A reader emailed me asking for recommendations on good notebooks (you know, caveman-style Ipods.) Sturdy, handy and lined. Here is what I came up with, based on my own knowledge and informal polls, but if you have suggestions for the perfect writer's/reporter's notebook, please write in.

One of the first criteria for me for a good notebook is: Can I get this for free at the office? Which is why I record most of my Mediabistro stuff in a National Brand composition notebook. I like it because it is smallish, so that it fits in my bag, and has a nice tough cover and spine--which is not spiral so it doesn't catch on stuff. I also like that it's college rule and that it has an attractive, classic design. Plus, even though it's not spiral-bound, it lays nice and flat which is great.

Another typical writery notebook that I nab from the office is the Steno Book (this one from Corporate Express. It has green pages. Ooh.) This is a slight variation on ye olde reporters notebook and I have to say I'm not that big a fan. I'm not really one to be standing at the scene of a crime, scribbling down what the police chief says so I'd rather have something that flips from the side and not the top, something that I can transcribe from more easily and write on both sides of pages (when I write one the flip-top ones I often get confused which page I'm coming from, if that makes sense.) So it's fine but it's not my favorite but it's probably great for left-handers who don't want to be bothered by a left-side ring.

For a fancier look, a friend recommends, "the 3 1/2 x 5 1/2 lined Clairefontaine cloth-bound notebooks. They're pretty small but they work for me because I can tuck them into my back pocket when I want to dance. Also, I prefer the staple-bound because then the pages don't fall out accidentally like they're wont to do in a wire-ring notebook. I mean, it doesn't have a lot of pages but one little notebook will last me for two or three days of interviews and it only costs $2." Plus, I personally love their name. People are also nuts about Moleskin notebooks, but as a personal preference, I want a notebook I'm not going to feel bad about dropping in a puddle or something.

My all-time favorite though is anything that's 4"x6" with a plastic cover. It's the perfect size for carrying around but big enough to get stuff down on page. The plastic cover keeps things tidy plus if you can find ones with a plastic or covered spiral, like here, your spine is less likely to come undone. Also, this isn't really so much for reporting/writing needs but I would be lost without my 5" x 8" pads, which I use for my to-do lists every day. I think I like them because they prevent me from putting too much on my list.

What's bad? I can't really say, I haven't had too much experience with this but I think you might want to stay away from things that are perforated, if you're going to be using your notebook hard-core. A legal pad's pages might tear off the front. Also, be sensible about proportion. The Fat Li'l Neatbook looks cute but it's really not that convenient when you can get approximately four words on a page.