• Capture the ideas and insights that spark your interest. A sticky note, a voice memo, or an app like Notion—whatever works.


• Organize them so you can find them later. Categories, tags, or even a simple “Projects” list will do.


• Distill your notes into their essential meaning. Ask: What’s the big takeaway here?


• Express your ideas by using them in

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Writers have kept notebooks since time immemorial. The auctorial equivalent to the artist’s sketchbook is the “commonplace book,” which can contain everything from newspaper clippings to grocery lists to attempts to capture those inspirational bolts out of the blue.

I’m sure that somewhere out there, there is a writer who is far more disciplined... See more