r/notebooks • • Jul 09 '26

"What can I do with this notebook?"

171 Upvotes

This is a pretty common question in subs like this. Either someone received a new notebook as a gift, or they couldn't help themselves from buying a new one, or they have a partially used notebook they want to fill.

Or they're trying to figure out what to do with the massive stack they've accumulated after years of "I'll find a use for this" and allowing that as justification to keep buying more... Ahem.

Beyond the normal "Just write in it, use it as a diary," here's some ideas on what you could do with an unused or unfinished notebook:

  • Commonplace / zibaldone journal
  • Brain dump / soliloquy journal
  • Quotes / lyrics / poetry
  • Media / entertainment tracker (Movies, tv shows, games, etc)
  • Bullet journal (method for a DIY daily planner, get started here)
  • To-do lists
  • All kinds of lists (e.g., "lists of 100" like "100 things you saw this week")
  • Gratitude
  • Grievances (the opposite of gratitude, what bothered you today)
  • Idea notebook
  • Quick thoughts
  • Art (Sketches / drawings / zentangles)
  • Dream log
  • The Artist's Way Morning Pages
  • Travel journal
  • Things you've learned
  • Bucket list / goals
  • Unsent letters
  • Dedicated handwriting practice
  • RPG journaling (there's games you can find online for it and r/Solo_Roleplaying)
  • Food or drink tracker, such as keeping track of teas you've tried
  • Things you overheard that are worth remembering
  • People you meet
  • Funny facts
  • Gaming journal
  • Language practice

Added since I made this post-

  • Keep track of plants/gardening
  • Master index for all your journals
  • Project tracker
  • Hobby tracker
  • A place to write down memories and stories from your life
  • Memories of friends and family
  • Review places you go
  • Homeowner notes like chores, bills, and when things need to be fixed/replaced
  • A journal to give your child(ren) someday, such as letters to them and their milestones
  • Notes and milestones for pets
  • Things like tarot or shadow work
  • Swatches (ink, yarn, embroidery thread, ribbon, washi tape, etc)
  • Scent tracker (perfume/cologne, would not suggest attempting to store the actual scents in there)
  • General feelings
  • Chronic pain tracker
  • Prayer/devotional journal
  • "Practice" journal to get thoughts out before actual journaling
  • Distractions when you should've been doing something else

Feel free to suggest more in the comments.


r/notebooks • • 14h ago

Made them last night!

Thumbnail gallery
35 Upvotes

r/notebooks • • 21h ago

Pyrogravure

Thumbnail
gallery
105 Upvotes

I burned a design into my little leather notebook yesterday, and I can't wait to see how it ages ☺️


r/notebooks • • 4h ago

Advice needed Not Clicking with a Journal/Notebook?

5 Upvotes

I've journaled every day consistently for about 2 years now, until May of this year when I finished my previous journal. It was a Moleskine, very sturdy and nice. I moved to a different journal, wider, differently spaced lines, and I stopped journaling consistently because it felt like a chore. It's also worth noting I got this journal during a a hard period of my life in an attempt to do retail therapy and cheer myself up.

I don't know why I'm not clicking with this journal, and I was wondering if other people had the same issue of clicking with some physical journals and not others. Should I start a new journal in hopes I click with that one? Does anyone else feel this way? Any thoughts about this would be appreciated :)


r/notebooks • • 10h ago

Advice needed Paper Republic

9 Upvotes

I love the concept, I love the look, but my god is it pricey.

With the discount and shipping included, an XL Voyager is 64€. I've been dreaming of getting a journal I can properly fuck up and use throughout my whole life, so yes an investment is at hand, but I dont know, it's still a big number.

Should I bite the bullet? Should I buy something else?


r/notebooks • • 14h ago

Recommendation 2027 planner ideas

Post image
15 Upvotes

My current "planner" is a pocket notebook with monthly stamped calendars with room on each page to jot down the particulars of my events.

I've used a regular Travelers Notebook insert and a couple of A6 hard cover notebooks in the past. As 2027 approaches, it's time to contemplate the next one.

I've had Leuchtturm planners and Moleskeine in the A6 size. I really just need a monthly layout with room to post the event and location. On the home made version, I highlighted the dates and note below what they are. That way I can see at a glance if SWMBO wants to schedule two things on the same date.

Any recommendations on what to try next? I do like to experiment with new ideas.


r/notebooks • • 10h ago

Notebook Share 50 Miles to Abuelita’s Haunted Magic Cottage

Post image
7 Upvotes

I heard about the 331 miles bike challenge this month, but I am recovering from 13 surgeries over the past 3 years so I scaled my challenge down to 50 miles walking by Halloween. This is my tracker. Each paver “stone” is 1 mile.


r/notebooks • • 53m ago

Selling genuine Travelers NotebookRegular size

Thumbnail
• Upvotes

r/notebooks • • 14h ago

Advice needed Thrifted notebook is crumbling 😅

Thumbnail
gallery
13 Upvotes

EDIT: I am seeking advice/creative ideas for covering the entire notebook exterior! I appreciate other comments but respectfully, there's no need to tell me why it's in such bad shape if you have no tips to offer lol 🙏🏽

I picked up this unused, customized (?) Moleskine notebook at a thrift store and in the following days, the cover has been shedding in little pieces 😭 The worst if it is along the spine where it bends. At first I planned to cover up the peeling areas with stickers, but now I think it may be too far gone for that. I thought about putting some sort of tape along the spine but again, the issue is on the whole exterior surface.

I'm considering some kind of thin, low-profile covering made of fabric or patterned paper, but it's a softcover so I'm worried anything I cover it with will wrinkle or bunch up. Any tips or alternative ideas? Thank you :)


r/notebooks • • 16h ago

Advice needed I’m being influenced.

13 Upvotes

I keep seeing ads and posts containing paper republic journals. I can’t deny they are beautiful and I’m sure a joy to use, but I can’t help but wonder if I should just make my own. Has anyone regretted going the DIY route? Or has anyone gone DIY and then ended up getting a PR anyways? Was the PR worth the difference?

I’m just in some analysis paralysis and need some help.


r/notebooks • • 8h ago

Trying to find replacement for discontinued notebook

3 Upvotes

You guys remember Walmart used to sell really nice Exceed notebooks?

Was going through my old books today and found one of my favorites, it was black fake leather, soft, college ruled, slightly bigger than a standard composition book, & the pages were really smooth.

Of course Walmart doesn’t sell this brand anymore, and there’s similar looking books online but obviously I can’t test them.

Does anyone know of any similar products? Needs to be collages ruled and soft cover. I guess it doesn’t need to be that big but I really enjoy the bigger one so if you know of any that would be cool.

I’m aware that there’s different grades of paper and names for notebook sizes but I’m not familiar with the specifics so if anyone wants to educate me that’d be cool too lol thanks


r/notebooks • • 13h ago

Kokuyo Perpanep Zara Zara alternatives

3 Upvotes

Kokuyo Perpanep Zara Zara steno notebooks are being discontinued. I’m crushed. I prefer writing in pencil and this was a great textured paper for that purpose.

I’m hoping someone here might have some suggestions of A5 alternative notebooks to try? I use my notebooks with a leather cover and elastics.

I already Midori/MD journals for other projects.

Thanks all!


r/notebooks • • 23h ago

Notebook Share Got my 2 new notebooks from blackwing

Post image
15 Upvotes

Happy to finally have it... damn it takes time and taxes 😒

I guess it will be my last time shopping outside EU.

Too much time and too much taxes

I love already both notebook, one blank and one doted for writing.


r/notebooks • • 1d ago

DIY Got tired of waiting for Paper Republic to make Bordeaux part of their permanent collection, so I made my own

Post image
94 Upvotes

What the title says! This cost me $27.50 in materials (Badalassi Carlo leather, elastic cord, charm) and took less than 5 minutes to make.

The best part: it’s in A5, not some weird ass proprietary size 😂

My only regret is punching two sets of holes. I should have just punched out one set and doubled up on the cords to retain the simplicity of the GV. Still happy to finally have my dream color, though!


r/notebooks • • 17h ago

Advice needed Looking for a journal that is good with fountain pens. What is something you wish you took into consideration when making your personal journal?

2 Upvotes

Hey! I was looking to make my own journal. I’m gonna be writing with a twsbi diamond 580alr and I was wondering what paper you guys liked most as well as what size notebook you feel is best. I was kind of looking at the Sterling ink n1 but they only have the Koji paper which doesn’t seem to be as good as the tomoe river paper. Also. Do you guys have any advice to make writing a little more comfortable? Since the paper is more narrow it might make it annoying to write when I get to the end of a line on the right side of the right page


r/notebooks • • 1d ago

notebooks or inserts with slightly smaller than A5 paper?

4 Upvotes

I have a hardcover notebook that I'm very fond of, and would like to reuse the cover by cutting out the bound pages and inserting another notebook inside. Unfortunately, it's not a standard sized notebook. The whole thing, including the cover, is just about A5 size, but the pages are 141x206 mm (A5 is 148x210) so just a smidge smaller, and if I put A5 paper in there, it just barely hangs over the edge. Does anyone know where to find notebooks that would fit this size cover?

please I'd love to not have to learn bookbinding to keep this cover 😭


r/notebooks • • 1d ago

Looking for options to cover embossing on Paper Republic GV XL

Post image
10 Upvotes

I bought a used Paper Republic Grand Voyager XL. I bought it knowing the front bottom corner was embossed with the previous owner's initials. My plan was originally to glue lace over the bottom edge to cover it up. But now that I have it in my hand, I don't like that idea anymore.

I'd love to hear any suggestions of things I can do to cover up the initials. I'm not very crafty, so things that require low skill levels are preferred lol.


r/notebooks • • 1d ago

Leather Honey Mishap & A Galen Leather Co. Visit

Thumbnail gallery
5 Upvotes

r/notebooks • • 1d ago

Notebook Share Cuaderno de cuero.

Thumbnail
gallery
18 Upvotes

Mi última creación: un diario de cuero único con herrajes de latón y relieve floral.


r/notebooks • • 1d ago

Recommendation Looking for a notebook/combo for my niche need!

5 Upvotes

I’m a pharmacy technician with a scattered brain and I’ve recently been promoted to lead and have had more “administrative” tasks come my way. I’ve been leaving notes for myself at the station I tend to stick at but I’ve often run into the issue of someone else tossing them when I’m not there so I’d like to get a little notebook to keep myself a little more organized!

I really need something that allows me to keep track of daily/weekly/monthly tasks, schedule notes, and other goals and duties, as well as room to ideate/put notes for later reference down in. Being able to move pages around might be helpful for organization or removing outdated info

I’ve use Kokuyo campus smart rings plenty of times but they are a bit large for keeping at my station or carrying around. I’m also okay to use loose/refill paper in a separate cover as I could benefit from being able to have a few pockets for scratch notes and/or print outs.

No patient info will be going in this! So I don’t have to worry about being able to tear out pages easily. Paper-wise, I just need something that can handle gel ink without severe smudging.

If there’s anything else I should add, let me know!

Thank you!


r/notebooks • • 1d ago

Advice needed Help Finding Long Lost Notebook

2 Upvotes

I wish I had a picture, but sadly I don’t as it was almost 10 years ago. I’m looking for an A4 softcover notebook. I believe it might have also come in A3. I bought it in a stationary store in London (wish I could remember which).

* Quite thin & light (perhaps no more than 100 pages)
* Thread/stitch bound
* Able to be folded cover to cover (360 degrees)
* Ruled

The notebook’s styling was incredibly plain. It only had a small “box” on the front with two lines for a title and author. The one I had was yellow but the color is unimportant.

Or, if you have any suggestions for a notebook that fits those criteria (i.e. A4/A3, thin, thread/stitch bound, 360 degree fold), I’d also really appreciate that! Thank you!


r/notebooks • • 1d ago

Need help finding a notebook!

Post image
20 Upvotes

Hi I am reaching out to this subreddit because I have been pulling my hairs trying to find a specific type of notebook with the following properties:

- Basic, hardcover leather notebook or journal
- No straps, ties, or any other attachments
- BLANK, non ruled or non lined paper

One would think that something like this would be easy to find but I have been looking for hours now to no avail.
I attached a picture for reference.


r/notebooks • • 1d ago

Review Schizzi e appunti nel giorno libero

Post image
7 Upvotes

r/notebooks • • 2d ago

Made my own notebook

Thumbnail
gallery
849 Upvotes

Recently started dabbling in book binding and am really happy with how this turned out !

I love unlined paper but also love the functionality of dot graph, so I made my own (very) light dot graph on mohawk superfine paper. I found this chiroygami paper I loved for the end papers ..so as an ode to fall, I decorated the front in Japanese maple leaves.

Now I just have to find the courage to use it 😉


r/notebooks • • 1d ago

Recommendation Best Notebook

Thumbnail
gallery
6 Upvotes

I got this notebook over two years ago while exploring internship opportunities at my university, but I only recently started putting it to good use for meetings, jotting down quick notes, planning projects, tracking progress, and more.
This is probably the BEST notebook I’ve ever owned!
What I love most is how incredibly thin and lightweight it is. I barely even notice it when carrying it around! The matte leather cover has a nice, grippy texture, and its soft, flexible design makes flipping through pages much easier compared to notebooks with rigid covers.
But my FAVORITE features have to be the built-in bookmark ribbon and elastic band!
The bookmark makes it easy to pick up right where I left off, while the elastic band keeps the notebook securely closed, preventing pages from flipping around on windy days or getting bent inside my backpack.
And here’s the best part: the elastic band doubles as a pen holder! I can tuck a pen underneath it and ALWAYS have one ready whenever I need it. It works especially well with bulkier pens, which I personally prefer.
It’s such a simple, practical design, but those little details make a HUGE difference in everyday use. Easily one of my favorite notebooks!