How to Start Annotating Books: A Guide for Beginners

Annotating books is more than just a reading activity; it's a way to deepen your engagement with a story, capture your thoughts, and create a lasting personal connection with each page. Whether you’re new to annotation or just looking to add a fresh twist to your reading experience, we’ve got everything you need to start. Plus, with some of our bookish accessories, annotating has never been more fun!

1. Why Annotate Your Books?

Annotating is a great way to interact with a book. It lets you jot down thoughts, capture quotes, and highlight moments you might want to revisit. When you come back to the book later, you’ll have a personalised record of your first experience with the story. They also make deeply personal and unique gifts for fellow reader friends - annotating your favourite read will share your love of the book with your friend!

2. How to Get Started

There’s no one right way to annotate—your approach depends on what works best for you. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Highlight or Underline: Capture your favourite quotes, meaningful passages, or important points by highlighting or underlining them. If you’re using our sticky tabs, they can also work as removable highlights.

• Write in the Margins: Jot down quick notes or reactions to what you’re reading right in the margins. Think about adding thoughts like, “This reminds me of…” or even “I can’t believe that just happened!” Quick drawings are great too!

• Use Symbols and Colour Coding: Develop a system with symbols or colours to track themes. For example, green could mark foreshadowing, pink could be for romance, and yellow for major plot points. You can match your sticky tabs to the cover of the book and use our 'tabbing bookmark' to remember what colours are for the different themes you choose to remember.

• Ask Questions and Make Predictions: When you’re surprised, confused, or curious, jot it down! Then, as you continue reading, you can check if your guesses were right or if the plot twists went a different way. Our book review sticky pad includes space to organise thoughts about the book when you've finished and works as a reading journal.

3. Recommended Accessories for Book Annotation

We've got you covered with a selection of items that make annotating easier, organized, and way more fun!

• Annotation Sticky Tabs – Our paper annotation tabs come in six different themed colours with 30 sheets per tab, letting you mark pages, themes, and quotes without committing to permanent ink. Plus, they’re removable and able to reposition for a tidy and versatile look. Transparent tabs are great too!

• Book Review Sticky Pads – These handy pads with 50 sheets are perfect for summarising key takeaways after finishing a book or jotting down notes as you go. They’re designed to record memorable quotes, character arcs, and other thoughts you might want to revisit.

• Funny & Functional Bookmarks – Keep your place with a bookmark that does double duty! Our "Tabbing and Blabbing" annotation bookmark not only keeps your spot but also has room to stick tabs for an organised and cute reading experience.

4. Annotation Tips & Tricks

• Start Small: Don’t feel pressured to write on every page or highlight every sentence. Annotate where it feels right; even a few notes can make a big difference.

• Experiment with Styles: Try different approaches (notes, symbols, questions) and see what feels natural. Over time, you’ll develop your unique annotation style.

• Reflect and Revisit: Once you’ve finished, flip back through your notes to relive the reading experience. It’s like seeing your first reaction to every twist and turn!

With these tips and accessories, you’re ready to start making your books your own. Grab some annotation tools, get cosy, and let the annotating adventure begin!