How to Pick a Notebook for Daily Writing
By Good Juju Ink | Premium Stationery & Thoughtful Gifts | Published: 2026-10-21
Category: Buying Guides
Find the perfect notebook for daily journaling, note-taking, or creative writing. Compare binding, page count, and cover style to match your habits.
Quick answer
Choose a notebook that matches your writing volume, preferred surface, and portability needs. Softcover notebooks with lay-flat binding work well for everyday carry, while hardcovers offer durability for desk use.
Softcover vs. hardcover: what suits your routine
Softcover notebooks are lighter and more flexible, making them easy to slip into a bag or hold in one hand. They often use lay-flat binding that lets pages open completely flat, which is comfortable for writing near the margins. Hardcover notebooks offer more protection for pages and stand up better to being tossed in a backpack, but they add weight and bulk.
Lined vs. blank pages: think about your content
If you write full sentences or lists, lined pages keep your writing neat. Blank pages give you freedom for sketches, diagrams, or mixed layouts. Some notebooks offer both, but most stick to one format. Choose based on whether you write strictly or like to doodle.
Page count and size: match your habit
A notebook with around 130 pages lasts about a month of daily writing. Larger sizes like 8" x 10" give more room per page but are less portable. Compact 6" x 8" notebooks fit easily in a purse or work bag. Consider how often you write and where you plan to carry it.
Your notebook decision rules
- 1. Decide where you'll write most: If you write at a desk, a hardcover notebook stays open without holding it. If you write on the train or in cafes, a softcover is lighter and easier to handle.
- 2. Count how many pages you need per month: One page per day means you need about 30 pages per month. A 132-page notebook lasts over four months; a 200-page notebook lasts nearly seven months. Match the page count to how long you want one notebook to last.
- 3. Choose lined or blank based on what you write: Pick lined pages if you write full sentences or lists. Pick blank pages if you sketch, diagram, or mix text with drawings.
Notebooks to consider
- Black Antique Bows Softcover Notebook: This 6" x 8" softcover notebook has 132 blank pages and lay-flat binding. Blank pages and lay-flat binding make it ideal for mixed writing and sketching, especially if you write on the go.
Black Antique Bows Softcover Notebook - Spill the Tea Hardcover Notebook: This hardcover notebook features 200 lined pages and a durable cover with gold foil details. The hardcover protects pages during travel, and 200 lined pages give you room for months of daily journaling.
Spill the Tea Hardcover Notebook
Who should buy which
Best for
- Daily journalers who write a page or more each day and prefer a portable softcover
- Creative writers who want blank pages for sketching alongside text
Not for
- People who need a rigid desk notebook with a professional look (choose a hardcover instead)
