This week the question I have been thinking about is, WHY do I have such a hard time taking consistent notes?
Recently I read a post by Fiktshun at Fiktshun's Ramblings where she talked about her note taking skills which got me thinking about my notes. I started taking notes because I thought it would be easier to write my reviews if I had notes on the books I was reading. But what I have come to realize is that my note taking skills need to be improved. I just end up frustrated because the notes I ended up taking were not very effective. For example I had a ton of notes for The Demon Trapper's Daughter but for the next book in the series I wrote down three notes. Yeah that doesn't exactly help me write a review especially since I've read about 18 books since I read Soul Thief.
I think what I need to do is improve my note taking skills so that I write info on each character, I tend to forget to put details about characters in my reviews. I usually have plenty to say about the main characters but secondary characters usually get over looked even though they are usually essential parts of the main character's life. It would also be beneficial if I wrote more about what I thought about the story, was it predictable, exciting, original, and why was it that way. I always forget the why. In other words I need to take better notes because as of now they aren't too useful.
Additionally I need to realize I am not going to remember how I felt about the book weeks later. I always think, Oh I'll remember what I wanted to write about the book, but that never happens. I have a horrible memory so I need to take detailed notes. I thought about writing my notes in the margins of the book, like I did in college, but I tend to lend my books out and who wants to know what I was thinking when I read the book. I also need to expand on my notes writing great ending has me eager for next book is not entirely helpful. I need to write why I thought the ending was great because like I said earlier I won't remember even though I think I will.
Do you take notes? And if you do is there some kind of system you follow? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated as I need all the help I can get when it comes to note taking.
This is such an interesting question! I should probably take notes - it'd definitely help to remember every nuance, but specially to tell books apart when I go on a rampage and read through the whole series in a never ending tandem.
ReplyDeleteThe truth, though... I don't do notes. Not because I shouldn't, or because I don't find them useful, or because I don't know how... It's a matter of principle. If I take notes, reviewing starts feeling like my day job, wherein I also review books and advice on whether the pub house should buy them or not. And... I'm not paid for my personal blog. I want to keep it stress-free, even if I'm only half-managing, but avoiding notes like the plage helps a little.
So... that's my weird answer for the day ;)
I hear you on the reading rampage which is the reason I decided to take notes so that I don't mix up plots and characters.
DeleteTaking notes really doesn't make reading seem like work to me. I understand keeping work and reading separate so that reading stays fun.
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