A This Cute Life Post
My current setup! TWSBI ECO T Medium in Mint, Midori A5 Grid. Notebook cover and the plastic cover are not featured in this post, but I found them by searching “A5 Hobonichi Cover” on AliExpress.
Going analog has multiple benefits. Many professional writers handwrite their initial drafts, such as Neil Gaiman, Neil Stephenson, Claire Messud, Christopher Paolini, even Stephen King at one point. Writing a book with a pen and paper sounds daunting and it’s completely understandable if you nope out. I know many writers who like to plan/plot their novels by hand and type their first drafts. If this is you, follow me down this rabbit hole!
Pen
In order from top to bottom- TWSBI ECO Limited Pastel Pink, Pilot Kakuno Soft Violet, Wing Sung 3008
The first most important thing is the pen. Having the wrong pen will greatly disturb the experience. This is why I always recommend a fountain pen. Economical, a variety of inks to choose from, vastly improves hand fatigue, and as a bonus, aesthetic AF. (We all know I am 100% about that aesthetic life)
I have a post on choosing your first fountain pen, but for the purposes of this post, my one-and-done suggestions are:
- Sub $5 – Wing Sung 3008 on eBay
- Sub $15 – Pilot Kakuno
- Above $20 – TWSBI Eco
Regarding inks, stay away from calligraphy inks and get an ink specially formatted for fountain pens. The color is up to you. You will be more likely to use a color you adore than one you don’t, after all! Be aware, for the Kakuno you will also need to purchase a converter to use bottled inks or a syringe to refill the cartridge that comes in the package. If you prefer thinner lines, get a Fine and if you prefer thicker lines get a Medium.
Notebook
Favorite Premium: Nanami Seven Seas “Writer”
This notebook uses Tomoe River paper, which lets fountain pens shine. The sepia paper and lines are easy on the eyes, perfect for long writing sessions. It’s packaged well. A minus is that it will require a cover in order to survive the author’s journey into the outside world and the thin weight of the paper means there will be plenty of ghosting.
An example of the ghosting
The lines on the page are rather light and will disappear in low-light conditions, making it difficult to keep your writing straight. On the plus side, when you look at it from afar it looks like you write perfectly straight without a guide on a blank page.
Favorite Budget: Midori A5 Grid/Lined
Commonly found online for less than $10, these babies handle fountain pens well. The cream paper and light turquoise lines are easy on the eyes. The paper handles watercolors as well. It is not durable, however, and a separate cover must be purchased if you plan on taking it out and about with you. This is my workhorse notebook and my favorite to use overall.
An example of the grid size and the line darkness.
Disclaimer: None of the links on this page are affiliated and I am not affiliated with any of the stores mentioned.