The problem with technology is often it is invented without need. Sometimes, it is invented with a need in mind, but turns out to be far better suited for another need the inventor never considered. Such is the case with Google Notebook.
Google Notebook pitches itself as a way to save parts of the web for later reference. Admittedly, it does this quite well. Once setup (Notebook requires an account and a browser plugin), you simple select some text you want to save and click the plus icon that appears. You have an option to add some notes to the clipping, and even keep multiple notebooks for organization. Besides selecting text, you can add an entry manually by a menu or clicking an icon in your status bar.
Google Notebook does it's job quite well (even if it lacks an RSS feed of your notes). The problem is I have little need for this. I already have a few ways to remember a site for follow up or to blog, and google notebook is just an extra step for me. I installed Google Notebook, checked it out, and there is sat for a week or so before i found a better use.
I've been reading Writing Fiction in an attempt to finish all these story ideas that come to me. The need to keep a journal is stressed, but I'm horrible at it. I've tried carrying notebooks of various sizes, but I always end up needing a pen or worse, finding I've left the notebook at home. Plus, my handwriting is - well to be honest - illegible. The book mentions using a computer and I began to wonder how that would work. I am always around a computer, and it doesn't need a pen.
Here is where google notebook comes in. When the idea hits I click the google notebook icon, and in the popup window type the thought and click save. I can then go back to doing what I was before; my browser hasn't changed any pages or shifted to a new screen. This is very useful to make journal notes while at work.
Another suggested method for writers is free writing. This is a process where one writes without stopping to consider what has been written. The goal is to shut off the internal critic and get down on paper the idea. Google Notebook has been great here as well. During a break, I open a new popup and start writing. I write straight for five minutes, not reading what I've written and putting down anything that pops in my head. Has this helped me? I think so.
Yesterday I finished the first draft of a short story. It's 4500 words, or about 8 pages long. What was impressive to me is I wrote the draft in little over 3 hours. That's about 25 words a minute. Now, this is a very rough draft, full of grammar and spelling errors, but the victory here is I have a compete story that is ready to begin revisions. I have Google Notebook to thank for this.
Posted By Mike On Sunday, June 04, 2006
Filed under google review notebook |
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