So we all love pens for the pieces of art they are, but they’re also tools. So, what do you write with your pens? Do you journal, do you take notes? Do you use fountain pens for everything or just certain activities?
Personally, I write a lot of snail mail letters to friends, and I also use mine to take notes. I’ve never done a journal before, but I’m thinking it may be useful in helping me unpack some things. Plus, Midori makes some very nice looking 3 and 5 year journals.
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Mostly bullet journaling. But I want to write more with them - so hope to find a good way to do this in the future.
I mostly use my fountain pens for my Hobonichi planner, snail mail penpalling, and a little journaling now and then. I also prefer them for general use like making quick notes, but in that case I’ll write on and with whatever I can grab before the thought escapes.
Do you use any particular site to meet penpals? I’ve been thinking about it, maybe getting a PO box to make it more private - but I see a lot of stories of flaky pen pals that don’t write back.
The free penpal matching sites pretty much all suck. I signed up at ipfworld.com which was about $25 for a one-year membership. They give you 10-12 addresses, and give your address to 10-12 other members over the year.
Ive used /r/penpals before with good results, as well as swapbot. Would highly recommend a po box.
Hmm, interesting idea. Could this be a good community to start?
As much as I can although due to moving they are all currently all packed away.
Normally, I use them in Bullet Journal which is an organizational tool rather than a way to unpack my feelings. I’ve toyed with traditional journalling but I just don’t feel my life is interesting enough to write about. Otherwise, odd notes for work and home life and I have brought some books to learn and practice my penmanship. I also try to write the odd letter around the festive season to some of my older relatives that still appreciate real letters.
Quite a bit of long form private notes at work of interviews with patients. Nowadays, we’re expected to eventually get them onto electronic systems. But during the interview itself, it’s still fairly satisfying to be able to write with such speed for long periods.
Unfortunately, legibility is generally pretty poor. But the way I see it, I get to spend more time later on admiring the nice shades to figure out what I was trying to write at that time.
I picked up fountain pens and then realized I needed to write something. I started with bullet journaling and then moved into a loose weekly log with a daily journal. I also like doodling during meetings.
Journal, notes, calendar, whatever.
I use mine for work notes, random to-do lists, and journaling. Writing on paper helps me remember things better so I always have a pen and paper on me so I can jot things down anytime.
Mine’s just my daily driver pen. Sign things, fill out work forms, take a note here and there, vandalize a photo with a mustache, etc.
I use them at work - when in the hospital, to jot down notes and to-dos throughout the day to help me document electronically later. When I’m in my research role, I have tons of meetings (many via Zoom). I have a big Leuchtturm1917 (A4+) notebook that I use to jot down notes, which keeps me engaged, and also to work out ideas / write out math or pseudo-code.
Outside of work, I will sometimes write passages of poetry or prose to try to improve my handwriting or check out inks. I’m giving the journaling thing a try at the moment though it’s not something that I’ve done regularly before.
Mostly math, just because that’s the majority of my writing. I use them for everything, unless I need it not to be permanent
Mostly use them for work now. I don’t really like taking notes in my computer during meetings, as it’s quite easy to get distracted. Using a pen is a great way to actually focus on what I’m doing.
I don’t use Midori journals, but I’m currently using one of their regular notebooks, and it’s pretty good!
Notes and flashcards for actuarial exams. Makes me actually excited to study even the dry topics when I have a new pen and new ink. I’ve stuck to Muji notebooks since they’re so affordable and high quality.
Bullet journals for work and for life. Gospel reflections. Letters to friends. Shopping lists, crosswords, notes from phone calls, diagrams. About the only thing I don’t use it for are things requiring a pencil. Would you like to hear about the world of mechanical pencils? 😀
Everything. I usually have a couple inked and use them throughout the day to take notes, journal, write quick messages….
I’ve never used Midori journals, but I’ve heard that they’re pretty nice for pen users.
Bujo, writing letters, keeping a monthly budget, to-do-list and notes at work, gratitude journal, maths puzzles. I especially value writing down things to do at work, it helps me keep things under control and it feels good when I can mark things as done and turn the actual physical page at the end of the day.
