Joe considers making a system for quickly and quietly recording thoughts, writings or drawings late at night without disturbing others; a Nightstand Jotting System.
I have used spiral bound artists sketchbooks. Pen fits into the spirals. Learned to get the ones with “hard bound quality” covers: lightweight front cover and the first few pages don’t wear out at the spiral and fall off/out. I would slip out of bed, pad down the hall to the bathroom, turn on the light, close the door, sit on the toilet to write.
Reminds me of the Seinfeld episode when Jerry awoke in the middle of the night with a killer joke idea, wrote it down, but next morning couldn't read his own scribbling. When I used to travel a lot for work, rather than try to write things down in the middle of the night, I used a small voice recorder. Worked well for me. These days you can use your phone for that.
..and I mean it. Bic pens, typewriters, notebooks, fountain pens, I have hundreds of these toys (always had) and yet I crave more. Aaargh these magnificent rhodia notebooks... I have to find the strenght to stop drooling on your videos. GREAT
I have a U-shaped neck-light made by a company called “Glocusent” that I use for book reading and handwriting at night. It’s got 3 brightness settings and 2 color temperature modes and its probably the handiest thing I’ve bought myself this year. It looks silly but I end up wearing the goofy thing around the house all the time because its so useful. Also, I love the reporters notebook you sent me awhile back. Have been getting good use out of it thus far.
I mostly use steno pads with pencil or slim ballpoint in the spiral binding. Because the pen is always in the spiral when not in use I can leave it extended and don't have to click the pen to start writing. Just recently discovered grid ruled steno pads. Still looking for dot-grid as that gives just enough guidance to write straight lines without getting in the way if I want to draw. For illumination I just put the dimmest bulb available in my bedside lamp. When I was still using Incandescents I think that was 15 watts. When traveling I take a headlamp.
I once fell asleep with a fountain pen and a small notebook, in my hands. The result was a ruined ink-stained duvet cover. Now I only keep a pencil and small pad , on my bedside table. I live alone; so all that lighting paraphernalia is unnecessary. Fountain pens don't work well if you are lying in bed., because ink doesn't flow well in an upside-down pen. A sharpened pencil is so much better; after all you are not going to write out The Laws of the Medes and the Persians, at 0300 hours, next to your wife.
Wow. I'm amazed by the amount of research and clever design you could focus on the apparently mundane problem of writing notes on a notebook. Now, my own path towards the dark side would be completed if only I could concoct a way to strap a typewriter on it
I wonder if you could remove the clip from the book light and (semi-)permanently attach the light to the backing board. The clip seems bulky and cumbersome. What would be really neat is if there was some way to backlight the page. There is that type of book light that casts light from LED's through a flat piece of plexiglass, meant to be laid on top of the page. I suspect it would be just enough light to backlight a page. Not sure if or how a notepad could be incorporated into the design. Something to think about.
Hi Joe! In respect to your quest for a quiet, nice writing pen, have you taken a look at Caran D’Ache pens? I have one, and it is completely silent when clicking it, and the ink just glides across the page. I hope this helps!
I have used spiral bound artists sketchbooks. Pen fits into the spirals. Learned to get the ones with “hard bound quality” covers: lightweight front cover and the first few pages don’t wear out at the spiral and fall off/out. I would slip out of bed, pad down the hall to the bathroom, turn on the light, close the door, sit on the toilet to write.
Reminds me of the Seinfeld episode when Jerry awoke in the middle of the night with a killer joke idea, wrote it down, but next morning couldn't read his own scribbling.
When I used to travel a lot for work, rather than try to write things down in the middle of the night, I used a small voice recorder. Worked well for me. These days you can use your phone for that.
..and I mean it. Bic pens, typewriters, notebooks, fountain pens, I have hundreds of these toys (always had) and yet I crave more. Aaargh these magnificent rhodia notebooks... I have to find the strenght to stop drooling on your videos. GREAT
I have a U-shaped neck-light made by a company called “Glocusent” that I use for book reading and handwriting at night. It’s got 3 brightness settings and 2 color temperature modes and its probably the handiest thing I’ve bought myself this year. It looks silly but I end up wearing the goofy thing around the house all the time because its so useful. Also, I love the reporters notebook you sent me awhile back. Have been getting good use out of it thus far.
I mostly use steno pads with pencil or slim ballpoint in the spiral binding. Because the pen is always in the spiral when not in use I can leave it extended and don't have to click the pen to start writing. Just recently discovered grid ruled steno pads. Still looking for dot-grid as that gives just enough guidance to write straight lines without getting in the way if I want to draw. For illumination I just put the dimmest bulb available in my bedside lamp. When I was still using Incandescents I think that was 15 watts. When traveling I take a headlamp.
Joe this is a great idea.
I once fell asleep with a fountain pen and a small notebook, in my hands. The result was a ruined ink-stained duvet cover. Now I only keep a pencil and small pad , on my bedside table. I live alone; so all that lighting paraphernalia is unnecessary. Fountain pens don't work well if you are lying in bed., because ink doesn't flow well in an upside-down pen.
A sharpened pencil is so much better; after all you are not going to write out The Laws of the Medes and the Persians, at 0300 hours, next to your wife.
Wow. I'm amazed by the amount of research and clever design you could focus on the apparently mundane problem of writing notes on a notebook. Now, my own path towards the dark side would be completed if only I could concoct a way to strap a typewriter on it
Yes, I overthought this. Now to think about strapping a typewriter to it! Thanks for watching.
This happens to me every night. Time to get that notebook and pen(cil).
Field notes one is nice.
Love your office junkie videos, when are you going to do one on travelers notebooks?
I wonder if you could remove the clip from the book light and (semi-)permanently attach the light to the backing board. The clip seems bulky and cumbersome. What would be really neat is if there was some way to backlight the page. There is that type of book light that casts light from LED's through a flat piece of plexiglass, meant to be laid on top of the page. I suspect it would be just enough light to backlight a page. Not sure if or how a notepad could be incorporated into the design. Something to think about.
Hi Joe! In respect to your quest for a quiet, nice writing pen, have you taken a look at Caran D’Ache pens? I have one, and it is completely silent when clicking it, and the ink just glides across the page. I hope this helps!
Why not get some pen loops for your writing instrument?
how about a small clipboard and hipster pda? since i just watched your video on hipster pda video ideas.