Notebooking in public is a bit of an issue for me.  I love all the varying stimuli and I adore the hunt for a great spot to Notebook.  The problem, for me, is two-fold.

I don’t want to seem like a crazy person who is having a quiet yet feverish “episode.”  I, also, don’t want to be the guy who brings out a notebook only to have people begin whispering, “Where’s his man-bun and ill attempted beard?” “Where’s his chunky bracelet and thumb ring?”

Maybe I’m being self-conscious.  Maybe everyone is awash with the light of their smart devices and doesn’t even know I’m there.  Unfortunately, I have evidence to the contrary.  Allow me to explain:

Thinking that there were 2 pitfalls to avoid, let’s call them “Quiet psychotic episode” and “Man-bun poet,” I decided to attempt to strike a new image of the Notebooker.  The Notebooker is not scary like “Quiet psychotic episode” nor cringe-y and off-putting like “Man-bun poet.”

With these 2 stereotypes to avoid, I, as if using a checklist, attempted 2 things: 1.)  Since Notebooking is fun and writing humor is VERY fun, I would laugh more while writing.  2.)  In an attempt to subvert my perceived expectation that feverishly writing in a notebook is scary, I decided to actively open up my posture.  Spread out my body and belongings thus making me less scary and more approachable.

In what should have been obvious to me before my ill fated attempt, I was now a new stereotype.  I was the crazy person cackling to himself while taking up a rude amount of space!

So I did what I always do when faced with a social dilemma.  I talked to friends and I observed people.  After a time, I found what seems to work.

I stand before you, dear reader, with a contrite heart and a half-empty notebook to offer a few ideas.  Not rules!  I think I gave up that right when I invented a whole new way to be obnoxious in public.  What follows are just some ideas.  Ideas that have worked for me since that embarrassing day:

• Don’t laugh at what you wrote  Seriously, I cannot state this enough.  Cackling at what you wrote will clear the room!
• Keep your body language open  Try to keep your posture more “affable/approachable” and less “crazy person scribbling”  This is easier than you might think.  Warning:  This tends to cause people to approach you, more on that later.
• Look up often  If you’re waiting at the DMV or something similar, look up often.  You don’t want to miss your turn¹.
• Find a good spot  Try to find a spot where someone won’t be looking over your shoulder.  It may happen anyway.  It does to me.  When I have a notebook out people tend to find reasons to sit next to me.  Not only is this distracting but, trust me when I tell you, the person who looks over your shoulder while you write isn’t one you want to be around.  A little bit of looking around really helps.
• Don’t take up a rude amount of space  It’s easy to forget you’re in public when in the throws of creativity.  Don’t be that person.  I was that person and I’m still cringing.
• When someone talks to you  If/when someone talks to you (particularly about your writing) be friendly and polite yet brief.
• Be aware of your surroundings  And finally, pay attention to what’s going on around you and keep an open mind and page.  You never know when the next interesting to write about will happen.

1. One of these days I’ll tell the story of how I spent and extra 3 hours waiting to get my driver’s license renewed!