---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always carry a notepad with me, even on…"
description: "\"I always carry a notepad with me, even on vacation. If I'm on the computer when the story 'hits', I open a Word document and start typing until I get i..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3b/franny-armstrong-23874_computer_i-always-carry-a-notepad-with-me-even-on_308763.png"
---

#  I always carry a notepad with me, even on vacation. If I'm…

![“I always carry a notepad with me, even on vacation. If I'm on the computer when the story 'hits', I open a Word document and start typing until I get it all out. I've got tons of notes that I never throw out. You never know when a story will strike!” quote by Franny Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3b/franny-armstrong-23874_computer_i-always-carry-a-notepad-with-me-even-on_308763.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3b/franny-armstrong-23874_computer_i-always-carry-a-notepad-with-me-even-on_308763.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3b/franny-armstrong-23874_computer_i-always-carry-a-notepad-with-me-even-on_308763.png)

> “I always carry a notepad with me, even on vacation. If I'm on the computer when the story 'hits', I open a Word document and start typing until I get it all out. I've got tons of notes that I never throw out. You never know when a story will strike!”

[Franny Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franny-armstrong/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Keeping a portable writing tool ready lets spontaneous ideas be captured before they fade, turning fleeting inspiration into usable material.

**In simple terms:** Always be ready to record ideas.

Key Takeaway

Carry a notebook or device to capture thoughts.

Themes

creativity productivity writing

Mood

focused energetic

Type

practical inspirational

When to use this quote

- travel
- daily commute
- brainstorming sessions
- late-night writing

Key Concepts

spontaneity idea capture habit formation

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you decide which ideas to develop further?
- What routine helps you review and organize your notes?

A Different Perspective

May become a distraction if overused, reducing focus on present experience.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Carry Notepad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carry-notepad-2933692/) [Computer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer/) [Computer Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer-story-2933695/) [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Documents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/documents/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Notepad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notepad-1428116/) [Notepad Vacation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notepad-vacation-2933693/) [Notepads](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notepads/) [Notes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notes/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Strikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strikes/) [Typing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/typing/) [Vacation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vacation/) [Word Document](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/word-document-2933694/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/)

## Related quotes

> [“I carry a notepad with me at all times, in case life sends me a bumper sticker slogan that I mistake for an original…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-boyne/i-carry-a-notepad-with-me-at-all-times-in-case-life-sends-me-a-bumper/)

[David Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-boyne/)

> [I carry a notepad which is 5.5' x 3.8' which fits snugly into my pocket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-key/i-carry-a-notepad-which-is-5-5-x-3-8-which-fits-snugly-into-my-pocket/)

[Tim Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-key/)

> [I had a notepad and I wrote down 30 things to make myself better just off the top of my head, and the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-chesney/i-had-a-notepad-and-i-wrote-down-30-things-to-make-myself-better-just/)

[Kenny Chesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-chesney/)

> [I talk to myself through the computer. I ask myself questions, leave things to be looked at again, things that you would do with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seymour-cray/i-talk-to-myself-through-the-computer-i-ask-myself-questions-leave/)

[Seymour Cray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seymour-cray/)

> [I was never a 'sit down with a notepad and write lyrics' kind of person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-vincent-mcmorrow/i-was-never-a-sit-down-with-a-notepad-and-write-lyrics-kind-of-person/)

[James Vincent McMorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-vincent-mcmorrow/)

> [I'm a bit of an insomniac. I'm always thinking. I've got a lot of ideas for lyrics and shows. I have a notepad by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kid-rock/i-m-a-bit-of-an-insomniac-i-m-always-thinking-i-ve-got-a-lot-of-ideas/)

[Kid Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kid-rock/)

> [I don't want to blame anybody, but I just want to tell you that the process of writing is antisocial, so on the days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-cisneros/i-don-t-want-to-blame-anybody-but-i-just-want-to-tell-you-that-the/)

[Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-cisneros/)

> [It took teams of LEP warlocks to slow down time for a few hours; the magic required to open a door to the tunnel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/it-took-teams-of-lep-warlocks-to-slow-down-time-for-a-few-hours-the/)

[Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/)

> [Have you finished your column for tomorrow's headline?" It was Vee. She came up beside me, jotting notes on the notepad she carried everywhere.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/have-you-finished-your-column-for-tomorrow-s-headline-it-was-vee-she/)

[Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/)

> [It was almost noon when the plane touched down at the Triad airport on the outskirts of Greensboro. There was a hire car waiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-egan/it-was-almost-noon-when-the-plane-touched-down-at-the-triad-airport/)

[Greg Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-egan/)

> [“They scribble on notepads, the sound of their pens scratching the judgemental air.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-cameron/they-scribble-on-notepads-the-sound-of-their-pens-scratching-the/)

[Emma Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-cameron/)

> [I've never been a very prolific person, so when creativity flows, it flows. I find myself scribbling on little notepads and pieces of loose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/i-ve-never-been-a-very-prolific-person-so-when-creativity-flows-it/)

[Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/)

> [I remember telling my creative writing teacher that you never want to have a journal, because if you lose it, then someone's going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-hedlund/i-remember-telling-my-creative-writing-teacher-that-you-never-want-to/)

[Garrett Hedlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hedlund/)

> [I bet," said Mulch, "that you would set the world on fire just to watch it burn." Opal tapped the suggestion into a small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/i-bet-said-mulch-that-you-would-set-the-world-on-fire-just-to-watch/)

[Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/)

> [I don't sleep. I have a notepad next to my bed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-leung/i-don-t-sleep-i-have-a-notepad-next-to-my-bed/)

[Alvin Leung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-leung/)

## More by Franny Armstrong

> [I relish the time I have when there are no interruptions. Most often the best time for writing is late at night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franny-armstrong/i-relish-the-time-i-have-when-there-are-no-interruptions-most-often/)

[Franny Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franny-armstrong/)

> [I'm on Facebook and the Internet EVERY DAY NUMEROUS TIMES A DAY.Sorry about the shouting but I can't help myself. My mother said her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franny-armstrong/i-m-on-facebook-and-the-internet-every-day-numerous-times-a-day-sorry/)

[Franny Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franny-armstrong/)

> [I do a lot of research and yes, do know quite a few police officers, friends of mine and my husbands. However, most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franny-armstrong/i-do-a-lot-of-research-and-yes-do-know-quite-a-few-police-officers/)

[Franny Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franny-armstrong/)

> [Franny Armstrong is a mother of three and a grandmother of four. Her husband supports her imagination and has the patience of a saint.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franny-armstrong/franny-armstrong-is-a-mother-of-three-and-a-grandmother-of-four-her/)

[Franny Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franny-armstrong/)

> [I have precognitive dreams such as the year my brother's apartment caught fire and he lost everything. I'd dreamt it two months before. Alas,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franny-armstrong/i-have-precognitive-dreams-such-as-the-year-my-brother-s-apartment/)

[Franny Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franny-armstrong/)

> [I've always loved J.R.R. Tolkein and recently, Christine Feehan and J.K.Rowling. There are many as I'm an avid reader, but those three come to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franny-armstrong/i-ve-always-loved-j-r-r-tolkein-and-recently-christine-feehan-and-j-k/)

[Franny Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franny-armstrong/)

> [I have my favorite authors, but in reality, my mother did. Though she's never written a book, she paved the way for me to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franny-armstrong/i-have-my-favorite-authors-but-in-reality-my-mother-did-though-she-s/)

[Franny Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franny-armstrong/)

> [When I was ten, my mother told me to write down my feelings. I eventually started writing a book. I wish I'd kept the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franny-armstrong/when-i-was-ten-my-mother-told-me-to-write-down-my-feelings-i/)

[Franny Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franny-armstrong/)

> [Silence is golden for me. I live in the country and hear only my pets, birds, crickets, and the wind in the trees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franny-armstrong/silence-is-golden-for-me-i-live-in-the-country-and-hear-only-my-pets/)

[Franny Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franny-armstrong/)

> [I have always thought that the role of the film-maker is to present the argument persuasively, emotionally and coherently and then it is over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franny-armstrong/i-have-always-thought-that-the-role-of-the-film-maker-is-to-present/)

[Franny Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franny-armstrong/)

> [If you are an intelligent human being then you are interested in climate change because it's the most important issue of our time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franny-armstrong/if-you-are-an-intelligent-human-being-then-you-are-interested-in/)

[Franny Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franny-armstrong/)

> [I made my first film McLibel independently but only by accident. I tried to get a commission from all the standard TV broadcasters but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franny-armstrong/i-made-my-first-film-mclibel-independently-but-only-by-accident-i/)

[Franny Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franny-armstrong/)

> [I am a true psychic. In my family it's the norm. My sister and mother are always 'in my head' and say or do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franny-armstrong/i-am-a-true-psychic-in-my-family-it-s-the-norm-my-sister-and-mother/)

[Franny Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franny-armstrong/)

> [I love using unique names, so I go to a baby names site on the Internet and use the unique names. Sometimes my names…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franny-armstrong/i-love-using-unique-names-so-i-go-to-a-baby-names-site-on-the/)

[Franny Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franny-armstrong/)

> [I am not interested in having somebody telling that what I have to water down my message or that some advertising person would not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franny-armstrong/i-am-not-interested-in-having-somebody-telling-that-what-i-have-to/)

[Franny Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franny-armstrong/)

[Explore all 25 Franny Armstrong quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franny-armstrong/)

## More Computer quotes

> [Issac:"I dislike living in a world without Augustus Waters." Computer: "I don't understand-" Issac: "Me neither. Pause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/issac-i-dislike-living-in-a-world-without-augustus-waters-computer-i/)

[John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/)

> [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/)

[Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/)

> [The display is the computer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-hsun-huang/the-display-is-the-computer/)

[Jen-Hsun Huang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-hsun-huang/)

> [It's interesting that the greatest minds of computer science, the founding fathers, like Alan Turing and Claude Shannon and Norbert Wiener, they all looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/it-s-interesting-that-the-greatest-minds-of-computer-science-the/)

[Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/)

> [One of our big goals in search is to make search that really understands exactly what you want, understands everything in the world. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-page/one-of-our-big-goals-in-search-is-to-make-search-that-really/)

[Larry Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-page/)

> [We are beginning to see intimations of this in the implantation of computer devices into the human body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kurzweil/we-are-beginning-to-see-intimations-of-this-in-the-implantation-of/)

[Ray Kurzweil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kurzweil/)

> [I'm from the South, so I'm very old-fashioned and I'm not very computer savvy at all, but I'm getting it. I understand that, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-harmon/i-m-from-the-south-so-i-m-very-old-fashioned-and-i-m-not-very/)

[Angie Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-harmon/)

> [“To all the secret writers, late-night painters, would-be singers, lapsed and scared artists of every stripe, dig out your paintbrush, or your flute, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/to-all-the-secret-writers-late-night-painters-would-be-singers-lapsed/)

[Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/)

> [A little bit more than 50% of what you see on screen is handcrafted and the other 50% was about emulating these textures on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-abreu/a-little-bit-more-than-50-of-what-you-see-on-screen-is-handcrafted/)

[Alex Abreu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-abreu/)

> [Well I'm trying to think what I put in... I think I put in 'why?' to see if I'd confuse the computer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-pilkington/well-i-m-trying-to-think-what-i-put-in-i-think-i-put-in-why-to-see-if/)

[Karl Pilkington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-pilkington/)

> [Our brains are great at knowing what to forget. We actually have to teach computers to do the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-maney/our-brains-are-great-at-knowing-what-to-forget-we-actually-have-to/)

[Kevin Maney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-maney/)

> [Nor would anybody suspect. If was one thing all people took for granted, was conviction that if you feed honest figures into a computer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/nor-would-anybody-suspect-if-was-one-thing-all-people-took-for/)

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/)

> [In nine months, a group of children left alone with a computer in any language will reach the same standard as an office secretary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugata-mitra/in-nine-months-a-group-of-children-left-alone-with-a-computer-in-any/)

[Sugata Mitra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugata-mitra/)

> [Why do you do what you do? Why do you dress the way you dress?Why do you do what you do with your time?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-conway/why-do-you-do-what-you-do-why-do-you-dress-the-way-you-dress-why-do/)

[Tim Conway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-conway/)

> [Yeah, I'm a geek. I read sci-fi and I watch sci-fi films. I love my computer and I love to fix it. I'm a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-benson/yeah-i-m-a-geek-i-read-sci-fi-and-i-watch-sci-fi-films-i-love-my/)

[Amber Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-benson/)

[Browse all 3,924 Computer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I always carry a notepad with me, even on vacation. If I'm on the computer when the story 'hits', I open a Word document and start typing until I get it all out. I've got tons of notes that I never throw out. You never know when a story will strike!",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Franny Armstrong"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franny-armstrong/i-always-carry-a-notepad-with-me-even-on-vacation-if-i-m-on-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Computer"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franny-armstrong/i-always-carry-a-notepad-with-me-even-on-vacation-if-i-m-on-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3b/franny-armstrong-23874_computer_i-always-carry-a-notepad-with-me-even-on_308763.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3b/franny-armstrong-23874_computer_i-always-carry-a-notepad-with-me-even-on_308763.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3b/franny-armstrong-23874_computer_i-always-carry-a-notepad-with-me-even-on_308763.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I always carry a notepad with me, even on vacation. If I'm on the computer when the story 'hits', I open a…” — Franny Armstrong",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Franny Armstrong",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franny-armstrong/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I always carry a notepad with...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franny-armstrong/i-always-carry-a-notepad-with-me-even-on-vacation-if-i-m-on-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franny-armstrong/i-always-carry-a-notepad-with-me-even-on-vacation-if-i-m-on-the/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
