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We’re finally back with what may be the finale of the On Writing Revisited blog posts. While there may be some future addenda to this series, I’m not sure I can continue the series at this time and delve much deeper into this topic. I’ll link to the original blog and the posts that are still up HERE, if you want more insight, and I may just pull over some of those posts and repost them in their entirety here. For now, I’m going to wrap things up much like I did the last time with a rundown of my current or preferred writing instruments; however, I’m going to limit this to paper, pens/pencils, and technology.

I’m going to start off with technology this time since it’s the main method of cataloging my writing at the moment. I write on multiple different computers, both at home and at work. My main computer at work is a Dell XPS 8940 desktop outfitted with an 11th Gen i7-11700 processor with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 and dual 27 inch curved monitors. This helps me work from one display to the other, has enough power to run the livestreams with multiple cameras, and do any other work I might need. My previous computer was an older Dell XPS that was a little less powerful all the way around and was meant more for running our inventory software. I also use a less powerful, slightly newer Dell at home that was purchased at Costco and actually has similar specs but runs on an i5 processor. The dual monitors are on that computer as well so I can mimic the efficiency I have at work. It’s a HUGE productivity boost to have multiple displays with how frequently I change tabs or programs. I’m not sure how I would do my job with one monitor at this point.

In terms of analog devices for cataloging my writing, the majority of my notebooks are now Mnemosyne 188 or 195 notebooks. The paper quality is so vastly superior to other brands and while I’ve tested out a few others in recent months, I keep returning to these for almost all of my writing. I do have some no-name Kraft notebooks with dot-grid that I use for random notes. I keep these in my car and other places that I don’t tend to keep a work notebook at. Though I do still have some unopened and fresh Nanami Paper Seven Seas notebooks left, I keep those for my private journaling and poetry. They’re far too precious for work notes especially since they have changed the paper and can be hard to come by. In a pinch, I’m happy to use a Black ‘N Red notebook since they can usually be found in a Target or office supply store and the paper is pretty good quality.

As far as writing instruments go, I’m down to four that see regular use. The one in my pocket on the daily is an Everyday Karas Cerakote basik.003 that is a test batch we did to see how the Cerakote would wear on the basik pens. It’s been my go to for quite some time now, and I think it will remain in my pocket until the next pen prototype comes off the machines. The basik is by far our easiest and most comfortable pen, by our, I mean the Karas family of brands. I think the added width offsets the lighter material of aluminum nicely. As always, the go-to refill is a Pilot Precise, currently the V7. 

I still use a vintage red 40’s/50’s Sheaffer Snorkel fountain pen when I write poetry. It was a gift from a friend and is still one of the best writing pens I own. The nib is gorgeous and smooth, and while the pen is very small in diameter I don’t get hand fatigue from it. Though I do tend to switch to my Montblanc 146 or Lamy 2000 when I am writing with a fountain pen for long periods of time. Those two are much more comfortable for long writing sessions and hold a LOT of ink. For the times when I want to test inks out, I’m using any of a number of Vertex fountain pens, though I do have one of the few functional true prototype Vertex fountain pens that features completely different capping technology and a larger pen diameter. It’s easy to fill, clean, and replace the ink because it was made to be eyedroppered, so I keep it on hand for testing out inks though that doesn’t happen as often as it did in the past. 

I don’t have a mechanical pencil currently, though I do have a fresh pack of Blackwings somewhere in my desk. I’m not doing a lot of layout sketching like I was when I was building the Everyday Karas website. At that time I was using a very cheap Pentel mechanical pencil for those tasks. I prefer to do visual layouts on paper with pencil even though I am not a designer or artist. It just flows faster than using a digital interface for that type of thing. I’m not sure where I picked that up from, though it could be the interior design class I took in high school. 

Honestly that’s about it. I’m not going to go into specifics on inks and my bag is still my Rickshaw briefcase or Banzai with a BUNCH of Waldo pen cases and a coozie or two. They’re just functionally better than anything else on the market and vastly more durable. The price might be high, but the value is so far beyond the competition it’s not even close. If you think of something I should add or at least try out, let me know in the comments. I’m always down to test out new products and see how they fit into my writing edc.