I started a “dirt notebook” – PINEWIND

13 Jul, 2026

I love taking notes, but one problem that I have is that that I start cherishing every notebook that I start. I can’t seem to keep my notes messy. Eventually, I start structuring the notes, doing cleaner handwriting, adding a cover or some stickers … and before I know it, the notebook is too well-organised for simply scribbling into. This, of course, raises the hurdle for taking more notes and makes me start a new notebook, where the same process repeats again. It’s a vicious circle. It won’t surprise you that I’m somewhat enamored with the concept of shitty / messy notebooks, like this or this.

In an attempt to change this, I’ve started a dedicated “dirt notebook” now. I’ve nicknamed it “The Drainage Channel”, because it’s just a place for whatever is going through my head right in that moment. I’m using an old, empty notebook that I found lying around the other day. The paper quality is pretty bad; every kind of fountain pen ink bleeds through so I’m forced to use cheap ballpoints and it doesn’t open flat, which makes it hard to take clean-looking notes in. I’ve been writing in it for about a week now, and it’s been a lot of fun. I’ve used it to write down random quotes from podcasts that I’ve been listening to, ideas for stories, memos on my life and how I want to change it, new things that I learned or want to learn about more in the future … with no elaborate structure, all just scribbled down next to each other. It’s been interesting going back at the end of the week and re-discovering thoughts or things that I had almost forgotten about again.

My goal for now is filling this first “dirt notebook” and learning to embrace the messiness. Once I’ve gotten used to it, I could see myself switching to better paper and fountain pen ink again.

#tools

#writing