Planners, Journals, and Notebooks for 2025

In 2024, I decided to explore the Hobonichi Planner in all its various formats. Last year's planning and journaling setup included the A5 Hobonichi Cousin (my work planner, used for both the day job and T.G.S.), the slim Hobonichi Weeks (what I would call a loose personal weekly journal where I set out to record what I did each day in a few sentences); and a standard Hobonichi A6 (which I intended to use as a daily journal for longer reflections). For reasons I explained in October's "Techo Kaigi" post, I knew about midway through 2024 that my grand Hobonichi experiment wouldn't extend past the end of the year. While all three books were objectively excellent, with none of the paper issues this year's journals have faced, the Hobonichi layout doesn't suit my particular needs for "planning" or notetaking - I can’t move individual pages around and pull them in/out of the notebook - and for journaling I found that I enjoy changing formats depending on my needs rather than adopting a rigid "one-book-per-year" setup that having the Hobonichi encouraged.

This Year’s Theme: Flexibility

I actually stopped using the three Hobonichis in mid-November, and decided to experiment with new formats over the last six weeks of 2024. I approached the year-end period from the perspective of simply using whatever I wanted to use for a couple of weeks, while gradually adding more structure around the products I gravitated towards most frequently in the hope that I would arrive at a “final” setup that met all my needs going forward. Here's what I've settled on:

Notebook 1: Plotter A5 (My "Work" Notebook)

The Plotter A5 holds my weekly schedule and notes for both T.G.S. and my legal practice. I considered keeping two binders - one for each job - but I like having everything in one place, without having to switch between notebooks and without the bulk of the Hobonichi Cousin. Let's face it - while the Cousin is one of the best planners I've ever used, it's a LARGE book, and can be a bear to tote around everywhere you go. The slim simplicity of the Plotter not only forces me to streamline what I'm focused on at any given time, it decreases bulk in my bag. I've been carrying approximately two to three weeks' worth of weekly schedules and notes in the Plotter at any given time, and once I run out of space I discard those notes that I don't need and archive those that I want to keep by scanning them digitally or filing them away in an A5 Filofax binder, which holds quite a bit of paper. If I ever need additional room, or decide that my current Plotter can't handle both jobs, I can either add a second Plotter A5 or rotate the Filofax into the "Notebook 1" slot.

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Ring-based systems are excellent choices for those who love to print their own layouts and choose their own paper. I have many different A5 writing pads that I use for notetaking, and often punch holes in sheets of paper to add to the Plotter and/or Filofax A5. Here, you can see how slim the Plotter is compared to the Filofax, which dovetails perfectly with my current goal of narrowing my focus to fewer things at once.

Notebook 2: No Set Format (My Personal Journal)

This slot in my rotation will have no specific format, and no restrictions on how I can use it. I have a limitless supply of notebooks that I've accumulated over the years that I want to use and experience at some point, and last year taught me that I definitely lose interest in journaling if I find myself locked into a one-book, one-year or day-to-a-page format like the Hobonichi, especially if the pages are dated or numbered. If I miss days, it kills my motivation if I can’t get “caught up”. I started this new year by picking up a half-filled blank Musubi Notebook with bank paper, and have mostly been successful writing something every day, whether that's a reflection, blog post, notes on a new project, or simply three morning pages of drivel. This particular notebook is purely about the writing, not the format, as I desperately need to redevelop my habit of getting things out of my head and onto paper, even if I never look at it again.

Another reason for the flexibility: I want to be able to change up my journaling notebook depending on context. Lately, since it's the New Year and I've been in a more reflective mood, the Musubi feels appropriate. Since this notebook is now nearly 3/4 full, I will need to choose a new one within a couple of weeks, and that choice will depend on what's going on in my life at the moment. If I'm facing down some heavy travel, I might opt for a Traveler's Notebook, or even a Field Notes.

Notebook 3: Midori MD 5-Year Journal (Short-Form Daily Log/Journal)

I've had this journal since 2019, and it has roughly three full years of entries, leaving me enough space to use it for two more years if I write as close to daily as I can. Sure, sometimes I will have to catch up a day or even a week at a time, but this is easy to do if you only have to come up with two or three lines per day. The Midori 5-Year Journal replaces last year's Hobonichi Weeks, and while the Weeks was easily my favorite of the three Hobonichis and the one I wrote in the most, I missed having entries from the prior years to reflect on. Midori also makes 3-year and even 10-year versions, though I find the 5-year to be the sweet spot.

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Other Books That See Regular Use

I will of course use other paper throughout the year, in various formats. My Roterfaden A4 holds an A4 writing pad and a few other large-format notebooks I use for brainstorming and drafting articles and briefs longhand. I have a commonplace book that I transcribe quotes and passages into whenever I'm inspired. I also have a handful of dedicated single-purpose notebooks that I use for specific projects and for tracking certain things. Most of these are A5 size, so as necessary I can move them into an A5 Roterfaden or Lochby Field Journal and carry them around with Notebook No. 2 (the general-purpose journal) as necessary. Most frequently, however, I have also been using one or both of the following:

Plotter Mini 5: My go-anywhere pocket notebook

Even if I'm not planning to write, I always feel better with some paper on me. The Plotter Mini 5 can double as a light wallet, though I'm using it as such less and less since the wallet/cardholder insert can make it too bulky to use as a notebook.

Remarkable2 E-ink Tablet

Yes, I'm giving the ReMarkable2 another go, primarily as a replacement for the half-dozen or so legal pads I have lying around my office. I've fought a long-running battle against "junk paper" - notes from phone calls, random meetings, marked-up printed copies of pdfs - none of which get saved and most of which get shredded or thrown out. The Remarkable2 works quite well as an electronic legal pad, feels the closest to writing on real paper as any electronic device I've tried, and certainly makes an excellent alternative to carrying around 300+ page binders full of printed pdfs. I find the writing and notetaking experience superior to the iPad (more immersive/less distracting), and really only use the latter for sensitive materials that require a higher level of security or documents that need to be annotated and circulated to other people for collaboration purposes.

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For some work days, the Plotter A5 and ReMarkable2 can sometimes be the only two pieces of “Stationery” that I carry.

So that's it! This isn't a hypothetical setup that I'll be experimenting with - it's what I've already been using in some form since mid-November, and I firmed up my plans over the last week or so as I wrote up these notes. The best part about this system is that I don't have to think much about it at all, and I don't find myself forcing my writing into a pre-set format, as I sometimes felt pressured to do with Hobonichi. This setup is also highly adaptable. If I suddenly decide I prefer a disc-based notebook to the Plotter rings mid-year, I could theoretically move to a William Hannah or Levenger Circa without changing the underlying system much at all.

Thank you for reading! The Gentleman Stationer is supported by the T.G.S. Curated Shop and the T.G.S. Patreon Program. If you’d like to visit our in-person location, you can view directions and up-to-date hours here.

Year-End Recap: Top 10 T.G.S. Curated Shop Products from 2024

I’m foregoing the weekly “Drops” post in favor of closing out the 2024 year-end recaps with a bit of a shop update! Last year was quite eventful - in addition to opening our brick-and-mortar location, we expanded our range of online offerings, and as we take year-end inventory it’s always fascinating to see what was popular (or not) during the prior year. Stationery can be a trend-driven industry - while there are always constants such as Pilot and Lamy, what sells one year might not be in demand the next, and something that sat on the shelf for six months in 2024 might all of a sudden get hot in 2025 as more people discover it. Based on this past year’s stats, here are the past year’s “Top Ten” (in no particular order, but rather loosely organized by product categories):

1. Tom’s Studio Lumos Pro Duo Refillable Fineliner. We’ve been carrying the Tom’s Studio Lumos fineliners for less than a year and they’ve shot to the top of our favorite products. The Lumos Pro Duo, which allows you to ink two tips at a time and ships with a set of 11 different tip options, is the best seller. Read more about why we like them here.

2. Lamy 2000 (All Iterations). My personal workhorse pen and the least surprising entry on this list. Even if you’re not a fountain pen person, the ballpoint, rollerball, multi pen, and mechanical pencil options are all excellent.

3. Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter. For those who like to rotate through different notebooks and not be wedded to a specific refill, the Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter is a superb choice for a flexible planner/notebook cover. The recycled leather versions (LB23) are the most popular, in sizes A6 through A4.

4. Lochby Field Journal and Field Journal A5 Notebooks. Lochby saw a resurgence in popularity towards the end of the year, for those who like the versatility of the Roterfaden but may prefer a more rugged and/or non-leather build. The slim A5 notebooks feature 68gsm Tomoe River Paper in five different rulings, including two different types of lined rulings, dot, and even a planner layout.

5. NJK Long-Point Pencil Sharpener. The highest-volume seller in our entire store, these inexpensive long-point pencil sharpeners punch far above their weight class in terms of quality. Silver is currently the only color that remains in stock, but we still have a bunch and will look to restock later in the year.

6. Nakabayashi Yu-Sari Paper. Designed by Nakabayashi specifically for optimal fountain pen performance, the Yu-Sari paper is available in both notebook and looseleaf formats. I’ve found it to have a soft feel, and it handles ink beautifully.

7. Clairefontaine Looseleaf Paper. Though the single-sheet A4 is sold out (and will be reordered eventually), we have plenty of A5 sheets and A4 “double booklet” French-ruled looseleaf paper. The latter is a cool format that I discovered when I attended school in France many years ago, and are used by students for compositions, notetaking, and more.

8. Hightide Folding Metal Bookstands. One of our original products remains a best seller! These bookstands (which can also hold notepads, tablets, and more) are a fixture on my desk and in my travel bag.

9. Anterique Ballpoint Pens. We are happy to offer these excellent hybrid ballpoints in dozens of colors, in either the classic acrylic version or the upscale brass. Mini pocket pens are now available.

10. Pilot Iroshizuku Ink. What I remember as a “new release” from Pilot more than a decade ago has now become a stationery classic. Pilot continues to release new colors every couple of years, with the most recent versions

Our brick and mortar shop is open for regular hours Thursday through Saturday, and otherwise by appointment. For directions and specific hours, keep an eye on this page, which will also reflect any changes each week due to travel, etc. Also, our New Year’s Planner and Notebook System Promotion continues through tonight, so don’t miss out if you’re looking to try something new for 2025!

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Looking Backward and Leaping Forward: 2024 Year-in-Review and 2025 Intentions

My two favorite posts that I write every year are the intentions posts: the one where I revisit and recap my intentions from the prior year, and another where I look forward to the next. Since this year turned out to be particularly eventful, with somewhat odd timing, I’ve combined these into one long post that looks back on what changed here in 2024, how things are going, and what to expect in 2025. Settle in, because I’m going to walk you through the saga that was T.G.S. in 2024!

I started 2024 with three main intentions: (1) continue to organize and optimize the back catalog of T.G.S. content and take better advantage of the knowledge acquired over 10 years of writing this blog; (2) minimize personal acquisitions; and (3) build more of a presence in my local community and become more deliberate with things like pen show travel. I can probably declare the first two intentions successful. This year balanced new blog reviews and content with material that drew on existing reviews and features, with the goal of bringing some of this content to the attention of a large influx of new readers, many of whom have had very little prior experience with fountain pens and stationary. I've also continued to thin out older posts that no longer serve a purpose (i.e., older links and deals posts, reviews of bad products by companies that are no longer in business, etc.). And while I do plan to write a stand-alone "favorite acquisitions of 2024" post, I know for a fact that I bought far less in 2024 than prior years, and more pens, inks, and paper went out the door than came in.

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You all will get a pictorial history of the new T.G.S. shop, from how I found it to what it looks like now!

Sometime in July, intention number three became the focus of nearly all my efforts for the second half of the year. In an abrupt turn of fortune, I managed to find a physical location to house The Gentleman Stationer - both the online content/webshop side of the business and a new in-person retail operation. I started 2024 quite down on the possibility of ever being able to do this, as the Nashville-area real estate market continues to be (in my opinion) absurdly inflated, and the nature of my particular business doesn't lend itself to the types of commercial spaces that were available. In late 2023, I had actually leased a temporary office for six months in order to give myself a studio-like space to work outside of my home. This idea didn't work out - half co-working space, half-private office, this place was loud, poorly ventilated, and expensive for what it was. (It also had bad coffee.) When my lease expired in April, and I found myself outgrowing my current inventory warehouse, I started touring spaces once again with a growing sense of desperation that I might have to start scaling back T.G.S. simply because I didn't have a place to put it.

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It’s amazing what new carpet and fresh paint can do.

The location I stumbled upon is “unique”. :) Those of you who have visited our shop know that we are tucked away in a non-traditional commercial/warehouse complex that houses a wide range of different businesses, most of which operate both in-person and online. Other business include a home alarm company, a custom closet company, and even a film photography store and darkroom facility. Below my shop is a space that bands can rent to rehearse at night, a mobile florist, and even a sculptor who maintains a studio in a refurbished storage unit. It's an interesting bunch. Based on my own internet research, my particular unit has housed anything from a picture frame shop to an art studio. While native Nashvillians and long-term residents know exactly where we are - my street has a number of what I would call "classic Nashville" businesses that have existed for decades - it's not a place where people are going to find you by accident. Some people who visit us for the first time ask how the business exists without traditional "foot traffic", by which they mean potential customers walking in off the street. The answer is that it’s not necessary for our business, and I love the flexibility of a business model that doesn’t have the increased cost associated with staffing a store 6 days a week and having to worry about security, shoplifting, etc.

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Bonus skill development: I got really good at assembling hex-key fixtures, finding wall studs, and mounting shelves to drywall!

In May of this past year, I actually almost signed a lease on a "traditional" retail shop in a strip mall. It's what everyone was encouraging me to do, and by "everyone," I'm referring to real estate brokers, family members who know absolutely nothing about pens or this industry, friends (including some pen friends) telling me to open a shop because it's-such-a-great-idea-and-our-city/community-industry-needs-this but who still haven’t visited the shop or bought anything online in the six months it's been open, and those random people on the internet who offer unsolicited advice when the word gets out that you're considering a certain business move. My advice to YOU if you're considering making a similar move, or any business decision: politely acknowledge those people and then make YOUR OWN decision, informed by your understanding of your business and, yes, your gut. At the last minute, I walked away from the first location I seriously considered because it didn’t feel right, and it was the single best decision I've made in the past ten years.

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I don't believe that brick-and-mortar retail is dead. Far from it. I actually think it's necessary for businesses to have a physical location to interact with customers - a place for customers to go with their questions, to view products in person, and for businesses to host events where they can engage with and become part of their local communities. That said, retail spaces should be carefully considered and closely tailored to the nature of the business they house. In my particular situation, not having a space suitable for operating online would have ignored the reality of my customer base, and the way in which many people get their information and research potential purchases in niche industries such as high-end stationery.

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So why wouldn't the first location have worked? It was (1) too expensive, both in terms of rent and staffing/insurance costs for the 6 days a week the lease would have required me to be open; (2) too small, in that it would likely have required me to rent additional warehouse space for online inventory and yet another office or studio to create content, if not give up that aspect of the business entirely; and (3) lacking in flexibility to host community events and to match my operating hours to the realities of when people tend to shop in person. I walked away from this location, depressed once again at the prospects of moving the business back into my house and, quite probably, beginning the process of "right-sizing" it for a home-based operation. I decided to do one last sweep of commercial listings, and came across a location that we had missed due to the fact that it was a "flex" space that didn't fall neatly into the retail/office/warehouse/industrial categories. Three weeks later I had a signed lease, and in late July I took possession.

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I’ve done several YouTube videos showing how to find the shop, and even posted a tour of the interior a while back.

Why our current location works, and what it means for T.G.S. in 2025

By now many of you are probably wondering where I'm going with today's post, which has turned into a long one. Bear with me for just a bit longer.

My current space had been vacant for a while and likely fits no business other than mine. It’s relatively small (small enough to comfortably staff by myself or with a single helper), yet it’s set up with a showroom area, two offices, and a warehouse. I can do everything I need to get done in one location, and it sits directly between my house and my other job, where I’m now fully remote and don’t need to go in as often. Most of all, I enjoy spending time here.

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TGS Back-office Tour. “Organization” is still a work in progress.

For 2025 I have one intention: focus on building out this new presence in my local community, while continuing to expand online and create new and helpful Gentleman Stationer content. I honestly never thought I'd be able to say that I'm now an "established" retailer with a legitimate physical shop, but that is my new reality, and it probably - no, definitely - means that traveling and pen show attendance will take a back seat to being present here in my own shop to grow my local business. I feel deeply that one of the things holding the stationery industry back is it's tendency to focus on catering to very vocal enthusiast communities while neglecting the much larger body of potential customers who enjoy stationery but don't necessarily attend pen shows and spend hours online. It's not stationery as something to collect or a niche hobby - it's part of their everyday lives. My experience running a physical store over the past six months has born out this belief. My customer base, both online and in-store, tends to mirror the general T.G.S. readership, comprised of those who love stationery because they use it and it helps them think, express themselves, and do whatever else they need it to do to get them where they want to be. It's been beyond gratifying to have new people walk into the shop every week and tell me that they're glad I'm here, and that they were tired of living in a city without a dedicated stationery store - something I’m happy to provide. But all of this comes at a cost, and takes a lot of work.

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This never gets old. And I find myself saying that every day.

Our business is thriving - doing better than I ever expected - and I wouldn't have opened the shop if I wasn't confident that there was a long-term path forward with my specific business model. That said, it's important for people to realize how difficult it is for physical spaces to exist in today's economy and any small business's existence is precarious. If you like a business, and value it's presence in your community, support it. Whether it's a stationery store or a favorite bookshop, a restaurant or a coffeehouse, spaces like these don't survive off their intangible contributions to the community - everything is monetized, and those of us responsible for creating and operating them have to take this into account when doing everything from selecting a location to determining operating hours to deciding what brands to carry. In other words, you have to balance what you would want your "ideal" shop to look like with what's economically feasible and what will allow the business to not just survive but grow.

I'm looking forward to 2025, and for the first time in a while, feel a renewed sense of direction and purpose. I do still plan to attend a few pen shows in 2025. Currently, I'm slated for the Arkansas Pen Show in March, and plan to be at the D.C. Pen Show and possibly the San Francisco Pen Shows in August. Stay tuned, and if you are in the Nashville area, drop in for a visit! You can find directions to our shop and current operating hours here.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by the T.G.S. Curated Shop and Patreon. I’d like to give a HUGE thanks to all of my supporters on Patreon. Even more so than your monetary support, your encouragement and personal input has been invaluable, and I look forward to the monthly meetups (including tonight) more than you know.

2024 Year-End Review: My Five Most-Used Pens of 2024

Every December, I recap the previous year by discussing favorites, including favorite new product discoveries, most-used pens, favorite product reviews, and more. Last week, I talked about five favorite product discoveries from 2024: new and new-to-me products that I discovered over the past 12 months. Today’s recap offers my five most-used pens from this year. There are some old favorites on this list, which isn’t really surprising since it’s been such a busy year, and when I’m busy I tend to default to my “workhorses”, but there are also a couple of new entries.

1. Lamy 2000: Fountain Pens and Rollerball. The Lamy 2000 fountain pen continues to form the core of my everyday writing rotation. It’s long been my favorite pen, both because I enjoy the writing experience and because, as an understated design classic, it’s always pleasant to look at. This past year, I added the limited edition “Pine” version of the fountain pen, and I also began using the rollerball once I discovered the Ohto CR-305 .5mm refill - a low-bleed rollerball refill that’s causing me to reconsider rollerballs as an option once again.

2. Pilot Custom 823. These pens hold so much ink, and they’re so convenient for travel, that I rarely go any period of time without having one inked up. This year I’ve primarily used my Amber medium that has a Mark Bacas blade grind (sort of a Naginata/soft-architect).

3. Tom’s Studio Lumos Write. The Lumos Pro Duo is cool, with it’s double tip, but since I use my fineliners mostly to write, not draw, the single-tip Lumos Write model is my pen of choice. This model is a bit less expensive than the standard Lumos, and comes with a smaller set of firmer writing tips. I’ve been using either standard black ink or the Tom’s Studio “Midnight” fineliner ink in this pen, with good results.

4. Montblanc 146 UNICEF Edition. Sure, it’s basically a “boring” standard black Montblanc 146 with platinum trim, but this particular pen sports an excellent “Perspective” grind from Gena Salorino at Custom Nib Studio. It’s their version of the Naginata-style grind, and makes for an excellent everyday writer that I find more practical than an architect.

5. Tactile Turn “Vice” Short Side-Click. I don’t know why I like this particular pen so much - it’s probably the 1980s Florida connection - but regardless of the reason, it’s been a constant companion since I picked it up this summer. I still feel strongly that the “Short” version of the Tactile Turn Side-Click has the best balance for me personally. The fact that it accepts Parker-style refills makes the Side Click a versatile choice for those who need a durable EDC ballpoint.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. If you’re interested in talking inks and seeing our swatches and growing selection, come see us in-person! We’re open this week Thursday-Sunday, and otherwise by appointment.

2024 Year-End Review: Five Favorite Discoveries from the Past Year

It’s mid-December already, which means that it’s time to start recapping 2024. Each year, I revisit my previous content and pull out some favorites, including favorite new product discoveries, favorite reviews, favorite trips, and more. To kick things off I’ll walk through my top five “new discoveries” of 2024. Not all of these are actual new products, mind you, as many of these are things I’ve personally overlooked and which were brought to my attention by friends (the AL-Star mechanical pencil and S20 ballpoint). Others are entirely new product categories, like the refillable fineliners. Even if you’ve been a stationery fanatic for multiple decades, there are always new things to discover, which is what I love about this hobby!

1. Lamy AL-Star .5mm Mechanical Pencil. A controversial discovery, to be sure, since the Safari/Al-Star grip section draws strong opinions from mechanical pencil fans, but I absolutely LOVE this pencil. It’s been on my desk ever since I reviewed it earlier this year. The wider-diameter barrel is comfortable to use for longer writing sessions, and the triangular grip works for how I hold a pencil. (I’ve even found that I can rotate it as necessary.)

2. Refillable Fineliners. I have yet to find a variation on this stationery category that I haven’t enjoyed. Whether it’s the Tom’s Studio Lumos, the Tom’s Studio Wren, or the semi-disposable Kuretake and Kakimori versions, I’m currently using them all and have an entire pen case devoted to them.

3. Pilot S20 Ballpoint. My ballpoint find of the year, which I discovered when a friend from our local pen club gifted one to me. Featuring the Dr. Grip “Cocoon” ballpoint refill with “Acro-Ink” technology, as well as an uncommon hourglass shaped-barrel that literally molds itself to your hand, I’m starting to prefer this pen even over my beloved Lamy 2k ballpoint…

4. Good Made Better “Jester” Pocket Pen. Dan from Good Made Better launched his initial pair of fountain pen designs at the 2024 Chicago Pen Show, and knowing just how good GMB products tend to be, I insta-bought one in a beige and black mottled ebonite with a matte finish. The Kickstarter appears to have been a success, and I can’t wait to see these pens hit the general market. (Also, if you’re looking for reading and/or writing-themed gifts this year, Good Made Better is an excellent place to shop!)

5. Zebra Sarasa Grand Vintage Gel Pen. While I’m not a big fan of the standard Zebra Sarasa (as in, the kind you find a big box office supply stores), the Sarasa Grand Vintage is a Japanese import that writes differently from this pen, and comes in a wide range of cool vintage-inspired colors. Best of all, the barrels and the inks match, and feature black-infused tones that make your writing more interesting while remaining subtle enough to use for work.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. If you’re interested in talking inks and seeing our swatches and growing selection, come see us in-person! We’re open this week Thursday-Sunday, and otherwise by appointment.