Every writer should wander around with a notepad and a pen. Seriously.
I carry a moleskine around with me, mainly because it’s small, handy and has a little pocket to put stuff in.
You may argue about that laptop, and the old "I don’t need…", but well, I’m telling you. You do.
Formats change. Your PDA might break. You might run out of battery power on your Blackberry.

That notebook?
You’ll still be able to use it in 50 years time. That format never changes.
Ask Hemingway.

It’s useful to quickly note down those brainstorms you get at the most inconvenient times.
To write down that elusive bit of research you just tripped over.
Character sketches.
Location notes.
Bits of dialog.
Parts of the plot that eluded you.
Plots you haven’t written yet, but which are too precious to forget.
To Do lists.
Character Names.
The taste of that cherry pie you just had.
The smell of the house you just walked into.
The name of a song you just remembered.
Somewhere to put that menu in the Diner you want to use in your next novel.
Prices of things.
Colors of things.
The feel of the velvet curtain you accidentally pulled down at your friend’s house.
Phrases used by professionals.
Legal terminology.
Sketching the layout of a building.

You name it, it’s useful to have a notebook to hand. Because if you know it’s there, you’ll probably use it.
It’s quicker to write in than trying to text yourself, trust me.
And you just never know when the stuff you put in it comes in useful.

I recommend everyone carry one, whether it’s one of the more expensive little moleskines, or a 99 cent scratchpad.

Tags: Making notes, Notebooks, Organizing