New Arrivals: Workhorse Pens from Pilot! Vanishing Points and Explorers are Here!

The idea of a “workhorse pen” - a reliable, often unassuming daily driver that can offer years of reliable service - is one of the key ideas around which I’ve built both the site and our Curated Shop. As we’ve expanded our retail selection over the years, we continue to introduce new pens from brands both new and established that fall into this category, including a growing number of pens from Japanese company Pilot. Last week we received our initial shipment of select models of the Pilot Vanishing Point (Pilot’s classic retractable capless fountain pen), as well as the lower-priced ($25) Pilot Explorer fountain pen. We also stock additional Vanishing Point nib units, which are easily interchangeable.

View fullsize

As someone who was initially skeptical of the Explorer when it was first announced, I’ve come to love this lightweight, well-balanced fountain pen that also fits fairly well into planner and notebook loops, making it a good “planner pen”.

Pilot fountain pens feature some of the best-writing nibs out there, and while Pilot refuses to play the special and limited edition release game to the same extent as some other companies, what they do put out is highly reliable. I’m headed into a heavy month of two-job work that includes a lot of travel, and my personal carry for the new year includes not just a Vanishing Point and Explorer but also a Custom 74 and Custom 823.

View fullsize

Don’t sleep on the Custom 74 - it’s one of my favorite nibs.

In addition to our lineup of Pilot Pens, be sure to check out our selection of Pilot ink, including a refreshed Iroshizuku lineup. Many thanks for your support, and if you’re going to be attending the Philadelphia Pen Show this weekend, I’ll be visiting as well so look for me with our friends at Hinze Pens!

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of all brands sold.

Sunday Reading for January 7, 2024: Happy New Year!

1. Tokyo’s Best Stationery Store: “Cute Things from Japan” (via Inky.Rocks). Add this one to the list for my Tokyo trip! I’m so sad that I missed them at the San Francisco Pen Show.

2. 2024 Stationery Intentions (via A Gathering of Curiosities). I love reading about everyone’s intentions for 2024, especially those who have been in the hobby for a while. “Streamlining” is an increasingly common theme.

3. 2024 Journal, Planner, and Notebook Setup (via Pen Addict). I need to do my own review of the William Hannah. It’s an excellent flexible notebook option.

4. $30k in Pens from Taccia and Palisades (via Figboot on Pens). A touch outside of my price range, but fun to see nonetheless….

5. 23 Memorable Inks in 2023 (via Ink Octopus). Just what I need, a list of more inks to buy and try in 2024! :)

6. Diamine Inkvent 2023: A New Year’s Eve Review (via A Gathering of Curiosities). It’s interesting to hear everyone’s reactions to this year’s Diamine Inkvent Calendar. Everyone’s “No Way!” category seems to contain the scented inks. :)

7. The Inkvent Draft Is a New Family Tradition (via mnmlscholar). In our house, the one-way Inkvent Draft would get pretty boring real fast! This is a great idea for a multi-addict household.

8. Pen Show Calendar Updated! (via Well-Appointed Desk). This is my go-to resource for pen show logistics, and the calendar stays up-to-date throughout the year.

9. Old Inks (via Goodwriterspens). Collecting old inks is something that I dabbled in for a while early on, and shockingly, many older inks remain stable and usable years later.

10. Planning in 2024: The 12-Week Year (via Writing at Large). Breaking down the year into manageable chunks is an excellent way to get started with planning.

View fullsize

Did you know there is a fine-tip Lamy EMR Pen? In both Safari and AL-Star format!

In Case You Missed It….

This week on the blog, I published my daily journal lineup for 2024, which is all Hobonichi (each used for a different purpose). I also wrote the next installment of my “Strategic Paper Replacement” series, in which I talk about my experiments with e-ink paper tablets like the Remarkable 2 and the Kindle Scribe. And, finally, we come to the end of Inkvent 2023, with my full-length YouTube recap that includes my thoughts on all 25 inks.

View fullsize

This Week in the Curated Shop…. More Pilot!

The first new arrivals of 2024 are starting to trickle into the shop! On Friday we received a shipment of pens from Pilot, including the black-trimmed Vanishing Point “Capless” pens, as well as the Pilot Explorer, a relatively new pen from Pilot at the $25 price point that’s sharp looking and is an excellent well-balanced writer. I inked up a matte black medium myself. We’re also fully restocked on Pilot Iroshizuku inks, including favorite colors such as Shin Kai, Yama Budo, Tsuki-Yo, and Sui-Gyoku (one of the newest additions). Finally, read about our favorite TWSBI releases from 2023.

Pilot

TWSBI

Highlighters

Profolio

Help Support T.G.S. in 2024!

If you enjoy our content (whether here on the main website, Instagram, YouTube Channel or elsewhere), there are several ways that you can support us. We do our best to remain 100% self-supported without having to rely on third-party advertisers or affiliates. Of course, the number one way to help is to visit our curated retail shop, especially during the upcoming holiday season! If you enjoy in-person and virtual meetups and having access to more personal content, consider joining the T.G.S. Patreon, which also includes early access to quarterly gently used sales. Patreon support starts as low as $3 per month, and if you pay annually there is a further discount. This month, Patreon supporters have had access to additional Inkvent content, including commentary on my favorite Diamine Inkvent inks and more. The first of these Inkvent posts is public, so please check out Patreon to learn more!

No matter how you support us - even if just with a comment, recommendation, or encouraging word - we greatly appreciate your readership!

Strategic Paper Replacement: Adventures in E-Ink, Part I (The Physical Writing Experience)

I have a love-hate relationship with so-called “digital paper”, both the idea and the reality. I've owned some version of Apple's iPad Pro for years, but stopped upgrading it after a while due to general disuse. While it occasionally comes in handy when I need to sign something electronically, mark up a longer document for my day job, or where a hand markup needs to be easily distributed to a wider group via e-mail, I otherwise find the writing experience on the iPad to be (1) far less satisfying than writing on real paper due to the lack of a tactile experience; and (2) subject to the same distractions as a computer, to the point where it's much harder to lose yourself in the work than with a notebook and a pen.

But I'm a reader, researcher, and notetaker by nature, so I’ve continued to experiment. I accumulate a LOT of paper, and the idea behind a digital writing device still intrigues me. I'm not opposed to digital tools where they are the best option and solve a real need, such as minimizing the volume of "junk paper" I generate, and anything that streamlines the process of organizing and archiving handwritten notes is a plus.

View fullsize

To that end, I acquired two e-ink devices last year, Amazon's Kindle Scribe and the Remarkable 2 e-ink tablet. While I can't say that I've fully bought in to either system, both devices pleasantly surprised me with the extent to which they duplicate, physically and mentally, the experience of writing on paper. While I originally sought to write a single comprehensive post discussing my thoughts on e-ink and these devices as a whole, I quickly realized that such a piece would quickly get too long and unwieldy, so I'm going to break it out into multiple installments. First up: my thoughts on the physical writing experience, including available pen options.

1. Writing on both the Kindle and Remarkable 2 feels more like actual paper than the iPad. The matte screens simply feel better than writing on glass. While the friction requires you to periodically replace the tip of the stylus as it wears down, replacements are generally inexpensive. (As an aside, I have tried the Paperlike screen protector for the iPad, and still prefer the feel of both e-ink tablets.)

2. The pens/styli I have used are more comfortable to use for longer writing sessions than the Apple Pencil. Of the two "stock" options available, I actually prefer the Kindle Scribe Premium Pen ($59.99) over the much more expensive Remarkable Marker Plus ($129). Recently, I've been using aftermarket options, including the Lamy EMR AL-Star and the Lamy Safari "Twin Pen" (a multi pen that also includes a D1 ballpoint refill for when you want to switch writing modes). All of these options use Wacom's EMR (Electromagnetic Resonance) technology - no batteries are involved, so you don't have the battery anxiety that can be an issue with the Apple Pencil during a long working session or if you forget to charge it.

3. I find the writing experience nearly as distraction-free as physical paper. Personal experience may vary, but I can "lose myself" in reading and writing with an e-ink tablet in a way that I've never experienced with an iPad. Whether it's due to digital distraction always being a click away, blue light, or something else, I don't know, but that's the reality.

View fullsize

The Remarkable 2 allows you to choose from a variety of line options, and vary both style and width. EMR technology is responsive to pressure, creating line variation that corresponds to light/heavy writing pressure. You will also see the “color option” I discuss below.

View fullsize

EMR pens feature different nib sizes - this is the round tip on the Lamy AL-Star.

View fullsize

For those who want to write a finer line (or who want to write on “glossy surfaces”, such as a Samsung device), Lamy makes a pointier nib. It will likely wear down quicker on matte surfaces.

The standard Remarkable and Kindle styli both feel very much like a pencil. I prefer their weight and balance to that of the Apple Pencil.

Potential Drawbacks To Consider

1. While there is very little latency ("lag") in the current generation of e-ink tablets, it's still there. I've not found it to interfere with my enjoyment of the overall experience, and I would describe it as “minimal” with both the Scribe and the Remarkable 2.

2. The lack of a color display limits the ability to highlight and annotate documents in different colors. While the settings do allow you to change colors, you'll only be able to view color in exported documents, not on the device. (I know you can change colors with the Remarkable 2 - I've not tried on the Kindle Scribe as Amazon's software makes it fairly difficult/inconvenient to import and organize PDFs and other documents for annotation purposes so I generally don’t use it that way. More on that in a later installment.) Other companies have recently released tablets with color e-ink screens, but they are expensive (i.e., approaching $700).

3. Some might find the technology expensive for a single use device. That said, with as much as I read and write (hours per day), $300 for the tablet doesn't strike me as outrageous. Remarkable-branded accessories can be pricey and raise the price of the device to around $600 if you opt for the most expensive pen and folio, but if all you want is a simple no-keyboard folio cover and a Wacom-compatible pen, there are much less expensive generic options out there that don’t compromise the experience.

So What's Still to Come?

In addition to recommitting to a journaling habit, one of my goals for 2024 is to be a bit more systematic in how I use paper, and especially in how I organize notes so that I'm able to locate them for reference later. I've been using the Remarkable 2 as both a digital notebook and e-reader (mainly for articles that I want to highlight and annotate in pdf form), with the Kindle Scribe as my primary reading device for longer books that I can annotate yet don't want to carry with me when I'm traveling. Both devices allow me to export markups to my computer for archiving.

View fullsize

The Remarkable 2 software syncs your handwritten notes with the desktop app, and has functions that include handwriting conversion and the ability to type annotations directly into the document from your computer. I’ll go into the functionality in more depth at a later date, but you can export the documents in PDF form to save elsewhere or distribute to others as necessary.

At some point I will do more in-depth installments on the ins and outs of each tablet, including my thoughts on the software and any friction points encountered while integrating these devices into a workflow. To that end, if you're considering purchasing an e-ink tablet, I would carefully consider how you want to use it before making a decision. If you're essentially looking for an e-reader with a large screen that you can use to make handwritten notes and highlights, and use occasionally as a digital notebook, the Kindle Scribe gives you access to Amazon's large library (including Kindle book you already own) with basic e-ink notebook functionality. On most Kindle books the handwriting function is generally limited to "sticky notes" (picture below), but this is already changing as Amazon tweaks their software, and “write anywhere” books are being made available in the Kindle Store. At the moment, the Remarkable 2 has more out-of-the-box functionality and a more intuitive interface, allowing you to read (and annotate) DRM-free e-books, PDFs, and online articles sent to the Remarkable via a Chrome extension. If you spring for the (pricey) keyboard cover, you even can turn the Remarkable 2 into an e-ink typwriter similar to a Freewrite. For those whose primary goal is notetaking and handwriting, I would recommend starting with the Remarkable or something like it.*

View fullsize

As with standard Kindle highlights and typed notes, Amazon allows you to export a pdf of your notes and annotations.

*Note: I recognize other options are available. I know many people who enjoy their Supernote and Boox tablets, but I'm not currently interested in the ability to add Android apps and I otherwise don't see enough of a difference in the handwriting functionality to convince me to buy another device.

This post does not contain affiliate links. TGS is supported via purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. If you enjoyed this content, please consider supporting us!

Recapping a Great Year: Five (or Maybe Six?) Favorite TWSBI Releases

We have many more new items on their way to the T.G.S. Curated Shop this year, including new exclusive product collaborations that are in the works and new lines currently on their way to us. Before the New Year’s lull ends next week, however, and we dive into all that is new and exciting, I did want to give props to TWSBI for what I considered to be a fabulous string of releases in 2023. While I’ve long been a fan of TWSBI’s standard lineup, their periodic special editions draw the most attention, and this year was spectacular with more than usual. Here are five favorites, in no particular order.

1. TWSBI Diamond Mini AL Grape Fountain Pen. It’s about time the Diamond Mini received as much attention as its larger Diamond 580 counterpart. This particular format is a personal favorite because (1) it’s pocketable; yet (2) posts into a full-sized writing instrument via a threaded end cap.

2. TWSBI Diamond Mini White and Rose Gold Fountain Pen. Again with the TWSBI Diamond Mini! For rose gold plated trim at the sub-$100 price point, it’s hard to do better than TWSBI. White and rose gold makes a stunning combo.

3. TWSBI Kai “Limited Edition” Model Fountain Pen. TWSBI released the third version of their otherwise unnamed “limited edition” style fountain pen, which they dubbed the “Kai”. It’s a gorgeous deep blue acrylic paired with rose gold trim. Because I had yet to use one of these fountain pens for any length of time, and prior experience had been limited to seeing (and envying) one of the TWSBI “Draco” versions at a pen show, I went ahead and did a full review. If you don’t want to shell out for the higher-priced Kai, consider the Indigo + Bronze Trim ECO which has a similar aesthetic.

4. Tie: TWSBI ECO-T Saffron and TWSBI ECO Creme and Rose Gold Fountain Pens. This was an incredibly difficult pick to make, but Saffron won out (yellow pens are a favorite) followed by the December “Creme” release, both of which pair very well with dark red inks.

5. TWSBI Diamond ALR Sunset Yellow Fountain Pen. Of all the Diamond 580 special releases from the past several years, this might be my favorite (with the possible exception of the Diamond 580 Iris that I hope is here to stay). The “Sunset Yellow” is a beautiful yellow-orange-gold color that’s distinct from the “Mandarin Orange” tone so common in the pen world.

What does TWSBI have in store for 2024? We’ll have to wait and see!

View fullsize

You can check out our full selection of TWSBI Fountain Pens in the T.G.S. Curated Shop. All orders over $75 ship free. For details on international shipping, please see this FAQ.

Back to Hobonichi: My Daily Journaling Setup for 2024

I spent a lot of time over the past four months thinking about how I wanted to approach journaling in 2024. Over the past year, I definitely became more consistent in terms of how often I sit down to write (always by hand, never on the computer), but until my work sabbatical in October didn’t spend much time thinking through a coherent journaling strategy and how I wanted to use journaling to support my personal and professional goals. After some experimentation, I decided to divide my journaling between three different books: (1) a professional “journal” that I use to track how I spent my time each day, mainly on work and more structured personal projects; (2) a “observations” journal that’s in a smaller format I can carry with me; and (3) a more traditional “reflections” journal that I write in each morning.

*Note: I don’t use a traditional paper “planner” (i.e., a calendar to track dates and appointments) for professional reasons. My schedule is too complex and deadline-dependent to rely on manual updates and edits, especially since due dates and meetings constantly change (often without my knowledge). I mention this up front because I know that I’m going to get the question: why does someone need three planners? The answer is that even though the Hobonichi Techo - and other similar “planners” such as those from Stalogy and the Midori Codex - are marketed as traditional calendar/diaries, the layouts are extremely flexible and can easily be used as journals or dated notebooks, which is how I’ve always viewed them.

View fullsize

Journal No. 1: Hobonichi Cousin A5

My primary everyday professional notebook/journal is going to be the Hobonichi Cousin A5. For the last quarter of 2023, I experimented with “time blocking” as part of an effort to improve my concentration and focus, which is a time-management technique that can be helpful for those of us who work more than one job and/or whose profession involves managing multiple complex projects. A full discussion of this technique (and how I’ve adapted it to my needs) is beyond the scope of this simple blog post, but the general idea is that you sit down each morning for 15-20 minutes and plan out your day in blocks of time dedicated to a specific task or project, to the exclusion of anything else that may distract you. You intersperse your day with “admin” blocks to keep up with more routine things such as e-mail, phone calls, paying bills, etc. It might seem rigid at first, but two things happen: (1) the “a time and place for everything” philosophy underlying the structure creates space for better concentration, and eventually you’re more easily able to resist things such as checking e-mail that pull you out of the work your doing because you know you’ve set aside time for them later; and (2) you’re able to finish tasks quicker because you’re giving yourself the space to concentrate on a single thing rather than multi-tasking.

View fullsize

Yes, the Cousin fits in the Roterfaden, but you will need to embrace the “one notebook” Roterfaden strategy (unless you go with the Cousin Avec).

For those interested in learning more, I’d recommend picking up a copy of the “Time Block Planner” (the most recent version of which contains decent paper). I found that the layout didn’t work perfectly for me - I think it’s actually intended more as a “workbook” to help you learn the technique for the first time - but the experience of working through the planner for eight weeks or so was invaluable.

View fullsize

A sample time block plan. Obviously I had to redact details.

I draw my time blocks on the left-hand side of the Hobonichi Techo, and use the remainder of the daily page for my “catch-all” notes and administrative task lists. If you’re in the middle of a time block and an unrelated thought/task/observation pops into your head, you jot it down in the free space on your planner or notebook. In addition to being useful for organizing my work and thoughts, I enjoy having a fairly detailed record of exactly how I spend my time. The page layout of the Hobonichi Cousin A5 is well-suited to how I time-block.

View fullsize

I use the monthly calendar as a way to experiment with content plans. (Most of this is a draft which then gets imported into my computer as I decide what I’m going to publish/write about.)

I currently have the Hobonichi Cousin in my A5 Roterfaden binder. Because the Cousin is a thick notebook, I attached it to the Roterfaden using the center clip, use the front clip as a bookmark for the “weekly” view, and plan to use the third clip to hold loose papers, etc. (For those who are interested, we currently have A6 Roterfadens in stock with another shipment of A4 and A5 binders on the way from Germany as we speak.)

View fullsize

On Sunday afternoon I try to sketch out a “weekly time block plan” which is intended to be rough. I then flesh it out either in the morning before the workday starts or the night before.

Journal No. 2: Hobonichi Weeks Mega

Less a journal and more of an “observations” notebook without any strict format requirements. This year I’m making a conscious effort to be more present, to read more, and generally to engage in activities that necessarily require a longer attention span, such as tackling more difficult books and watching longer films. I constantly collect book and movie recommendations, and always maintain a running annual list of books read/movies watched for the year, which is probably how I will use the blank pages at the back of the Weeks. I also enjoy having a “week on a page” layout, which I’ve used so far to jot down just one or two memorable things I did/observed on each day. My Hobonichi Weeks had a start date of November 27, 2023, so I already have about six weeks under my belt.

View fullsize

Journal No. 3: Hobonichi A6

Finally, my third journal is my reflections journal. I’ve managed to keep up my morning journaling routine to the point where I reliably write most mornings, reflecting on the prior day. For this journal I chose the standard Hobonichi A6, which contains just enough space to allow me to write a meaningful entry in 30 minutes or less.

View fullsize

I don’t have a cover for this third journal yet. As discussed below, I’m waiting for a new shipment of Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter covers, so I may choose an A6 size for this one, but since this journal typically stays on my desk at home the best choice might be a slimmer Gfeller undyed leather cover or one of the Galen Leather “Crazy Horse” varieties.

View fullsize

Stay tuned, because throughout the year, I plan to share more about both journaling strategies and my likes/dislikes of the various Hobonichi editions. Currently, they’re all pretty much exactly what I was suspecting, with no surprises other than how effortless it’s been to enjoy them. Happy New Year, everyone!

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. You can read more about T.G.S. Patreon in yesterday’s post.