Do you get excited about gadgets or certain types of paper to use for your writing? What do you use and when do you use it? Was this a conscious choice or did you fall into it, maybe by chance or following a mentor? Tell us about the stuff you use to write with! Or maybe you want to make a change; tell us about that, too. You might get an idea in this thread.
Notebooks, pens, letter paper, notecards, mechanical pencils, laptops, typewriters, bluetooth keyboards…
Last week, I wrote about this writing process of using one’s hands and body to write. I’ve always loved to write by hand, especially on Moleskin and Semikolon notebooks with Muji or Pilot pens. My favorite color pen is called Bordeaux Black (in photo; the pen is dead…time to order a box). Quality of paper, the spacing of the lines…what makes you love a notebook?
But I also love to type! I was lucky to have a really fun typing teacher for a semester in 6th grade who incentivized fast, blind typing. Typing feels like an extension of thinking. Handwriting has the wonderful ability to slow things down and make things more personal, but typing can move as I think without inhibition.
I’ve been on an Apple since the 80s. Software: Scrivener for drafting chapters or parts of projects (including this one) / Word for working toward complete drafts and at least the publishers and editors I’ve worked with have preferred this / Google docs for collaborations or working with students.
So what do you love? Or what are you saving up for? What are you looking for that someone might be able to help you with?
Love this discussion. I use fountain pens almost exclusively. I’m of an age where I was required to learn to write with a fountain pen and just stuck with it. I find it much smoother and faster than ball or gel pens. My favorite notebooks are Leuchturm1917 A5. Much higher quality than Moleskine and others. The paper is better suited
Thanks for sharing this! Lascaux and thinking by hand :) very good piece!
I think it has to happen at the student level. I mean not just using both computers and notebooks but having conversations about it and sharing research and personal reflections. I say this as a former high school teacher and English department head -- we made these conversations a part of the curriculum...without the conscious start at a young age, kids lose the ability to do it I think.
I’ve had seniors who missed out on cursive ask me to teach it to them so they could use it especially on exams but also elsewhere. Ugh. It’s not fair to the kids!
A lovely post, I used to love buying new stationery and a pencil case before the beginning of a new school year.
These days, I too love Muji pens and their thin notebooks that come in a pack of 4 (I think), clean, simple and they don’t feel too precious or distracting! Having said that I do love a gorgeous notebook/journal and would happily spend time writing there too!
I am also finding myself working between Google Docs, Notes and more recently straight onto Substack drafts... I agree it is so user-friendly and nowhere near as fiddly as my Wordpress site. At the same time, I heed the warnings of drafts being lost and will now aim to save them elsewhere too...
Yes exactly! The new pencil case was the ultimate sign of the holidays coming to an end and the start of a crisp new year. My birthday was also always at the start of term, so September has layers of beginnings that will always be with me!
I have also been writing directly on substack, but used to do a draft in Google docs first, mostly because it was the most transferable medium with links, etc. now I wonder about doing it again so I have an original copy.
If I'm at home, I'll usually write fast messy notes in a cheap spiral notebook. It's not pretty, but the freedom of that really lets my ideas flow out onto the page. Then, I'll try to clarify the ideas-- with a colorful pen by underlining or circling the words that resonate or stand out to my mind in some way. Sometimes I try to further distill and clarify the thought onto an index card (I really love this practice!) and keep it in an analog "zettelkasten" box of notecards. I call it my "Idea Lab" and will return to shuffle through the cards whenever I want to think about a concept from different angles. Something about being able to physically touch the card-ideas is super helpful to my brain.
If I'm out walking in the woods or driving to work, I dictate into the Notes app on my iphone. It's simple, searchable, and perfect for capturing an idea that I can come back to at home.
I use a simple composition notebook and a Vic pen. It helps me with permission to take as many pages and use as much ink as possible. This is where my yoga practice comes in because I work to take up space in my poses and now even more so in my pages.
Thank you for prompting me to comment on one of my favourite subjects. I am a stationery addict! (See my newsletter logo as evidence.) Even though I work in digital media, I still insist on analogue note taking and list making. Outside of work, my approach is a mix of fancy and basic. I plan and capture ideas in a dot gird Moleskine notebook using a Bic crystal pen ‘special silver edition’ but I swap out the medium point for a fine point ink from anther Bic pen (always black ink). I also have a purple Bic pen for emphasising/underlining/etc. And then I use a collection of rubber stamps and washi tapes to decorate my notebook and create page headings, etc.
I love all this, Amy. Thanks for a great comment! I’m especially interested in the dot grid notebooks. I’ve always been intrigued by these -- there are always so many in stock in Europe and it’s not something I encountered when I lived in America. Why do you like them? Is there a purpose or a feeling?
I like the dot grid because it gives both structure and flexibility... it’s not quite as defined (obtrusive, even?!) as ruled or regular grid, but still provides the framework for writing straight or sketching out shapes/designs/etc. I think it makes the notebook more versatile.
My husband is French and I recently brought up trapper keepers in a conversation. He was so intrigued by these. I agree, this inspires a post or note: writing tools nostalgia :)
Yes! Back to school shopping was such a big deal. The preparation for day 1 was real. From pencil cases to multi-colored pens, floppy disks, Elmer’s rubber cement, and scratch and sniff stickers we were prepared for ANYTHING.
I am so torn on this! Have almost bought some version several times then I fear something about losing notes to the digital world, which is really silly if I rationalise it. Have you tried one out?
I live seeing everyone’s process here. I have used anything from journals from stationary stores to composition notes books. I have had a journal since I was 15. I am now 50. I have kept every single one of them except for the one I lost on a bus in Italy. I was devastated, but one of my students said, Perhaps someone needed your poems more. Sigh...
Big sigh. Sorry to hear that! I once left a computer on a bus after massive US / Asia jet lag but everything was backed up. I think losing the journal must be worse!
Composition books are wonderful in their simplicity. I also keep all my old notebooks / journals with constant fear somebody will read them.
A pal of mine prints business gifts. Six years ago he produced a thousand ballpoint pens with a customers details and the wrong logo. he gave them to me. Still have a few dozen left...... With the amount of drafts I am currently scribbling, he's gonna have to make the same mistake again soon.
I'll take any excuse to talk about writing tools. Thanks for providing a lovely one.
I use a Traveller's Company notebook + pen combo for all my handwritten stuff. They're gorgeous, flexible and very customisable (e.g. I have a weekly schedule insert for planning and a plain notebook insert for note-taking and doodling).
I've just started using sharpies a lot more for thinking through ideas. Something about writing stuff down in big, vibrant colours makes it easier for me to try stuff without worrying about expressing something perfectly.
For typing time, I split between an iPad Pro (using one of Apple's Magic Keyboards) and a desktop with an extremely clicky Ducky mechanical keyboard. It's so satisfying to use.
Software-wise, I mostly use Obsidian. It's a "knowledge management" system that's perfect for digital zettelkasten note systems. I used to use iA Writer a lot but I just keep things simple with Obsidian now.
I love this! I love reading what other people use to write. It is such a fascinating topic and gives us a glimpse into their personalities.
I've kept a journal for 32 years and in my younger years I used composition notebooks and fine point sharpies. I've since upgraded and have used fountain pens for the last decade or so. I started out with a handmade writing quill from France, feather and all. Dipping it into the inkwell and carrying it over to the page was wildly romantic but I travel a lot these days and none of it is travel friendly.
My favorite every day fountain pens are TWSBI ECO-T and TWSBI Diamond 580 ALR. My favorite ink lately is anything from Ferris Wheel Press and Wearingeul. Tomoe River paper is a joy to write on (made for fountain pen ink/extremely smooth)and I use those books as commonplace notebooks. My everyday journal is a Maruman Mnemosyne N199 A4 lined notebook. I'm very particular about my journaling tools. Writing in my notebook is my favorite part of the day so I like to make sure the whole experience is a joy.
I also have very fancy journals that I find myself not using because for some reason I am saving them? I'm trying to get better about this!
When I am writing fiction, poetry, for Substack, I use my MacBook Pro.
This is fantastic, Jenovia! Thanks for the great detail. I need to take more time to look at your pens online. There have been some great posts on Notes about fountain pens and I think it’s time I went back to the occasional fancy pen.
I have always used word on a laptop for long form writing, with notebooks for more 'creative' ideas and free writing. Recently, I bought myself a small Chromebook as my laptop was too heavy and I'm much more productive when I work out of the house. I wasn't sure I could get used to working on Google docs instead of Word, but I'm really enjoying it! I love that I can check on notes on Drive wherever I am and with any device. For me, notebooks are a conundrum: I like them to be attractive, but then if they're too nice, I feel self-conscious defacing them with my messy handwriting...I've always liked ordinary Bic or Parker pens to write with though. My favourite notebook website is The Journal Shop www.thejournalshop.com as they have lovely minimalist style notebooks with the best paper to write on.
Oh hello, this website looks fabulous! Plenty of time to peruse before we are briefly in the U.K. for my birthday ;)
I also love a lightweight computer. I use an external drive for backup and big files so I don’t need to keep much on it (Mac Air still holds quite a bit). For Word I also have OneDrive so it’s accessible anywhere (maybe all Microsoft does now?).
Fascinating thread, Kathleen! I always have yellow legal pads on my desk—I can write to-do lists and outlines on them, or rotate them for mind maps. My pen of choice is a Copic multi-liner (0.5 mm), and am trying out the Full Focus Planner, which I impulse bought at a stationary store.
I keep meaning to turn to Scrivener but I just haven't made it yet.
Prior to Substack, I was writing long form in Google Docs because of the seamless syncing across devices. I still use it for my daily notes/diary, but since stating my on Stack I've turned to the Substack editor. I love the clean interface, simplicity and the fact I know how it's all going to look. Some functionality still missing, but I really do enjoy how it looks.
I am always a tad scared I might hit Post too early somehow, though 😅
I love love notebooks and pens, but I've never managed a dedicated routine with them. I currently have a Japanese travellers journey notebook, which is so lovely and was a birthday gift. I need to make more slow time for it 😌
Wow - what is a Japanese travellers journey notebook?! Please enlighten us 🙇🏼♀️
I also do a lot of writing directly on Substack, even when my brain tries to say draft on a Word doc. Not sure why - why I do it and why I think it would be better to stay on Word. You explain it well! Thanks for starting off the conversation, Nathan!
I also love the way the Substack writing space looks and feels to use. But, if I'm typing, I have to ask myself to stop and write my drafts elsewhere-- usually in Apple's Pages or Notes-- ever since I lost a longish post that just didn't save in Substack for an unknown reason. It happened on a day when other writers were also noticing glitches in the platform.
Love this discussion. I use fountain pens almost exclusively. I’m of an age where I was required to learn to write with a fountain pen and just stuck with it. I find it much smoother and faster than ball or gel pens. My favorite notebooks are Leuchturm1917 A5. Much higher quality than Moleskine and others. The paper is better suited
Oh yes I like those notebooks, too; very popular in Austria where I used to live. Good tip! Thanks Drake.
With the focus on paper and handwriting, I thought that I would share a piece that I posted on why handwriting still matters. https://drakegreene.substack.com/p/the-pen-is-mightier
Thanks for sharing this! Lascaux and thinking by hand :) very good piece!
I think it has to happen at the student level. I mean not just using both computers and notebooks but having conversations about it and sharing research and personal reflections. I say this as a former high school teacher and English department head -- we made these conversations a part of the curriculum...without the conscious start at a young age, kids lose the ability to do it I think.
Yes. Children in public schools no longer learning to write in cursive seems to me like some kind of omen of the end of civilization.
I’ve had seniors who missed out on cursive ask me to teach it to them so they could use it especially on exams but also elsewhere. Ugh. It’s not fair to the kids!
(To write faster)
To fountain pens.
A lovely post, I used to love buying new stationery and a pencil case before the beginning of a new school year.
These days, I too love Muji pens and their thin notebooks that come in a pack of 4 (I think), clean, simple and they don’t feel too precious or distracting! Having said that I do love a gorgeous notebook/journal and would happily spend time writing there too!
I am also finding myself working between Google Docs, Notes and more recently straight onto Substack drafts... I agree it is so user-friendly and nowhere near as fiddly as my Wordpress site. At the same time, I heed the warnings of drafts being lost and will now aim to save them elsewhere too...
There is something about the stationery section of a Muji shop...!!
Thanks for the great comment, Lyndsay!
Yes! In fact I am now feeling a need to take a trip to Muji very soon! I also hope to explore your stationery recommendations, they sound wonderful...
September always brings me that new pencil case feel, Lyndsay! I don't think I'll ever grow out of it. :)
Yes exactly! The new pencil case was the ultimate sign of the holidays coming to an end and the start of a crisp new year. My birthday was also always at the start of term, so September has layers of beginnings that will always be with me!
I have also been writing directly on substack, but used to do a draft in Google docs first, mostly because it was the most transferable medium with links, etc. now I wonder about doing it again so I have an original copy.
This sounds very sensible, thank you for your insight, I will definitely back up with Google docs.
Great question Kate!
If I'm at home, I'll usually write fast messy notes in a cheap spiral notebook. It's not pretty, but the freedom of that really lets my ideas flow out onto the page. Then, I'll try to clarify the ideas-- with a colorful pen by underlining or circling the words that resonate or stand out to my mind in some way. Sometimes I try to further distill and clarify the thought onto an index card (I really love this practice!) and keep it in an analog "zettelkasten" box of notecards. I call it my "Idea Lab" and will return to shuffle through the cards whenever I want to think about a concept from different angles. Something about being able to physically touch the card-ideas is super helpful to my brain.
If I'm out walking in the woods or driving to work, I dictate into the Notes app on my iphone. It's simple, searchable, and perfect for capturing an idea that I can come back to at home.
These are fabulous. I used to love a notecard! Thanks for remind me. Used to snag a few from the teacher stationery room :)
Thanks for such a thoughtful comment, Ann!
I use a simple composition notebook and a Vic pen. It helps me with permission to take as many pages and use as much ink as possible. This is where my yoga practice comes in because I work to take up space in my poses and now even more so in my pages.
I meant Bic pen! 🖊️
Ah! Was wondering :) Sometimes classic is best.
LOL I was wondering what a Vic was, why I’d never heard of it, and where I could find one!
Thank you for prompting me to comment on one of my favourite subjects. I am a stationery addict! (See my newsletter logo as evidence.) Even though I work in digital media, I still insist on analogue note taking and list making. Outside of work, my approach is a mix of fancy and basic. I plan and capture ideas in a dot gird Moleskine notebook using a Bic crystal pen ‘special silver edition’ but I swap out the medium point for a fine point ink from anther Bic pen (always black ink). I also have a purple Bic pen for emphasising/underlining/etc. And then I use a collection of rubber stamps and washi tapes to decorate my notebook and create page headings, etc.
I love all this, Amy. Thanks for a great comment! I’m especially interested in the dot grid notebooks. I’ve always been intrigued by these -- there are always so many in stock in Europe and it’s not something I encountered when I lived in America. Why do you like them? Is there a purpose or a feeling?
I like the dot grid because it gives both structure and flexibility... it’s not quite as defined (obtrusive, even?!) as ruled or regular grid, but still provides the framework for writing straight or sketching out shapes/designs/etc. I think it makes the notebook more versatile.
This post is so relatable. I have favorite pens, prefer spiral bound notebooks, and have fond memories of trapper keepers; purple ones to be exact. :)
Trapper keepers! It’s been a long time since I thought about them. Kelly, this could inspire a separate post or at least note.
Thanks for joining the conversation :)
My husband is French and I recently brought up trapper keepers in a conversation. He was so intrigued by these. I agree, this inspires a post or note: writing tools nostalgia :)
Yes! Back to school shopping was such a big deal. The preparation for day 1 was real. From pencil cases to multi-colored pens, floppy disks, Elmer’s rubber cement, and scratch and sniff stickers we were prepared for ANYTHING.
Just asked my British husband and he was so confused haha. Could be interesting to consider all back to school products from the 80s!
Oh Trapper Keepers were wonderful! What are your favorite pens?
I've been thinking about getting a Remarkable as my next writing tool... I'm sort of thinking it will change my life.
I am so torn on this! Have almost bought some version several times then I fear something about losing notes to the digital world, which is really silly if I rationalise it. Have you tried one out?
No not yet. I've looked at costs though...eeek.
I live seeing everyone’s process here. I have used anything from journals from stationary stores to composition notes books. I have had a journal since I was 15. I am now 50. I have kept every single one of them except for the one I lost on a bus in Italy. I was devastated, but one of my students said, Perhaps someone needed your poems more. Sigh...
Love not live!
Big sigh. Sorry to hear that! I once left a computer on a bus after massive US / Asia jet lag but everything was backed up. I think losing the journal must be worse!
Composition books are wonderful in their simplicity. I also keep all my old notebooks / journals with constant fear somebody will read them.
Thanks Corie!
A pal of mine prints business gifts. Six years ago he produced a thousand ballpoint pens with a customers details and the wrong logo. he gave them to me. Still have a few dozen left...... With the amount of drafts I am currently scribbling, he's gonna have to make the same mistake again soon.
Chuckles and peace, Maurice
Ha, free materials are good materials!! Thanks, Maurice.
I'll take any excuse to talk about writing tools. Thanks for providing a lovely one.
I use a Traveller's Company notebook + pen combo for all my handwritten stuff. They're gorgeous, flexible and very customisable (e.g. I have a weekly schedule insert for planning and a plain notebook insert for note-taking and doodling).
I've just started using sharpies a lot more for thinking through ideas. Something about writing stuff down in big, vibrant colours makes it easier for me to try stuff without worrying about expressing something perfectly.
For typing time, I split between an iPad Pro (using one of Apple's Magic Keyboards) and a desktop with an extremely clicky Ducky mechanical keyboard. It's so satisfying to use.
Software-wise, I mostly use Obsidian. It's a "knowledge management" system that's perfect for digital zettelkasten note systems. I used to use iA Writer a lot but I just keep things simple with Obsidian now.
Your notebook situation sounds very organized! :) Nathan also mentioned these notebooks on this thread. They look great.
I like colors, too! usually Muji or finer marker for me. I can see how a sharpie would feel bold and powerful here.
The tactile keyboard is great. Thanks a lot for your comments, Cory!
Wish I knew about the stationary places when I was in Paris last month! Love me some pen & paper!! 🖌️💙📖
It’s a reason to go back 😉
I love this! I love reading what other people use to write. It is such a fascinating topic and gives us a glimpse into their personalities.
I've kept a journal for 32 years and in my younger years I used composition notebooks and fine point sharpies. I've since upgraded and have used fountain pens for the last decade or so. I started out with a handmade writing quill from France, feather and all. Dipping it into the inkwell and carrying it over to the page was wildly romantic but I travel a lot these days and none of it is travel friendly.
My favorite every day fountain pens are TWSBI ECO-T and TWSBI Diamond 580 ALR. My favorite ink lately is anything from Ferris Wheel Press and Wearingeul. Tomoe River paper is a joy to write on (made for fountain pen ink/extremely smooth)and I use those books as commonplace notebooks. My everyday journal is a Maruman Mnemosyne N199 A4 lined notebook. I'm very particular about my journaling tools. Writing in my notebook is my favorite part of the day so I like to make sure the whole experience is a joy.
I also have very fancy journals that I find myself not using because for some reason I am saving them? I'm trying to get better about this!
When I am writing fiction, poetry, for Substack, I use my MacBook Pro.
This is fantastic, Jenovia! Thanks for the great detail. I need to take more time to look at your pens online. There have been some great posts on Notes about fountain pens and I think it’s time I went back to the occasional fancy pen.
I support you, I’m all about fancy pen life 💞
I have always used word on a laptop for long form writing, with notebooks for more 'creative' ideas and free writing. Recently, I bought myself a small Chromebook as my laptop was too heavy and I'm much more productive when I work out of the house. I wasn't sure I could get used to working on Google docs instead of Word, but I'm really enjoying it! I love that I can check on notes on Drive wherever I am and with any device. For me, notebooks are a conundrum: I like them to be attractive, but then if they're too nice, I feel self-conscious defacing them with my messy handwriting...I've always liked ordinary Bic or Parker pens to write with though. My favourite notebook website is The Journal Shop www.thejournalshop.com as they have lovely minimalist style notebooks with the best paper to write on.
Oh hello, this website looks fabulous! Plenty of time to peruse before we are briefly in the U.K. for my birthday ;)
I also love a lightweight computer. I use an external drive for backup and big files so I don’t need to keep much on it (Mac Air still holds quite a bit). For Word I also have OneDrive so it’s accessible anywhere (maybe all Microsoft does now?).
Thanks for the great ideas!
Thanks the recommendations! Much appreciated.
Fascinating thread, Kathleen! I always have yellow legal pads on my desk—I can write to-do lists and outlines on them, or rotate them for mind maps. My pen of choice is a Copic multi-liner (0.5 mm), and am trying out the Full Focus Planner, which I impulse bought at a stationary store.
I could literally talk about writing tools all day, so here's my full list: https://www.sophiale.com/write-from-home-guide
Haha it does seem to be a popular topic! Thanks for the link to dig into 😁
And legal pads are a great call.
I keep meaning to turn to Scrivener but I just haven't made it yet.
Prior to Substack, I was writing long form in Google Docs because of the seamless syncing across devices. I still use it for my daily notes/diary, but since stating my on Stack I've turned to the Substack editor. I love the clean interface, simplicity and the fact I know how it's all going to look. Some functionality still missing, but I really do enjoy how it looks.
I am always a tad scared I might hit Post too early somehow, though 😅
I love love notebooks and pens, but I've never managed a dedicated routine with them. I currently have a Japanese travellers journey notebook, which is so lovely and was a birthday gift. I need to make more slow time for it 😌
Wow - what is a Japanese travellers journey notebook?! Please enlighten us 🙇🏼♀️
I also do a lot of writing directly on Substack, even when my brain tries to say draft on a Word doc. Not sure why - why I do it and why I think it would be better to stay on Word. You explain it well! Thanks for starting off the conversation, Nathan!
I also love the way the Substack writing space looks and feels to use. But, if I'm typing, I have to ask myself to stop and write my drafts elsewhere-- usually in Apple's Pages or Notes-- ever since I lost a longish post that just didn't save in Substack for an unknown reason. It happened on a day when other writers were also noticing glitches in the platform.
Argh that's good/worrying to know.
😆 just had to go check and it's actually The Traveller's Company, Japan. A "Traveller's Notebook"
I'd attach a pic if I could. Here's a link.
https://scratchandjotter.com.au/travelers-company-japan
Now that looks nice 👌🏽
Bic. Lol…