Here is a draft of my design in progress: link to PDF. It's hosted on my site so I can update it and remove it when the final is done.

This borrows from the Cornell design, but puts the other pane on the right. I have trouble writing at the right edge because my hand is not supported, especially when holding the pad in my lap. So, why not put the primary note-taking area in the place that's easiest to write? Likewise, the large area at the bottom for summary or for extended title labeling. I may further reduce the area at the top to make more "prime" room.

Notice that the rules in the main area are set up for my cursive italic practice. That is customizable. The right pane has the same main rules but more subtle. The Cornell paper does not rule the secondary areas.

A feature you may notice is a calendar at the bottom. Makes it easy to date the page! For work and schedule stuff, can mark a week or range with a penstroke, too.

The top margin has very faint rules so it can guide placement of titles or caption, page, etc. I'm thinking of doing the same thing on the bottom area, but I'm not sure. That's what I'd like more suggestions on.

--John

John,
I am confused - is there a specific purpose for this paper? is it designed for work? For doodling in class? I like the large spacing for cursive writing practice. I would want to leave the section at the bottom without lines; it is nice to have a small space geared for freeform work, something "out of the box" if you will.

I don't know how I feel about the calendar addition. I can always write the date on my own without a calendar in front of me. Will you have to print in smaller batches to get the paper used up before you literally run out of time?

Sharon in Indiana

It's for my Rollabind, which I'll use for taking notes or doing engineering at work, and generally carrying around in my computer case.



Since it is loose-leaf, I have no trouble printing up a few at a time. I might add seasonal and topical features. And the calendar covers several months so I can get ahead. Worst case is I just end up ignoring it.

Oh, I see, both about the use and the calendar. I still like the idea of a little free doodling space; I use Levenger's notepads, and while I don't always use the doodle space it is nice to have it. My husband, on the other hand, is a massive doodler and ignores all lines on paper as he constantly draws house plans!

Sharonpens,

Thanks for mentioning the Levenger's. I have to try them out. They perform well with you FP?

sharon, do you use the Circa notebooks? Those look really interesting. Right now my primary use for my pens is for novel writing. Seems like a good way to go about it - easy to move scenes around, add to the "bible" etc.

Hiya, no I haven't tried the Circa notebooks (though I have seen good comments about them from others). I actually have the annotation notepads, letter-sized. Currently using the yellow sheets, but will probably switch back to white. Expensive, but they work very well with FP ink.

Sharon