On findability
The reason I use the same physical journal for my bullet journal for half a decade is so that they all fit neatly in a row. So when I want to find something it’s there. It’s findable. A note, in a page, in a block of journals.
The pages in a bullet journal are numbered. This is so I can index them . To make them retrievable.
A big part of notemaking is building in the ability to retrieve notes when you need them.
“If you want to be found, you need to be findable” - Austin Kleon
As artist we need to make ourselves findable. Get on twitter lists, mailing lists, hashtags, peoples walls and bookshelves.
Sketches are a kind of visual notes. You can make them searchable by adding page numbers and an index.
A hack for numbering pages, just number the right side. I.e first right page is ‘spread 1’, signify it by writing ‘1’ in the corner, on the next right page write ‘2’ and so on.
#searchability
PS: use the comments to share your thoughts on the topic.
I know exactly what you mean. Bullet journalling overwhelmed me for some reason. So I now have a bit of a visual journal where I mix my sketchbook and my journal. I usually make them myself by stitching up watercolour paper or pastel paper cause I could NEVER FIND a book with the paper that I like working with. I almost always could never appreciate the book in the moment I'm working in it. I almost hate it. I only see value looking back after several months to a year.
I need to work on being findable I just hate putting myself out there. getting reconciled to the fact that it's the only way to be found as you've said Adam.
Hi Adam, I've been addicted to bullet journaling too, sometimes it replaces my sketchbook, and a lot of times it replaces my writing journal. I really like to have things written down. I admit I never (with a capital 'N') used to go back to look at it, even though I felt adamant about writing it and cataloging it. But something has shifted in the last year, where I feel emotionally ready to look back on my past writings and drawings. Now I feel like I have a treasure that I have been building for years and years.
Anyway, I tried many different kinds of notebooks for bullet journals, wanting to try the latest and greatest with their added features, but always return to the one I started with, the Moleskine squared notebook. The lesson here for me is to listen to my own preferences over other people's suggestions.
Thanks for your daily notes Adam, I read each and every one.
Much love,
Chau