I have heard contrasting opinions on writing in books. Growing up, I always thought it was wrong. I didn’t see annotated reading as an option until I was older. The first book I ever annotated was Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky while I was still in high school. After some trial and error, I reannotated a copy with Jonas during our college years.
Annotating books allows you to gather thoughts, ask questions, and explore new ideas. I have since annotated multiple books, some with friends and others for my own use. It is also fun to look back on and see where your mind was during that period of time, almost like a time capsule. Thankfully for you, if you are looking to get into annotating books, I have done all the mishaps for you. I have complied a list of your five must have items to begin your annotated reading journey.
My list goes from writing supplies to ideas containing supplies. I think the most important thing to remember is, what works for me may not work for you. For example, I like to color code different ideas so my thoughts and writings can stay organized to my liking. If you want to start annotated reading, remember it is not suppose to be a challenge and you are doing it for yourself. It may feel weird and unnatural at first, but stick with it and you may discover some things about what your reading or even yourself. Either way, I hope you find it as rewarding as I have.
Pens
I would argue, pens can make or break annotated reading. For me, the perfect pen is bold and easy to read. You also want to find a pen that is going to dry fast and not smear (looking at all you left handed readers out there). Most importantly, if you are choosing to write directly on the pages, I promise you will not be shamed here, you want to make sure you pick a pen that will not bleed through the pages. My top three pens, for these reasons, are: Zebra Pens (fast drying ink and come in a variety of fun colors), G2 Pens (take a little longer to dry than I may like, but the smooth ink does not bleed through pages and is also offered in many colors), and lastly Arteza Felt Tip Pens (these pens come in vibrant colors and have not bled through on any of my pages. Because they are felt tip, if the caps are not securely set, they will dry up).
Sticky Notes
If you do not want to write directly on the pages, but would still like your notes to fall close to the page or paragraph in reference, sticky notes are another great option. You can follow similar color coding for different themes, they have a variety of shapes and sizes, and they can even be used to tab specific pages. I prefer this simple pack, but I know there are more aesthetically pleasing tabs out there.
Journal
If you’re like me, then a sticky note or sides of the page are simply not enough space to write down my thoughts. Therefore, I rely on journals. Journals are a great option to have in companion with your books. There are many options as well. For example, you could go for a larger journal to hold all your annotated reading notes or you could go for a Cahier styled journal to pair with each individual book. If you are more digital, I enjoy using the Zennia app for journaling as well, unfortunately it is only available on Apple products at the moment.
Highlighters
These have been my biggest struggles with annotated reading. With most highlighters, I find the easiest to see are the ones that will bleed through my pages. I am simply not willing to sacrifice for that. I am happy to announce, I have found a solution. Crayon highlighters. These highlighters were originally designed to not bleed through Bible pages and they stand to it. Another brand, with the same purpose, I have had luck with is ZEYAR.
Bookmarks
Bookmarks: Bookmarks are so helpful in general, not just in annotated reading. I prefer using two bookmarks. I will use one bookmark to keep track of where I am currently at and the other to mark where I hope to be at the end of the day. This way I am able to keep on track with my reading, as annotation can take a little time. But the type is really up to the reader. I prefer thin and durable bookmarks, but magnetic or book darts have also been useful.
Final Thoughts
If you have any personal recommendations, please leave them in the comments. I hope these annotated reading supplies will be of use to you. I also want to remind you, it is important to have an open mind when reading, especially when annotating. We pick up a book because we are curious about the world inside it. Carry that curiosity with you as you explore annotation.