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
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...
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.
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 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...
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.
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.
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 😌
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
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...
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.
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.
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. :)
I've been thinking about getting a Remarkable as my next writing tool... I'm sort of thinking it will change my life.
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...
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
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.
Wish I knew about the stationary places when I was in Paris last month! Love me some pen & paper!! 🖌️💙📖
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.
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.
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
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 😌
Bic. Lol…