The text of the commonplace book is based upon the edition prepared by david e. Commonplace book roger alexander math and more commonplace book the american scholar monthly. If games from the commonplace book project at jay is games. Tupac shakurs journal of observations and rap hooks provides key insights into the legendary rappers dark creative process. Anger and cruelty disfigure public discourse and lying is commonplace.
The first 201 entries were typed by barlow from the original notebook in may 1934 with lovecraft anoting previous and writing new ideas in the. It provides a brief history and introduction for those new to the like like. My commonplace book provided much of the material for that article too, which probably cut my writing time in half. Working from high resolution photos of an original in the library of congress, the h. Welcome to night vale is a podcast written by joseph fink and jeffrey cranor, and produced by commonplace books.
This blog began as a way to share the contents of my commonplace book. Auden says in his forthcoming one, a sort of autobiography. It motivates us to look for and keep only the things we can use. At the back of my commonplace books is a tagbased index. I thought i might discuss my routine for keeping a commonplace book. The contents cover drafts of songs and poems, observations, ideas, epitaphs, etc. Each 2030 minute long episode is narrated almost entirely by cecil baldwin and takes the form of a twicemonthly podcast in the style of community updates for the small desert town of night vale, featuring local weather, news. Our collection of unique books and small goods are thoughtfully curated by a small, caring staff with great input from our community. Well, it seems that it is something that ive kept most of my life. Howard phillips lovecraft, of providence, rhode island, was an american author of horror, fantasy and science fiction. Maybe you like a small journal with tiny entries, small sentences, small nuggets of joy and guidance you can reread over and over. It was a short book on how to write weird fiction that. Very few are actually developed plotsfor the most part they are merely suggestions or random impressions designed to set the memory or imagination working.
This article has been reproduced in a new format and may be missing content or contain faulty links. Read what we can learn about our past from commonplace books. The nook book ebook of the a commonplace book of the weird. Take the parts you like, and leave out the parts you dont. Jun 01, 1987 howard phillips lovecraft, of providence, rhode island, was an american author of horror, fantasy and science fiction. See more ideas about commonplace book, books and book journal.
Or, as i am fond of putting it, you are what you read. Written by jamie on may 15, 2009 in basics of self education, learning tips 11 comments. And remember, to stay in the loop about all things lovecraft, subscribe to this website top right side of this page, join us on facebook, and follow me on twitter. Whats most amazing is that the commonplace book has never really gone out of style, though these days its more of a nerds project. If you are new to commonplace books, i recommend reading my post a brief guide to keeping a commonplace book. Apr 16, 2019 a brief guide to keeping a commonplace book posted on february 25, 2018 april 16, 2019 by notebookofghosts i had the opportunity to write for dirge magazine while it was still online rest in peace. In a previous blog post, i wrote about why my commonplace book matters to me. Commonplace books, quotation and misquotation sources. Let me give you a few examples of what you might want to compile in your commonplace book. Lovecraft s major inspiration and invention was cosmic horror.
After you finish the book, put it down for a week or so. Hp lovecraft commonplace book comp and exhibit rgif thread, begun on april 9, 2007. Jul 05, 2011 read 221 weird and fascinating ideas h. Need fantastic helpful hints regarding personal development. I find that i write about daily life or thoughts i am having. Jan 28, 2018 i keep a commonplace book because i want to keep track of the best articles and books i read. Now, the internet and its various keepsake websites serve as our modernday commonplace books. However they have been something that i do sporadically and not continuously.
Jan 24, 2014 a commonplace book is a way to keep our learning priorities in order. By the eighteenth century, they were known in englishspeaking countries as commonplace books, a translation of the latin locis communis. If the web is a wild, furiously creative ecosystema rainforest, saythe commonplace book is a private vegetable patch. A commonplace book is a way to keep our learning priorities in order.
Opposed to my wellresearched posts, these are simply interesting things i have been reading about. It was written by people who had no idea what was going to happen to their writing. Lovecraft invented a horrific world to escape a nihilistic universe. This was a notebook in which lovecraft jotted down his various ideas, many of them disjointed and cryptic. A few years ago, i read an article by author ryan holiday about how and why to keep a commonplace book. Creating a commonplace book is actually very simple. Schultz has been active in lovecraft research since the mid1970s, as a charter member of the esoteric order of dagon and necronomicon amateur press associations. Designed to be carried with you at all times, this journal is used to document the most important things you read, hear, or experience each day. A brief guide to keeping a commonplace book notebook of ghosts. Special collections visiting scholars commonplace books. The commonplace journal is a daily selfimprovement guide based on the 600 year old tradition of the commonplace book and the latest in modern neuroscience and memory research. Commonplaces are used by readers, writers, students, and scholars as an aid for remembering useful concepts or.
A personal record of learning and selfdevelopment commonplace books are personal journals where a reader collects, classifies and organizes short, memorable pieces of learning and information regarding interests he or she may have. Defining the weird this paper asks you to use either the term defamiliarization or abjection to make an argument about one of lovecraft. Historically, a commonplace book was a handwritten notebook, a place to store quotations, ideas, reading notes, scraps of conversation, etc. The results are as varied as the artists behind them. The benefits of keeping a commonplace book accidental. Commonplace bookthis article has been reproduced in a new format and may be missing content or contain faulty links. Lovecraft kindle edition by parsons, zack, cranor, jeffrey, bashwiner, meg, lottschwartz, hannah, marquis, justin, fink, joseph. Im tweaked my method for notetaking and keeping a bit thanks to all the insights and varying styles of commonplace keeping. These italian merchants brought their books to the foreign cities they traded with, and they caught on. Emerson, coleridge, twain, and lovecraft all kept commonplace books, so when you do get started on your own, youll be in good company. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading a commonplace book of the weird.
Lovecraft has developed a cult following for his cthulhu mythos, a howard phillips lovecraft, of providence, rhode island, was an american author of horror, fantasy and science fiction. Commonplace journal premium selflearning and improvement. Commonplace books or commonplaces are a way to compile knowledge, usually by writing information into books. A brief guide to keeping a commonplace book notebook of. In my commonplace book is a regular series in which i share the recent scribblings from my commonplace book. Lovecraft s commonplace book over 200 ideas for stories by lovecraft himself. A commonplace book, if youre unfamiliar, is a notebook, digital or otherwise, that you fill with information like ideas from books, notes from courses, thoughtprovoking quotes, and more.
Zack parsons, jeffrey cranor, meg bashwiner, hannah lottschwartz, justin marquis, joseph fink. Bleak world view there was an article recently about how happiness is lacking. It was edited and laid out by someone working on a foldout card table in the early morning hours, before boarding the subway to work. Structuring a commonplace book jenny rallens method. Lovecrafts commonplace book, on the 70th anniversary of his death. Lovecraft historical society has created a typographic replica of the 1938 edition. The only requirement for the writersto create a piece that fulfilled every part of lovecraft s original vision. Lovecraft s commonplace book as inspiration for stories, drawings, a few now defunct textbased games, and multiple projects since. Sources for good quotations and for researching questionable quotes.
The commonplace book project 2007 the events homepage. Hp lovecraft commonplace book comp and exhibit on the adrift forum. Commonplace books are like scrapbooks for the books you read. So why is hp lovecraft more popular than ever, asks david barnett. Located in midtown oklahoma city, commonplace books is a gathering spot for people who want to lead meaningful, thoughtful lives. Barlow and published after lovecraft s death along with some essays. Commonplace books what they are and reasons to keep one. Lovecraft kept a commonplace book filled with ideas. Sep 22, 20 a commonplace book, which is the literal translation of locus communis, is where you store all the most important information and ideas that you come across everyday, particularly when you are reading. A new edition of the commonplace book is now available.
Lovecraft kept in his commonplace book over on bruce sterling left h. It provides a brief history and introduction, along with tips for starting one. I keep a commonplace book at home, which is the repository for the bestof scribble book entries and other bits of wisdom or information or life eventslessons. Creating a commonplace book can help you keep track of your educational journey. A number of book, newspaper, and magazine articles about lovecraft are readily available on the internet, including right here on the h.
Lovecraft kindle edition by parsons, zack, cranor, jeffrey, bashwiner, meg, lottschwartz, hannah. If youre feeling the distinctly sharp absence of cults, exorcisms, and unnameable discomfort in your life, look no further than a commonplace book of the weird. Dates are first publication dates unless otherwise indicated. How to keep a commonplace book with notion sam thomas. Welcome to night vale is a twicemonthly podcast in the style of community updates for the small desert town of night vale, featuring local weather, news, announcements from the sheriffs secret police, mysterious lights in the night sky, dark hooded figures with unknowable powers, and cultural events. Why and how you should be keeping a commonplace book. Such books are essentially scrapbooks filled with items of every kind. A commonplace book is like a thinkers journal that serves as a focused act of selfreflection and way to learn. Feb 04, 2017 there are many different ways to structure a commonplace book, but here i will discuss one of the most popular methods. I use tags in the commonplace book so i can find things later.
The lost art of commonplacing the writing cooperative. People have been keeping commonplace books, and similar such organizational notebooks, since the fifteenth century. Its a place to record favorite quotes from the books you read, ideas you have, and questions that arise from your studies. Lovecraft s autobiographical works all of these essays may be found in collected essays, volume 5. To learn more about commonplace books, you can read a general introduction here. If you havent already, i recommend reading my post a brief guide to keeping a commonplace book. Im so grateful for this impromptu schole sisters series on commonplace books and how it has led me to so many great blogs and articles about keeping.
It was a short book on how to write weird fiction that included an extensive list of suggestions for stories. Journal vs commonplace book posted in the write stuff. How to keep a digital commonplace startgainingmomentum. Robert burnss commonplace book 17831785 is the first of two commonplace books that were produced by the poet.
My running commonplace book is a small, unlined insert i the back of my midori travelers notebook, but i also transfer ideas and insights regularly into evernote so that i have a digital archive for potential use in my writing. Lovecraft isnt the only writer with a commonplace book of ideas. Strategies to keep a commonplace book critical margins. Dates for the fiction, collaborations and juvenilia are in the format. A while ago a few projects cropped up on the internet that involved using h. As such, a commonplace book tends to be more honest and personal than a scrapbook. Whenever i talk about this concept, people ask me for commonplace book examples or commonplace book ideas. Why im ditching the bullet journal and turning to a.
As writers, were all looking for ways to increase the quality and quantity of our writing. You can help the indieweb wiki by expanding it a commonplace book or commonplaces are a way to compile and store knowledge, usually by writing information into books, notebooks, card catalogs, or in more modern settings on ones own website. Commonplace books, quotation and misquotation sources, researching quotes. I keep a commonplace book because i want to keep track of the best articles and books i read. This pdf includes the opening and closing lovecraft quotesfrom.
Basic journal stuff i suppose, but i find that i always feel to regimented to express more than that. In 1706 john locke even wrote a book about how he thought people should keep commonplace books. Inside this book waits horror, science fiction, comedy, memoir, experimental text art, and one extremely short novel. Lovecraft version of grant woods famous painting american gothic. They have been kept from antiquity, and were kept particularly during the renaissance and in the nineteenth century. The commonplace book is notebook of 221 entries for characters and stories written by h. Commonplace books thepins using commonplace books to organize your thinking after their invention by venetian merchants, forms of these books were kept by everyone from h. He posted lovecraft s commonplace book, a collection of thoughts and ideas that lovecraft jotted down as he was thinking up all his weird fiction ideas. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Mar 15, 2017 people have been keeping commonplace books, and similar such organizational notebooks, since the fifteenth century. This pdf includes the opening and closing lovecraft quotesfrom which the title of the article was takenand walking tour map that didnt appear in the original publication.