How to create a commonplace book like Oscar Wilde

Main ideas, concepts, and lessons

• Oscar Wilde’s commonplace book was not just for storage—it was for active thinking.

  • Many writers use commonplace books to collect quotes, facts, and knowledge to remember later.
  • Wilde used his notebook to engage with ideas: he questioned, disagreed with, and thought through them.

• Use a method that separates “source material” from “your response.”

  • Wilde typically wrote on the right side of the notebook.
  • He left the left page blank, then used it for his own comments, additions, and reflections.

• Benefits of Wilde’s approach

  1. Encourages critical thinking
     • He tried to understand why things were the way they were (society, philosophy, science).
     • Example theme discussed: even when slavery was described as “against nature,” it wasn’t commonly considered as something to overthrow—prompting Wilde to question the gap.
  2. Boosts creativity and curiosity
     • Wilde didn’t just copy—he rewrote and commented, deepening engagement.
     • Example: learning about the origins of Roman and Greek literature led him to theorize about differences in education.

• Create a system to organize entries so they’re retrievable later

  • Wilde used multiple organizational tactics:
    • Highlighting/marking key parts
      • He used a Greek semicolon-like marker (bullet-style) to highlight sections.
      • He also underlined important words or marked them with symbols (e.g., crosses).
    • Headlines for most entries
      • A headline makes it easier to find what an entry is about as the notebook grows.
    • Alternative organizational option
      • Categorize entries by where they came from (movie/book/mood) and/or by the emotional tone they evoke (happy/sad, etc.).

• Use the notebook as fuel for writing (not only note-keeping)

  • Wilde used notebook content to influence his creative work.
  • Example: notes about instruments like the microscope and telescope led him to remind himself to use such ideas for metaphor.
  • Example: he connects metaphor to sensory/visual imagery (stars sending blue and red light).

• Commonplace book vs. journal (purpose distinction)

  • A journal: records feelings and day-to-day observations.
  • A commonplace book: a learning/studying scrapbook for quotes, inspiration, and “sprinkles of wisdom” you may explore later.
  • Wilde’s entries were typically short—more exploration than essay-writing—so it stays manageable and doesn’t steal time from larger projects (like novels).

• Diversify what you study

  • Wilde studied a wide range:
    • Other writers: Plato, Aristotle, John Ruskin
    • Plus scientists and social issues
    • Topics ranged from classical literature and history to philosophy and social sciences
  • Takeaway: if you only read what everyone reads, it’s harder to discover what’s new—or what you truly like/dislike.
  • Diversification helps you:
    • find themes worth writing about,
    • and identify where you disagree and want to explore why.

• Discover writing prompts and character questions through notes

  • Example question sparked by an entry: “Is all human sorrow as meaningless as seasickness?”
  • This can lead to deeper creative exploration:
    • the meaning of human suffering,
    • whether characters can give suffering meaning,
    • what that meaning might be.

• Endorsement and resources

  • The video suggests a book as a resource: Oscar Wilde’s Oxford Notebooks: A Portrait of Mind in Making, described as containing sources and notebook/commonplace material used to inform the video.

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Method / instructions (detailed bullet format)

How to create and use a commonplace book inspired by Oscar Wilde

• Step 1: Treat it as an active thinking tool, not a collection bin

  • When you add an entry, don’t only copy information—engage:
    • question it
    • analyze it
    • disagree with it (if needed)
    • rewrite it in your own words

• Step 2: Separate “content” from “your response”

  • Write source material on one side (Wilde’s pattern: right page).
  • Leave the opposite side blank (Wilde’s pattern: left page).
  • Use the blank side to add:
    • your commentary
    • your thoughts
    • questions you develop from the material

• Step 3: Use a marking/highlighting system

  • Add quick visual cues so important parts stand out quickly, e.g.:
    • a bullet-like Greek semicolon marker for key sections
    • underlining for crucial words
    • symbols such as crosses for emphasis

• Step 4: Add headlines to entries

  • Give most entries a short headline so you can locate topics later.

• Step 5 (optional alternative): Categorize entries

  • Organize by:
    • source type (movie/book/origin)
    • mood/emotional effect (happy/sad/other)

• Step 6: Keep entries short

  • Prefer brief explorations over long essays.
  • Aim to capture questions and angles you want to return to.

• Step 7: Use notes to generate writing material

  • Convert discoveries into craft:
    • create metaphors
    • build themes and character ideas
  • Add reminders to yourself about how to use the knowledge in writing.

• Step 8: Diversify subject matter

  • Include a mix across:
    • literature/classics
    • philosophy
    • social sciences
    • history
    • science/technology
    • social issues

• Step 9: Use disagreement as creative fuel

  • Whenever you find something you don’t agree with, note:
    • what exactly you disagree with
    • what questions it raises
    • how it could shape stories, themes, or character viewpoints.

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Speakers / sources featured

• Speaker: The video’s narrator/creator (unnamed)

• Referenced authors / thinkers (mentioned in the subtitles):

  • Oscar Wilde
  • Plato
  • Aristotle
  • John Ruskin
  • Stephen King (quoted)
  • George R. R. Martin (quoted)

• Book/resource recommended:

  • Oscar Wilde’s Oxford Notebooks: A Portrait of Mind in Making