While I'm a huge advocate of the literal pen and paper method of collecting ideas, I know some of us live in a paperless world. If you're looking to declutter, or your handwriting is chicken scratch, or (like me!) you only have a great idea when you are not next to your writer's notebook, there has to be a better way. This is why I am also an advocate of the digital writer's notebook!
Keep reading for tips and tricks for setting up and using your digital notebook whether you use a laptop or a phone. For growing writers (both teens and adults) going digital can be the difference between writing something down or letting it slip away.
Who Can Benefit from a Digital Writer's Notebook
While some of us like the nostalgia and feel of the pen and paper in hand, there are those that could actually benefit from going digital with their writing notebooks. This method is especially beneficial for those who:
- Lose papers easily or struggle to keep them organized
- Have difficulty reading their own handwriting
- Think or type faster than they can comfortably write by hand
- Feel frustrated by how long writing takes on paper
- Like to revise, rearrange, and expand their ideas as they go
The benefits of a digital writer's notebook
I used my laptop to create my own version of a digital writer's notebook and discovered there are several reasons to I love it, and sometimes it even functions better than pen and paper!
Benefits of a Digital Writer's Notebook
- Neater than my handwriting!
- Faster - I type faster than I write by hand
- Ability to expand on ideas or rearrange ideas without worrying about space
- Virtually endless storage
- Apps and programs can transfer across devices (access your Microsoft or Google account on both your phone AND computer!)
- Share with others if collaborating
- Cut and paste pieces of an idea to begin a rough draft elsewhere
- Search / Find feature means you'll probably never lose track of an idea
- Insert images for writing prompts
- Touch screen makes it possible to type or write!
Drawbacks of a Digital Writer's Notebook
- Less personal because it's not in your own handwriting
- Easy to delete things (when you didn't want to!) or lose files
- When you delete your writing, it's hard to see the writing process at work
- Relies on charge/power and possibly Internet connection - without those you are sunk!
- Something about it just doesn't feel the same as writing with a pen and paper
So you can see there are some caveats to a digital writer's notebook, however, most of them can be circumvented. Overall, if you're more comfortable going digital, then I say whatever helps you get your ideas out of your head and onto paper is a good thing - even if it is virtual paper!
If you or your child resists writing or struggles with staying organized, switching to a digital notebook could potentially erase some of those barriers and make writing feel more manageable.
How to set up a digital notebook
You could use your Notes app, Word, Pages, Evernote, Google Drive, or any other word processing program. But there's one aspect of Microsoft One Note that I think makes it ideal for keeping a writer's notebook. Namely, it functions like a notebook with the ability to create separate pages, sections, or even create another notebook, and link between them all. That could be a real perk for a writer! Apple Notes is supposed to be similar if you don't have an android device.
No matter what app or software you choose, I would go about the process much the same way as the paper version - set up the following sections:
- Index (optional if you use Evernote or OneNote as they create sections with their various notes and pages). You could use a pagination tool to create a digital index that will adjust when you insert pages - don't ask me how, I just know there are those capabilities on some programs!
- Decorations - just like we decorated the outside of the paper notebook, find a space where you can collect visuals that inspire you. You might create a slideshow, or a folder of images, or even a secret Pinterest board. Sometimes when we're stuck as writers, a visual prompt gets our writing juices flowing again
- Sections for various types of writing - timelines, lists, free writing, etc.
My favorite feature of a digital writer's notebook is...
One of my favorite writing prompts, and one I return to often, is creating timelines - lists of events in order. I find the more I work on my timelines, the more I remember, and stories often grow from there.
On paper, it gets messy trying to squeeze more details into a full timeline page. Digitally? WOW! I create macro and micro timelines (years, months, days, hours). Digitally I can grow sections of my timeline without interfering with previous entries. If you do this, try using different formatting styles like bold, italics, and bullets to make it fun! For someone like me who really likes to organize thoughts before writing, this is an amazing benefit of the digital notebook!
If you're deciding between a traditional notebook or a digital one, it's easy to take your digital notebook everywhere just like a paper notebook. I take my small laptop with me nearly everywhere because it's easy to tuck into a bag or purse! The same could be said for a phone or a tablet.
So tell me... are you going to go with a traditional writer's notebook... or a spiffy digital notebook!?
Leave a comment about which you choose and why!
Take some time now to set up your writer's notebook and then come back to this site to get more ideas on how to brainstorm, write, and get those ideas out of your head on on paper... or on the screen!
Frequently Asked Questions about Digital Notebooks
A digital writer's notebook is simply a place to collect ideas, memories, and bits of writing, just like a paper notebook, but on a device. It might be a notes app, a document, or a program with sections and pages.
Neither is better. Some writers love the feel of pen and paper, while others feel limited. A digital notebook can can help those who need more space, or can't carry a regular notebook around with them.
For some kids, using a digital notebook will create a distraction. However, for others, it removes that come with writing and could potentially create more writing opportunities. You know your child best. You could possibly use an offline mode, or set restrictions if you need to.
I use a hybrid system. I’ve been keeping a notebook since I was 12. So for a long time, paper was the only option. But now, some things are easier to do with Evernote. I also use Evernote Scannable to save the pages of my paper notebook. Then once they’re saved there, I can add tags for subject. Best of both worlds.
I am a first generation personal computer user and I am also a bit behind the times as far as one or the other. I like both and am probably more apt to do both just for myself. . People get irritated with me about this but I’m not stupid enough to not keep the handwritten notes. This is a DYING ART oddly enough because typing is so easy to do and even now I am not just typing traditionally either. I use APPLE products so I can either hit the pre-determined word or just type. I do a a little bit of both. I probably sound caught between 2 worlds but I am very much aware of the traditions we can easily lose if we aren’t careful.
What an amazing article, thank you for sharing this digital note book for writers 🙂
Thank you for sharing such a interesting type of content!
I have recently bought a Mac after years of having Windows. It has taken me forever to figure out where everything is and how to use it to my advantage.
Then there is me. I have MS and for the past year, I have started with hand tremors. UGH! Most everything I do now I do on the computer. Even I can no longer read my handwriting.
Using my Mac, there is a feature called notes. The fun thing about using notes is that it is also on my iPhone. Anything I put on my phone will show up on my computer. Who doesn't always have their phone with them? So if I come up with an Idea while sitting in a waiting room, I can pull out my phone and type it in notes. When I sit down at my laptop when I get home, my ideas all pop up there too.
I'm sure there are other features I haven't discovered yet. It's just the one I use that is the most convenient.
What a great way to keep track of your writing and ideas!
I have always had trouble keeping my notes together and at one time had a binder full of notes, ideas, and research as well as entries in random notebooks or in a folder tucked away as I was struck by an idea yet had nothing else close by to write it down! I recently discovered OneNote myself and am in love! I love that I can easily add, edit, and tab entries with no problem. Pictures can be uploaded as well as word documents that I'd written so I'm not juggling a bunch of separate applications! I have a small chromebook that is lightweight so I can always take them with me but I have my OneNote notebooks saved to my OneDrive which I can just as easily access from my phone should I not have my computer. Organized, User Friendly, and Utilization on Multiple Devices? Yup, definitely recommending!
I do use pen and paper to start the story, and then usually move it to my computer. Your idea of using the Asus, as a note book is a great idea. I do have one, and as you mentioned they are great to take with you. I hadn't thought of that. Thank you for the great idea's ~ I look forward to reading more of your great suggestions.
Love your posts on the regular and digital writer's notebooks! I enjoy writing in journals but I also have a beautiful little Acer Aspire D270 netbook that I use for the digital notebook. It has Windows Starter 7 on it.
I could connect to the internet but I don't because for me the screen is too small and I don't want to get distracted. Actually, since the netbook is not connected to the internet it has more in common with your regular writer's notebook. I have the same set-up. I installed Open Office and Zen Writer on it. I have a tiny little SanDisk Cruzer Fit USB 2.0 Low-Profile Flash Drive for transferring notes or documents to my desktop or other laptops.
My D270 has a battery life of 6 hours. It's light enough to carry. Sometimes I use the regular notebook when I leave the house. Depends on my mood.
I love your comments, and it's clear you really tried the digital notebook, which makes sense in some ways. you could expand that to add Apple's cross-features too, their hand-off is excellent for anyone who's and Apple fan (me), and I know that Windows have been adapting their software accordingly.
Now, saying that. I never travel without a notebook and have about 3 or 4 in different sizes, I scrawl, sometimes draw, sometimes just a one-word idea. which seems more natural to me somehow! Great post, though, thanks for your thoughts.
I have tried both and still find myself attached to a handwriting notebook. The one reason because I seem to be able to think more while I'm actually writing by hand. And there is the issue of being able to quickly write out a note while working on something else in the computer.
Although I do use the note section in my phone a lot when I don't have my notebook handy. I just transfer them into my notebook when I am back around it.
So interesting because I always think I should keep a journal or memories - by handwriting. But since I'm attached to my computer AND want to easily preserve them this is a fab idea!