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Tis the age of clickety clack. Well, more like just clickety. When modern man writes these days, chances are he’s hammering away at his computer’s keyboard or working his thumbs over his phone’s keypad. The use of pen and paper has fallen by the wayside.
But while technology has made communication easy and convenient, traditional methods of writing should not be totally forgotten. Not for nostalgia’s sake, but because writing by hand offers a man several benefits that cannot be duplicated by tickling the keys.
By scanning the brain, researchers have found that writing by hand improves memory, cognitive activity, and the expression of ideas. Because writing by hand involves making multiple strokes to form letters as opposed to simply pressing a key, it activates and lights up different parts of the brain. That’s why if you’re like me, you’ll often find that if you run into a writing block while staring at your computer screen, when you grab a notepad and start jotting down ideas, the floodgates can really open up. Writing by hand also tends to be slower and more thoughtful, and it provides a greater connection between you and your words.
So writing with pen (or pencil) and paper can really keep your mind sharp and your ideas fresh. But with our computers and phones so handy, it’s hard to snap out of the digital writing routine. So here are 5 things that can help inspire you to step away from the keyboard and take some time each day to write by hand.
Col. Littleton Leather Journal
Every man should keep a journal. A journal is a place to work out the big issues in your life. Use it to hone your life’s purpose or simply as a place to empty your mind and soul of the emotional or mental burdens that you’re experiencing at a particular time. And when you finally kick the bucket, your journal will ensure that your legacy as a man lives on with your children and grandchildren.
Maybe you’re among the millions of people who have tried to start a journal, but never got into the habit. If you’ve had trouble making journal writing part of your daily routine, perhaps what you need is a journal so handsome and inviting it’s hard not to write in it. Enter the Col. Littleton No. 9 Journal. Wrapped up in rugged steer hide, this baby will have you putting pen to paper in no time. It’s the perfect place to record your legacy of manliness.
Price: $142
Fountain Pen
We sign documents every day. Most of it’s mundane stuff, but every now and then we put our signature on pieces of a paper that carry a lot of significance. A marriage license, a mortgage, your child’s birth certificate. For these sorts of occasions, a rinky dinky ballpoint pen won’t do. A man needs a writing instrument with a bit of panache.
Enter the fountain pen. Used by distinguished gentleman since the mid-19th century, fountain pens turn everyday writing into an art. The nib on a fountain pen allows for calligraphic flourishes. When you sign that check to pay off your debt, it will look like you signed the Declaration of Independence. And when people receive your notes, they’ll think they were delivered via a time machine.
Price: $50-$1500
Correspondence Cards
If you’re like most men living in this modern age of ours, your personal communication probably takes place through the digital ether of email, Facebook, and Twitter. While these forms of communication are fast and ubiquitous, they lack the human touch.
It’s time to snap out of your Web-based correspondence routine and embrace the art of the handwritten letter. But a proper letter can’t be just scribbled on a piece of torn out notebook paper. If you’re going to take the time to write a letter, you need to use quality stationery.
Of course we can’t think of a better or manlier set of stationery than our very own Art of Manliness inspired men’s correspondence cards. Choose from over 25 manly motifs that are letterpressed into the card and printed with brown ink. They’re perfect for jotting a quick note to Grandpa or sending your thanks to your Aunt Gertrude for your birthday savings bond.
Price: $15
Rite in the Rain Field Flex Pocket Memobook
Hopefully by now you’ve gotten into the habit of carrying a pocket notebook; we’ve certainly mentioned the importance of this tool numerous times. You never know when you’ll get an idea that will change your life. If you don’t have something to write it down in, you could lose it forever. But what happens when that idea comes to you while you’re standing in a torrential rainstorm? Most pocket notebooks won’t allow you to write in such conditions.
Not so with the Rite in the Rain Field Pocket Memobook. Popular among farmers and contractors, the Rite in the Rain notebooks are made with all-weather paper that sheds water and enables you to write in all weather conditions. Never let Mother Nature get in the way of inspiration again.
Price: $4.25
All Black Embassy Pen
So you have your fancy fountain pen for putting your John Hancock on important documents. But what sort of writing tool should a man use in his everyday life? You could go with a cheap ballpoint pen. The problem is they’re not very durable, and they have a tendency to let you down when you need them the most. Plus they’re so one deminsional. The only thing you can do with a Bic pen is write with it.
A man needs an everyday writing tool that’s both durable and multidimensional. A tactical pen fits the bill.
A tactical pen is a writing implement that can be used both for signing checks and as a last ditch self-defense weapon. Machined from solid metal, tactical pens typically have a tapered barrel, a screw-on lid, and a nice knurled grip. If you had to, you could use the end of the pen to forcefully disarm a would-be attacker, Joe Pesci-in-Casino style.
The Embassy All Black Pen from County Comm is the tactical pen of choice of the U.S. Government. The pen is machined from alumnium and has deep knurled grip on the body that will ensure this bad boy never slips from your hand. The Embassy Pen uses Fisher “space pen” cartridges that will keep you writing in temperatures from -30°F to 250°F. Pair this up with a Rite in the Rain notebook, and come rain or shine, you’ll be an unstoppable writing machine.
Price: $44.50
Win a Col. Littleton No. 9 Journal
Hyundai will be giving away a Col. Littleton No. 9 Journal to one lucky AoM reader, so he can start snapping himself out of his digital writing routine. Here’s how to enter the sweepstakes:
Leave a comment sharing what sort of tools or methods you use to snap yourself out of your digital writing routine and get yourself writing by hand.
Deadline to enter is March 17, 2011 at 12:00 pm CST.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE 50 UNITED STATES (D.C.) 18 YEARS AND OLDER. ENDS 3/27/11. TO ENTER AND FOR OFFICIAL RULES, INCLUDING ODDS AND PRIZE DESCRIPTIONS, VISIT HERE. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.
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I have a journal I use to write to my daughters. I started it almost 10 years ago when I got divorced. It is all the things I’ve missed in their lives, my thoughts on life for them, lessons I’ve learned, etc. Just a great way to connect with them when they are not around.
I have a huge affinity for spaceflight so I journal every day with a Space Pen (http://www.spacepen.com/originalastronautspacepen.aspx). They have been used on all NASA Apollo and Shuttle missions, ISS International Space Station, Russian Soyuz and MIR space flight. Helps me relive the glory days of space travel while getting my thoughts/ideas down on paper.
I have a great fountain pen that I inherited from my Uncle, but I’ve found that a regular spiral notebook tossed in my bag every day before I head out does the trick to get me writing. I also have a couple of random leather bound journals for nicer writing, but to just have something to write in at random times, any bit of paper does it for me.
That all-weather notebook is great when you’re out in the field, but do use pencil for it. The ink gets washed out of the notebook when it gets wet.
I like fountain pens but haven’t found a non-disposable implement that hasn’t proved unfaithful. I do, however, like to use the Pilot Varsity for it’s wonderful tactile feedback and strong, dark lines. Another set of tools I use are nibs and ink. When away from home, I keep a small kit with me which includes a collection of the nibs I find most useful (about 4-5), a small nib holder and a micro bottle of Higgins ink. The nibs and holder fit into a small Altoids-like tin and the ink is in a refillable bottle which came with a calligraphy set. it has a double seal which makes it leak-proof and a great option for on-the-go scrawling.
I keep a journal of my dreams next to my bed. When I wake up I take a moment to gather my thoughts and replay what happened in my dream for that night, then I pick up my notebook and write away. Hoping to become a lucid dreamer on a regular basis.
One method that forces me to put ink to paper is writing my grandmother. She does not own nor know how to use a computer, so digital communication is not an option. And at 80 years old her hearing has degenerated over the years so telephone is difficult to use. The best part of letters is that she loves to recieve them. She lights up when she gets the mail and see that somebody has taken the time to remember her. She has something tangible to show off to the relatives and when she is lonely she re-reads them. I make it a point to write her a letter every few months
I have a pocket notebook but the most important purchase I have ever made in this regard was a very large whiteboard. (not actually purchased, it was being trashed by a nearby school). I have it fastened to my wall and I’ll admit I often use it as a screen to project movies whenever I can borrow my cousin’s projector. But on any given day it offers such extraordinary freedom to draw, write and brainstorm. I step away from the computer and will often absentmindedly continue what I was doing on it. I use it as a calender, motivational scribble wall, doodle space, and memo as well.
Bonus: because I use OneNote (the greatest piece of note taking software ever created) I can sometimes do a lot of work on the whiteboard, take a picture of it and the built in OCR can retrieve the text and make it searchable (with a bit of editing sometimes). I of course have this ability with anything I can write on and take a picture of, so the same is done with my notebook. The point is, I like to say that the world is my canvas. I can write on random pieces of paper, (and walls and windows), record audio and video, and not miss a beat. I haven’t snapped out of the digital world, I’ve merged it with the meatspace in a meaningful way for myself.
*I don’t mean to make it sound as easy as I do… there are sometimes snags and the technology isn’t perfect, but I assure you, if you aren’t using OneNote (on a computer) to supplement your meatspace note taking, you are missing out on a revelation. And your gear, both digital and not, are capable of more than you know.
I have used a small writing tablet to keep track of new music for years. I have been wanting to start journal writing not only for myself but for my kids as well.
I always use nice, gridded paper to take down notes and do homework for my classes. It keep all my thoughts and equations well organized and it just great to look at when you go back over notes to study for an exam, compared to looking back at plain white college-rule paper.
I use a G2 gel ink with a medium point; smooth, and cheap. I work in an environment where pens of all grades are regularly “lost”. My preferred journal is a small 3.5 x 5 bound journal with an elastic closure. I picked this up from the sale bin in a bookstore. I have pasted small posters inside the covers reminding me to STFU and that I may be bold in making decisions. Random thoughts and clinical reminders go into this.
I’ve been working on keeping a journal. It is a struggle to get started and keep it up everyday. I’m slowly getting better about doing it. I’ve also been trying to write actual letters to my wife. She is in the Navy and out at sea. Being a veteran, I know how important it can be to receive actual written letters.
Ah yes, technology. It will saturate your life if you let it. My snap out is my moleskine. I was forced to write in a journal when I was 14. After a couple of months I started to enjoy it, it allowed me to fully express my thoughts and feelings and improve my ability to vocalize said thoughts and feelings.
When I started I used whatever notebook was cheapest as the years rolled on I started to refine my choices as a way to express my development as a “self-archivist”. Eventually I stumbled upon the Moleskine. After that I looked into my writing tools, I don’t like fountain pens they lack a take – anywhere hardiness. I did a little research and found that archivally pencils last much longer then pens do so I looked and researched and compared and looked some more. I now use the tombow mono 100 pencil, it’s renowned for being the premier instrument for the most discerning scribes and drafters.
Lastly the reason why I continue to write, I’ve been keeping a journal for 9 years, almost 10, it’s unreal to think about but I keep a journal now so that when I’m gone I can still offer wisdom and guidance to the ones I leave behind.
Keep a Journal your future self will thank you for it.
I have several journals I use. Divided into broad subjects. This way when I am in the mood to write on a subject it doesn’t appear to be too much of a departure from other entries. It makes the reader,myself, want to go back and read previous entries. When I use only one journal the subjects are too varied to make for enjoyable reading of previous posts.
I find a good fountain pen and a good quality notebook (not a Moleskine) are all you need to make the step up. The way the ink will flow from the pen onto the paper is very soothing. And there a great pleasure in blotting the final few lines.
To be totally honest, I don’t have tools to snap myself out of a digital funk, but I am convinced I need some now.
Thanks!
Josh
I use Moleskine ruled notebooks every day (I go through about 4 a year) and my writing instrument is a either a pen carved from the wood used to make hickory golf shafts or a fountain pen carved from the wood of one of the most prestigious golf courses in the world. It feels amazing just knowing where it came from.
In it’s most fundamental form, I use everything listed to physically write something down.
Notebook- check
Pen- check
Notebook- check
However, what I always do when sending a letter is break out the letter seal and sealing wax. The seal has my initials on it and I think it really adds a touch of class and uniqueness.
I’ve been traveling for the past two months and have found that daily Journaling is crucial! A quality pen and some solitude is all I need! I also find that writing a little poetry every night is a great way to open the mind up and excercise your creative side. Theres only one way to get better. Practice!
Well it is now Lent, and as part of my fasting and prayers i have added in the task of writing my thoughts down into a journal at the end of the day. throughout the day i try to keep a food journal as well as jot down ideas in a notepad for later reference. As a poor starving grad student i cant say any of my pens cost more than 50 cents or didnts come in a package of 80. But that Embassy pen sure looks nice!
When textbooks I prefer to use simple blank white paper to make my notes and sketches (I write math textbooks and questions). The paper allows me to sketch diagrams and graphs, and write equations much easier than the computer. i am also able to make revisions and still see what i have done previously. When I have a good idea of what my questions or ideas are then I move on to the computer.
A year and three months ago I took the 30 days to a better man challange. Though I did not succed to apply all the things into my life, a couple of things really caught me – the journal was one.
At first I didn’t really know how and what to write, but as months flew by, I really started to enjoy getting my thoughts onto the paper. Sometimes when I picked up a slipstream of thoughts and ideas, I could just go on for pages – and I still do.
Suddenly I found myself in a position, where my writing skills and ability to understand litterature had become far ahead of my classmates’. In some way this also triggered an interest for observing interesting writingstyles and apply them to my own way of writing.
Generally, I try to write “personal” notes (birthday, anniversary, etc.) by hand. I use email and Facebook often, but I think that writing by hand “reaches out and touches someone” in a much better way.
For the last year and a half I have been using a few of the suggestions contained in this article. I now keep a journal, carry a pocket notebook, and use a fountain pen. I enjoy writing by hand so much that I sometimes sit down and force myself to think of things to write, just so I can do it. When I type something, it’s hard to care about the quality of it. When I compose by hand, I want it to have meaning and importance.
Outdated? Yes. Cool as all heck? Also, a yes.
Sealing personal letters that mean a lot with a custom wax seal is a really satisfying way of finishing a love letter, correspondence with a penpal, or anything else that you want to add a bit of panache to. Since starting to seal only my best letters with a wax seal, I have striven to write every letter well enough so that it passes my “to seal, or not to seal?” test!
Want to get started with this cool finishing touch to snap yourself out of your digital writing routine? Try this link to an AoM community discussion and try it out for yourself: http://community.artofmanliness.com/forum/topics/written-correspondence-wax?page=3&commentId=2357106%3AComment%3A597321&x=1#2357106Comment597321
I like to use a small pocket notebook that I bought at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, together with a pen from my alma mater. I like the feeling of connecting to my college years when I put pen to paper, and the Met notebooks are great, with magnetic clips to keep them closed. Just going to the park to write really helps the words to flow when I bring my notebook and pen with me.
I have a stack of index cards and a small pencil sitting on my desk. Whenever I need to collect my thoughts I just use them to make a quick list. Perfect for sorting your ideas and then having something to help you remember them with!
I have a small notebook to write down thoughts over the course of the day, mostly ideas for spiritual growth. I also prefer to send a card (not an ecard) for birthdays. Lastly, when I am seriously editing a document, I need to print it out and work on hard-copy. I can’t do the same thought processes with a computer.
Good stationery and a nice pen. When I get a good pen in my hand and have some quality paper to write on, I tend to slow down and take the time to really think about what I want to say, and to put it a little more eloquently.
I have found that one of the cheapest and durable of all notebooks is a simple Top Flight or Mead Composition Book. Stitched with a cardboard cover they last for the several months it takes me to fill one and then its on to another for a buck or so.
I keep a pen in my front pocket and a (small) pad of paper in my front pocket. Having the means to write readily accessible enables me to write more often!
I started keeping a small pocket notebook with me at all times a few months ago. I am a graduate student studying medieval history, and do a lot of reading. It helps me keep track of what I’ve done and what my next task is. I also try to sum up each day with a sentence or two in addition to tracking my readings. it helps me to do several things: truly think about what I did on a particular day, discern the impact and importance of my actions, realize what I could have done better, and distill all of it in a short, memorable passage. it has been incredibly beneficial to keeping me driven, helping me achieve my goals, and putting everything in perspective.
I’m not sure if it has already been stated (there are a lot of comments already), but for those wanting to keep their writing intact in the Rite-in-the-Rain fieldbooks, there are several options. First, Rite-in-the-Rain makes special pens, which have ink cartridge replacements, which will not bleed after getting wet. They are also relatively cheap. The other solution is to use a pencil with hard lead. The ol’ #2 just won’t cut it, and will smear when wet. I personally prefer the pens, since certain grades of hard lead can be difficult to both write with and read (the lead is very light in color). I realize some ‘purists’ will always advocate the pencil, but my decade of experience as a field geologist who uses those books everyday has led me to prefer the pens. If one is keeping these books for posterity, to be read at a later date, they may thank you for not having to strain their eyes reading the pencil.
I was fascinated by the ready availability of fountain pens in Germany when I lived there for a short time. Every office/school supply section had at least two or three different styles of inexpensive fountain pens- even at the corner grocer. I never new to what this was attributable, but it did cause my estimation of our German hosts to rise.
I snap out of my digital world daily with all the things life throws at me – i don’t want to miss a chance to write them down! My little girl just turned 1 and it will be fun to look back one day and read about her changes and how having her changed us.
I love the Pilot brand for both pens and mechanical pencils, because they just feel great to write with. Also, I like to do quick sketches of objects around me after I finish a journal entry so even though I have a tablet pc (required for my major), it’s still not nearly precise enough as putting pen to paper.
I always keep index cards and cheap pen on me for my random thoughts/ideas. I find they are more sturdy than a paper solution.
BTW, I could use the journal. I just had a son in Oct. and I’m planning on starting a journal filled with my life experiences, nuggets of wisdom, etc, to give him when he gets older.
Even Arnold keeps a journal… Nuff said!
Being a minister I do a great deal of writing, mostly on the computer. Writing in the margins of a good wide margin Bible helps get me away form the screen.
Anything worth doing is worth doing slowly. Two nights ago, my wife was on the computer, so I got out a pen and a legal pad to start drafting a guest blog post. Eight pages and 1800 words later, my hand reminded me that I was out of the habit. But it felt good, the same way chopping wood feels good. I write for a living, so always drafting longhand is impracticable. But for my own creative writing projects, I like the huge leap that happens between one or two handwritten drafts and the third that I type up. The difference between a written and word processor draft is remarkable. More inspired changes happen between those two than between two revisions in Microsoft Word. I never draft a poem on my computer. Never. I’d be doing the poem an injustice.
I am currently using a small notebook to write down all the ideas and methods I find that will help me improve myself. A lot of the material in the notebook comes from AoM and the rest is full of ideas I have throughout the day and stuff I read in books. It is a decent notebook, but NOWHERE as nice as the one being given away.
I am a fan of classic 100% cotton paper. When you finish writing no matter what it may be you know the paper will last for your grandkids.
Guilty as charged. I am too digital, but long for the chance to return to my fundamental rooms with a nice pen and high quality paper upon which to write. And this would be a dandy starr!
For me, it has to be a yellow ruled pad of 8 1/2 by 11 paper. When I find myself stuck troubleshooting calculations in a spreadsheet, it’s often quickest to work out the calculation on paper and then go back to the spreadsheet to see what is different from the calculation I did by hand. White paper is ok but I prefer yellow as it seems less harsh under fluorescent lights.
I have a leather bound journal to jot down memories to be passed down from my wife and I to our children that began with our engagement.
Ah the art of writing… I do quite a bit of scholarly writing as a part of my occupation and have found that the best way to help jump start my creative flow is through the use of mind mapping. Normally there are many different software programs that allow the user to benefit from the creative process, but I find that a good old #2 pencil with blank paper works the best for me. I am not tied to the computer, and I can go wherever is best to help me to be creative.
I have a moleskine notebook I bought in the Atlanta airport while waiting for the bus to take me to Fort Benning to start infantry school. I started writing in it every night I was in training in an effort to relieve the stress of the day. I continued this routine to this day. That original notebook is all filled up and sitting somewhere in my closet, but I keep getting new notebooks and setting aside some time every day for self-reflection or simply doodling to help break up the day.
i like putting on a good cinematic score (inception, dark knight, etc) and sitting down with a moleskine and nice pen. after that the ideas flow like water!
A fountain pen is now an every day carry for me, and I’m a Moleskine fan since fountain pen ink bleeds through the page on the cheap notebooks. I haven’t tried it myself, but Noodelers Bulletproof ink is supposed to be waterproof once it is dry, but it also would ruin the particular pen I have.
This here is really a man notebook.
Instead of using email for communication, I write my wife a love letter and it send it to her work through regular snail mail. The art of writing a letter to a gal definitely takes a guy back to the more finer day of the gentleman.
I take 1 day a month that is technology free. No computer, no smartphone, no TV, etc. I will hike or read or explore a museum. For any of these escape from technology days, I grab a notepad and paper for writing of my thoughts and ideas that eventually come to the surface.
Thank you for entry and offerings.
-Kris
Go outside! Nothing like lying down in the sun or leaning against a tree with a pen and paper in hand.
To be perfectly honest, I don’t usually write on a computer. Sure, I have a facebook and the like, but any actual writing I do- stories, papers, letters- they’re all pen to paper, honest to goodness written down. That’s probably why there are so many pens and pencils floating loose about my home!
I keep two pocket notebooks, a small one for anything and a larger one for any game design ideas or drawings that need a bit more space to work out.
There’s nothing like going too get some coffee, sitting down and putting lines on some paper. I try to limit my digital writing to a minimum, since I usually have to do it on my fancy new phone.
Moleskine notebook at home and portable pocket notebook always in my bag!
Thanks for this awesome post.
As for the contest, I have taken to using finer notebooks and pens in my writing. My first big leap came with a pocket notebook. A friend of mine that does stand up recommended it and it has never failed me. I’ve use Miquelrius 7x12cm notebook that fits neatly in the back pocket and use any pen I find around.
I wrote one novel (since deleted) on the computer, but for my second I used a spare bound notebook. I totaled five notebooks of various types. The writing was much better, but the books weren’t designed to last. For my current novel project I’ve invested in better materials. I’ve nearly filled a Eccolo World Travler journal with the first part of my new novel and have an Ameircan Made Ampad Gold Fibre journal ready for the next part. I’ve written in a Scheaffer calligraphy pen, which make for smoother flow of ink and ideas for my writing.
Another note on writing a novel long hand. The other day I went to pick up the notebook for an hour of writing and I noticed it seemed to have a heavier weight than I remembered. Maybe it was the added weight of the fountain pen ink or just a feeling as I neared the last pages in the book. But it was a feeling akin to that I feel when seeing a project in the physical world take shape. Just as a carpenter may see his cabinet take shape, so too did I feel a real sense of accomplishment. The feeling of holding a quality book filled with my own writing will always be more rewarding than running a word county in a word processing program (even the name word processor is cold and detached from the feeling of WRITING a pen and paper gives).
I’m doing research for a new project and have bought an Ecosystem bound notebook. It is American made, 100% post consumer paper and made of other good materials. The quality has served me well so far and I think I may make it my go-to for working projects as it encompasses the manly values of conservation, quality and being made by my fellow countrymen.
All these improvements have increased my writing output and quality and I would definitely use the journal. My computer journal is rarely updated and, like typing a novel, the white glow of the screen doesn’t call for being filled in like a quality journal or notebook. With a trusty fountain pen with quality black ink, I can’t help not only to fill it with words of my own manly life, but to LIVE a manly life worthy of the craftsmanship of the book and pen.
keeping it simple – field notes memo book & retro 1951 tornado – in my breast pocket everywhere i go
Hemingway journalist pad. Perfect to keep in your back pocket or coat pocket.
I currently use a personal Journal with good paper and an MontBlanc Fountain Pen to jot down daily personal thoughts and events, a planner for timed events like appointments and work scheduling and a shirt pocket briefcase with 3×5 cards for quick anytime notes.
I use a Graf von Faber Castel Perfect Pencil for the planner and note cards as the paper quality is not sufficient for the wet fountain pen ink.
I have a smart phone and laptop with me most of the time but find i get more satisfaction from writing things down in my own hand plus you get permanent record of events and thoughts for future reference…that can’t be erased with a power surge.
I keep a TUL needlepoint pen and notepad by my bed so when bursts of inspiration come I won’t forget them.
My Moleskine pocket notebook follows me everywhere. I use a cardboard pen that never lets me down.
I use a Moleskine pocket notebook and a sepia toned Pigma Graphic 1 pen. I like this pen because of the pigment ink that doesn’t soak into the paper and show through on the back side.
I enjoy handwriting post cards to my friends back home. Even though I talk to them all quite often on the phone, I enjoy sending them postcards with thoughtful quotations from their favorite novels/movies and a funny stamp.
Yellow notepads and a standard notebook are my usual tools, accompanied with a silver Eddie Bauer pen. The pen can smear easily, but if you give it a few seconds it’s usually fine.
I find that when I actually write something, as opposed to typing it, I am far more likely to remember it and the message seems a little more personal.
I keep a cheap, rubber-banded memo book and a decent pen with me at all times. Helps me to remember things I need to get done.
About two or three years ago, I got tired of my hand writing looking so horrible! I always went digital just because I could save face. Not to mention spelling has never been a strong suit. I snapped myself out of this routine using my college notebooks.
In the margin, instead of doodles you would read random sentences and words written in a slow, 2nd grader cursive. I practiced until I got to the point that it is second nature now and I get compliments on my handwriting regularly.
I carry around a single piece of paper and a pen, and whenever I am in class or on the bus, i try to write a poem or if i see someone interesting i think up what they’re gonna do in the next hour and write it down.
The trouble with being a screenwriter is that it’s essentially a computer-based career. Script format is a world of hurt without proper software, and without the format it can be hard to properly relay your story.
A few years ago, I picked up a “Screenwriter’s Draft Pad,” which was essentially a notebook ruled specifically for screenplay format. It turned out to be a complete Godsend. Long before I could afford a laptop with battery life that would last a full airplane flight (much less two!) I was writing scripts longhand when I was away from my desk. I’ve since learned that I can pretty much write a script longhand if I have an idea when I’m out away from the digital world. It’s a great break from things, and it helps flex my brain in ways that typing just can’t seem to do.
So now every time I get stuck writing a scene, I grab a notebook and head out to the trails. Nothing like some exercise and some good old Texas sunshine to help get things flowing again!
I have a case for holding index cards from Bosca. Has a spot for a pen, I use a Fisher space pen. It is similar yet superior to the Levenger pocket briefcase.
Computer fasts every now and then help me refocus.
I have a notebook where I write down really important stuff, so I turn to that if I have something I want to really note for its importance.
I always carry a pen in my pocket and some business cards. Whenever inspiration might come I write little notes on the back of the cards. Truth is some good poems have been savaged from those!
I carry a TacPen everyday I’d feel funny without it
There are so many things I would completely forget without my notebook. It’s still easier to write them in a notebook than put them in my iphone
A Moleskin notebook for general note taking, and since I work in Information Technology, there’s always a white-board nearby for drawing diagrams.
For the contest:
I use a simple, straight-forward marble bound notebook for almost all of my non-digital writing means. It’s nondescript, so it never draws unwanted attention to itself, roomy, so I can keep each one for a while, and cheap, so I never balk at writing down my thoughts. I’ve filled up about 3 in the past year, with various poems, short stories, a novel and bits and pieces of my every-day world.
I have been keeping a journal since 1981–the year that my oldest daughter was born. As a young man and father one of my greatest fears was that I would die before my daughter had any memories of who I am. My journal was my legacy to her. Over the years my journaling has taken different forms from simple notebooks to more expensive leather bound journals. They have recorded my inner most thoughts, reflections, prayers, hopes, dreams and a few items that were really too personal. I have journaled first thing in the morning or the last thing at night. I have even awoken in the middle of the night and journaled some great fear or idea. For me, morning journaling–reviewing the previous day, reflecting upon a morning reading, pondering the day ahead–has been the most rewarding time. In my journals my heirs will find old theater tickets, notes written to me and cards that influenced me. They will also get insight into how I thought, my victories and my defeats, my joys and my disappointments. I learned early on that it is good to review entries at least monthly if not weekly. Kierkegaard on once noted that we can only see the hand of God in our lives as we look back at our past. Now with nearly 30 years of journals I can look back and see how most fears never materialized and that many dreams were best unfulfilled. My journals provide me a narrative of how I became who I am today. Indeed, God may have had a hand in things. In my profession I often see people in times of crisis and stress. One of the things that I encourage them to do is to journal their thoughts. To get “the beasts running around in their heads” onto paper in black and white. Only then can we see them for what they truly are. They become manageable. I have tried journaling on a typewriter, a computer (al la Doogie Houser) and by hand. The most satisfying has been by hand. It puts me in touch with my true self better than any other means.
I use the Parker pen I bought almost 22 years ago and note cards to capture my thoughts. The pen and I have been together my entire USAF career to include breaking the sound barrier together in a T-38 and placing 7 satellites in Earth orbit. Having just retired from the USAF, my trusty Parker and I are looking forward to what future opportunities life will bring us. :-)
When it comes to actually banging out a draft, nothing is speedier for me than a keyboard. But writing by hand has always felt more agile and creative. I like to keep notebooks for individual purposes – projects, classes, work notes – and a ruled page keeps things tidy. Nothing helps me brainstorm better than a clean, blank page though – I use artist’s sketchbooks for this purpose. I prefer a nice, grainy paper and a fine-tipped mechanical pencil, or sometimes a selection of ballpoints in varying colors; whatever it is, it has to convey the texture of the page. Few things offer more flexibility than being able to write, draw, diagram and make annotations all on the same page, with the same implements. It may get messy sometimes, but that’s just part of the process.
This is going to be off for most people but my favorite way to set myself down to handwrite anything involves a drafting pencil and engineer’s paper. I almost finished with a B.S. in mechanical engineering and it seems I have gotten so accustomed to these tools that it is what I am most comfortable with now. Working has brought even more reason for me to get used to the handwritten art more and these same tools are the standard, so this works well for me.
I write in a completely plain notebook from Muji (http://www.muji.eu/pages/online.asp?V=1&Sec=12&Sub=47&PID=1575). Really cool stuff, there’s nothing like it in N. America. Then I write with a Lamy Safari fountain pen (sometimes even use a calligraphy nib) filled with Noodler’s apache sunset ink.
The combination is something completely unique, that I doubt that anyone in Calgary has anything similar. It really give whatever I write personality and character despite the droll that inevitably results.
My brother and father hand turn and finish their own pens on a lathe, which is a pretty manly hobby I think. In my opinion, they’ve grown from producing boring wooden pens to works of functional art. They gave me a magnificent one, turned from some rock hard coca-bola wood, that makes physical writing a pleasure and not a chore.
A quick scrawl with my grandfather’s pen is all it takes.
2 moleskin leather notebooks, a Waterman fountain pen, and a Fisher Space Pen.
I always have 2 notebooks. One is for home / personal use and the other is strictly for work. I write down everything I need to remember in my notebooks. I keep a fountain pen for business use or for when I’m dressed up, and a Space Pen for ordinary occasions.
Great article – I use a variety of pens that write so well…
I use my grandfather’s old handy-dandy journalist notepad XL size. I cut it in half so it fits in my pocket and now it’s just a leather flip book with every day sticky notes in it. Works great for those “on the run” thoughts that pop in my head.
I currently write my grandmother via postcards and small letters; I find these handwritten notes much more valuable than any email. Aside from acquiring some manly stationary, I’m desiring to invest in a quality fountain pen that won’t break the bank and provide another meaningful part to our correspondence.
I carry 2 pocket sized Moleskins around and use Jetstream medium pens – no bleeding, ghosting, or smearing, and the flow is oh so smooth. Quite inexpensive as well.
Let me share that these pens are such a joy to use that even as I’m typically g away on my smartphone this instant, I can’t wait to pay my cell phone bill tomorrow, as I get to use my jetstream in an official capacity and signing ckecks with these $4 beauties is second best to my dip fountain pen (the kind you dip in an ink well of India ink).
Better than Mont Blanc in my experience – the MB is so nice it writes for you. With a dip or quill pen, *you* do the writing. Old fashioned way.
I’ll sign mortgages and deeds, my will and large checks with a real fountain pen. Its as close as you can get to signing in blood.
Damn yor eyes sirs, the competition is only ope to those of American Residency! Bah Humbug!
I have three moleskines of varying sizes. One for the pocket, one for my fiction writing notes and a third that was intended to be used as a journal. This article has given me a gentle shove of a manly nature to pick up that pen and start getting the journal filled. i am fille dwith anticipation at the thought.
Kindest Regards,
Watkin
Scotsman abiding in the heat of the antipodes.
When I need to snap out of the digital writers block, I normally rely on a good old number 2 pencil and a clip board with college ruled paper. Not only is this a great writing platform, but you can get into almost anywhere if you walk fast enough with a clipboard.
Right now, the best I have are stacks and stacks of legal pads that I use for all my class assignments. the corners get a bit frayed, but it’s the best I have for right now.
I carry a notepad with me religiously as a necessity of my job. But I have found the greatest motivator to step away from the keyboard is just to see the simple mistakes that pop up as a result of word corrections and improper grammar rules.
I was in the Army for 11 years before i decided to get out and see my kids grow. But while i was in, I always had a small, green notebook. 1st, because as a soldier it was a requirement to have pen and paper at all times. Second, it became my place to kill time with, release some tension, rant and rave, whatever… I always find myself going back and forth, meaning that i always start writing, then stop for awhile. This last “awhile” lasted almost 10 years. I recently read on AOM about journaling, keeping a pencil and notebook with you at all times, and i started doing it. I keep alot of wisdoms i find, jot notes to myself, anything. My wife thinks i am weird, but it is a release for me. Nothing special, I just use the same type of little green memorandum book that i used in the army and a mechanical pencil. Havent graduated to the big book yet, but hope to soon.
Shutting the laptop and pulling out the paper is the hardest but most gratifying thing to do as a refresher.
I have always loved the act of physically writing, and over the years my preferred instrument is the pencil. I love its reliability – the fact that it doesn’t “dry out” – but I especially love the texture and look of the lines of text that using a pencil can make. I spent several years as a professional calligrapher, learning and mastering the art of writing characters in many different styles, with different nibs and inks. And since becoming a journalist with this community paper, I am never without a pencil and paper in my briefcase, or in my jacket pocket. My own journal writing has been sporadic over the years…. but after reading these posts, I’m going to take another stab at recording my own thoughts. Thanks for the encouragement
I keep a daily prayer journal, using a fountain pen and a beautiful journal purchased one or two at a time at the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky (a photo of the journal can be seen here: http://desperatepastor.blogspot.com/2011/02/why-i-keep-prayer-journal.html). These journals are hand-crafted by monks of another monastery.
I like to carry my swiss army knife with me everywhere I go that has a mini ball point pen great for taking notes usually on what ever piece of paper I can find (napkins, paper bags, back of business cards)
I keep a standard pen and a Kentucky memo pad with me at all times.
I use my iPhone a lot to jot down notes a lot but there is still nothing like good old fashioned pen and paper! I like to journal and take notes in the mornings while doing my daily Bible readings. I have been using Moleskine notebooks for years now and love them, I cary a small one with me to jot down ideas on the go and use a big one for my journaling; they are classic looking and reasonable priced ($12-$15). Also this Valentine’s day my wife surprised me with a little gift, a beautiful fountain pen. It is so nice to write with and like you mentioned with the No. 09 journal, it is something that keeps me excited to write (My wife only paid about $20 on Amazon for mine which was surprising since it it such a nice pen!).
I dont know about you guys, but I loose my pens every other day. Had to learn the hard way never to carry my $50 pen out into the field if i wanted to see it the next day.
Fun Post! I’ve kept a journal for nine months now and it’s become much easier to flesh out my ideas when writing.
I write drafts of letters before I mail them for two reasons. First, I can overcome the problem of not being able to revise like I would if I were writing on a computer. Also, I can keep the draft so I know what I wrote even after the letter is sent.
Chalk Board for good Math thinking.
An A5 size daily planner with 2 pages per day, a memo book and a red, blue, black and green flair pen…all in a convenient binder.
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