I find that most people approach writing the wrong way. They sit down at some scheduled time, and say to themselves, “Okay, time to write an entry for my blog.” It doesn’t work that way though. As much as that would be nice and convenient, you just can’t schedule ideas or inspiration.

So, you have to take notes.

I do believe that writing is something you need to set time aside for, but in order to succeed at it, you need to have a resource for finding something to write about. A method for figuring out your topic.

Personally, I do this by referencing a document called Topics, which is essentially a long collection of random statements, thoughts, phrases, and half-finished sentences that represent some larger idea that I have not yet found the time to write about. These fringe-thoughts are important to capture.

However, the content for my Topics documents has to come from somewhere. It’s actually just a compilation of all the notes I take. The best way to start putting together your own Topics document is to start writing down your ideas when you have them, instead of waiting until you actually have time to do something with them.

A few days ago, I Twittered that as much as I’d love to carry around a Moleskine to jot down ideas in style, I just can’t keep up with a notebook. Besides my wallet and keys, the only thing I can keep track of is my iPhone. So, I am always using it as my nerdy scratchpad.

I once read that Jerry Seinfeld keeps a notepad on the dresser next to his bed, because concepts for comedy frequently come to him in the middle of the night when he’s dead asleep. His notes don’t always make sense when he reads them with fresh eyes in the morning, but when they do, they’re always valuable material.

I have similar experiences. Oftentimes, ideas for essays come to me just as I’m drifting off to sleep. But of course, by that time, I’m too tired to get up, find a notebook, locate a pen, and laboriously write down the idea. And forget about getting back to sleep once I do all of that.

Fortunately, I sleep with my iPhone tucked under my pillow. So, it’s easy to just pull it out, open up Notes, and tap-tap-tap out whatever interesting thing I might be thinking about.

In fact, the iPhone has completely changed the way I approach writing, because my iPhone is literally never more than three feet away from me. I always have a way to record my thoughts, so the time at which I have these thoughts is now irrelevant. Because even when I’m in the shower, my iPhone always within the reach of my arm. (As long as I towel-dry my arm first.)

In an alternate universe, where I could actually succeed at carrying around a notebook, I still wouldn’t have it with me when, say, I’m standing naked in my bathroom and blowdrying my hair.

But I do have my iPhone. Which is exactly why I remembered to write this post.