An interactive method and system to support and facilitate note-taking tasks in a variety of settings, primarily, though not exclusively, in real time. In one embodiment, the system user uses a stylus device and display to enter notes in the form of handwritten strokes that are stored and correlated with an address, such as a time provided by a system clock. Notes are collected in a data structure represented by a spatial region on the display called an address, or time, zone that is created when the user enters a gesture requesting an address from the system. All notes entered in a particular time zone region in the display area are stored in a portion of the data structure correlated with the time associated with that time zone region, and, while time zones are created in sequential time order, notes are may be entered in time zones in any sequence and still be correlated with that time zone. An additional feature provides for designating a portion of the user's notes as a key word, which can then be associated with other time zones to connect key words with times and notes. The strokes entered and designated as a key word are assigned a unique, system-recognizable identifier. A data structure stores the strokes of the key word, its location in the display area and the times zones it is associated with. A well-designed user interface provides workspaces for creating and using time zones and for easily displaying and using key words.