How to Turn Quick Notes Into Publishable Content Using a Thinking Notebook

Capturing ideas is just the beginning. If you stop there, your best thoughts stay trapped in scraps of paper, voice memos, or forgotten Notion pages.

The next step—the one that turns your sparks into structured, usable content—is what I call the thinking notebook.

This is the space where you slow down, process your ideas, and begin to build content from notes. You shape the first draft of your blog post, video, or content asset.

Want to turn your ideas into consistent, strategic content? Schedule a Discovery Call and we’ll help you build your GTM content creation workflow.

The Thinking Notebook Is Where Ideas Get Built

After you capture a quick idea using a pocket notebook, index card, or app, it needs a place to grow. That’s what the thinking notebook is for—your bridge between inspiration and execution.

I use an A5 notebook to build content from notes. It’s small enough to take with me, large enough to work through ideas with space.

Here’s how I use it:

Expand headline ideas into full outlines
Turn scattered phrases into structured blog formats
Sketch out frameworks or storytelling arcs
Connect multiple related ideas to turn notes into content

This is the space to think, not perfect. It’s where raw thoughts start to take real shape.

Start With One Idea and Expand It

You are not writing the final piece yet—you are simply getting to version 1.5.

Let’s say you captured:

“Productivity systems that actually work”

In your thinking notebook, you might turn notes into content by expanding them into:

“The 5 Productivity Habits That Changed My Workflow”
Break down each habit with a short explanation
Add a story, a client example, or a framework
Bullet key takeaways

Now you’ve got the skeleton of a blog post, LinkedIn carousel, or video script—ready to move forward.

Why A5 Format Works Best

An A5 notebook strikes the perfect balance between space and portability.

Portable: Fits in your bag or next to your laptop
Spacious: Enough room to build out bullet points or frameworks
Flexible: Works for both visuals and written structure

This is your creative workspace. It’s not about looking pretty—it’s about moving the idea forward.

From Notebook to Content

Once an idea is developed inside your notebook, it’s time to move it into a digital workflow.

That might look like:

Transferring your outline to Google Docs
Dropping it into Notion as part of a content calendar
Using it as the base for a slide deck, landing page, or newsletter

This step bridges the gap between idea and action, and makes publishing feel frictionless.

Read More: How to Create High-Engagement LinkedIn Content That Stands Out

Make It Part of Your Weekly Routine

A thinking notebook only works if you use it. That means making space for this step in your week.

Block 30 to 60 minutes each week to process captured ideas.
Choose 2–3 that feel promising.
Expand them until they’re close to a usable asset.
Leave each one ready for a draft, recording, or client presentation.

This habit makes your content creation workflow feel less like a blank page and more like documenting the strategy you already live and think through.