My primary notebook’s trim of gold filament lost the sheen along the edges of the pages. I’ve filled it halfway with notes of blue and black ink, mostly Sharpie S-gels of 0.7mm and 0.5mm. 0.7 is great for everyday use, but that 0.2mm reduction brings precision to the page.
I only start a new page for new ideas, so the margins and line breaks get filled with curved and smudged lettering. It’s better to get the idea out of my head than to impress the memory of my lessons in penmanship. We didn’t have laptops back then.
The first few pages date to the day after an auntie-who-isn’t-my-aunt wished me well on my writing. “Every good writer needs a good notebook.”
Somehow my first thought was “it’s not a moleskin.” No upfront placeholder exists to indicate a reward if found. It’s full of amazing ideas and terrible writing. I can’t lose it.
Every time I unlatch the leather and check which pen is stuffed in it, splitting the binding, I think about my auntie, but my relationship with these pages is halfway over. I’ll earn the second half. The ideas are too good, the writing still needs improvement, and my auntie never expected anything.
🪞 Reflection
A short one today.
I look at this notebook everyday and it accompanies me everywhere in my backpack. It’s utility has made it so precious that I limit my best thoughts to this specific notebook despite the dozen others I’ve purchased since.
Do you have an item that is so useful, you’re afraid to wear it out?
✨ Shiny Things
📚 Novel: Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
I don’t usually call out books that I haven’t finished, but Im about 20% into this tale and it’s blown through all of my expectations. I went in thinking it would be a dry, didactic tale about trying to hide as a black man in 1950s America. I was wrong. So far it’s a vibrant and voicey journey in the head of a man who has rationalized his existence and I’m excited to spend more time in his head. Will report back!
🎧 Song: Plastic Love by Mariya Takeuchi
Years ago, for a party, we looked up “Japanese Electric Funk Disco.” This song was on that playlist, which has mostly been taken down due to copyright, but began a love for 80s style Japanese city pop. Think others like “Do you Wanna Dance Tonight” by Toshiki Kadomatsu and “Sweet Love” by Junko Ohashi. It’s got that trance nostalgia of wearing an oversized three-piece suit down the street before you meet your girl for a cocktail while it rains outside.
🪶 Before flying away
♻ If this post resonated with you, restacking it is the best way to share and show support for the publication.
Don’t have the Substack app? Forward this email to a friend who might enjoy.
See you next Wednesday.
Love,
Wes
If this is your first time reading Wednesday Wesdom, welcome 😀
Dive into some recent posts and personal favorites:
Love the precise details of Sharpies. The efficiency in telling this micro story is also great.
I have a nice notebook and I’ve been more consistent in organizing my thoughts in it, unlike in the past. It’s been comforting and helpful.
I believe many have such a notebook and several years later you begin to read the barrage of notes differently. The remembrance of how, where, what, why and when of a process.
Yes, it's a history of your development as a writer while giving life to those thoughts, most importantly the growth of a person