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stellamaris
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| Posted: Jan 23 2012 at 3:50pm | IP Logged
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As I was "stumbling" around the World Wide Web, I came across a blog post describing the use of a commonplace book. It sounds so lovely! A beautiful place to keep all of those underlined/highlighted/scrawled on scraps of paper quotes from the books one reads.
I found this beautiful journal and, gulp!, ordered it. I am hoping to keep a record of inspiring quotes and thoughts in this one journal. I'm not sure if I should include my responses to the quotes or not. Still thinking about that.
Does anyone here keep a commonplace book? What do you write in it? Have you had trouble being consistent, or is it not important to be consistent? Is it better to write when inspired to do so? Has it been a positive influence in your life?
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Caroline
Wife to  dh 30+ yrs,ds's 83,85,89,dd's 91,95,ds's 01,01,02,grammy to 4
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Jan 23 2012 at 5:17pm | IP Logged
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My daughter and I both write in a Commonplace book. I've kept one for a couple of years now.
I choose quotes or passages I find inspiring, or that I want to remember. It's random and not organized at all!  And I quite like it that way! It's not overthought at all. It's just a nice book that is a place for inspiring thoughts to land.
My only goal is to try to write very neatly in my commonplace book, and after each quote I include the date I added the quote, the source and author. I like reading back through my book, and I'm actually very familiar with the quotes in it, in spite of the fact that it is essentially just a journal of collected quotes from random sources I'm reading at the time.
I do distinguish between more practical notes I may have taken or gathered from a source, and something inspiring. My commonplace book tends to hold philosophical ideas - ideas that are inspiring. I keep practical notes and ideas on my laptop in various files or on things like Evernote.
Stellamaris wrote:
| Have you had trouble being consistent, or is it not important to be consistent? |
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I suppose it would depend on your definition of consistency. I don't think about it, really. I just add to it when I find something I like. I'm looking at mine now and I see a month, sometimes two between additions. And sometimes I can tell I was reading a book I really enjoyed, something very worthy (like St. Peter Julian Eymard's How To Get More Out of Holy Communion), I have almost daily additions.
I do keep my Commonplace book near my reading chair, with a good writing pen attached to my book. This means I can add to my book with ease while I'm reading because the book is usually near me. I try to remember to grab my Commonplace book if I'm not reading in my normal spot, but I don't always remember. Getting up to go get my book is annoying, and does affect me adding something to it. So, if you have a place you normally sit to read, try to keep a little book basket or carve out a little niche there for your Commonplace book.
Stellamaris wrote:
| Is it better to write when inspired to do so? |
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Yes. It is for me anyway. I add something at exactly the moment I read it. One time I didn't, and kept meaning to return to my book and add the quote, and then I regretted not adding it because I couldn't remember where I saw the quote, or the exact wording. And I was really frustrated because it was a GREAT and very humorous Chesterton quote. Of course, if I'm not careful and varied in my reading, my entire book would be an homage to Chesterton!
Stellamaris wrote:
| Has it been a positive influence in your life? |
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Yes! I really enjoy keeping mine, and my daughter's book is also a delight she enjoys adding to! It becomes a little snapshot of personal ideas that are treasured, and I find I can remember them more easily after writing them.
That's a very nice journal, Caroline! I became very particular about the type of journal I used after starting my Commonplace book! And I do really like a pretty cover!!
Happy writing! 
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
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stellamaris
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| Posted: Jan 23 2012 at 5:32pm | IP Logged
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Thanks for your thoughts, Jen! As always, they are very helpful. I'm sort of hoping not only to enjoy such a book myself, but also to be an example to the younger children in this; maybe they will consider picking up the idea for themselves? I know whenever I crack out my nature journal, it seems to inspire them to do the same.
Mackfam wrote:
| Yes. It is for me anyway. I add something at exactly the moment I read it. One time I didn't, and kept meaning to return to my book and add the quote, and then I regretted not adding it because I couldn't remember where I saw the quote, or the exact wording. And I was really frustrated because it was a GREAT and very humorous Chesterton quote. Of course, if I'm not careful and varied in my reading, my entire book would be an homage to Chesterton! |
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Exactly my experience! Love Chesterton, always forget where I saw great quotes. So, that is part of what I want to address with this book, too (that is, the part about forgetting good quotes  ) Good to know it will help!
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In Christ,
Caroline
Wife to dh 30+ yrs,ds's 83,85,89,dd's 91,95,ds's 01,01,02,grammy to 4
Flowing Streams
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Jan 23 2012 at 6:52pm | IP Logged
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I really like this idea because it doesn't require you to write down your thoughts but rather write down something that has inspired you to think.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: Jan 23 2012 at 8:50pm | IP Logged
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I think I posted this somewhere else, but I liked this post on the commonplace book.
Quote:
And nevermore will you do that forgetful, embarrassing, Bertie Wooster thing: “That chappie says what glory does, Jeeves, like water rippling don’t you know.”
“’Which never ceaseth to enlarge itself, Till by broad spreading it disperses to naught’? It was the Swan of Avon, I believe, Sir.”
“Spot on, Jeeves, spot on as usual.” |
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Lindsay
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[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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JuliaT
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| Posted: Jan 24 2012 at 6:39am | IP Logged
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I keep a commonplace book. Whenever I come across something that strikes me deep, then I put it in my book. I have just started this this year. The key is to put it in the book as soon as you come upon the quote and I need to work on this.  I have missed some really good quotes and now cannot find them.
I also started keeping a commonplace book for each of my children and put poems, book quotes, scripture verses, etc. that mean something to me and give it to them when they are older as a keepsake. I read on an elist where a woman had been given her mother's commonplace book after the mother had died. The woman has treasured that book as it was the deepest part of her mom.
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Julia
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cathhomeschool
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| Posted: Jan 24 2012 at 9:22am | IP Logged
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I started a commonplace book this year too. Previously I had all of my notes spread throughout countless papers. Over Christmas break I gathered everything and started writing it all out in a journal I was given.
Like Jen, my notes haven't been systematic or consistent. I kept paper and pen (and now journal and pen) with me when I read. If something strikes me, I copy it down. Sometimes I make a note of the author or book title (or verse if it's scripture). Sometimes I don't. Because I love music and find that I sing my way through life, I also write down any lyrics that deeply speak to me. "Aha!" quotes from friends go in there too... Basically my commonplace book is a written record of the words that impact my life and that I want to remind myself of later. Reviewing my old notes as I collected them to jot them down was so eye opening and inspiring. I am glad that I have it all in one place now!
Both blogs linked above mention leaving our commonplace books for coming generations. I don't think I'd like to leave mine. They are things that impact me because of my particular life journey. I'm not particularly sentimental so I don't care if no one else reads them and don't know that I'd sit down and read my parents' or grandparents' books if they had written. I guess that makes me pretty self-absorbed. ...Or maybe it just shows that I'm overwhelmed with what's already on my plate!  
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Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
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Topic: Commonplace book
