Inside my logbook: Extra bits and bobs
The fourth in a short series. All the little ways I make my logbook feel like home.
For the last couple of weeks, I've been sharing how I use my logbook to keep myself organised. Today, I want to talk about the extras I use to add a little life and colour to my journal.
In Syllabus: Notes From An Accidental Professor, cartoonist and writer Lynda Barry talks about making a notebook a place rather than a thing. Somewhere to return to. Somewhere that feels like home.
That's what a lot of these little habits are about. My version of bullet journalling isn't all about beautiful, aesthetic designs, but it's not a sterile to-do list either. One of the reasons I went back to organising on paper is that I have a tendency toward perfectionism, which often holds me back. In using a paper notebook, I give myself permission to be a bit messy. To cross things out. To slather on Tipp-Ex. To doodle in the margins.
I also had to force myself not to worry if my notebook got a bit dog-eared and creased, something that would have given me the heebie-jeebies a few years back. Over the last 12 months, I have begun to appreciate how things look when they get a little worn around the edges. It means that they're being used, after all.
It means that they're a place.
HIGHLIGHTING
Another reason I've re-embraced pen-and-paper is that it takes me back to my college days, to exercise books and folders crammed with notes, essays and project work.
And if you peeked into those ring-binders back then, you would've seen one thing above all else: lots and lots of highlighted text.
I've always been a serial highlighter, and my logbook is no different. Certain entries are marked up so they jump out when I'm flicking back through the pages.
And yes, they're colour-coded. I am Monica Geller.
It's a simple system.
Project names are written in capitals and highlighted in orange.
Films I've watched, books I've finished or plays I've seen are highlighted in green.
Weirdly, TV shows I've watched are underlined in green. I don't know why. It just happened this way!
If I jot down an idea, I highlight it in blue so it doesn't get lost on a crowded page.
And finally, there are the wins. If something happens that deserves celebrating, whether it's a milestone at work or an achievement for a member of the family, I jot down WIN and break out the yellow.
Then at the end of the week, I flick through the pages and copy all the wins into the relevant space on the Weekly Spread to remind myself of everything that's gone right!
WEATHER
Brits love talking about the weather. If we had a written constitution, it would be right up there with 'form an orderly queue' and 'obsess over who'll be the next James Bond'.
I've got into the habit of jotting down an icon by the date to record what the weather was like at the end of the day, recording the weather with the kind of symbol you'd see on a forecast.
The only trouble this summer is that I've had to draw a LOT of suns, each more furious than the last.
As you can see, this isn't exactly high art. Just a quick and easy way of logging a little bit of information about the day.
DOODLES
And there are more doodles, depending on what I've been up to. When I started reading Making Comics by the aforementioned Lynda Barry at the end of last month, I was inspired to doodle myself in the Ivan Brunetti style, complete with an enormous head, tiny body and noodle arms.
A few pages later, I realised I'd left a tiny bit of blank space, so I filled it with a dog-snake because... well, why not?
Did either of these doodles make me more productive? Nope, but they made me smile and my logbook much more fun to flick back through.
STICKERS AND EPHEMERA
The same goes for the stickers and other random stuff I paste onto the pages. They're tiny souvenirs. Tangible reminders of where I've been and what I've done.
And if I don't have something physical, but still want a little memory boost, I print out a cheap and cheerful sticker, usually colouring it in with highlighters to give it a fanzine vibe.
None of this is pretty enough to be showcased on Instagram. None of it is particularly arty. That's not the point. It's meant to be lived in and scrappy. My logbook isn't an artefact destined for a museum. It's something that's stuffed into my bag or hauled around the house. It's meant to be used, and all these little touches just make it feel more... me.
NEXT WEEK
That's pretty much it on the system. I hope you've found this series of posts helpful. I'd love to know how you organise your days. I'm such a nerd for this stuff.
A few lovely souls have asked what pens, notebooks and other gubbins I use for all this, so I'll take you through the full kit list next week.
Until then, look after yourself and each other.
PS: As always, if you think someone else would find all this useful, please forward the email or send them the link. They can subscribe below.
WHAT I'M WORKING ON
Thanks to pesky NDAs, I can’t reveal many details about what I’m writing at the moment, so I’ve come up with a sneaky list of project names. Keep an eye on future editions. I'll update everything as the work progresses!
Project: Avarice
- A novelisation for a fantasy franchise, currently in copy edits.
Project: Passer
- A graphic novel of a top romantasy novel. The outline has been given the greenlight, so I’m currently scripting.
Project: Soldier
- A newly commissioned fantasy novel, currently in outlining mode.
Konflikt ‘47
- Working with Warlord Game on the lore and creative direction for the weird World War II tabletop game.
Masters of the Universe: Genesis
- A three-issue arc chronicling the early career of Man-At-Arms.
COMING SOON
Star Wars: Scoundrels and Smugglers - Race for Jabba’s Bounty
An all-age graphic novel starring Han Solo, Chewbacca, Jaxxon and a host of scum and villainy. On sale 6th October.
Godfather of Hell
My new creator-owned graphic novel for mature readers. Think Goodfellas meets The Exorcist. On sale 27th October.