I resonate with what Lynda Barry says: “For me the trick is to see the page as a place rather than a thing. I’m just wandering in this place as a stranger.”
Thank you for this post! I once watched a painter for about an hour, and it changed my understanding of creativity. Over and over, the painter would pause, waiting, in front of her half finished canvas, then suddenly gather some color on her brush and swoop in. Sometimes she would lay in a new element; most times, it was a single stroke. Then another pause, waiting. I saw how writing, for me, was exactly like that, each successive thought arriving ONLY after the last one had been received and laid down in words. The painter could only know where to put the next dab of paint after seeing the last one, and my words are simply translations of a dialog between me-the-writer and some other place of knowing.
So beautifully said! I love the metaphor of writing as following a path at night with a little light that only lets us see the next step. (I can't recall who said it at the moment). I also love how you phrase "some other place of knowing"--it really feels that way!
I am serial keeper of commonplace books, lexicons, and personal journals and I have experimented with many styles and strategies over the years. Two habits of practice upped my game. First, I reread what I have written. Second, I now include an index. For the longest time I stumbled on this because I invariably did not leave enough pages in the front of my notebook. I now place the index in the back of my book and this has worked like a charm for me.
I find that different purposes lead to different notetaking strategies. At this stage in my life, I'd say it's more like treasure-hunting-- I'm strolling along through something and suddenly stumble over a piece of beautiful or true writing or an astounding idea which needs to be saved. But when I was writing papers for school or preparing presentations for the classes I taught, it was more like laying down bricks to create a finished structure-- a steady process where each layer needs to be firm and even in order to support the next.
Wonderful post! I’ve found digesting information difficult because I’ve recently realized that really learning something often requires synthesizing information - this is deep work that takes longer than expected. That said, I think becoming more discriminatory about what is and isn’t important and becoming more patient with myself as I learn has helped. Can’t wait to read more of your stuff!
AG, as I get older, I’m pleasantly excited by the way ideas, feelings and insights—collected over a lifetime—seem to find each other. It’s deep and patient work, as you say, and for me, full of sparks and surprises.
Hi Jillian. Thanks, as always, for your beautiful writing & for bringing Seneca to us today! I wonder if, for accessibily purposes, you'd ever consider switching on the voiceover function so people can listen to you posts? Can be helpful for the visually impaired, those of us who are neurodiverse & care givers that may not have time to sit down & read but can certainly listen. Just a thought! Your writing is so wonderful I want everyone to access it! xx
That's a wonderful idea, Karla. Thank you! For a time I was recording my posts, but I find my voice so cringey. I didn't realize I could switch on the voiceover function. I'll search for it and turn it on soon.
I've only so far recorded one of my posts - it takes a long time & is actually quite labour intensive, I found! So I totally get your reasons for not continuing to do that. The voiceover function is an AI bot that can sound a little clunky at times but isn't too bad when the reader/listener gets used to it. I also suspect it will improve over time. Of course, few of us writers are big fans of the dreaded AI but it's not going anywhere, I guess, so I figure we may as well use it for good😅. xx
I could not live (or write) without reading. But what a great twist to digest it as well as reading it. I have found using Readwise to help with that. The romantic in me wants a physical commonplace book, but the pragmatic part of me knows I actually *use* the digital version. 🤷🏻♀️
I'm too much of a romantic, I think, so my notes are spread out across physical and digital platforms. Definitely not efficient, but I kind of love it.
I definitely love reading about it! And I write my novels longhand for the first draft, so my inner romantic doesn't rebel at the digital system for tracking highlights as much.
Love this! Like Seneca, I turn to reading when I get tired of writing (and/or the computer screen!). I love the bee metaphor 🐝 but for some reason I’ve always been fascinated by spiders, which provides endless symbolism (in many cosmologies, they’re considered “weavers of the universe”) 🕸️
The patron saint of Noted. Lovely. And this: "Good input=good output: to be a great writer, we must be great readers. I’ve found that the quality of the texts I read influences the quality of the writing I produce." Thank you for your ongoing and lovely work on this, one of my favorite sites.
I think maybe for purposes of digestion fewer notes is better than more notes? I try to check my gut. If the note taking feels like drudgery it’s probably also needless and actually distracting from what’s valuable. At least, that’s my theory!
You're certainly not alone in your theory! Like with most things, it's finding the balance that seems to really make the difference! Of course, you already know this, Anne :)
Really lovely post; lots to think about; thank you!
Two quotes to share --
re: The Stomach --
The suitably named Francis Bacon (The Essays) weighs in: "Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is, some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read, but not curiously; and some few are to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention."
re: following a path at night --
"Writing is like driving at night in the fog. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way." (EL Doctorow in his Paris Review interview, Winter 1986)
I resonate with what Lynda Barry says: “For me the trick is to see the page as a place rather than a thing. I’m just wandering in this place as a stranger.”
I love that!
Like so many insightful things, I read this quote from Austin Kleon!
Of course!
Thank you for this post! I once watched a painter for about an hour, and it changed my understanding of creativity. Over and over, the painter would pause, waiting, in front of her half finished canvas, then suddenly gather some color on her brush and swoop in. Sometimes she would lay in a new element; most times, it was a single stroke. Then another pause, waiting. I saw how writing, for me, was exactly like that, each successive thought arriving ONLY after the last one had been received and laid down in words. The painter could only know where to put the next dab of paint after seeing the last one, and my words are simply translations of a dialog between me-the-writer and some other place of knowing.
So beautifully said! I love the metaphor of writing as following a path at night with a little light that only lets us see the next step. (I can't recall who said it at the moment). I also love how you phrase "some other place of knowing"--it really feels that way!
I am serial keeper of commonplace books, lexicons, and personal journals and I have experimented with many styles and strategies over the years. Two habits of practice upped my game. First, I reread what I have written. Second, I now include an index. For the longest time I stumbled on this because I invariably did not leave enough pages in the front of my notebook. I now place the index in the back of my book and this has worked like a charm for me.
Ah, I know the serial-game well! I'm hopeless with indexes even though I (of all people) know how important they are!
I find that different purposes lead to different notetaking strategies. At this stage in my life, I'd say it's more like treasure-hunting-- I'm strolling along through something and suddenly stumble over a piece of beautiful or true writing or an astounding idea which needs to be saved. But when I was writing papers for school or preparing presentations for the classes I taught, it was more like laying down bricks to create a finished structure-- a steady process where each layer needs to be firm and even in order to support the next.
Oh, yes, I love how our metaphors shift depending on our needs. The house metaphor is absolutely perfect for student writing.
Wonderful post! I’ve found digesting information difficult because I’ve recently realized that really learning something often requires synthesizing information - this is deep work that takes longer than expected. That said, I think becoming more discriminatory about what is and isn’t important and becoming more patient with myself as I learn has helped. Can’t wait to read more of your stuff!
So true! Deep thinking (and learning) is really, really hard work.
AG, as I get older, I’m pleasantly excited by the way ideas, feelings and insights—collected over a lifetime—seem to find each other. It’s deep and patient work, as you say, and for me, full of sparks and surprises.
Lovely post. Been reading recently about Zettle system of forming knowledge. This resonates well with that!
Just now inching my way into the Zettlekasten system. Are you using Obsidian?
Yes, I wrote about ZK a few weeks ago--it's a marvelous, daunting system.
Hi Jillian. Thanks, as always, for your beautiful writing & for bringing Seneca to us today! I wonder if, for accessibily purposes, you'd ever consider switching on the voiceover function so people can listen to you posts? Can be helpful for the visually impaired, those of us who are neurodiverse & care givers that may not have time to sit down & read but can certainly listen. Just a thought! Your writing is so wonderful I want everyone to access it! xx
That's a wonderful idea, Karla. Thank you! For a time I was recording my posts, but I find my voice so cringey. I didn't realize I could switch on the voiceover function. I'll search for it and turn it on soon.
I've only so far recorded one of my posts - it takes a long time & is actually quite labour intensive, I found! So I totally get your reasons for not continuing to do that. The voiceover function is an AI bot that can sound a little clunky at times but isn't too bad when the reader/listener gets used to it. I also suspect it will improve over time. Of course, few of us writers are big fans of the dreaded AI but it's not going anywhere, I guess, so I figure we may as well use it for good😅. xx
I could not live (or write) without reading. But what a great twist to digest it as well as reading it. I have found using Readwise to help with that. The romantic in me wants a physical commonplace book, but the pragmatic part of me knows I actually *use* the digital version. 🤷🏻♀️
I'm too much of a romantic, I think, so my notes are spread out across physical and digital platforms. Definitely not efficient, but I kind of love it.
I definitely love reading about it! And I write my novels longhand for the first draft, so my inner romantic doesn't rebel at the digital system for tracking highlights as much.
Love this! Like Seneca, I turn to reading when I get tired of writing (and/or the computer screen!). I love the bee metaphor 🐝 but for some reason I’ve always been fascinated by spiders, which provides endless symbolism (in many cosmologies, they’re considered “weavers of the universe”) 🕸️
Aesop would say that we are either bees or spiders. Clearly, I'm a bee. But I love that you're a spider.
Fascinating as always-and made me read a bit more on Seneca's life (and death)
Thank you!
Thanks, Chen!
Love this post. It ties together everything I wrote about quotes in my last post and then some. Guess we are both quote aficionados.
Yes! Toward the top of my prized possessions is my collection of quotes over the last four decades.
How wonderful!
Indeed!🐝
The patron saint of Noted. Lovely. And this: "Good input=good output: to be a great writer, we must be great readers. I’ve found that the quality of the texts I read influences the quality of the writing I produce." Thank you for your ongoing and lovely work on this, one of my favorite sites.
That's so wonderful to hear, Jennifer! Thank you!
This is the best article I’ve read all day. Thank you, seriously, thank you!
That means so much to me, Gale! Thank you!
I think maybe for purposes of digestion fewer notes is better than more notes? I try to check my gut. If the note taking feels like drudgery it’s probably also needless and actually distracting from what’s valuable. At least, that’s my theory!
You're certainly not alone in your theory! Like with most things, it's finding the balance that seems to really make the difference! Of course, you already know this, Anne :)
Profound quotes, Jillian. Thanks so much for sharing these.
I also loved this line from your intro: "the unique alchemy that occurs when we inscribe ideas onto the pages of our notebooks." Wonderfully put.
Seneca was very wise. "...whatever we have absorbed should not be allowed to remain unchanged, or it will be no part of us."
Thank you, Nathan!! I love how you selected quotes from the post like a honey-bee!
Really lovely post; lots to think about; thank you!
Two quotes to share --
re: The Stomach --
The suitably named Francis Bacon (The Essays) weighs in: "Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is, some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read, but not curiously; and some few are to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention."
re: following a path at night --
"Writing is like driving at night in the fog. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way." (EL Doctorow in his Paris Review interview, Winter 1986)
That quote of Bacon's is one of my all-time favorites! And thank you for shedding light on Doctorow's perfect quote!