The beauty of the small book
Aug. 2nd, 2012 11:12 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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embodiment_dwI just joined this community and it seems semi-abandoned. Let's get back to posting! I don't have anything to share right now but I thought I'd kick it off with a discussion of what size books you guys use.
I have two journals - one is the ubiquitous 5-year journal that I've written in every day for a year and a half. It's fairly small, but what's particularly tiny about it is that you only have about 5 lines or so to write your daily entry, which means you have to be concise. I also have my drawing journal, which is roughly 5 inches by 9 inches or something.
I bought a 3.5 inches by 5 inches journal the other day because my 5x9 one is too large.
Big is intimidating - small means you can only do one drawing per page, which means you turn pages frequently and feel more accomplished, and you can hide previous drawings easily. Small means cheaper usually, which means you don't feel as bad tearing pages out. Small means small, so you can take it everywhere and you don't have so much whitespace to fill up on each page.
I used to always scoff at pocket-sized books. You can't even fit anything! They were silly! They don't even fit in your pocket! They don't come with as pretty covers! Then I looked at my stack of mostly-empty huge sketchbooks, thick large journals, regular-sized Moleskines, and so on. Half of them were enormous, and almost all of them were mostly empty.
Now I'm a fan of tiny books. They're so much easier to fill up! I can take them anywhere, which means now I have no excuse not to draw. In Japan, little cards that are 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches are popular (artist trading cards) - I'm not the only one downsizing!
What do you guys think? What size do you usually use when you journal?
I have two journals - one is the ubiquitous 5-year journal that I've written in every day for a year and a half. It's fairly small, but what's particularly tiny about it is that you only have about 5 lines or so to write your daily entry, which means you have to be concise. I also have my drawing journal, which is roughly 5 inches by 9 inches or something.
I bought a 3.5 inches by 5 inches journal the other day because my 5x9 one is too large.
Big is intimidating - small means you can only do one drawing per page, which means you turn pages frequently and feel more accomplished, and you can hide previous drawings easily. Small means cheaper usually, which means you don't feel as bad tearing pages out. Small means small, so you can take it everywhere and you don't have so much whitespace to fill up on each page.
I used to always scoff at pocket-sized books. You can't even fit anything! They were silly! They don't even fit in your pocket! They don't come with as pretty covers! Then I looked at my stack of mostly-empty huge sketchbooks, thick large journals, regular-sized Moleskines, and so on. Half of them were enormous, and almost all of them were mostly empty.
Now I'm a fan of tiny books. They're so much easier to fill up! I can take them anywhere, which means now I have no excuse not to draw. In Japan, little cards that are 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches are popular (artist trading cards) - I'm not the only one downsizing!
What do you guys think? What size do you usually use when you journal?
no subject
Date: 2012-08-02 04:32 pm (UTC)I don't always use Moleskines (though they are my favorite), but that size is definitely what I prefer. I want a good amount of page space to write in, lots of lines, etc., but also to have it small enough to just stick in my purse. I've used huge ones and I have small ones for special purposes (to travel with, to keep track of my workouts) but that middle size is definitely what I prefer.
I don't do the daily entry thing anymore, though--journals are for brainstorming and ideas and Tarot readings--so my needs are different.
no subject
Date: 2012-08-02 05:21 pm (UTC)Yeah, Moleskines are a good size and have quality paper! They are SO expensive though. I definitely agree that there are different sizes for different occasions. I'm not sure I'd do a legit painting in any of the sizes I mentioned in my post (though it would be funny to do a teensy tiny painting!). I definitely have grown to really respect the small notebook though - they definitely have their uses!
no subject
Date: 2012-08-03 02:52 am (UTC)I just remembered that I used to carry around a teeny tiny notebook in middle school--actually I'm pretty sure I had a few, and I wrote a lot in them. But they were poor quality and the pages fell out, and also a group of former friends stole one of them once (well, it went missing and then I saw one of them putting it in my backpack) so maybe they just have bad memories.
no subject
Date: 2012-08-02 10:48 pm (UTC)I have a couple of littler journals, but my hand gets cramped writing in them so I keep them for quick things like dreams next to my bed. I don't draw so I don't draw in them. :( I haven't quite figured out adequate size for a regular venting journal though. It can definitely be too thick, it can be too big, it can be too small. I guess that's why I collect journals, to see.
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