A vintage Parker 51 formerly in my collection.

5 Reasons Why Parker Nailed the Parker 51 Reissue

August 19, 2020

Once the news broke that Parker has planned a reissue of the Parker 51 fountain pen for this fall [recently postponed until February 2021], there was no shortage of “hot takes,” and most, predictably, were negative. With a pen as iconic as the Parker 51, Parker’s move bears a lot of risk. In an era where the community of fountain pen users has shifted online - and where the opinions of those with the loudest voices tend to be both negative and magnified - an unsuccessful launch places Parker at risk of becoming the butt of jokes, potentially even before the pens ever make their way to consumers. (Just look at the initial attempt to revive the Esterbrook brand.) But Parker is an established, experienced pen company, and what they are doing here warrants more careful consideration than I have seen so far. I actually think their strategy just might work. Here are five things to consider:

Parker is reissuing a modern version of a pen from its own archives, not simply using the Parker 51 name on a completely different pen. Sure, as I’ll discuss more in detail below, Parker implemented some (predictable) design changes to modernize a pen first designed in the late 1930s, but they avoided what doomed the first attempt to resurrect Esterbrook: releasing a “modern” pen that bore no resemblance to the much-loved original. Here, Parker embraced its heritage and made an attempt to keep the classic form while adding features designed to appeal to the modern fountain pen user, which is akin to Aurora’s re-release of the Duo-Cart and other Aurora “Archivi Storici” reissues over the years.
Parker chose a reasonable price point lower than what I expected. Too expensive? Seriously? The new 51 arrives in two different versions: one with a steel nib and one with gold, priced at approximately $100 and $250, respectively. With so much discussion about how major pen companies are trying to drive the price of steel nib pens to the $250 price point, I actually expected these pens to cost twice as much. Unless the construction turns out to be shoddy, price/value should be the least of anyone’s concern. Yes, you might be able to get a less expensive vintage pen or knocked-off clone, but as I discuss below, there are many people (myself included) who simply don’t want to deal with the vagaries of either and would prefer to purchase from Parker directly.
Certain updates to the original design are necessary to appeal to modern users. The criticism that Parker should have released this pen with a vintage aerometric or vacumatic filling system puzzles me the most. Why? To appeal to vintage pen collectors and internet blowhards, the very people determined to hate this pen no matter what, and who would never buy it in the first place? While Parker admittedly hasn’t done much to promote its brand to the latest generation of fountain pen enthusiasts, at least not in the form of community engagement and limited editions, the company has stayed true to form in that it designs and markets its pens for actual writing. I would venture that most modern pen users prefer a cartridge/converter filling system that is less likely to leak ink, and a threaded cap with a secure closure. One of the criticisms of Aurora’s Duo-Cart re-release was that the slip cap tended to come loose in bags and pen cases.
The availability of vintage pens and cheap clones will not affect the market for this pen. As I addressed briefly above, part of the criticism of Parker’s chosen price point revolves around the idea that “vintage pens are available for less money,” and “you can buy a Parker 51 clone (knock-off) from companies like Wing Sung or Hero.” While those pens certainly are available, and sometimes for less money, I doubt they would appeal to the target market for the new Parker 51. The majority of people (1) don’t want to fiddle with a vintage pen, especially a pen that will be 70-80 years old soon; and (2) want a quality writing instrument from a company that will stand behind the warranty. As to the latter point, sure, Parker 51 clones can be fun to play around with, but these pens won’t last very long, and when it breaks, you’re just going to throw it away if you can’t fix it yourself. Finally, many people aren’t comfortable shopping for vintage pens on the internet and don’t trust random eBay or Amazon merchants - they want a reliable modern pen from an established company, which is perfectly fine, especially since the pen show scene isn’t coming back anytime soon. [Update: Many people also don’t feel comfortable shopping within the vintage pen community online because the tone can be, frankly, unwelcoming and kind of nasty. Just see the tone of some of the comments on this post from those who think I’m somehow violating the sanctity of the vintage Parker 51 by merely acknowledging that some might prefer to buy a modern version.]
Parker timed the reissue perfectly. The Parker 51 was first released in the early 1940s, approximately 80 years ago. Vintage Parker 51s aren’t going to last forever, no matter how well made they are, and those that remain serviceable will (1) likely command higher prices going forward and (2) require more maintenance to actually remain serviceable. I’ve already seen pen show prices for Parker 51s creep upward in recent years, and I don’t think the delta between the price of the new Parker 51 and a well-restored vintage pen is as favorable to vintage as some would have you believe. And still, while there remains demand for vintage pens, there is also strong demand for pens that look vintage while offering the advantages of modern manufacturing.

Sure, vintage Parker Aerometric fillers work fine, but so do cartridge/converter systems, and why would Parker issue a new filling system just for this pen, especially where an aerometric system will eventually require replacement of the sac and/or … — Sure, vintage Parker Aerometric fillers work fine, but so do cartridge/converter systems, and why would Parker issue a new filling system just for this pen, especially where an aerometric system will eventually require replacement of the sac and/or breather tube? Sorry, but I’m backing the decision to go cartridge/converter here.

Of course, none of this matters if the pen ends up suffering from serious design flaws, or ends up being low quality. As always, the final verdict won’t come until we actually have these pens in-hand and can write with them. I’ve placed a pre-order with Appelboom for two Parker 51s, one “Deluxe” model with the gold nib, and one standard with stainless. Personally, I’m intrigued by what Parker is attempting and look forward to getting my hands on these as soon as possible. Judgment reserved.

[UPDATE: I just received notification, via the comments below as well as an e-mail from the retailer with whom I placed a preorder, that the Parker 51 reissue has been postponed until February 2021. Review has been updated accordingly.]

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

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Back to School and Back to Work: Finding a "Work From Home" Setup that Works for You

August 12, 2020

I think we can all agree that this is one of the strangest “back-to-school” seasons in recent memory, and I for one was convinced that we would all be “back to work” as well. Right now, I’m convinced I will be operating remotely for the remainder of 2020, and possibly beyond as my employer decides whether it makes sense to retain the type of office space they once did. In light of what looks like a fundamental shift, I’ve been re-evaluating my own home office setup and routines.

When I talk about setup, I’m not referring to technology like printer, computer, and scanner, or even office furniture. I’ve always maintained a home office, and the “infrastructure” is there. I personally needed to focus on how I managed tasks and structured my time and environment in a way that ensured (1) I wasn’t working around the clock because I’m now living “at the office”; and (2) I wasn’t perpetually distracted and could maintain focus long enough to accomplish meaningful work.

Step One: Actually Using My Planner

No pointless in-person meetings on the schedule? No draining business travel sapping away at your time at home? Sounds great, in theory, until you realize that having large blocks of unstructured time is a double-edged sword. Sure, it can provide the flexibility you need to get caught up on a backlog of neglected projects or tasks, but if you’re like me, you can also find yourself spinning in circles, uncertain where to focus your energy, or even where to get started.

The Jibun Techo’s weekly layout packs a lot of information into a small format - perfect for commuting or travel but perhaps now an unnecessary compromise?

Lately, I’ve made more of an effort to add some structure to each day by planning out what I want to accomplish, sitting down each morning with my planner (currently a Kokuyo Jibun Techo) and loosely mapping out what I want to get done and how I want to allocate my time. I don’t plan down to the minute - in my line of work things tend to come up - but it’s helpful to pick two “key tasks” that will be the focus of my attention during the 9-12 and 1-6 time blocks, respectively. Of course, as I mentioned, myriad little things inevitably arise, such as phone calls, e-mail responses, and questions from colleagues, but as long as I complete or make meaningful progress on these two key items I consider the day a success.

It may be time for me to upgrade into a more spacious landscape format.

In light of how I’m working, I may shift to a different planner format. While I love the Jibun Techo, primarily because it packs a ton of information into a very compact format that’s helpful if you commute or travel a lot, in my current work situation I feel a bit constrained. Part of this is because I no longer track time on paper. My office moved to an app-based timekeeping and billing system, which is not only more convenient and efficient, but eliminated my need for a traditional dated, hours-based paper planner. Now that I use the Jibun Techo to plan tasks and projects, I find myself wishing that I had more space to make notes and break projects and tasks down into sub-parts. I’m strongly considering moving to a larger format such as the Write Notepads Weekly Planner Notebook, which actually has a somewhat similar layout to the Jibun Techo but is undated and offers a larger week-to-two-pages landscape format. Because I can’t bear to abandon a planner in the middle of the year, I’ll likely finish 2020 with the Jibun Techo and switch over for 2021.

With this sitting on my desk, it gives new meaning to paralysis-by-choice.

Eliminating Distraction (As Much As I Can)

While working from home can be convenient, it can also be endlessly distracting. In addition to partners, kids, and pets all (mostly) wanting you to be available, you have to contend with being surrounded by your own unfinished books, video games, and home improvement projects, all of which are probably going to look a lot more interesting than whatever business you’re working on at the moment. Personally, I find myself trying to practice law while sitting in the middle of the world’s most disorganized stationery store, constantly tempted to switch pens or ink or paper or otherwise “just try something new.” This week I decided to challenge myself by picking one writing instrument in the morning- whether that be a fountain pen, ballpoint, or pencil - and committing to use that one thing for the entire workday. No changes. Honestly, this simple change has made a huge difference in my focus and productivity, which in turn ends up giving me more time with my hobbies after hours. If you don’t work on paper like me, you can substitute “writing instrument” for “writing app,” “keyboard,” or whatever tends to distract you during the day.

Today’s choice: Lamy 2000 Bauhaus 100th Anniversary edition.

Though I’m far from a hardcore productivity geek, I love tinkering with analogue tools, note-taking setups, and, yes, even technology. Though this may be a dangerous question to ask, I’m interested in hearing from you, readers. What changes have you made if you’ve had to start working from home? What worked? What didn’t? Feel free to post in the comments or contact me directly (through the site or via joe@gentlemanstationer.com). I'm also planning on opening up a discussion via Instagram.

Disclaimer: I purchased all products featured in this review with my own funds. I am an authorized retailer of Write Notepads products via the T.G.S. Curated Shop.

When is a Fountain Pen Too Big? Considerations on "Oversized" Pens

August 8, 2020

Setting aside filling systems, if someone asked me to identify the key difference between vintage pens of 75-100 years ago and modern pens currently on the market, I would have to say size. Extremely popular vintage pens such as the Parker 51 and the standard Parker Vacumatic Maxima, not to mention something like the Sheaffer Snorkel, appear tiny when compared against the majority of modern fountain pens. Even looking at pens from just 20 years ago (still considered “modern” in most circles), size has steadily increased. I have a set of Waterman Man 100 Patricians from the early 1990s, which were considered large pens at the time. and while they’re still not small, they compare to a standard Esterbrook Estie or Diplomat Aero.

Notwithstanding my concerns about what seems to be the ever-increasing size of modern fountain pens, I still found a way to add three Momento Zero Grandes to my collection over the past year. From left, the “Arlecchino,” “Primary Manipulation Vesuvi… — Notwithstanding my concerns about what seems to be the ever-increasing size of modern fountain pens, I still found a way to add three Momento Zero Grandes to my collection over the past year. From left, the “Arlecchino,” “Primary Manipulation Vesuvio,” and “Primary Manipulation Stromboli”. All three are limited editions, though I would say that the Momento Zero Grande will remain one of my pens of the year.

I first noticed the oversized trend with the Edison Collier, which I considered huge when it was first announced several years ago but which today seems relatively modest. Pen companies haven’t slowed down. Before they went under, Delta and OMAS made oversized versions of their Dolcevita and Paragon fountain pens, respectively. Leonardo has released the Momento Zero Grande, a larger version of its already substantial Momento Zero. Esterbrook is killing it with the Estie “Oversized,” and apparently is selling so many that they have started to release special edition versions. These days, even the Montblanc 149 - once considered a “huge” pen - no longer seems that big at all.

What’s Driving the “Oversized” Trend?

I’ve heard a few different things in the course of years worth of conversations with both users and penmakers:

The fountain pen community is aging. While more young people are coming into the hobby, those who grew up using fountain pens - still the core audience - are moving into their 60s and 70s, and larger pens are more comfortable for those with conditions such as RSI (repetitive stress injury) or arthritis. (A recommendation for “a large pen for arthritic hands” is actually one of the most frequently received requests here at T.G.S.)
As fountain pens have become less utilitarian objects and more luxury accessories, the focus has shifted from the pen as a “daily writer” to the pen as a vehicle to showcase unique materials. Some companies have managed to navigate this shift remarkably well. For example, both Kanilea Pen Company and Leonardo Officina Italiana make fountain pens that are both gorgeous to look at and exceptionally comfortable to use. On the other hand, the past several years have seen an explosion of uber-expensive pens so large that they look like nightsticks, primarily made from rare celluloids. Personally, I have a hard time seeing how those pens can be used practically as everyday writers by anyone save those with extremely large hands.
Vintage pens were manufactured in factories as objects for mass consumption, as opposed to turned by hand on a lathe, as many pens are today. My understanding is that it can be more difficult and labor-intensive to hand-turn a smaller or more slender fountain pen, and it results in more wasted materials (which can be expensive). I’m not a penmaker, so I have no experience in this regard, but I’ve had multiple individuals mention this at shows over the years.
Sometimes it’s as simple as a shift in consumer preferences. Especially in the U.S., everything has upsized over time: cars, houses, watches, and, yes, pens. If larger pens sell, manufacturers will keep making them, especially if consumers equate “bigger” with “more expensive", and remain willing to pay top dollar for giant pens.

The Leonardo Momento Zero Grande is incredibly well-designed for such a large pen. If you’re a poster like me, you’ll want to consider this model because the cap adds little to no weight to the pen.

I haven’t held a vintage Parker Vacumatic in quite some time. Is the Sailor Pro Gear Slim the closest thing on the market right now? It’s somewhat astonishing how small this pen feels.

Considerations on Buying a Large Fountain Pen

If you’ve also noticed the shift towards larger pens, and are curious about trying one, keep a few things in mind. First, whether any pen will make a comfortable daily writer is less about pure length or diameter and more about shape and balance (i.e. weight distribution). For example, what makes the Leonardo Momento Zero Grande an extremely comfortable pen, despite its size, is the fact that the pen has a subtle hourglass shape with most of the girth towards the front. Slightly tapering the back end allows you to post the cap deeply, without throwing off the balance and back-weighting the pen too much. It helps that the cap is extremely light.

Second, while piston filling systems are seen by some as a sort of litmus test as to whether or not a pen is truly “high-end,” they can add weight. I would love to add a Pelikan M1000 to my collection, but the added weight from the filling system makes this a hard pen for me to use. On oversize pens, I tend to prefer cartridge-converter systems, though I will add that Leonardo’s has developed an extremely lightweight piston on the Momento Zero Grande.

Finally, if you’re thinking about purchasing an oversized fountain pen for the first time, consider visiting a pen shop in person or waiting until pen shows resume. (It’s currently hard to predict exactly when that will happen in light of current events, but I remain confident that this too shall pass.) If you can’t wait, be sure to purchase from a retailer who allows returns, and handle the pen to make sure you find the size comfortable before you ink it up.

A comparison of five modern fountain pens against a vintage Parker Vacumatic Major (far right). Starting from the left, a Sailor Pro Gear Imperial Black, Momento Zero Grande Arlecchino, Delta Fusion 82 in Pompeii Celluloid, Kanilea Pen Company Mauna… — A comparison of five modern fountain pens against a vintage Parker Vacumatic Major (far right). Starting from the left, a Sailor Pro Gear Imperial Black, Momento Zero Grande Arlecchino, Delta Fusion 82 in Pompeii Celluloid, Kanilea Pen Company Mauna Kea, and Leonardo Momento Zero standard in Burkina Celluloid.

Final Thoughts

I started thinking about these issues while watching the pens in my collection gradually get larger. While I can appreciate an oversized fountain pen, especially one made by a craftsman who enjoys the act of writing and how a pen should fit the hand for maximum comfort over long sessions, I would love to see more pens made in the size and shape of the classic Parker Vacumatic. Delta made a run of celluloid Fusion 82s in conjunction with Bryant Greer of Chatterly Luxuries several years ago, and those ended up just about perfect (though as you can see from the pictures, the pens were still larger than a vintage Vac). Conway Stewart’s excellent Model 100 is another vintage-inspired option, though difficult to find in the U.S. Waterman, with its flagship Expert and Carene models, seems to be losing ground. Don’t even get me started on the disappearance of the Parker Sonnet. Currently, Japanese companies are holding out, with Pilot, Sailor, and Platinum still sizing their flagship collections for the everyday user, though you can see the “big pen” trend working its way into their lineups with pens such as Pilot’s massive “Custom Urushi” and Sailor’s “King of Pen.”

At the end of the day, I appreciate variety, but I have some concern based on the trends I’m seeing that reasonably sized, practical fountain pens are losing ground to larger “show ponies.” Personally, I would like to see more vintage-inspired design, not only in terms of shape and materials but also in terms of size. Taking things too far in any one direction can only restrict the appeal of the hobby, which is good for no one and risks jeopardizing the progress we’ve made towards a broader pen community.

Disclaimer: The pens featured in this review are from my own personal collection.

Personal Journaling Setup, Part 3: Revisiting Pocket Notebooks

July 31, 2020

In the early years of this blog, I was a huge pocket notebook enthusiast and carried one with me wherever I went. Honestly, for a couple of years pocket notebooks served as my primary note-taking setup, even at work. But as my responsibilities increased, I needed something a bit more versatile (i.e., that contained more pages) to manage multiple projects and an at-times overwhelming number of tasks, and I gradually fell out of the habit of regular pocket carry.

Over the past couple of weeks I’ve spent a lot of time reorganizing my home office setup for what looks like a permanent work-from-home situation, and part of that process has involved going back through stacks of old notebooks, papers, files, etc. and determining what could be thrown away, what needed to be kept or archived, and whether I needed to change anything in my current workflow. As I read through years of old pocket notebooks, what struck me was how easy it was to remember things - even specific days seven or eight years ago - simply by reviewing short to-do lists and other notes I made for myself. Next thing I knew, a couple of hours had passed and I decided that I was going to pick the hobby back up.

2013-2015 were peak “pocket notebook” years for me. I miss having this informal “daily record,” and plan to pick up the practice once again.

Unlike traditional journaling or commonplacing, my pocket notebooks don’t have any set format, and mostly amount to a collection of short lists, reminders, and random stream-of-consciousness jottings. These notebooks essentially serve the same purpose as scratch paper, only I have all of my random musings gathered together in one place as opposed to scattered around my desk on post-its and the backs of old grocery lists. Here I’ve put together a set of links to various pocket notebooks and pocket notebook accessories I’ve used over the years, including many available for purchase in the TGS Curated Shop. Enjoy!

The TGS Patreon Program and sales through The Curated Shop are how I fund The Gentleman Stationer. Your support is greatly appreciated! Any third-party links here are NOT affiliate links and unpaid.

Field Notes Archival Wooden Box. I finally added a Field Notes Archival Box to my personal collection, which let me get these stacks of filled notebooks off my bookshelf and into some discernible order. The set comes with dividers that you can use to organize your collection (I went with organization by years), as well as a Field Notes “band of rubber.”
Field Notes Pocket Notebooks. I carried Field Notes exclusively for years, but as I moved into larger format notebooks, and didn’t use as many, I allowed my subscription to lapse. I’m still working my way through what I’d call a “backlog,” and the unused pocket notebooks pictured in my . That said, if you’re in need of Field Notes, or a new pocket carry enthusiast looking to stock up, I now carry the full line.
Write Notepads Copper Anniversary Edition Pocket Notebooks. For fountain pen enthusiasts who don’t want to carry anything else, it can be hard to find a pocket notebook containing paper that will hold up to any pen or ink you can throw at it. These Write Notepads pocket notebooks will do the trick (plus they still fit in the Field Notes Archival Box).
Lamy Pico Ballpoint Pen (via Vanness Pens). Lamy makes one of my favorite pocket ballpoints of all time, the extendable Lamy Pico. Not only does it have a great refill, but the pen itself is comfortable to write with for extended periods of time - rare for a ballpoint this compact. Read my review here.
Caran D’Ache 849 Ballpoint (via T.G.S. Curated Shop). With Retro 51 supposedly winding down operations later this year, which company will replace Retro as your go-to source for fun, reasonably priced pens that work for most people? Caran D’Ache is certainly trying, having released a steady stream of special editions in their 849 Ballpoint. This pen grows on you, and I personally love the fact that the barrel features a hexagonal shape reminiscent of a woodcase pencil.
Rotring 800 Mechanical Pencil (via Pen Chalet). For those who prefer a mechanical pencil, if you’re looking for pocket carry I’d recommend going with something that features a retractable tip. The Rotring 800 generally takes the same shape and build as the legendary Rotring 600, only the retractable pipe means that you won’t stab yourself in the leg when you sit down. Read my review here.
Retro 51 Tornado Rollerball (via Goldspot). In my experience, liquid ink rollerballs tend to bleed and feather on the same level as fountain pens in pocket notebooks, but if you enjoy quirky limited editions you can’t get much better than the Retro 51 Tornado. The sad news is that Retro 51 is closing up shop by the end of the year. Before then, be sure to check out Goldspot’s exclusive “Pizza” Exclusive Limited Edition!
CW&T Pen Type-B. Looking for the ultimate in high-end pocket carry? Consider adding a CW&T Pen Type-B to your rotation. This deliberately “over-engineered”, indestructible masterpiece of industrial design features Pilot’s Hi-Tec-C needlepoint gel refill, and could almost certainly be the last pen you’d ever need. (Not that it would be. We all know how that works.) Read my review here.
Pokka Pens. Or perhaps you’d prefer a pen that you don’t have to worry about losing. Designed as an easily replaceable version of the Fisher Space Pen “Bullet” Pen, the Pokka sells in packs of three in a wide range of fun colors. I have these scattered all over my house, in my car, and even one on my keychain (look for these new accessories soon).
Schon DSGN “Pocket Six” Fountain Pen (via Schon DSGN). Last but not least, pocket pen impresario Ian Schon has added a fountain pen to his lineup of everyday carry writing instruments. He’s currently offering an “online pen show” of sorts, with the Pocket Six available in a wide range of cool colors. Stay tuned for my review of this epic new addition to my pocket writing arsenal, coming soon.

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Personal Journaling Setup Part 2: Revisiting the Commonplace Book

July 25, 2020

One of the (admittedly few) benefits of the lockdown earlier this year was that all the time at home really jumpstarted my reading. Without a daily commute, I find myself with blocks of unoccupied “extra” hours for the first time in years. I’ve tried to fill most of it with constructive activity like reading, a favorite pastime that I’ve neglected over the years as we’ve all been pushed increasingly online. It’s also given me the opportunity to address an issue that’s concerned me for some time: I feel like I don’t have a good system for organizing and retaining what I read, particularly nonfiction. This, to me, presents a real problem and a serious opportunity to put the pens and paper I love to actual use in real life. The solution is obvious - start a commonplace book - but with so many options out there for tracking and organizing information, both analogue and digital, where do you even begin?

What Is a Commonplace Book?

A commonplace book, in its most basic form, is a type of scrapbook in which you record quotations, passages, aphorisms, notes, and more from your reading. Think of it as your own personalized encyclopedia, curated from the books, articles, or whatever other inputs you process throughout the day. A commonplace book is distinct from a traditional journal in that you record information, as opposed to serving as a place for thoughts and reflections.

Commonplace books have been around since the Renaissance, use by writers and scholars from Isaac Newton to Mark Twain to Virginia Woolf. Originally, of course, commonplace books were actual books. Today, modern practitioners use everything from index cards organized in boxes to digital apps. I don’t plan to address the digital option - part of the reason why I’m drawn to the idea of a commonplace book is because I process and retain information much better when I write it down by hand. That really leaves me with two options: notecards and notebooks. While each has its own advantages in terms of ease of organization and indexing (notecards) and long-term durability (notebooks), it probably won’t surprise most readers to hear that I’m a notebook guy.

When I read, I typically take notes in the margins or in a pocket notebook, and if it’s a key passage I want to remember (or, going forward, record in my commonplace book), I’ll mark the passage with a Book Dart.

Why a Notebook?

Honestly? Mainly because I’m a creature of habit. I enjoy the act of writing in a notebook, I’ve become accustomed over the years to jotting stuff down on loosely indexed pages, and I’m not doing academic research or organizing large amounts of information for a longer writing project. If you fall into the latter category, you probably really want to consider index cards, or even a digital option, because it will make it much easier to track sources for attribution, etc. My own commonplace book will be for my personal enjoyment and to source material for the occasional blog post, so I can live with the inefficiencies.

One thing I love about Write Notepads’ new Classic Hardcover is that you can easily maintain a continuous matching set as you fill up notebooks, or separate your notes by subject matter using different colors.

More Importantly, Which Notebook?

The answer to this question is: whatever notebook you will use regularly. Find something that’s relatively portable, contains paper versatile enough to use with the full range of writing instruments you use in a typical day, and finally, isn’t so nice that you’ll be afraid to use it. Most importantly, choose something durable that will hold up over time. Personally, my notebook of choice is a Write Notepads Classic Hardcover Notebook (which, full disclosure, I sell in my shop). Not only does this casebound hardcover notebook contain high quality, versatile paper, but the cover will hold up to repeated perusing over the years, and the notebook stores nicely on a shelf. If you like to organize your reading notes into volumes by subject, as many people do, it’s easy to pick up a matching set of notebooks, and you can even use different colors to signify subject matter. Other great options to consider are the Baron Fig Confidant and the MOO Hardcover Notebook. But use whatever you want - I write here about my own personal preferences, and as I always say on this blog, the key is to find something that works for YOU.

I plan to track my commonplace book project moving forward, either on Instagram or here on the blog. In addition to writing out quotes and passages that I find meaningful to me, I may even incorporate clippings from articles or paper notes. I’ve been following with interest Brad’s visual journal project over at the Pen Addict, and I’ve got the glue sticks and Washi Tape. If only I could find decent pair of scissors….