I've spent years cultivating my note taking method. Essentially I've boiled down to a simple system: Two pens, red and black ink, red ink used for textual quotes and paraphrasing, black used for my commentary. I keep a running list of sources on the inside cover of my Watson-Guptill notebook. I use the Visconti Bronze Homo Sapiens for the red ink (Diamine Oxblood) and the Visconti Steel for the black (Platinum Carbon or TWSBI Black).
A sensible approach. I've now got so many pens and inks, I get confused. One thing I must admit is I really like Diamine inks generally, and Writer's Blood does appeal (with a name like that, how could it not!), but I am very partial to Rohrer und Klingner's Alt Bordeaux, which is a lovely subtle red.
My pleasure (and don't believe that I am always that organised!)
Рік тому+1
I use sticky notes and colourful flags extensively. Sticky notes for questions or marking things I want to research further, and flags to mark where important things are. Like you I use books a lot, usually from the library, but I use internet too, it would be a waste not to. 🙂 If something doesn't ring true I make a sticky note and ask teachers/professors/researchers/other sources to confirm, expand or refute that bit of information. Once I'm happy with the amount of info, I put it all together in notebooks, neatly so I can come back to it anytime. My note making is for my arts and studies, in case that's relevant.
Thanks for that, Silvia. I used to use a lot of sticky notes and flags too, but nowadays I can leave a page marker and soon remember what I was looking at. Although admittedly my memory is not functioning quite as well as I would like!
Just going through all your earlier video’s again on how you craft your work and although you always give good sound advice I suspect a lot of what you say and do is due to having a very clever mind, and a good understanding of the medieval , near to where I live is the remains of Sandwell Hall and Sandwell Priory, in the last couple of months I have improved my library by several medieval books one being the archaelogical report for the excavation on these two buildings published in the 1980’s, taken me several years to find a copy, cost me £17 but it has a wealth of information, I rarely buy secondhand books instead I prefer to buy new ones ( Support the author and all that ) when I can afford them so you see Mike these earlier videos are still very interesting and informative, thank you , Mike
Really glad to hear that. I'm like you - I like to buy books on archaeological sites which fascinate me. I have them on St John's Priory in Clerkenwell, on the bridge at Exeter, on various locations in Devon, and especially the superb book "Blood Red Roses" about a mass grave discovered at the site of the battle of Towton. They're always full of little details you wouldn't find elsewhere. Thanks for that!
Some really useful tips Michael - thank you. I also use highlighting on kindle books in much the same way for note taking, it has the advantage of being able to have a lot of research material in a small device and amazon helpfully stores it for you, so you can pick it up again from your computer if needed. (Like you I hate making actual notes in physical books, I think this was just the way I was bought up to treat books with respect, as a lot of them came from the library).
Hmm - I've tried Kindle, the HTC Flier and iPads, but I've found I can't get on with them. The only type that could be useful to me now would be the iPad with Scrivener's latest software on it, but I'm not sure it would work. I'm happier with the older approach and lots of paper!
This is very useful!!! Finally something I’ve been looking out for, note taking on books for the sake of writing book that I’m trying to write. Thank you!
Thank you for this video. :) It is nice to hear an experienced writer talk about this part of the process. I am currently struggling with a pretty huge project that demands a lot of research and feel quite daunted. Video's like this are encouraging. :)
Main thing is, with a big project, is split it into manageable chunks. Each of them can be quite manageable, with luck, and then you can give each a one-line synopsis. Put those synopses onto post-it notes and stick them on a wall in different orders until you think you have one which works. Sounds easier than it will be, of course, but it makes you more comfortable when you have a kind of logic and order to the research and note-taking.
1:58 I prefer (small) paper sticky notes as it allows me to write down my initial thoughts and associations. (For a similar reason I use index cards as bookmark: because it allows me to write down how this book was brought to my attention [e.g. through someone's recommendation or a footnote etc] and what I am hoping to get out of it - allowing for more contextual information.) In the past I used plastic sticky notes and upon return (sometimes weeks later) I totally forgot why I had selected that particular section in the first place, and what my initial associations were. So in order to make the transition to my own line of thinking as smooth as possible over time, I like to work with paper sticky notes (the small ones from Muji). Since the beginning of this year I've also transitioned to Scrivener as my commonplace book. In addition to the typed words (that I can edit and build up - on an ongoing basis without having to use strikethroughs [unless I want to, in which case it's always possible to include them]), it also allows me to copy paste screen shots into the document very easily (including photos I make from my handwritten scribbles / drawings / mind maps) and type my own thoughts underneath it to smoothly forward the line of reasoning in a coherent manner. The digital archive or commonplace book is also easier to bring along with me during my travels :)
Really sorry - just found this in the "spam" folder, which is rude! I had never thought of using an index card - what a sensible idea! I'll start doing that as well. Ideal to make notes, obviously. I do like the idea of using Scrivener for a commonplace book, too. It's such a flexible tool, and perfect for including pictures, weblinks or anything else, isn't it? My only issue would be that I'm giving up on laptops. I just don't ever use them. My own portable device for writing is my Freewrite, which goes with me everywhere, and which I can type happily for hours! Thanks for the comment, and sorry to take so long to spot it!
(New to the channel.) Do those little darts damage the paper? I'd be afraid of tearing. That was such a good point you made about books being more reliable than finding random stuff on the internet.There's exceptions to everything, of course. But it makes me happy that books (hopefully) will be around and used for research for a long time yet. As much as I love the internet, there sure can be a lot of wrong information on there.
Hi, Yesica, The paper darts are brilliant, and don't mark paper at all. The only risk they have is, that they have a slight lip on the upper edge. This is so that there is a lift, which means you can slip the paper between the lips of the dart, if that makes sense. Otherwise, if the metal lips were closed, you would damage the paper putting the dart over it. But the slight lip means you may slightly crease the facing page in a book if you close it hard with a dart inside. I hope that makes sense. Thanks for the comment on my observations on the internet. It's more and more important that people realise that it is a perfect vehicle for misinformation and disinformation. It is perfect for anyone wanting to spread lies. Conversely, books published by reputable publishers have to be reasonably factual. I just wish more people would receive that message! Thanks again, and best of luck!
@@writerlywitterings I really mean it, man, you need more subs and views and I would love to work with you in any way possible. Your videos are soothing and help me get through the day. Would love to work with you, keep up the good work and never give up. 👍🏽
Love this video. I have been researching WWI civilian internment camps in Fernie BC where I now live. I use standard 8 1/2 X 11 inch lined paper and three ring binders with dividers to collate the material. I get the paper and binders at our local Salvation Army Thrift shop and usually pay $0.50 per 150 pages and $1.00 per binder. Living on a small pension I need to keep my costs down. I use fountain pens for all my writing.
I use Atoma notebooks because of their ease of swapping pages around. The little book darts are great for bullet journaling, marking notes and books. It's nice to see that Michael Jecks is a stationery fan, especially of fountain pens.
Thank you for this video. It's useful - as I'm starting to make notes for my next novel(s). Two ideas came along at once, and so I'm trying to plan them out. How much time do you take to research for a book? I've read from some authors that too much can be as bad as too little as the book moves from a story set in a historical era to a historical book.
I don't know if you're still there, Fyfe Sandy - apologies. When you made this comment, I was unable to figure out how to reply! Too much can certainly be far too much on occasion. The main thing is, to write the book with the knowledge you have built up, and don't try to preach about the history by throwing in too much. Remember that you are translating for people long dead (in my case) or for people doing extraordinary, different jobs or something. You can leave in only what is necessary to push the story along. More than that clogs up the pace. What I have done with many of my books is tear out all research and history. It is there in the story, because the research imbues the book with the atmosphere that couldn't exist without the research. However, all that ripped out information, I shove into a lengthy Author's Note, so it doesn't get lost! I do hope your ideas are progressing nicely. Again, apologies for not responding sooner, but the original reply kept getting lost due to some glitch, and then I - ahem - forgot! All very best
THat's fine. It won't work for everyone. You have to work out your own methods. However, this way of working was very effective with the students I taught at Exeter University, and it's worked very well for me and 43 novels as well as short stories.
Could you please make a video on why is it that most Brits, even well-read persons like you, have this unbearable artificially arrogant, posh, patronizing, lordly, toplofty tone while speaking? Even among yourselves... what are you trying to proof? The British Empire finished long time ago, did you know?
Hilarious comment. Many thanks for making me laugh! It reminds me of my mother in Canada many years ago, when she met a group of American ladies. One of them overheard my mother speaking to someone, and asked where she came from. 'England.' 'Is that in the Mid-West?' 'No, it's England - the United Kingdom.' 'But you were born in the US?' 'No.' 'You've lived here for a long time, then?' 'No. Why?' 'Well, how come you speak English so well?' My mother was too polite to point out that English was the name of the language because it was spoken by - the English. I'm sure you mean to be very rude with your question. However, I find it very funny, and it did make me laugh out loud. In other words, my friend, thanks for a truly silly question. I speak in the way I do because I am English. That means I speak the English language with an English accent. Yes, this is how we speak. In the same way, you speak your language - no doubt sounding pompous and patronising to many of your peers. The reason why we speak our languages is to allow ourselves to be understood. Talking in a false dialect would not help communication. So I speak as I do, and as I have spoken for over 50 years. I'm honoured you think I sound "lordly" though! The best laugh of my day - thank you!
I can't believe the absurdity of your comment 'shinny eyes' or should that be 'glazed eyes'?! It is like the adage, 'You might look stupid but if you keep quiet they can't prove it.' BTW, "The British Isles is made up many, many different accents and dialects - more than 37 dialects at the last count. A dialect is a variety of a language that differs from the standard language, in this case. Dialects can vary regionally - depending on where in the country a person is from, as well as socially. englishlive.ef.com/blog/english-in-the-real-world/rough-guide-british-dialects/ British English, as mentioned above, has a large variety of dialects, as well as accents, which is true to one degree or another in other so-called English speaking countries. "As of 2019, there were 55 sovereign states and 27 non-sovereign entities where English was an official language. Many country subdivisions have declared English an official language at the local or regional level. So, you will find a lot of accents for you not to like.
@@writerlywitterings Genius level response to this nonsense. I'm going to assume this person was just trying to be silly. (And please don't ever change how you speak!)
I've spent years cultivating my note taking method. Essentially I've boiled down to a simple system: Two pens, red and black ink, red ink used for textual quotes and paraphrasing, black used for my commentary. I keep a running list of sources on the inside cover of my Watson-Guptill notebook. I use the Visconti Bronze Homo Sapiens for the red ink (Diamine Oxblood) and the Visconti Steel for the black (Platinum Carbon or TWSBI Black).
A sensible approach. I've now got so many pens and inks, I get confused. One thing I must admit is I really like Diamine inks generally, and Writer's Blood does appeal (with a name like that, how could it not!), but I am very partial to Rohrer und Klingner's Alt Bordeaux, which is a lovely subtle red.
I wish I had such an order with my notes…
Thank you Michael
My pleasure (and don't believe that I am always that organised!)
I use sticky notes and colourful flags extensively. Sticky notes for questions or marking things I want to research further, and flags to mark where important things are. Like you I use books a lot, usually from the library, but I use internet too, it would be a waste not to. 🙂 If something doesn't ring true I make a sticky note and ask teachers/professors/researchers/other sources to confirm, expand or refute that bit of information. Once I'm happy with the amount of info, I put it all together in notebooks, neatly so I can come back to it anytime. My note making is for my arts and studies, in case that's relevant.
Thanks for that, Silvia. I used to use a lot of sticky notes and flags too, but nowadays I can leave a page marker and soon remember what I was looking at. Although admittedly my memory is not functioning quite as well as I would like!
Just going through all your earlier video’s again on how you craft your work and although you always give good sound advice I suspect a lot of what you say and do is due to having a very clever mind, and a good understanding of the medieval , near to where I live is the remains of Sandwell Hall and Sandwell Priory, in the last couple of months I have improved my library by several medieval books one being the archaelogical report for the excavation on these two buildings published in the 1980’s, taken me several years to find a copy, cost me £17 but it has a wealth of information, I rarely buy secondhand books instead I prefer to buy new ones ( Support the author and all that ) when I can afford them so you see Mike these earlier videos are still very interesting and informative, thank you , Mike
Really glad to hear that. I'm like you - I like to buy books on archaeological sites which fascinate me. I have them on St John's Priory in Clerkenwell, on the bridge at Exeter, on various locations in Devon, and especially the superb book "Blood Red Roses" about a mass grave discovered at the site of the battle of Towton. They're always full of little details you wouldn't find elsewhere. Thanks for that!
Some really useful tips Michael - thank you. I also use highlighting on kindle books in much the same way for note taking, it has the advantage of being able to have a lot of research material in a small device and amazon helpfully stores it for you, so you can pick it up again from your computer if needed. (Like you I hate making actual notes in physical books, I think this was just the way I was bought up to treat books with respect, as a lot of them came from the library).
Hmm - I've tried Kindle, the HTC Flier and iPads, but I've found I can't get on with them. The only type that could be useful to me now would be the iPad with Scrivener's latest software on it, but I'm not sure it would work. I'm happier with the older approach and lots of paper!
Those metal page darts are a good idea. Never heard of them before. Thanks, Mike!
My pleasure. I really love them!
This is very useful!!! Finally something I’ve been looking out for, note taking on books for the sake of writing book that I’m trying to write. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for this video. :) It is nice to hear an experienced writer talk about this part of the process. I am currently struggling with a pretty huge project that demands a lot of research and feel quite daunted. Video's like this are encouraging. :)
Main thing is, with a big project, is split it into manageable chunks. Each of them can be quite manageable, with luck, and then you can give each a one-line synopsis. Put those synopses onto post-it notes and stick them on a wall in different orders until you think you have one which works. Sounds easier than it will be, of course, but it makes you more comfortable when you have a kind of logic and order to the research and note-taking.
I hate to write in the books too. It gets messy & I always end up writing in a separate notebook anyways. A very interesting video! Thanks!
Many thanks, Kartik! Glad you are of a similar mindset to me!
1:58 I prefer (small) paper sticky notes as it allows me to write down my initial thoughts and associations. (For a similar reason I use index cards as bookmark: because it allows me to write down how this book was brought to my attention [e.g. through someone's recommendation or a footnote etc] and what I am hoping to get out of it - allowing for more contextual information.) In the past I used plastic sticky notes and upon return (sometimes weeks later) I totally forgot why I had selected that particular section in the first place, and what my initial associations were. So in order to make the transition to my own line of thinking as smooth as possible over time, I like to work with paper sticky notes (the small ones from Muji).
Since the beginning of this year I've also transitioned to Scrivener as my commonplace book. In addition to the typed words (that I can edit and build up - on an ongoing basis without having to use strikethroughs [unless I want to, in which case it's always possible to include them]), it also allows me to copy paste screen shots into the document very easily (including photos I make from my handwritten scribbles / drawings / mind maps) and type my own thoughts underneath it to smoothly forward the line of reasoning in a coherent manner. The digital archive or commonplace book is also easier to bring along with me during my travels :)
Really sorry - just found this in the "spam" folder, which is rude!
I had never thought of using an index card - what a sensible idea! I'll start doing that as well. Ideal to make notes, obviously.
I do like the idea of using Scrivener for a commonplace book, too. It's such a flexible tool, and perfect for including pictures, weblinks or anything else, isn't it? My only issue would be that I'm giving up on laptops. I just don't ever use them. My own portable device for writing is my Freewrite, which goes with me everywhere, and which I can type happily for hours!
Thanks for the comment, and sorry to take so long to spot it!
@@writerlywitterings Thanks for your reply! I really enjoy your videos by the way :)
(New to the channel.)
Do those little darts damage the paper? I'd be afraid of tearing.
That was such a good point you made about books being more reliable than finding random stuff on the internet.There's exceptions to everything, of course. But it makes me happy that books (hopefully) will be around and used for research for a long time yet. As much as I love the internet, there sure can be a lot of wrong information on there.
Hi, Yesica,
The paper darts are brilliant, and don't mark paper at all. The only risk they have is, that they have a slight lip on the upper edge. This is so that there is a lift, which means you can slip the paper between the lips of the dart, if that makes sense. Otherwise, if the metal lips were closed, you would damage the paper putting the dart over it. But the slight lip means you may slightly crease the facing page in a book if you close it hard with a dart inside. I hope that makes sense.
Thanks for the comment on my observations on the internet. It's more and more important that people realise that it is a perfect vehicle for misinformation and disinformation. It is perfect for anyone wanting to spread lies. Conversely, books published by reputable publishers have to be reasonably factual. I just wish more people would receive that message!
Thanks again, and best of luck!
This is an underrated video
Thanks so much! That's one of the kindest things anyone has ever said about any of my videos!
@@writerlywitterings I really mean it, man, you need more subs and views and I would love to work with you in any way possible. Your videos are soothing and help me get through the day. Would love to work with you, keep up the good work and never give up. 👍🏽
Love this video. I have been researching WWI civilian internment camps in Fernie BC where I now live.
I use standard 8 1/2 X 11 inch lined paper and three ring binders with dividers to collate the material. I get the paper and binders at our local Salvation Army Thrift shop and usually pay $0.50 per 150 pages and $1.00 per binder. Living on a small pension I need to keep my costs down. I use fountain pens for all my writing.
Many thanks, Daniel, and best of luck with the writing. That certainly sounds good value for the paper - what pens and inks do you use?
thank you very much for taking the time and talking about note taking! some great tips
Glad it was useful, Orlando! Good luck.
Very informative. Thank you.
My pleasure. Thanks so much for the comment!
Great thinking !!! I agree :)
:-)
Thank you for another interesting video.
Cheers!
I love notepads.But I don't want to waste on empty words.But they're beautiful.
I can happily recommend them - Atoma and Midori are my favourites by far!
I use Atoma notebooks because of their ease of swapping pages around. The little book darts are great for bullet journaling, marking notes and books. It's nice to see that Michael Jecks is a stationery fan, especially of fountain pens.
Thank you for this video. It's useful - as I'm starting to make notes for my next novel(s). Two ideas came along at once, and so I'm trying to plan them out. How much time do you take to research for a book? I've read from some authors that too much can be as bad as too little as the book moves from a story set in a historical era to a historical book.
I don't know if you're still there, Fyfe Sandy - apologies. When you made this comment, I was unable to figure out how to reply!
Too much can certainly be far too much on occasion. The main thing is, to write the book with the knowledge you have built up, and don't try to preach about the history by throwing in too much. Remember that you are translating for people long dead (in my case) or for people doing extraordinary, different jobs or something. You can leave in only what is necessary to push the story along. More than that clogs up the pace.
What I have done with many of my books is tear out all research and history. It is there in the story, because the research imbues the book with the atmosphere that couldn't exist without the research. However, all that ripped out information, I shove into a lengthy Author's Note, so it doesn't get lost!
I do hope your ideas are progressing nicely. Again, apologies for not responding sooner, but the original reply kept getting lost due to some glitch, and then I - ahem - forgot!
All very best
Have you ever used Scrivener?
Only daily for the last eight years or so! I wouldn't be able to write my books without it. A brilliant software package for professional writing.
I do not think your video is fruitful.
THat's fine. It won't work for everyone. You have to work out your own methods. However, this way of working was very effective with the students I taught at Exeter University, and it's worked very well for me and 43 novels as well as short stories.
Could you please make a video on why is it that most Brits, even well-read persons like you, have this unbearable artificially arrogant, posh, patronizing, lordly, toplofty tone while speaking? Even among yourselves... what are you trying to proof? The British Empire finished long time ago, did you know?
Hilarious comment. Many thanks for making me laugh!
It reminds me of my mother in Canada many years ago, when she met a group of American ladies. One of them overheard my mother speaking to someone, and asked where she came from.
'England.'
'Is that in the Mid-West?'
'No, it's England - the United Kingdom.'
'But you were born in the US?'
'No.'
'You've lived here for a long time, then?'
'No. Why?'
'Well, how come you speak English so well?'
My mother was too polite to point out that English was the name of the language because it was spoken by - the English.
I'm sure you mean to be very rude with your question. However, I find it very funny, and it did make me laugh out loud.
In other words, my friend, thanks for a truly silly question.
I speak in the way I do because I am English. That means I speak the English language with an English accent. Yes, this is how we speak. In the same way, you speak your language - no doubt sounding pompous and patronising to many of your peers. The reason why we speak our languages is to allow ourselves to be understood. Talking in a false dialect would not help communication. So I speak as I do, and as I have spoken for over 50 years.
I'm honoured you think I sound "lordly" though!
The best laugh of my day - thank you!
I can't believe the absurdity of your comment 'shinny eyes' or should that be 'glazed eyes'?! It is like the adage, 'You might look stupid but if you keep quiet they can't prove it.' BTW, "The British Isles is made up many, many different accents and dialects - more than 37 dialects at the last count. A dialect is a variety of a language that differs from the standard language, in this case. Dialects can vary regionally - depending on where in the country a person is from, as well as socially. englishlive.ef.com/blog/english-in-the-real-world/rough-guide-british-dialects/ British English, as mentioned above, has a large variety of dialects, as well as accents, which is true to one degree or another in other so-called English speaking countries. "As of 2019, there were 55 sovereign states and 27 non-sovereign entities where English was an official language. Many country subdivisions have declared English an official language at the local or regional level. So, you will find a lot of accents for you not to like.
@@writerlywitterings
Genius level response to this nonsense. I'm going to assume this person was just trying to be silly.
(And please don't ever change how you speak!)
@@Yesica1993 Thanks, Yesica,
I am guessing that "Shinny" is just someone who dislikes Brits! Probably hates Americans and Germans too!
Take care!