How I became a Writer using a Commonplace Notebook

At the beginning, there was an urge. An urge to keep safe all the beautiful inspirations I experience on a regular day. Little moments of wonder, striking quotes, snippets of knowledge I stumble upon. Then came a stronger feeling — wanting to create something of my own.

That’s when I stumbled across the idea of commonplace notebooks. It’s nothing new, really. The concept dates back to Aristotle and became a recognized practice in the 17th century, but it seems to be enjoying a revival lately. I kept seeing YouTube videos about commonplacing, many of them tying the practice to spending less time doom-scrolling on your phone and more time being present with your thoughts, jotting them down in a small pocket notebook instead.

Then, I watched a Skillshare class by one of my favorite YouTubers, Ruby Granger. Here’s the link to her YouTube video where she talks about her brilliant Skillshare class about cultivating curiosity using a commonplace notebook: https://youtu.be/ZAxMbEb8i7E?si=gAcdNTQkroWB6LoO

And that’s when something clicked.

I discovered the idea of keeping a commonplace notebook only a few months ago, but it felt like something I had been searching for. I wanted to collect new knowledge and create something on paper, even if it was something very small and just for myself.

The first step was simple: I opened up a new pocket-sized notebook and wrote down a quote from a book I liked. Just one quote. But what comes after the first step?

The key, I realized, is consistency. I drew a small habit tracker in my notebook to see which days I actually wrote something down. And everything counted! It didn’t have to be a perfect quote from a book or the most insightful thought of my life. Sometimes, it was just a grocery list. The point was to make picking up the notebook a habit.

And that’s what I want to do with my writing goal, too. My aim is to publish a blog post at least on a monthly basis. To achieve this, I’ll approach it the same way I did with commonplacing. I’ll make it a habit to sit down every day and write, even if it’s just 1–2 sentences. Building the habit comes first; editing and improvement come later.

Of course, sharing a blog post takes courage. You have to be brave enough to let go of the fear of not being good enough. But once you do, that’s where the magic begins. That’s when you start developing as a writer. I’ve learned something powerful on this journey:

You don’t have to be fearless. You just have to be brave enough to take one small step every day.

I’ve heard this advice many times before, but only now, as I’m trying it out myself, do I understand how valuable it truly is — especially for new writers like me. The advice is simple: You have to write every day.

My commonplace notebook was the beginning of what I hope will be a long writing journey. I’m ready to keep going, to build a writing routine, and to see where this habit leads me. And you can follow me on my way in this blog.