. So now I have bought a mini-recorder, about the size of a Bic lighter, that is as complicated as a digital camera, and with smaller, harder to read buttons, and I keep it in my jacket pocket. - My problem now is that I forget I have it with me, and if I don't I can't remember how to run it.

Anybody got any suggestions for me? How do all of you take notes?

Regards, Rybka

 

[perks]

I refuse to think unless I'm sitting in front of my puter.

 

[destinie21]

I do the whole mini recorder thing and I often forget to bring it with me I call my house and leave messages on my answering machine from my cell phone. The recorder does come in handy to catch snippets of conversations from stangers which sometimes helps in my stories as well as poetry.

 

[BooMerengue]

write on your hand or arm... it washes off later!

 

[WickedEve]

Fish, we'd make a pair. I can't remember anything. But I did remember pen and paper, and I wrote a poem while I was getting my hair done last week. Many poems come to me while I'm out walking. I just have to keep repeating while I run home. In the past I've used lipstick on envelopes, my kids crayons. A poet has to be resourceful.
Is there any way to hook a mini recorder to a keychain or something practical like that?

 

[jthserra]

Gregg Ruled Steno Pad

Wherever I go, I try to carry a pad along. Not just any pad, I carry a Gregg Ruled Steno Pad. It's the light green pad, with the line down the middle, which allows me to write the poetry on one side and put note on the other, or if the poem is long I can work it in two columns.

I do most of the work on the poem on the pad, transferring it only at the very end onto computer. While I may start putting the poem on computer before I have the last line or two worked out, I try to avoid that because usually once I begin transferring the poem, the creative process pretty well stops for me.

It embarrasses my kids to always have the pad, especially when I have to stop somewhere and jot things down. This is a benefit, I cherish every opportunity I have to embarrass my kids...

jim

 

[Linbido]

I'm like Perks. Inspiration comes when i start writitng, not the other way around, so I don't have the need to take notes.

I sit down, decide to "start today's efforts with...let's see... an M, perhaps?" and wing it like crazy from there.

 

[OT]

During long bike rides I have written entire novels, profound prose and miscellaneous snippets of wonderful poetry. Sadly, somewhere about a block from home -- coherence evaporates.

I've had limited success with a voice recorder. Mostly my muse has stage fright -- she clams up when the recorder comes out.

when i know I will not be near the 'puter for a while, a space pen and a few folded sheets of paper in my pocket have proved to be the most practical end effective method ...

I've mostly resigned myself to using the method mentioned by Perks.
(simply refuse to think unless the results can be conveniently scribed

Rybka, the key to a good recorder is finding one whose purpose is to simply record. If it has more than three buttons -- keep shopping.

And Eve, yes they make cool little gadgets that would clip easily to a key chain.

(I was going to write something here about imagining your resourceful self scribbling notes in the dust on the bumper of your car -- keys and recorder locked safely inside

 

[HomerPindar]

Since most of my ideas are story related rather than poetry related I let em stew in my head until I decide they have to be removed to make room for other ideas. That's when I start writing them.

As for poetry, I try and write as much as possible in my head, then run scrambling out of bed for a pen and paper when I get something past two words together that I like

HomerPindar

 

[Senna Jawa]

Re: How Do You Keep Notes?

Since I now am retired, I seldom remember to have paper with me. And even if I am just out walking my dog I will often forget my musings, or to write them down, when I get inside. So now I have bought a mini-recorder, about the size of a Bic lighter, that is as complicated as a digital camera, and with smaller, harder to read buttons, and I keep it in my jacket pocket. - My problem now is that I forget I have it with me, and if I don't I can't remember how to run it.

Anybody got any suggestions for me?

Regards, Rybka

B12

In case you forgot, I said   B12  

 

[Senna Jawa]

Fish, we'd make a pair. I can't remember anything.

B12

In case you forgot, I said   B12  

 

[echoes_s]

unfortunately for me, some of my best inspiration comes when i am driving long distances in my car...if i stop, i also stop thinking, so i got in this habit of taking a notepad, tape it to the horn section of the wheel so it is secured and unmovable, not having to look at what i am writing, write on the horn while driving, keeping my eyes on the road. I stop when going around corners of course, but the unfortunate part is i keep blowing the darn horn when i hit certain parts of the paper.

 

[Maria2394]

B12

In case you forgot, I said   B12  

hey senna, what happens if you forget where you put the
B12...vitamins? or a bingo ball...hmmm

 

[Guest]

I dream a lot of my ideas and have a note-pad by my bed. In the morning I usually cannot make head or tail of what I scribbled.

Somewhere in that note-pad is my masterpiece.

 

[Angeline]

I dream a lot of my ideas and have a note-pad by my bed. In the morning I usually cannot make head or tail of what I scribbled.

I once dreamed I was writing a musical masterpiece. It sounded so beautiful, and I actually was able to awaken myself thinking I'll sing it into my tape recorder.

It was Bluebird by Buffalo Springfield, a great old rock song. And it *is* a beautiful song, just I um didn't write it.

I think about what I want to write and often have a very loose idea of where I want a poem to go. That's pretty much it for advance work for me.

 

[The_Fool]

Hey Rybka,

When you figure it out, let me know. I have forgotten ten times more than I have ever written....all of it good stuff of course.

 

[Guest]

I dream a lot of my ideas and have a note-pad by my bed. In the morning I usually cannot make head or tail of what I scribbled.

Somewhere in that note-pad is my masterpiece.

Ditto on the dreaming. I keep a notebook handy on my nightstand. I normally write my notes half awake and strangely enough, my handwriting improves when I'm groggy


- neo