Austin Kleon’s Genius Note-Taking System

I'm Stealing These Note-Taking Methods (You Should Too!)

What connections could you discover by reviewing all facets of your life at once?

Austin Kleon—the prolific and endlessly creative author of Steal Like an Artist and Show Your Work—believes note-taking is one of the best ways to unlock those hidden ideas. His process is intentional, multidimensional, and designed to spark creative breakthroughs.

Kleon’s approach has me rethinking how I engage with my own thoughts and ideas. Here’s what I’ve learned from reflecting on his methods—and how they might reshape the way you create.

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The Power of Morning Intentionality

Imagine starting your day not by diving into your phone or inbox, but by dedicating time to your thoughts.

Kleon describes spending 30 minutes with his notebooks every morning, often with all of them open at once. This image captures my imagination.

Relationships—whether with people or ideas—are built through intentionality.

By giving your thoughts a dedicated space each morning, you nurture connections between them.

What insights might emerge when a quote jotted down yesterday meets a half-formed thought from last week or a journal entry from this morning?

Life is multidimensional, and perhaps our ideas should be allowed to collide just as freely.

A Notebook for Every Purpose

Kleon’s system of using separate notebooks for distinct purposes resonates deeply. Each serves a specific role, and together, they form a dynamic creative ecosystem. Here’s a glimpse into the types of notebooks he uses—and how they might inspire fresh ways of thinking:

The Logbook

Its purpose is to capture what happens—whether meaningful or mundane.

I already do something like this, recording moments that stand out. It might be a quirky interaction, a phrase I mangled, or a time God provided for my family. Reviewing these entries feels like pouring a cup of life back into my soul. They remind me of God’s goodness and that life is meant to be lived, not just documented.

Commonplace Book

This notebook serves as a quote database—a collection of words that can inspire and spark creativity.

Words have the power to give life. They can shift perspectives, move hearts, and spark action. Quotes are like seeds of inspiration, waiting for the right moment to grow into something meaningful.

The Diary

The diary is for spending time with your thoughts, exploring what’s beneath the surface, and seeing if anything interesting emerges.

I don’t journal as often as I’d like, but I’ve done it enough to know its value. Journaling is like turning on a faucet—you let the “crappy water” flow out first, making room for clarity and fresh ideas.

What if your next breakthrough isn’t something you need to take in, but something already tucked inside, waiting to be let out?

The Pocket Notebook

This is for capturing ideas while out in the world—a tool for writing and drawing wherever inspiration strikes.

For me, this aligns with capturing “sparks.” It might be a random idea, a lyric, a verse, or even a crappy sketch. About two months ago, I started keeping a field notebook for this purpose. Physically writing things down has been unexpectedly rewarding—it’s a small but meaningful way to stay connected to the world around me.

My biggest takeaway from Kleon’s process is the idea of opening all the notebooks at once.

It’s about building relationships with your thoughts and letting those relationships create something new.

Maybe it’s time to open all the notebooks and see where the connections lead.

Keep thinking deep & wide,

Greg