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Moleskine Story – Part 1 – Why I Carry One

Posted by John Saddington on Jan 10, 2009

moleskineThe Moleskine is a funny thing.

To some, it’s purely a thing to carry. It’s the thing to carry, actually.  It establishes yourself as “one of them”, as “cool” and “hip”.  Obviously you’re a “genius” if you have one type of stuff.

For others, like myself, it’s purely functional. It has one purpose and one purpose only: It feeds my blogs when I’m not connected online.

I’ve been using one for a long time now and it’s been an invaluable resource since I’m not attached to a computer all the time, despite some bogus claims that I am.

If you’re serious about blogging then you’re going to need something to capture your thoughts when you can’t actually blog them out.  Apparently, paper and pen still works really well.

What do you do to capture your thoughts when you’re not online?

Oh, and by the way, I do carry one to look cool too.

:)

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John Saddington

John is the Chief Editor @ The 8BIT Network and Senior Blog Junkie here at ChurchCrunch.He enjoys Triple-Tall Americanos, developing Wordpress Themes, and a few other Random Things.

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52 Responses to “Moleskine Story – Part 1 – Why I Carry One”

  1. When I am away from my computer I use two methods (for now at least). (1) I just throw a quick note on my iPhone in the notes app. That records any initial thoughts without the meat. (2) If I want to add a little more to my thought I use the WordPress web app on my iPhone.

    Both of them seem to work pretty well.

    • iphone takes too much work. isn't that lame?

  2. When I am away from my computer, I don't have anything to write on, so I am considering getting a moleskin for my blog, especially since my ideas and thoughts leave as quickly as they come, because I have nothing to put them down on.

    Only thing about moleskin just like other stuff I "want" is that they are expensive, but you do get the "cool" factor. lol

  3. I started to carry a Moleskine about three years ago – before that had a binder of paper, and would often carry a letter sized bound sketch book (which I still do, as sometimes lined paper really throws me off…)

    So I guess the next question that I have – would be, "lined or blank page"

    • i do lined because i write crooked.

  4. I carry a composition notebook. Large enough to do everything I need and cheap enough that I don't feel like I have to write deep things all the time. Like Moleskines, but my hand cramped up when I tried to write in them.

    • i used to, but, this was more portable.

  5. I kinda carry a Moleskine. I use one, but I don't generally carry it everywhere. Usually if I have a thought for later, I'll email it to myself via the iPhone mail app. I pretty much use email for everything since its accessible 24/7 as long as I have cell reception or an Internet connection.

    • can't count on internet everywhere… doh! not yet at least.

  6. I have carried a moleskine with my bible for years, it is what I jot down thoughts in during sermons, bible studies or small group meetings.
    I carry a Black n' Red ruled notebook as a travel journal, I really am not crazy about travelling with my laptop (what a Luddite!)
    And on occasion I use a Levenger junior sized folio and pad to jot notes. With all that if I am stuck for something to jot a blog post idea on, I truly understand why God created napkins.

    • you're old skool. i must learn the skills.

      • You are doing fine grasshopper.

        • i'm just barely hanging on…!

          • OK . Here is how I make it work for me. It is a pride issue. If I get through life too easily (in this context life=seminary), I will become prideful and that does no one any good. So, God is going to get me through because He brought me here and he is faithful in His promises, but it will be a struggle and a feeling of helplessness all the way through. Otherwise i will not give Him the glory by knowing and telling all it is through Him alone that I made it through at all.

  7. i carry a moleskine, but the sketchbook one without any lines.

    i'm a whiteboard addict (two entire walls in my office are whiteboards), so, this allows me instant "whiteboards" when I need them. whether i'm jotting through a new teaching idea, a system, a list of assumptions, etc…

    • whiteboards are epic.

  8. I am writing a new song…"When I Am Away From My Computer.."It's a love song about a guy who has a notepad nearby even when he's flipping pancakes on Saturday morning.I have notepads all over the place.I'm looking for something to write on in the shower.Sometimes I just go sit on the edge of the shower, and most recently took a picture of my shower to inspire, but I digress? Nah!

  9. Moleskines (or any notebook you find acceptable) are awesome. As much as I love utilizing my iPhone and macbook for getting ideas and notes down, there's something about putting pen to paper that really gets the wheels turning.

    • there is something about writing in a book.

  10. I love Moleskine. I`m on my third one and often go back to read through notes and ideas in my old ones. I bring my Moleskine to staff meeting every week and record things that we are praying for – I`m able to flip back two or three weeks and either remind people about prayer requests or get updates or reports on those situations that we`ve been praying for.

    • do you keep the used onese? or throw them out?

      • I keep them – I write the start date on the inside cover and the end date when I'm done with it so that it's a bit of an index. I have them in my office in a drawer.

        • sweet! i think i'll do that too.

  11. Lot of folks with moleskins. Mine is a simple leather bound journal that has "Trust in the Lord" watermarked on every page. I think I picked it up at Target. It serves several purposes, one for study notes when I'm doing quiet time, for ideas, and for prayer requests as they come up.

  12. I got one for Christmas – was so excited – have yet to write anything. Don't want to mess it up. How do you take that plunge?

    • i had that problem for a while, but realized my ideas were better if i could remember them later. so i took the “plunge” and wrote everything i thought would help in the future

    • just do it.

  13. I use a moleskin knock-off from Staples. It has all the same features. I've been using one for a while. I use it for blog ideas, study journalling, sermon ideas, etc. I keep my Google calendar printed out for the next week or two in the back pocket and use that when people want to schedule something with me.

    Mine is lined, but I ignore the lines almost completely.

    • that's being a good financial steward.
      :)

  14. i use a Moleskine to capture my thoughts when i am away from my computer and when i am on it too. i actually four Moleskines, and they all have different purposes. I have two unlined regular–sized ones (one at home and one at work), one regular–size graph paper (for type design), and one small lined for everyday notes and ideas.

    • wow, multi-moleskine user…

  15. i meant hotness.

  16. Haha. Depends on your perspective. I am too lazy to carry an extra notepad so it evens out.

    • laziness kills blogs.

      :)

  17. love the honesty… and i feel that.

  18. Got my first moleskine for Christmas. Still blank as I have a generic Staples journal that isn't full yet. Probably fill it up in the next few weeks.

    I don't so much journal as I capture thoughts almost randomly. The act of writing by hand (as opposed to typing) seems to give the thought, idea, or story permanence in my brain/memory. I'm sure there is a physiological term for that.

    I agree with Adrian above, the cost is a factor on "real" moleskines. I'll have to see how I like this one before deciding to continue.

    Peace.

  19. I love my Moleskine for things I want to save.

    For CAPTURING quick notes I use a metal <a title="FlipNotes" href="http://www.wellspringgift.com/FlipNotes/tabid/70/...Note

    I process/organize them later. I can easily trash notes that I don't want to save.

    <a title="Flip Note Fan" href="http://www.flipnotefan.com"&gt;FlipNote Fan

  20. let us know how it works out. i've found writing by hand pretty rewarding…

  1. Moleskine Story - Part 2 - Power - ChurchCrunch

    [...] already posted my thoughts about why I carry one. It’s pretty simple. I need a place to put thoughts down when I’m not connected to a [...]

  2. churchcrunch (churchcrunch)

    New blog post: Moleskine Story – Part 1 – Why I Carry One http://tinyurl.com/8ex54h

  3. human3rror (human3rror)

    New blog post: Moleskine Story – Part 1 – Why I Carry One http://tinyurl.com/8ex54h