So far you've been using your notebook almost like a workbook for the previous exercises. What else goes in the notebook? Everything you think might have some comedy potential, no matter how small or obvious it may be. It could be an unusual or uncommon event from your day — getting a haircut, waiting for the cable guy, or running into an unusual person.

For example, let's say that you take your car in for a repair. The mechanic looks at it while you nervously wait in the waiting room. When he comes out and tells you what's wrong with the car, he's using technical terms that might as well be in a different language. You nod your head, pretending you understand, and give him the go-ahead to fix the car, although you're worried about cost and whether or not you're being taken advantage of.

Have you been in that situation? It's not all that fun at the time, but it could be funny later. While you're waiting for your car, what could you put in your notebook? Are you really in the mood or do you have the time to write a sketch right then and there based on your predicament? Probably not. In fact, if it's going to be expensive or a major inconvenience, you may feel like there won't be anything funny to write about ever again.

Well, comedy is a great way to get revenge on a situation that annoys you. And a situation like this is something that everyone can relate to. Are you going to let this great opportunity for comedy get away from you just because you're having a bad day? Not if you have your notebook with you.

Here's an example of what you could jot down about this situation:

Auto Repair

• Waiting room has weird magazines.

• The coffee is horrible and the machine is hard to use.

• The TV is tuned to a boring channel and it's too high to change it.

• I feel like a moron when they ask or tell me anything about the car.

• I pretend I know what I'm talking about.

• When they ask me if I change the oil on a regular basis, it's like the dental hygienist asking me if I floss.

• I know that the mechanics are talking about how big a sucker I am.

• Should the repair really cost that much?

• Are they making me wait longer to get it fixed just to justify the cost, thus doubly annoying me?

• Why do mechanics have names that sound like they're mechanics, like Chuck or Bubba?

• How come there are no mechanics named Chad, Blaine, or Stephan?

• What would a trendy garage be like? Would it be like a fancy hair salon?

Okay, so you jot these ideas down but nothing really hits you at the time as being particularly funny. No big deal. If the ideas are in your notebook, they're not going anywhere. You can come back to them any time.

After some time has passed and you've calmed down about the high repair bill, these ideas are still sitting in your notebook, waiting for your magic touch. With a fresh set of eyes, you look back at your notes and start to brainstorm. Some of the ideas from your notes might be developed as follows:

• A company that designs waiting rooms to be as uncomfortable as possible. They show a model of the perfect waiting room design and point out all the things they have done to make it unlivable. The TV controls are exactly two inches away from the average person's reach, the chairs are made to produce maximum back pain, etc.

• The waiting room is really a research project and you are secretly being monitored as part of a university psychology project or a hidden camera television show.

• Maybe a sketch that features the conversation between a mechanic and a customer, but you hear the thoughts of each person that don't exactly mirror their words.

• A super-fancy reality show like Project Runway that is for auto mechanics. There could be a weekly challenge, such as who can sell a customer the most unnecessary repairs and services.

“Someday we'll look back at this and laugh.” Every time you hear that, you probably want to pummel the person who's saying it. But that's the beauty of a notebook — time. It puts a little distance between you and your thoughts.

The notebook helps you as a writer organize your thoughts on paper so you can focus on looking for connections. When you want to write something, your notebook should be your starting point. It's where you store all your ideas before you turn them into a joke, story, or sketch. Having good notes ensures that you'll never run out of ideas to write about.

Types of Notebooks

The word notebook might bring back unpleasant memories from high school or college. You had to keep notes to get a good grade on the final. As soon as the class was over, the notebook was put away, never to be looked at again.

In comedy, the notebook should be fun, something you always want to have with you and enjoy rereading over and over again. You need to find a notebook or notebook system to fit your needs and your lifestyle. There are many different choices available to you:

• A standard 8.5″ × 11″ spiral bound notebook. Easy to write in but hard to carry around with you.

• A smaller bound notebook like a Moleskine product. These are easy to fit in a pocket but can be awkward to write in.

• An audio recorder. These small electronic versions of your notebook are easy to carry and may already be built into your cell phone. However, these notes are impossible to browse through unless they are later transcribed, which most comedy writers are too lazy to do. There are lots of comedians who have shoeboxes full of mini-cassettes with notes still waiting to be deciphered.

• A computer file notebook. Keeping your notes on a computer is great as long as you back them up religiously and print out a hard copy that you can browse through. This way, you can simply jot down ideas on any writing surface available — cocktail napkins, receipts, scrap paper, etc. When you get home, you can empty your pockets (and your mind) into a box that you can then type into your notebook. But make sure that you do. There are a lot of comedians who have shoeboxes … well, you get the idea. Consider getting a small leather jotter that holds a single index card that might accommodate a full day's worth of notes. You can also go paperless and use your cell phone, Blackberry, or iPhone to text yourself your ideas.

• A computer database. You can easily make a database for your ideas using a program like FileMaker Pro, but the downside is that it's a little clinical and every idea is separate from the others.

Start experimenting with a notebook system that fits your needs and helps you organize your thoughts. Once you find a system, stick with it. Whatever system you choose, make sure you use it consistently. The more you make a habit of writing your down your thoughts, the more your mind will seek out new ideas. Creativity will become a habit — one you won't want to kick. As you fill a notebook, save it and move onto the next, but keep the previous one handy for instant access when you need it.