Take better notes, by hand • Hacker News Board

Re: Take better notes, by hand

#21

Post by cortesoft » Mon, Mar 30, 2026, 5:49 PM UTC

I am 43, and for my entire life I have hated writing by hand. I am sure a lot of it has to do with how I hold my pen/pencil but I have never been able to change my grip. My hand hurts and my writing is barely legible. I just hate it.

I have tried over the years to get into hand writing and note taking. It never works. I am so grateful for typing, it has saved my life for decades. I can type ridiculously fast, and it doesn't wear me out.

I have finally stopped apologizing for this, or thinking something is wrong with me. It just isn't for me

Re: Take better notes, by hand

#22

Post by sonicrocketman » Mon, Mar 30, 2026, 5:49 PM UTC

h45x1 wrote: post #17

I have a dedicated couple of pages in a notebook, where I write down the note-taking conventions I use. When transitioning to a new notebook, I would copy those pages, possibly making a few improvements based on past usage. A most unhurried release cycle, if I can say so myself. Regarding the space management, there are many solutions straight out of the programming world, of course: utilize both sides of the noteboo…

It's basically just designing a dictionary data type. I recall the Python devs talking about a lot of this stuff from the early days.

Everything is related.

Re: Take better notes, by hand

#23

Post by h45x1 » Mon, Mar 30, 2026, 5:51 PM UTC

railgunmerlin wrote: post #11

anyone try e-ink style tablets (like remarkable?) the form factor/ability to backup is attractive to me but the price tag is a bit nuts...

There is also the question of real estate. I can have several paper notes side by side (when taking notes on loose sheets) but with iPads or ReMarkables that'll be rather decadent.

Re: Take better notes, by hand

#24

Post by JLO64 » Mon, Mar 30, 2026, 5:52 PM UTC

sonicrocketman wrote: post #7

ModernMech wrote: post #3

This is all good advice but one thing it doesn't touch on is: which pen and notebook? I like the pilot precision v5 pens because they come in a lot of different colors and the point is very fine. For notebooks, I prefer the Leuchtturm 1917 series. They come with page numbers, a space for TOC, a pocket in the back for stuff, two book marks, and lots of different sizes and colors and page layouts. That's important beca…

I've blogged about this before too! https://brianschrader.com/archive/the-practicals-of-writing-... But I'm in the process of upgrading my pen. I ordered a TWISB ECO.

What ink are you gonna pair with that? I’m not a lefty, but I’ve heard fast drying FP inks are best for writing with a left hand to prevent smudging.

Re: Take better notes, by hand

#25

Post by sonicrocketman » Mon, Mar 30, 2026, 5:56 PM UTC

JLO64 wrote: post #24

sonicrocketman wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've blogged about this before too! https://brianschrader.com/archive/the-practicals-of-writing-... But I'm in the process of upgrading my pen. I ordered a TWISB ECO.

What ink are you gonna pair with that? I’m not a lefty, but I’ve heard fast drying FP inks are best for writing with a left hand to prevent smudging.

I'll def be looking around. I have some bottled ink already, but this is a huge concern. Hopefully the fine tip has decent portion control. That helps a lot.

Re: Take better notes, by hand

#26

Post by JLO64 » Mon, Mar 30, 2026, 5:57 PM UTC

I hated writing by hand, but I got into fountain pens and that really helped change my note taking habits. I mostly write letters, but recently I’ve taken up writing notes during meetings. I loathe doing so, but my FP addiction really helps.

Re: Take better notes, by hand

#27

Post by sonicrocketman » Mon, Mar 30, 2026, 5:57 PM UTC

JLO64 wrote: post #26

I hated writing by hand, but I got into fountain pens and that really helped change my note taking habits. I mostly write letters, but recently I’ve taken up writing notes during meetings. I loathe doing so, but my FP addiction really helps.

Writing letters is so much fun. I have a blog post in the works about that too. Glad to hear you enjoy it.

Re: Take better notes, by hand

#28

Post by squidbeak » Mon, Mar 30, 2026, 6:01 PM UTC

ModernMech wrote: post #3

This is all good advice but one thing it doesn't touch on is: which pen and notebook? I like the pilot precision v5 pens because they come in a lot of different colors and the point is very fine. For notebooks, I prefer the Leuchtturm 1917 series. They come with page numbers, a space for TOC, a pocket in the back for stuff, two book marks, and lots of different sizes and colors and page layouts. That's important beca…

> This is all good advice but one thing it doesn't touch on is: which pen and notebook?

In what way could it possibly be relevant? Do you actually believe that the author could suggest a universally suitable pen and paper type? What if he'd had his best results with toilet paper, a sugar thermometer and a soot/diarrhea/lemon juice blend for the ink? Would his advice be any more complete?

The moment you lose sight of the habit and instead pay homage to paper and pens, its a fetish instead of a practical discipline.

Re: Take better notes, by hand

#29

Post by JLO64 » Mon, Mar 30, 2026, 6:01 PM UTC

sonicrocketman wrote: post #25

JLO64 wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What ink are you gonna pair with that? I’m not a lefty, but I’ve heard fast drying FP inks are best for writing with a left hand to prevent smudging.

I'll def be looking around. I have some bottled ink already, but this is a huge concern. Hopefully the fine tip has decent portion control. That helps a lot.

I’ve used an ECO and while it’s not my favorite pen, I have nothing bad to say about the nib (I believe mine was a fine as well). The way FP’s write can vary dramatically between different inks though. I’d recommend first trying out the ink you have and seeing what about it you don’t like before researching other inks.

Just asking out of precaution, but are you sure this bottled ink of yours can be used with fountain pens? Even if it is, it’s best to be careful with a fine nib (I’ve learned the hard way).

Re: Take better notes, by hand

#30

Post by Bridged7756 » Mon, Mar 30, 2026, 6:02 PM UTC

Paper is just too inconvenient to use for long term storage and revisiting imo. It's better suited as a transitive storage medium, either for short lived stuff like tasks, checklists, or acting as a writing inbox that you later capture into a digital medium.

Even with the capture downside, I don't think that I can do away with paper and pen. There's something invigorating about using paper that no keyboard or screen could replicate. More in touch with your brain and with your own words, that your feelings flow better into the ink. It is something that makes me enjoy writing.

I've considered e-ink devices in the past but I don't see much value from them. They're a fancier way to draft things at best, in my case, and a worse PKMS/Todo list if anything compared to dedicated tools. I'm paying for an extra device that gives me a bunch of things I won't use, anyways.