Felix Martin could be Austria’s – and possibly the world’s – biggest notebook addict. Beginning his note-taking journey whilst holed up in barracks during military service, Felix has gone on to build a journalling system that uses more than 50 notebooks simultaneously.
I spoke to Felix to get his thoughts on why pen, paper (and leather) have become such an important part of his life, and his advice on starting your own journalling journey.
How and why did you start note taking?
I never used to write much apart from in school. Certainly I never used to write in my free time. Then, when I was 19, I had to do seven months of military service in the Austrian army.
There’s not much privacy in the army. You sleep in a dorm with a bunch of other guys, and you’re with other people all day. But although there was lots of small talk and joking around, we didn’t talk deeply. On the contrary, I often felt quite lonely.
Part of the job involved guarding the barracks for 24-hour shifts. We had to sit around doing nothing. We weren’t allowed smartphones, headphones or even to read anything except the Austrian army handbook. The only thing that was permitted was writing notes. So that’s what I did.
I started using scraps of paper and then an old school exercise book. At first I thought I had nothing interesting to say. But I tried anyway, and began jotting down notes about faraway places, like the ocean, or scenes from my dreams.
I worried that if someone else read my notes, I would become a laughingstock. But the more I wrote, the more I liked it; the feel of the pen on the paper; the feeling of jotting down an idea, which would lead to another idea, then other. It became an escape for me during those long and boring times in the army.
Do you really use 50 notebooks at the same time?
I actually use 59! So yes, I really have a big system. Of course I don't carry all my journals with me. But whenever I have a thought or idea I want to record, I have a specific notebook for it.
Why so many journals?
I like to have a journal for every different area, so that I have separation. For example, for university I use the portfolios which are bigger so I have more space to write and carry my course materials. For personal stuff, I like grand voyageurs [xl] because I love the simplicity, and the size.
I often start a new journal if I think something warrants it. For example, if I am reading a book which I find really, really interesting, then I start a new notebook, for notes only about that book.
How does your note-taking and journalling system work?
Most importantly, my note taking system must be functional. So, although I do have almost 60 different notebooks, everything begins in my small, pocket notebook, and I use progressively larger sizes for longer and deeper work. To give you an example:
grand voyageur [pocket] (in black)
This is where everything starts. I always carry this with me, from the bar to the gym to the U-Bahn. Whenever I have an idea that I want to record, this is where I capture it first.
grand voyageur [xl] (in black)
This is for all my reading notes. I have to read a lot of books and journals for university, and this is where I record my thoughts about those.
portfolio [a5] (in black)
For all my work notes at my day job at paper republic, and for my university studies, I like the portfolio’s larger size.
I am always looking for ways to improve my system. Over the last year I’ve been playing with expanding, then condensing it. Sometimes I love it because it’s so big it gives me so much room, but other times I feel like it’s too big!
How important is the appearance of your journals to you?
Very. When I was in the military I was just writing my notes on scraps of paper and folding them up. It worked for a bit, but I quickly found that it was neither aesthetically pleasing, nor functional. When I got serious about note taking, I realised that loose paper does not work; it's hard to organize, and it's unsatisfying to reread.
I knew I needed a notebook system. That’s when I found paper republic. Their leather journals and paper refills cost more than the scraps of paper I had been using, but it was completely worth it.
You write a lot of notes! How often do you go back and read what you’ve written?
I often think ‘what was I thinking this time last year?’ So once or twice a week I look back at older entries. It's a great feeling. And it helps me to really see if I have solved issues of the past or if I'm still dealing with the same problems.
You have several different coloured leather journals: does colour play a part in your note-taking system?
My journal colours are more based on my favourites than my system. I have black, red and natural leather journals, but black is my favourite. I love the simple and natural look.
What type of paper do you use?
I love blank paper for creative projects and sketching. And lined for more structured writing.
You have developed a system of symbols for your note-taking; tell us about it.
I add a narrow margin to all my notebooks using a ruler and pencil. And in this margin, I add different symbols which have a meaning for me. For example:
* = important or good passage
? = passage that I don't understand
“three dots that form a triangle” = summarizing text passage
My symbol system helps me find notes faster in the notebook when I’m looking back through.
You started on scraps of paper, you moved on to exercise books, and you’ve tested lots of other journals. What made you stick with paper republic?
Firstly, I love the leather covers. It’s really important for me to have something in my hand that I love to look at, and love to touch. If you don’t love your journal, you won’t use it often.
Secondly, there’s the functionality, which is even more important. The way I can switch out my different paper notebooks so easily. It’s perfect for someone like me who has so many notebooks on different topics. It’s just so flexible and so functional.
Have you ever used note taking software rather than pen and paper?
When I was 17, I would sometimes write notes on my MacBook but after a while I stopped and went back to pen and paper. Why? I just love the simplicity. And I really dislike the distraction of using a computer or app.
Even seeing a word underlined in red by the spellcheck annoys me. And smartphones are awful for concentration because you get bombarded with messages and alerts and updates. It breaks the flow of thoughts and hampers creativity.
But writing in my journal with a pen – it’s just a feeling of peace. With paper, I write without distraction. Plus there’s no battery to worry about.
You come from a generation of digital natives. Do you think more people are (re)discovering pen and paper?
Lots of people my age are experiencing problems of sensory overload; the huge amount of information on the internet, the huge numbers of messages you get. It’s very distracting and it causes problems with focus.
So I think many people are trying to reduce time on the internet, or on social media. Going back to pen and paper is one way of reducing those distractions. Since I showed some of my friends my notebooks, they started using them too.
I think it's the simplicity which we all love. It just feels naturally right. When I write, it makes me feel like I am doing something that is genuinely helping me, rather than wasting time scrolling through junk on my phone.
Of course, writing on a computer has its place too. I would never write a university essay in my notebook! But for my personal projects, pen and paper work better for me.
What’s your advice for choosing a journal?
Firstly you need to accept that there is no perfect journal. I should know! So think about what you want your journal for. Is it for writing notes on the go? Then you need something that fits in your pocket – like a grand voyageur [pocket].
Is it for writing longer, more detailed pieces, then I would go for something bigger like a grand voyageur [xl]. Do you want to sketch or paint? In which case consider an [a4] grand voyageur or perhaps a portfolio.
It’s also important to have a journal that you love. The more you love to look at it and touch it and smell it (paper republic’s vegetable-tanned leather smells so good!) the more you will want to write or draw in your journal. So get one which pleases you.
What did you write in your journal yesterday?
Yesterday I was thinking a lot about my note-taking system, because I had an idea of how I want to change it, and wrote some notes about that. So I was making notes about making notes!
Finally, you are clearly a very keen writer. Would you like to become a published author one day?
Yes, it’s certainly a dream of mine to write a book. But it's also a dream that scares me because my writing is so personal. I dream of writing something that others will read but at the same time I question if I really want people to read it!
Especially because my characters are very similar to real people. For example, I have been writing a story where the main character is pretty similar to me; he’s my extreme version. But then I wonder if people would read it and say:
“Do you really think that? Is that really your opinion about your friends and family?”
Writing a full-length book and getting it published does remain a dream, so perhaps in future I will see how I feel about it.
For now, I just keep writing for myself in my notebooks.
Felix is now one of our customer support stars and frequently helps people choose the right journal. Get his expert advice by scheduling a live video demo with him.