Hello, my name is Matt. I have a problem. I’ve been addicted to pocket notebooks for at least ten years. If I had a marriage it would have been ruined. If I had children they long ago would have been abandoned to the siren song of conveniently sized dead trees.

Jack London has a quote, “lead is cheaper than grey matter” and I wholeheartedly agree. it’s much easier to write things down than to try and remember everything. I keep a notebook on me at all times. I need them. I feel funny when I don’t have one. If I forget it I’m constantly scribbling notes on random pieces of paper.

For the longest time, my go to notebook was the Moleskine soft cover pocket sized notebook. It’s just the right size to fit in your pocket, and the soft cover flexes with you so it’s more comfortable. It also fostered my predilection for a minor bit of pretension. I have some of the hardcover versions too, but I like to use them more for sketchbooks. They will work though if you’re desperate, which I often am. Well, to be honest, I’ve shoved scraps of papers and sticky notes in my pocket, so literally anything that will work.

I have a random assortment of other books I’ve tried over the years. I hoard them. I used to get ones as gifts a lot, and now I have drawers full of them. However, ask me to get rid of them andI’ll cut you.

For a while, my disease progressed and I was carrying two books with me, one for writing and a sketchbook. My pockets threatened to burst.

In fact, most people bemoan our brutal Michigan winters but I love it. I can sock away notebooks in my coat like I’m Kvothe the Bloodless hiding trinkets in my cloak.

I recently had to give in and abandon some of my pretentious ways. I was without my beloved pocket tome, and in the middle of nowhere. I picked up a generic black pocket sketch book from Walmart. It’s the best notebook I’ve ever used. Lesson learned.

They are exceedingly useful. I write down ideas on any number of subjects: blog posts, stories, things I need to do. This very article began as a line in one of these notebooks and it germinated from there.

I also use them for:

Writing down interesting bits of conversation (which is a great way to add variety to dialogue. Possible character names. Writing down interesting words. Capturing that random fleeting thought you know is great but you’ll forget in ten seconds. Writing down interesting names for cities, towns, and streets.

It might be the most important tool I have.

One of my many pocket notebooks.

I think any serious writer should keep one. I have been told by much more experienced writers tell me that they keep to this exact practice.

I think it’s essential.