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Take better notes, by hand

brianschrader.com

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Re: Take better notes, by hand

#101
post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I recently started journaling by hand and was somewhat frustrated with the excruciatingly slow speed versus typing. Eventually, I realized that the slowness was, as you said, a feature. It forces you to think . You have no choice but to take time with your words. Sometimes brevity is a gift (one I usually don't have). I migrated to fountain pens and haven't looked back. Partially, it's because I enjoy the experience…

Same principle applies to, e.g., Leica cameras. Yes, they're pricey (absurdly so), but the lack of features, the slow speed, and the lack of configuration contributes to me improving my photography. It doesn't make me a better photographer, but it gives me the time and space to focus on being one, rather than just firehosing my camera at whatever is in front of me. It makes my photography intentional rather than reac…

I think you just explained the opposite—that, yes, it does make you a better photographer. You've just described everything that it has done, which is continually improving your skill set and your thought process(es) that go into your creative work. Now that I understand the process, I love reading stories from others who have learned the same lesson: Deliberate slowness gives you time to think, time to plan, and time to breathe.

That is an experience you can't get any other way. That experience, also, pays forward in other areas of life.

I'm noticing the same thing with journaling. I still enjoy writing on my computers, of course, because I'm a much faster typist. However, I've noticed the deliberately slow pace of writing by hand has become transformative (slowly) over time. I'd imagine you're noticing the same thing. It's about self-improvement more than the hobby itself.

For me, it came at an opportune time: I started teaching an adult Bible study last year, and between journaling with fountain pens and teaching, it's forced me to get rid of some annoying habits that I might have held on to otherwise.

Re: Take better notes, by hand

#102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks, though I think part of longhard feeling labourious these days is RSI sadly. I did try to correct my scrawl for effort and legibility a while ago, but it just wouldn't stick!

I had pretty terrible RSI (and even more terrible handwriting) and could write much without cramping up or pain. What helped for me was teaching myself proper cursive and fountain pens. Rather than clutching a ballpoint and marking with jerky finger/wrist movements, I now use my arm for larger movements and let the pen glide. It’s helped tremendously. It’s slow going at first but keep at it. Plus fountain pens are pr…

Ballpoint pens are the worst, especially the ubiquitous cheap ones. Gel pens are better if you're not quite ready to make the leap to fountain pens.

Re: Take better notes, by hand

#103
Writing is very good for understanding, but I needed help to improve the utility of the notes instead of just forgetting them forever, especially any notes I reuse or research a lot.

So I also put those into a text manager and custom keyboard so I can one tap paste them whenever I need. I use the app Snippeta for this.

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