While you may be more comfortable leaving your expensive fountain pen and full-sized notebook on your desk, that doesn’t mean that analog writing cannot be a part of your every day ritual. Extending their use beyond being in your pocket, you can use your analog writing tools for journaling, work notes, planning, and much more.
What’s next after pocket pens and notepads?
We’ve previously mentioned the advantages of carrying a smaller pen and pocket notebook, but the world of analog writing doesn’t have to be confined to your pockets. Reap the benefits by taking the experience to your desk with these more premium, full-sized options:
- Fountain Pens: Getting into fountain pens can seem like a daunting task. At the end of the day, there’s really nothing to be afraid of. The barrier to entry can be as low as $8 for a non-disposable pen. It’s nice to have something permanent that you will enjoy for years to come as opposed to a disposable pen that gets thrown away when it’s empty. Not only does writing with a fountain pen force you to take your time, but they are also a pleasure to write with, and can be customized to your personal preference with thousands of different colored inks.
- Full-sized Notebooks: Uses for a notebook are endless, whether it be pocket- or full-sized. They’re a great way to stay organized. Many professionals prefer to write in a notebook to keep thoughts relevant and close by each other. It’s easy to flip a few pages back to see your thoughts than to go through loose papers. For personal use, keeping a full-sized journal has its benefits. Pocket notebooks are great for short, quick thoughts, but a full-sized notebook will make it much easier to record your day in detail. Write down your thoughts, your feelings, what you did that day, what you enjoyed and what you didn’t. Don’t forget to include what you would like to focus on tomorrow.
- Planners: An offshoot of notebooks, a good planner can mean a more organized life. The added bonus of handwriting as a tool to remember will keep your mind on what you have coming up during the week. You’re less likely to miss appointments, meetings, and important dates if you write them down by hand.
- Storage: It is great having a pen, pencil, pocket notebook, and journal that you like, but it is even better to keep them all organized and nicely displayed. Desk trays and pen holders are just a few ways of doing this. Having a special place for your favorite pen ensures you’re less likely to lose it.
Where to go from here?
It’s hard to describe the feeling of putting pen to paper. To some it may seem old fashioned, but it is just one of those things that you won’t truly appreciate until you try it yourself. As explained in part one and two of this guide, there is no shortage of options when looking for the perfect pen and paper combo. There really are enough choices so that everyone can find something that they like. It’s a great feeling to find your perfect pen and paper combination and a way to use them that benefits your every day life. Here are some great selections that can help you build your writing routine:
The Design Icon…
Lamy 2000 Fountain / Rollerball / Ballpoint Pen
Designed in 1966 by Gerd Mueller, this ultra-popular fountain pen still maintains a modern look today. It is on permanent display in New York City’s Museum of Modern Art and for good reason. The ergonomic pen looks sharp, writes well, and holds a ton of ink to get you through the work week and then some. Durable makrolon resin and stainless steel make up the sleek, slightly textured body that seems to disappear in your hand while writing. If fountain pens aren’t your thing, the 2000 is also available in a ballpoint ($60), multipen ($59), rollerball ($74) and pencil ($48). This is a pen that will last a lifetime.
Get your feet wet…
Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen
Comprised of a metal body and fantastic Japanese nib, the Pilot Metropolitan is a great way to get your feet wet with fountain pens. At only $15, this pen is durable, ergonomic and affordable. The steel nib effortlessly glides across the page and you can fill the pen with any color of fountain pen ink that you choose. If are looking for something with a more modern design, consider the Lamy Safari as an excellent alternative.
Start writing…
Maruman Mnemosyne Notebook
The Maruman Mnemosyne are an all around excellent line of notebooks. The B5 size is 6.9”x9.8” and fits perfectly on any desk. Not too large, and not too small, the 7mm line spacing is great for any size handwriting. Each page features a title block, space for the date, and is segmented into three 10-line groups to help you stay organized. The off-white paper is very smooth and easily holds up to ballpoint, fountain pen, and gel ink without any messy ink bleeding through the page. They’re also micro-perforated for clean and easy removal. The thick plastic cover will keep your thoughts safe from accidental spills and the double-o wire binding insures that your notebook will last a long time bouncing around in your bag. The Mnemosyne line is available in several sizes and rulings if B5 and lines aren’t your thing.
Premium paper in a larger format…
Rhodia Webnotebook
The Webnotebook by Rhodia is a great alternative to the extremely popular Moleskine. Its black leatherette cover maintains a professional look while protecting the off-white pages inside, which are far better quality than that of their competitors. The paper is some of the smoothest and thickest on the market, making it ideal for fountain pens. Keep it closed with the integrated elastic band and store notes in the built in pocket that’s located inside the back cover. 5.5” x 8.25” is perfectly sized for journaling or work notes, while not taking up too much valuable bag space should you decide to take it off your desk. Available in black for the professional, and orange for those who want an added pop of color to their carry and an easier time finding it inside a bag.
Stay organized…
Hobonichi Techno Planner 2015
It’s not too late to start a new yearly planner. The Techno by Hobonichi is unique in design in that it has a full page per calendar day. The great thing about this planner is that it has 464 pages but manages to be very thin and light, around 0.5” thick and only 210g. This is thanks to the Tomoe River Paper inside. Each page is impossibly thin, yet it can stand up to any ink while still being some of the smoothest paper out there. Clean aesthetics and a modern typeface/design will make you look forward to opening up the book and seeing what you have planned for the day. The Techno also makes an excellent journal, helping you to make analog writing a permanent part of your daily routine.
Store it in style…
The Divide by Dudek Modern Goods
All handmade by a single person in the United States and crafted from walnut wood, Dudek Modern Goods produces a line of pen and notebook storage that is both functional and visually appealing. With several configurations, the pen holders make a great spot to keep all of your favorite writing instruments and the pocket notebooks that you’re working on. The Divide has room for 12 pens, pencils or markers and can fit 3-4 pocket notebooks in the middle, making a great home for your analog writing tools while making your EDC easy to grab from on the way out the door. No need to store 12 pens? Check out “The Daily” — a smaller block with room for three pens and three notebooks.
Thank you for reading our series on analog writing! Hopefully we’ve given you enough insight and inspiration to start carrying a pen and notebook. They are very useful tools that you may not have known the utility of until you try carrying one. Have we helped shed some light on the many benefits of analog writing? Did you pick up any new writing tools? If so, how do you plan to use them? Let us know in the comments below.
