12. Episode:  Daniel Donskoy // Music and literature

A notebook for every art form

Daniel Donskoy moves effortlessly between music, acting and literature. Notebooks are where his melodies first take shape, characters begin to breathe and fleeting thoughts find a place to land

Mr Donskoy, you are a musician, actor and writer. Which of your art forms rely on notebooks?

Pretty much all of them, to be honest. They’re most essential for my music. When I write songs, I need to put them on paper with a pen. Even the physical movement of the pen influences the melody that comes to me. Calligraphy, in a way, shapes how I understand the musicality of an idea.

How did you write your book “Brennen” (Burning)?

The actual manuscript was written on a computer, but everything before and after happened by hand. I went through old notes, diaries and letters while developing the story. As soon as parts of the manuscript were finished, I printed them out and annotated them by hand. Later, during the editing process, I transferred my notes into notebooks.

How important are notebooks in your daily life?

I always carry at least one with me. Sometimes I overhear a sentence on the street and write it down immediately. On my desk, I keep different notebooks for different purposes: one for music, one for writing, one for organisation.

Why don’t you use apps instead?

My problem with apps or digital notes is that they multiply endlessly. I write down a single word and immediately open a new note – it becomes totally chaotic. With notebooks, I can keep things contained. I also use them for my weekly to-do lists. I love ticking things off and crossing them out.

What can a pen do better than a smartphone or tablet?

It reveals a person’s individuality and captures the moment. A typed letter always looks the same, but handwriting is individual. You can see the mood you were in, whether you were rushed or relaxed. The entire context is embedded in the writing itself.

And what does the digital world do better?

Communication. Sharing messages and notes – that’s where digital tools really shine.

Do your handwritten texts differ from your digital ones?

Very much so. What I write by hand feels more authentic because I’m writing purely for myself. As soon as I type, I’m aware of my communication. That alone changes the text.

Do you also take notes for your work as an actor?

Absolutely. I print everything out – I really dislike reading digitally. I still read physical books; I need paper. When I work through scripts, I mark beats and rhythms, note shifts in mood or tone. My scripts look awful in the end – they’re covered in notes and drawings.

How important is the material to you? Colours? Paper?

I’m not set on anything in particular. I use small notebooks, but also large,m leather-bound ones. As long as I have paper and a pen, I’m fine.

Ballpoint pen or pencil?

I like erasable ballpoint pens. The best of both worlds.

Lined. Otherwise I start drifting diagonally.

Lined. Otherwise I start drifting diagonally.

Do you finish a notebook before starting a new one?

No, I usually have several on the go. I start at the front, fill about a third, then turn the book around and continue from the back. In the end, there’s a third at the front and a third at the back, and I’m constantly flipping between them. At some point, I move on to a new one. A brand-new notebook puts me under pressure – as if it demands to be filled by my writing. I prefer old notebooks. I still have my very first song notebook with my earliest lyrics. I love reading what I was thinking fourteen years ago.

So you keep your notebooks?

Actually, yes. Although I once had a fire in my flat and many of them were destroyed. I still have the really old ones; they’re in my mother’s basement.

What happens when you read old notes?

I remember the feeling I had when I wrote them. I mentioned that I worked through old diaries while writing my book – and my handwritten notes allowed me to recognise my emotional state back then. That helped me describe those emotions more accurately in the book. Writing by hand doesn’t just serve reflection; it also deepens memory. It becomes richer, more authentic.

Author Mirna Funk

Mirna Funk is a writer and essayist. She writes about culture, politics and Jewish life. Her novels and essays combine analytical acuity with literary clarity. In addition to her journalistic work, she leads seminars and curates international projects. Funk lives and works in Berlin and Tel Aviv.