Field Notes Writing Samples

[johntdavis]

I got a Field Notes booklet as a thank you for participating in the Safecast Kickstarter fundraiser. I've had it sitting on my desk for a while and finally came up with a use for it. In an experiment to see if it helps me remember more the little details (and to make it easier to write a review), I've begun taking notes in it when I read fiction. It's really nice, since, because of the size, I can easily open it up on top of an open book and scribble down a sentence or two. It also makes a great bookmark. So far it's got my scribbles in it from Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and J-Pod.

 

Bottom line: With Japanese/Euro Fine nibs, you're not going to get perfect, no bleeding/no shadowing/no feathering behavior. But ink dries incredibly quickly (arguably vital for something you're jotting quick notes in), remains legible (well, to the extent writing on your lap on top of an open novel doesn't mess with your writing, as it did mine), and is, well, fun. I felt like I was taking Secret Notes about Important Things.

 

(Note, the showthrough/shadowing doesn't really bother me. I actually kind of find it neat; it's not bleed through (mostly), and it gives the notebook a great, used appearance. It's not enough to be distracting, and to further lessen the problem, I've taken to writing in different directions on every page. So on one page I write left to right from top to bottom, and the next I write from left to right with the memo book turned on its side (long side of paper at the top). This way your brain isn't as likely to pick up that the colorful lines behind the current page is more writing, and try to read it.)

 

That said, the European Fine + Perle Noire is getting into the range of what I would consider "too much feathering" on this paper. I can still read it, but ... I definitely won't be using that combo again with this notebook. (I probably should have chosen to use a less wet inks, but I don't really own any. The Diamine Sherwood Green seems drier, but it's in a medium VP that practically spits ink, so, no.)

 

Edit: I should probably point out that the Horsetail seemed to be the best behaved on the paper of the three. Yama-Budo is wetter, and Perle Noire, as I said, is trying hard to be unusable.

 

Definitely loving Field Notes. I've already ordered a leather FN case from Renaissance Arts.

 

Here's a couple photos taken with my iPhone. Click for normal size. The camera actually makes the shadow/show-through look worse than it is in normal light.

 

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Edited September 7, 2011 by johntdavis

[Uncle Red]

Thanks, I'd been wondering about these.