Can I suggest an idea stolen from elsewhere.

I propose to purchase a small pocket Moleskine squared (as the blank pages are reportedly not FP friendly) and make a starting creative journal entry (double page at most).

I would then post that on to the next person who will make their own entry. That person would the send it on to the next, and so forth. Eventually this Moleskine would collect the various missives of all contributers... in fact people later in the list will get the most enjoyment.

I volunteer to co-ordinate the exercise... in that I would start the process, collect the postal addresses of participants and inform by email who the next person should be who gets the journal. I will attempt to keep things sensible whilst maintaining good international coverage.

My personal preference would be to set up a seperate topic area or at least a sticky topic to keep track of this journal as it travels around... as most people have a digital camera, they could post their pages up before passing on. That way we can all enjoy the experience until our turn comes.

What do people think...?

I have been in the path of 5 travelling journals and unfortunately all 5 of them were lost never to be seen again.

It is a nice idea but the actual process of carrying it out seems to be rife with pitfalls for the book to fall into.


You can give it a try but I don't give it a high probablity of completion. Not to pe pessimistic just realistic as I've seen it tried and not work before.


Kurt H

I would be in, but like Kurt the ones I've seen so far all got lost.
So , if "we" do this it might be a good idea to make a topic and post the name of the person you are going to send it to with the shipping date, and maybe it'sa bit more expensive but ship with delivery confirmation ( for some reason I think those get lost less often ?? ).
Corien.

I would like to participate in Guy idea of the traveling notebook.

I do have a few suggestions, however.
1) Start small. Moleskine cahiers (they sell 3 for the price of one regularly sized moleskine pocket notebook) can be a good choice. Regular pocket sized moleskine notebooks have 192 pages. Each of the 3 cahiers have 64 pages
http://www.moleskine.com/eng/_interni/cata...ogo_cahiers.htm

By using small cahiers (small, less expensive notebooks) we can experiment the concept and fix the small issues that may come out. 64 pages, asuming 4 pages to 8 pages of writing per person may be spent and returned to its issuer after around 8 to 16 users. The regular sized Moleskins will require more postal trips and that will increase the possibility of loosing them on the mail or on someone's desk.

Also, small Moleskine cahiers are cheaper to ship (less weight). They can go on a regular envelope, so it doesn't require the need for a padded envelope or special shipping equipment. Make it easy on the writer/user and he/she will be less likely to loose or forget about the notebook.

2) Upgrade to Regular (Large) on the second go around - After a user has participated in a small Moleskine cahier, have them participate in a regular sized one. Maybe those users will have a) proven to be responsible to continue forwarding the notebooks and Maybe they like to write lenghtier notes that will justify the use of a larger notebook.

3) Pre-Include a list of people to forward the moleskine to. Include with the moleskine a list of names and addresses. Write over your address and forward to the next. That way, even if the issuer is on vacation or the current user/writer doesn't have access to e-mail, he/she will be able to forward it.

4) Have people put some skin in the game. I would be very happy to donate money to the issuer/coordinator for the initial materials. I would also be happy to buy notebooks/cahiers and issue them myself. The point is that those willing to part even with a small ammount of money ($4 for a cahier? (since they are 3 for $9.99 I think), show comittment, and may be more willing to continue in the game -- as they have already put some effort into it.

Hope these suggestions are welcome.

Regardless of if you like the suggestions or not, I would like to participate in the circulating notebook writings, and adhere to whichever rules are decided upon.

Oh, I definitely LOVE this idea! When it's all coordinated, let me know and I'll give you my address.

I second the idea of having a sticky post of person posting "A sent to B on 1/1/06". Then a post from B "B received from A on 1/2/06. Sent to C on 1/3/06".
There should be a limit of holding the book for a maximum of a week and if you're not able to fill anything in a week, you just send it to the next person with no entry.

It's a good idea to start the list from fresh so that new people who sign up are really in existence instead of those who have disappeared after some time.

I agree with using the smaller cahiers. And I also agree on placing a small contribution to be placed on the list. $1 per person. 10 people joining should be able to cover the cost of 3 books.

Paste on front of the book the rules of this game & attach a list of the addresses.

Oo. I would be in for this too!! Glad to contribute as well some cash. What a neat idea.

I love this idea, but the ones I've seen all got lost, never to be seen again I never got to write in them.

:'0(

Just seems like some people held on to them for months at a time that's why. A one week max. rule would be nice

Good idea. One week should be plenty. Besides, to get snapshot stuff, if you did it right away, might work better.

Is this targetted to FPN'ers only?

Otherwise, the Wandering Moleskine Poject starts its next round on May 1.

Bill

I have never heard about any of those journals ever making it. There is a flaw in the concept right from the start.

What about having all FPNers who want to participate send a written page or two to a designated person. They could be put together, scanned and a pdf file created. It could be revised and augmented regularly. I think this would be a nice archive/history of FPNers, and without the risk of losing anything.

I think starting small is a great idea. Too many people causes too many problems and there's many people who just don't send back. At least if we stick to FPN, we can easily contact them.

Well it sounds like there are a few people interested... some good suggestions as well.
I will have a go at drafting up some rules of the game and post soon.
I am happy to pay for the journal (but thanks for the offers) as it is probably simpler.


Further to my initial post, I too know about the problems with the Wandering Moleskine and other similar projects. By my judgement it was because people held onto it for too long... this was partly because some people were so artistic with their pages they challenged others to better them (which creates its own issues).

My proposition was to keep it simple, have one book and move it frequently. If people can scan or take photos before passing on, it would help keep a record in case it does get lost en route.

The issue I would like to sort out is that I am "uncomfortable" having a circulation list of every partipants postal address with the journal. Partly this is for security reasons in case it gets lost but also to assist if the idea takes off and people want to join whilst its on its travels. We all have access to email, I would be happy if people email me for the next address... plus I can shout at people if they are holding onto it too long.


Hey, this could all go wrong and the journal gets lost after three drops. Should that be a reason not to give it a go? I think not!

I think this is a great idea!

I have a scanner at home and I can deal with PDF files, so I could handle the letters. Nice envelopes could also be scanned and become part of the digital book (I have received some spectacular ones that deserve the honor; just check this one:
Envelope
(huge resolution, but it deserves it!).

I"m not sure I get the digital part of this?

I've heard of this being done. I once surfed onto a website where they had sent out 1000 journals and you could trace their route.

I've also heard the same being done with disposable cameras as well.


All this being said, I think it would be neat and I would definately participate.

It would be very fun to have one that is exclusive to The Fountain Pen Network here and would lesson the chances of being lost. We could also track the progress.

I'd go for something much much cheaper than a Molekine. I'm thinking those 88 cent composition books.


All this said, count me in.


Good luck!

Instead of a physical journal, I (or somebody else) will scan letters and envelopes and make a PDF file. This file will be updated regularly and made available through FPN.

The postal workers thanks you for writing an address out like that.

Do you think it would drive postal workers bananas if we all wrote out address in swirly designs? At least they're find something interesting to look at

That doesn't seem quite as fun somehow, but I can see it would limit the "loss" issue.

Guy,
I think this is a great idea and I would like to be part of it if it ever gets going

May be we should start a new thread about this idea.

It is fun to have a journal in hands, but it lasts only a few hours and completely disappears after, unless someone scans it... and we basically end up with the same thing than if writing to a unique point of contact.

One may think that a journal also has the advantage of having some continuity, but the ones that passed through my hands show that it does not. People write pretty much independently of what has been written before.

I actually like the fact that most entries are independent subjects. Makes things more interesting

Then, content-wise, there really is no reason to go around as a notebook, when all those pages can fly by themselves towards their mates

A great idea to initiate, Guy.

I smell a poll coming...? :bunny1:

I'm eager to participate.

I don't care how or who, but if someone sends me a small notebook, asks me to write someting interesting in it, and tells me whom to send it to, I'm eager to do it.

Do it your way and start it. If someone else has a better idea they can start it their way.

To reiterate: If it comes to me, I'll write in it and mail it on. Let's not improve the idea to death! :ph34r:

Andy

I like Andy's attitude.

Anyone with enough time to go and buy a notebook, write something on it who sends it to me and tells me who to send it to can count on me complying within three days of receiving the notebook.

And if there are multiple notebook 'issuers', even better, as it increases the opportunity to enjoy writing.

Count me in. PM me and I will gladly tell the Snail Mail address where to send it to. If postage or notebook costs are an issue I can offer to contribute a fair and nominal ammount for supplies and postage.

I would certainly love to particpate, regardless of how you finally decide to put this together.

Randy

The idea is interesting and it would be fun to read all of the different entries. The big issue I see is one that has been mentioned already, that of losing the journal. As a suggestion for this, I recommend not pre-listing all of the addresses. People move, sometimes frequently, and thus addresses change. Interests change. Someone interested in this now may not be interested in it in a few months when they may receive the journal. Instead of a pre-list of participants, I recommend having a simple web site to track interested people. Person entries could be accompanied by the journal images after that person has written their entry, provided, of course, that they can capture a digital image of the entry. A web site also has the benefit of allowing for a dynamic list of people. It would also be fun if the 'next in line' were randomly chosen. That may increase the fun factor just a little more.

Here is an example of how this could work.

Interested people enter their addresses (postal and email). When the journal is sent to someone, the journal can be tracked online for in transit, received, entry written, etc. When the entry is complete, the person could, optionally, upload an image of it. They then mark their record as completed and request the next person in line. The web site could email a query to a random person to see if they are ready. If a response is not received in a certain amount of time, another person could be selected and a query emailed to them. When someone responds, they are marked as pending and their postal address sent to the current journal holder, who would then mail the journal and mark their entry as mailed.

This may seem like a bit of work to manage, but the use of a web site can make the list much more dynamic and allow everyone to see the state of the journal. It would also reduce the likelihood of losing the journal because everyone would know who was supposed to have it. The postal addresses could also be mapped so we can track the route online. That might be possible with a list of google earth entries, though I have not checked to see how that would work.

As a very simplified version of this, a single coordinator person could handle the details and post a single page with the updates.

Unfortunately I have seen at least 3 journals go missing from just such a website based system.


Not to keep being a wet blanket but I've seen too many journals go missing to expect anything else from happening.


Kurt H

Did this project die off?

No, it didn't die. I received a journal, enjoyed reading the previous entry, wrote in it (scribbled, actually) and sent it off to the next person on the list.

It's going on but there isn't all that much to say about it once it starts.

Andy

How do you get on the list?

Someone sent me a Pm about it and I added my address.

I received the Circulating Journal Anes 001: a lovely small Moleskine notebook that will be scriblled on and forwarded to Betty Lee.

Jose Anes did a great job, preparing a small set of clear instructions.

Thanks for starting this project!

Alejandro

And another one is going to Betty -- the timing worked that way -- I received one in the mail last week, wrote several pages, and mailed it out. I'm also going to try experimenting with the same style of book with folks in another online forum, just to see what happens.

Both Are Still Alive - Third About to Be Released

I am excited to find out that the first two Circulating Journals are still alive and circulating around the world after the first month.

Things I have learned so far in this experimental project:
1. Snail Mail Is Slow - Even with responsible participants like the ones we have, it may take a couple of months before the same journal circulates back to you. It may be worthwhile to participate in more than one Circulating Journal or even issue your own journals into circulation.
2. People Like The Simplicity - offered by the pocket Moleskine cahier. The small and thin form factor allows for someone to quickly scribble / write anything that comes up to their mind on the Journal and ship it easily to the next particpant. Two first class stamps and a standard letter sized envelope is all they need.

Once the first Journal circulates back to me, I will celebrate its first successfull round with a third Circulating Journal.

Please, PM me your snail mail address if you want to be included into the third one (or even fourth and fift ones if I get too many addresses -- I like to keep each circulation to a maximum of 6).

Also, I envisioned this experimental project so that there is no real ownership about it. If you want to issue your own Circulating Journal and include me, I will be happy to scribble / write on the journals you send, and forward it to the next participant. I am providing a template for the instructions and address list if you want to use it with your own Circulating Journals.

Thanks for your participation,

-- Jose
My Weblog

Received the Circulating Journal Anes 002 from Velma and is being forward to Joe S. tomorrow!

Circulating Journal #2 completed its first round and it is ready to start its second round (circulating again within its closed loop of writers). It will go with tomorrow's mail towards Andrew.

Circulating Journal #3 has also been launched and it arrived its first participant yesterday: Randy.

Circulating Journal #1 left Brazil towards New York City on March 7th. Betty should receive it soon.

Thanks for participating on this project. So far it has been very exciting. Reading your journal entries has been very enjoyable. Also, I have appreciated the decorations, postal stamps, and the variety of inks and pens used as well as the varied writing styles.

I intend to launch another circulating journal soon.
If you want to participate, drop me a line and I will include you on it.

I have to say that this small circulating journal project is way cool, and much fun! I'm looking forward to the Journal #2 making its way back to me, and have started one with a different group of online friends that's making its way through the world. Sixty-three cents once a month for hours of fun! Whee!

Okay. I'm a bit giddy today, but it is really cool to have a rambling conversation in handwriting with people.

I've been checking my mail everyday this week and disappointed each time I'm a bti worried. It's more than a week already.

Hi Betty,

I posted as registered prioritary mail with tracking code (RC935703446BR). The envelope left Brazil on March 8th, as far as I can see on the local system. Is is possible for you to check with your postal service the whereabouts of the envelope?

Letters are taking a long time to arrive. One from Texas to Brazil took a month!

Alejandro

I have seen a recent slowdown even in domestic mail. I don't know what the deal is. More scanning than usual?

Ok, I got it on tuesday. Sorry I couldn't contact everyone sooner, as I was very busy. I wrote a bit and sent it on.

Still catching up to pages of posts...

After a long trip traveling from Brazil, ANES001 finally found its way to New York City on the 25th. What a trip! 18 days.

Circulating Journals Last Seen:

Circulating Journal #1 - Last seen safely landing in New York after a long and tortuous trip from the southern hemisphere! Our postal systems work fine! They just take some time. (Initial Launch Date: Feb 8 2006)

Circulating Journal #2 - After completing its first round around the USA, it was last seen in a mailbox on March 20th, on its way towards Texas (amh210). (Initial Launch Date: Feb 9 2006)

Circulating Journal #3 - Last seen wandering around Utah on March 20, moving from one participant to antother in the same state (EdelmaK). (Initial Launch Date: March 11 2006)

Circulating Journal #4 - Southpaw is happy to have just received it before sending it on its way towards the west coast. (Initial Launch Date: March 17 2006)

Circulating Journal #5 - Still in my desk, waiting to be dropped on a mailbox today towards our neighboring state RI. (Initial Launch Date: March 26 2006)

I have been asked by Duncan in Australia to send a journal his way. I was wondering if we have other participants in Asia / Pacific who may want to participate, so that the poor journal can enjoy it while on that side of the world before taking the 24 hour trip back. (I have made the round-trip to Australia four times already and I know it takes a toll on you).

As always, any new participants are welcome.

Hi,

I have participated in two travelling journals so far, and they are both alive.

In both cases I have been in the first positions, so I would now like to receive one in its final stages.

New inks are coming (thanks Natalie @ The Inked Nib!), and I would love to try them on an almost full journal.

Alejandro

Jose,

I have just been nicely directed back here (thanks Ryan! ) due to the Asia-Pacific circuit. I'll send you a PM shortly.


G.

ANES001 left New York on March 29, 2006 towards Andrew.

Received Anes :003 today! Very fun. Will send it on this weekend. Wow. This is even more fun than I thought.