The Commonplace Book: A Portal Into Making Beautiful & Meaningful Things

alexandria
Aug 9, 2017 · 5 min read

I’ve been keeping a commonplace book for just over a year. I first encountered the term a week ago.

This book has changed my life.

What is a commonplace book?

It’s a depository for quotes, ideas, observations, anecdotes, stories, doodles, conversations, and information that you come across in your daily life. The idea is to collect and maintain these important gems for later use in your work and creative pursuits. They’re best kept physically, with pen and paper.

What kind of things do you write down?

The things I copy down vary. One of the first things I copied down was Jonathan Safran Foer’s short story “The Sixth Borough.” There was a quote in there that stood out to me — so much so, that I knew I needed it with me at all times. I wanted the context, so I painstakingly spent a handful of hours copying the story into the notebook.

“It wants to go,” they said.
“Well, what can you say about that?” the mayor of New York asked.
To which they replied, “There’s nothing to say about that.”

When a friend sends me a text with wording that I particularly like, I’ll copy it down:

Broke and busy, the alliteration of my life

Words suck, they’re the worst form of communication except for many of the others

Sometimes, words just contain so much humanity that I need them in my back pocket at all times:

One day a man from the Northern hemisphere met and fell in love with a woman from the southern hemisphere they married and had children — one boy and one girl — who lived on the equator they felt they had to

For whatever reason, the lack of punctuation in that paragraph makes me squeal with joy.

Some of my notebook spreads demonstrate the images floating around my head that need to get out:

Other pages contain words, phrases, and ideas that speak to me that day, or ones that I find to be too important to not write down and keep safe. I write down many things because I know that there will be a time where I need to use them in my work in the future:

I draw, and usually incorporate phrases into my doodles. Much of the time, I open my commonplace book and doodle the first phrase I encounter that really speaks to me that moment. Here are some of the results:

I’ve got song lyrics, to-do lists, notes to self, inspirational quotes, funny stories, words that sounds weird, and overheard dialogues scribbled in my commonplace book. It’s effectively an extension of my brain.

Top Ten Reasons for Keeping a Commonplace Book

1. Stealing (& preservation) is important.

I’m going to steal from Austin Kleon, author of Steal Like An Artist for this one. Stealing from one is bad theft. Stealing from many is good theft. A handpicked collection of the best thefts will get you from where you are to where you want to be. Heck, I even stole part of the title of this post from something I saw on the wall of DevBootcamp the other day.

2. Wonderful and creative people in history kept one.

Thomas Jefferson kept one. Ralph Waldo Emerson kept one. John Locke kept one. Aurelius’s commonplace book eventually became Meditations. They knew what they were doing.

3. It keeps my head clear, while stimulating thought in other areas.

Putting pen to paper frees up space in my head to concentrate on other things, while knowing that my creative musings are safe and not on the brink of being forgotten.

4. It reminds me that the world is whole.

Especially in the academic world, it’s easy for me to forget that chemistry, history, and fine arts don’t all live in separate dimensions. A commonplace book allows me to draw the connections between things that are seemingly unrelated.

5. I’m collecting wisdom for use at a later date.

Each rereading of the commonplace book is more important than the last. The wisdom that I catalogue today becomes exponentially more important in the future. The book also allows me to observe my own personal development.

6. It encourages future reflection.

Writing down important quotes, anecdotes, or ideas reminds me to formally reflect upon them later in the day. Reflection reminds me what is important and initiates action.

7. It defines my values clearly.

A simple flip-through of my commonplace book will make very clear what is important to me and what is not, even if I have trouble articulating it myself. Clearly knowing my values gives me an edge and insight into this weird world.

8. It demonstrates the space between where I am and where I want to be.

My commonplace book entries often demonstrate the place I want to be. Knowing where that is allows me to take concrete steps in that direction.

9. It serves as a creative launching pad.

I now have hundreds of pages of jumping-off points for doodles, paintings, or extended creative projects. Say goodbye to creative block (which is a myth, anyway).

10. I HAVE to. It is leaking out of me.

I have no choice. I didn’t know I was embarking on the journey of a commonplace book when I first started one, and now it’s a lifestyle. It’s attached to me at the hip and dictates many of my creative journeys and thoughts. It is easily one of my most important possessions.

Now, it’s your turn. Tell me about your commonplace book in the comments!

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For more of my doodles, drawings, & projects, check out my website, aliplut.com.
For collaborations, questions, opportunities (or hellos and invitations to coffee!), reach out at aliplut@gmail.com.

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