Writers and Their Notebooks
A WriteSPACE Special Event with Jillian Hess
Dear fellow writer,
I’ve recently become addicted to making my own notebooks from scrap paper, wallpaper, contact paper, any kind of paper — and it’s all Jillian Hess’ fault!
Well, not really. I’ve been a notebook fetishist for years, and it makes total sense that I would eventually start recycling my weekly paper collages into notebook covers. But my immediate inspiration for creating my own handmade notebooks came from Jillian’s brilliant Substack newsletter, Noted, and specifically from her recent one-year-anniversary post, which includes photos of some of her own handmade notebooks.
A professor of English at the City University of New York, Jillian is the author of How Romantics and Victorians Organized Information (Oxford University Press, 2022) — so she’s been studying and writing about notebooks and note-taking for a long time. Now she’s turned her scholarly passion into a popular newsletter that focuses twice weekly on “a particular note-taker with an overview of their note-taking life, inspiring quotes, archival photos, and meditations on what I’ve learned from their notes.”
Noted has been named as a Substack Featured Publication for two years running (2022 and 2023) — not bad going for a newsletter that is barely 14 months old! I’m thrilled that Jillian will be joining me for my next WriteSPACE Special Event, Writers and Their Notebooks, which takes place from 3-5 pm EST (Eastern Standard Time) on Wednesday November 15.
In the first hour of this live Zoom event, Jillian and I will discuss her passion for notebooks and look at some of her favorite exemplars of creative note-taking by artists, musicians, politicians, scientists, and all kinds of writers. In the second hour, we’ll co-facilitate a hands-on discussion and workshop for WriteSPACE members, guiding participants through some playful note-taking experiments.
The first hour is FREE to all who register; the workshop in the second hour is for WriteSPACE members only. (Not a member? Sign up today for a free 30-day trial!) A video of the first hour will be made available to all registered participants, and the full 2-hour video will be archived in the WriteSPACE Library.
I’d love to see you there!
Coming soon
Last days to enrol in the Productivity Catalyst!
The Productivity Catalyst has already started, but we’re still accepting late enrollments all this week. If you’re an academic or professional writer who wants to renovate your writing practice through attention to time, space, flow, craft, community, and joy, this energizing six-week course is for you! Join me and fellow writers from around the globe for weekly workshops, experiments, and prompts from now through December 13, including free access to my twice-weekly Live Writing Studio. WriteSPACE members qualify for a 10% discount on all Catalyst courses, and WS Studio members save 20%. (You can find your discount code in your membership Lounge). Hurry — enrollment closes this weekend!
In the WriteSPACE
Weekly Wayfinder for November 6 - 12
WriteSPACE and WS Studio members: Every week in the WriteSPACE Maproom, you’ll find a featured writing resource to expand your horizons, a playful pomodoro timer to help you keep your writing on track, and a writing-related challenge to sharpen your skills.
This week’s resource: Helen’s Word
This week’s timer: Ear of Corn
This week’s challenge: Pick a playlist
Not a member? Sign up for a free 30-day trial and check out all our great writing resources for yourself.
Other writing news
Live Writing Studio (Nov 6 - Dec 13)
Attention all WS Studio members: Our next 6-week Live Writing Studio sequence starts this week with two 2-hour studio sessions. Check your Studio Calendar for the dates, times, and Zoom links. Don’t miss this opportunity to reach across time and space to connect with other writers from around the world, nudge your current writing forward, and receive supportive, low-stakes, formative feedback on a small piece of writing.
If you’re not a WS Studio member but would like to join us for these sessions, you can purchase a 6-week Studio Sequence pass for just USD $120, or $100 for WriteSPACE members. Your writing will thank you!
Do you have writing-related news, events, or resources to share? Contact me with a brief description (50 words max), a hyperlink, and a high-quality image.
Spread the joy! Please encourage your friends, colleagues, and students to join me in the WriteSPACE, a vibrant, low-cost writing community with members in 30+ countries. As a WriteSPACE member, you’ll get premium access to resources, workshops, and tools designed to help you hone your wordcraft, sharpen your style, and coax your writing gently out the door.
Kia pai tō koutou rā (have a great day) – and keep on writing!
Helen