Keeping Notes:
Making notes as a writer is essential. It means that you can jot down ideas as they occur to you.
Moleskine http://www.moleskine.com/ produce my favourite notebooks; they really invite the written word. They are made with soft covers, and quality paper that is a real pleasure to use, and they have a pocket inside the back cover that is perfect for storing things. They come in three sizes, the first two being handy for carrying around, for when inspiration strikes. They are bit more expensive than other notebooks which is why I only have one at the moment - the 2012 Diary and Planner. I have not been too good at keeping a regular diary in the past, but the Moleskine has changed all that, and I have kept this one completely up to date.....so far. One day, I shall invest in a few more goodies from their range.
Most of the big supermarkets and stationers carry ranges of notebooks, some spiral bound, with indexed dividers and plastic pockets, and all sorts of other things to help you organize your ideas and notes. It’s a good idea to carry a note book,a small pocket-sized one for convenience, with you when you are out and about; you never know when you might need it.
Index cards are another way of keeping notes. The novelist Anne Tyler favours this method when building up the characters, plots and backgrounds to her wonderful novels. They are very handy for making individual notes.
Some writers carry portable voice recorders around with them so that they can dicate their thoughts verbally, then transfer them to paper or computer when they get back to their home or office.
For some writers, the tools they use are really important; for others, any old ballpoint pen will do. I am one of the former; I really do like a good pen and will spend some time trying one out before I buy it.
http://www.cultpens.com/acatalog/Uni-Ball.html sell some lovely pens from a really extensive range.
This is my favourite http://www.cultpens.com/acatalog/Uni-Ball_Signo_207_RT_Gel_Rollerball.html and when I can’t find that one, I choose this http://www.cultpens.com/acatalog/Uni-Ball_Vision_Elite_Rollerball.html Both make hand-writing a real pleasure.