Bulk "freewriting" Notebooks

[JordanLH]

I've been reading this book called Accidental Genius about creating ideas. The core method it talks about is writing a LOT. Sometimes quite aimlessly.

 

So, I'm excited to start doing this. The only problem is, I'm not too keen on just burning through loads of Rhodia dotpads or any of my other expensive notebooks.

 

Does anyone have a recommendation for a notebook that works well with fountain pens that is cheap enough to order in bulk?

 

Also, it's not critical, but it would be nice if it could lay flat.

 

Thanks in advance!

Jordan

[spotted and speckled]

Punch 3 holes in Hammermill 24 lb laser paper, put them in a notebook, and you are good to go. I like the one with the butterfly on the cover:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Hammermill-Brightness-Letter-Sheets-10460-4/dp/B000EFQ5AK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1406246931&sr=8-1&keywords=hammermill+24+lb+inkjet+and+laser+paper

[T4TEXAS]

For that use, you may want to check out the 50 cent Staples college rule composition books. I picked up a bunch of them in the past week based on a topic here that recommended them if made in Brazil. I had to sort through them in the store to find the ones made in Brazil, since many are made in Egypt and Vietnam. While Noodler's Eel Blue showed through heavily and bled through a small amount, Waterman's Serenity showed through a little, but not enough to keep me from using both sides.

 

An alternative mentioned here was making your own notebook using whatever paper stock you want.

[Abner C. Kemp]

I agree with spotted, your best bet is to find a copier paper that works. You can always print rulings onto the paper if needed.

[knarflj]

Staples wide-ruled single-subject notebooks right now are 17 cents for up to 30 notebooks. I prefer college-ruled, but for that price, I'll put up with wide-ruled for brainstorming, writing first drafts, and similar uses. No college-ruled notebooks with decent paper at all in our local store, unfortunately.

[JordanLH]

Hmm, ok. I'll try the copier paper route if I have to. I was hoping to find separately bound notebooks, but I suppose this would work.

 

Thanks for the input!

 

Jordan

[dmourati]

The book looks interesting. Would you recommend it?

[SallyLyn]

Walmart will have spiral notebooks from Brazil onsale for back to school. Norcom is normally the brand. Good paper.

Apica has approx 7x10" notebook of 100 pages. Paper not as nice as the Premium level but nice. -Still it is more expensive than the Walmart, office supply sales. Costco also has a multi purpose copy paper on sale.

[JordanLH]

The book looks interesting. Would you recommend it?

 

It's great. I think it's going to vastly improve my idea creation process. I would definitely recommend it.

[JordanLH]

Walmart will have spiral notebooks from Brazil onsale for back to school. Norcom is normally the brand. Good paper.

Apica has approx 7x10" notebook of 100 pages. Paper not as nice as the Premium level but nice. -Still it is more expensive than the Walmart, office supply sales. Costco also has a multi purpose copy paper on sale.

 

I really like Apica actually. It's not the best of the best, but it's very good. I was thinking about trying to do a bulk order from them.

[prf5]

I just discussed this on a thread about the pros and cons of Clairefontaine. Comparing HP 32 lb at .03 per sheet for a ream to a Gold Fibre pad at .04 per sheet for 12 pads: I prefer the Gold Fibre with a fountain pen, but I think this is your price range.

[TMac]

Does anyone have recommendation on decent binders to use if you go the copier paper route? I have been thinking about doing this myself but want to find a binder that is nice enough for the office but not so bulky that it would be a problem carrying it around.

[mwpannell]

Have to throw in I think the cheap, on-sale composition books at 50-cents and less are ideal for this. At that price they're basically disposable, if you want to look at them that way. I don't feel bad filling them with, well, nothing directly useful. I got a huge supply of good Brazilian-made books a couple of years ago so don't chase after the deals so much now, though I do buy one or two (or three or four) now and again. I hear good things about some of the India paper and on and off have had good experience with other papers as well. Just feel them and give it a try. It's 50-cents. Personally, I feel better about using them for the sort of "freewriting" you're talking about than my better-papered notebooks, even my Apica books and good copier paper. But, there are good points in everything mentioned, it's just a matter of liking what your using. Plus there's the storage and retrieval aspect which the composition books can be good for. Admittedly, once you fill a few, they look terrific filling up a bookshelf, tattered and battered.

 

I like the freewriting idea. Even gives me a good label for some of the writing I do that's not supposed to be aimless but, you know, turns out that way ... Glad you brought it up.

[CraigR]

Several years ago, I started making my own notebooks. I use a quality copy paper - currently HP ink jet paper 24#. I have a Levenger Circa punch and a collection of plastic Circa disks. I also use a 3 ring punch and standard 3 ring binders of various depths. Inexpensive and convenient.

 

Craig

[JordanLH]

Have to throw in I think the cheap, on-sale composition books at 50-cents and less are ideal for this. At that price they're basically disposable, if you want to look at them that way. I don't feel bad filling them with, well, nothing directly useful. I got a huge supply of good Brazilian-made books a couple of years ago so don't chase after the deals so much now, though I do buy one or two (or three or four) now and again. I hear good things about some of the India paper and on and off have had good experience with other papers as well. Just feel them and give it a try. It's 50-cents. Personally, I feel better about using them for the sort of "freewriting" you're talking about than my better-papered notebooks, even my Apica books and good copier paper. But, there are good points in everything mentioned, it's just a matter of liking what your using. Plus there's the storage and retrieval aspect which the composition books can be good for. Admittedly, once you fill a few, they look terrific filling up a bookshelf, tattered and battered.

 

I like the freewriting idea. Even gives me a good label for some of the writing I do that's not supposed to be aimless but, you know, turns out that way ... Glad you brought it up.

 

Yes, I'm quite excited about the idea of freewriting. I like the idea of using fountain pens for it as well. I'm glad you found it interesting.

 

I'm on the same page with you (spontaneous pun there) about the storage + retrieval. I plan on dating them, and I too like the idea of filling up a bookshelf with them.