I used to swear by the Pilot Varsity disposable fountain pen (amazon.com), but a few months ago I switched back to a plain old-fashioned wooden pencil for jotting down notes and doodles at work. I have to sharpen it by hand, but I find that using such a simple, unglamorous implement means I don't think about how I'm writing or what I'm using to write it with, and instead I focus simply on what I'm jotting down and then quickly move on.

As a keyboard jockey, what do you use when you do find yourself needing to write something down by hand? Or do you not care? (Am I silly to have an opinion about writing implements in the digital age?)

YOU ARE SO NOT SILLY for having an opinion in this matter. I swear by the Foray (Office Depot exclusive, I think -- who knew??!?) 0.7mm (officedepot.com) but more often than not I have just a Pilot G-2 with me. I love pencils most of all, but rarely have a sharpener around, so that means rarely pencils for me (mechanicals just break too easily IMHO).

I used to carry at least a ball point (Cross broad tip -- so creamy!), liquid (Pilot V5) and gel pen (Pilot G2) with me everywhere in addition to a mechanical pencil. For the last several years, though, I've been hooked on the Pentel P209 ( amazon.com ) 0.9 mm mechanical pencil. Neither the lead nor the pencil body have ever broken on me. I love it a lot.

I do also tend to carry a pack of Staedtler technical pens with me, but those are for inking drawings, not writing. ( amazon.com )

I think it's still worthwhile to have an opinion about writing implements. Writing by hand provides a different sensory (and maybe psychological?) experience compared to typing, so the instrument one chooses for it can definitely make or break the process. I prefer the Pilot G-2 0.5 mm (officedepot.com) for precision and smooth ink flow, but the smearing can be a bummer.

There are few mechanical pencils I have ever loved, but the first among them the Pentel Twist-Erase (amazon.com) (0.7mm for life!), originally recommended to me by my good friend Peter.

I prefer old-fashioned wooden pencils at my desk (where I keep a sharpener), but for when I'm out and about I keep a couple uni-ball Jetstream Roller Balls (amazon.com) in all the bags I carry, just in case. They're the smoothest disposable pen I've ever written with.

(Aside: I am endlessly amused that the icon for links to pens from Office Depot is the end of an old-fashioned pencil.)

Wooden pencils are just too light for me.. feels like my hand is going to fly off somewhere when I'm writing. As a result, I tend to grip them too hard and always wind up with a hand cramp if I use one for any length of time.

If you haven't already tried them out, the Zebra M-301 ( 0.5mm ) is a great width, amazing weight, and as delicate as like a writing to look.

as I like my* ( too cold to type where I'm at right now )

never do i use pencils. even when I (used to) sign off on proofs, and had an assigned color pencil, i always used a micro Sharpie, which is the Hall of Fame best pen of all time. for ruled paper, I prefer a Uniball micro. it hugs porous, school-type writing paper (which i love for note-taking and journal writing).

I purposely use a Moleskine planner (PacMan edition!) so I can let my inner organizational freak and middle school child run rampant with color coding things via glitter Gelly roll gel pens.

I find the kind of writing dictates what tool I use at the time. Realizing my academic courses fostered a propensity to always use pen (better to cross-out mistakes than pretend they did not happen by erasing) a few choices come to mind—

* Serious, long form writing tends to have me with a Faber-Castelle fountain pen (incredibly fun and precise): fabercastell.com
* Drawings and sketches with a Pilot Precise V5 (black): pilotpen.us
* All other writing (quick notes &etc) with MUJI Gel-Ink Ballpoint pens (0.5mm): muji.us

Essentially, the best possible for the job. And finally: find quality paper!

Today I "finished" a pencil. (I decided it was shorter than I was comfortable using.) It's interesting using something that literally changes shape and form as you use it. You get so used to the one pencil you use regularly that it's familiar and you don't even think about it until you have to retire it. Then the new, longer one feels foreign and way too long and top-heavy in your hand until you get used to it.

Probably distracting and annoying for those of you who like a consistent writing experience, but I just discovered the phenomenon and it's kind of exciting.

For at least 10 years, I have only used the uni-ball Gel Impact 1.0mm, but not the RT. The one with a cap. I'm paranoid they are going to discontinue them, so I buy refills in bulk and have about 20 of the pen bodies. That gel ink is glorious and the 1.0mm lays it down in a very thick stream. I've not found anything to match it, but to be fair, I've never tried a high end fountain pen. Mostly because I'm afraid of how nice it might be.

And like a few others in the thread, I've been partial to Moleskine for almost as long -- mostly because the paper takes the gel ink very well.

Anyone else every used this pen?

P.S. I don't think of it as "having" to write on paper. It seems more and more like a luxury, and the time that it takes to write allows you to mull over your thoughts. The instant nature of typing changes both the quantity and the quality of the words, and I find that all to often those are inversely related. Perhaps keyboards are for prose and pens are for poetry.

It is not silly to think about writing. Mark-making is a basic urge.

For pencils, I'm a big fan of the Pentel Twist-Erase (.5 mm). I've been using it for over 10 years now. For pens, I use the Fisher Space Pens (spacepen.com). They have pressurized ink reservoirs (so they can write upside down, underwater and in zero-gravity) and this makes them have a constant flow of ink. Beautiful. I'm also a fan of the new Papermate Ink Joy pens.

I've had the same pen in my purse since 2005. The purse has changed, but that pen is a survivor.

My all time favorite writing pen has to be the Waterman Hemisphere Essential --by no means the best Waterman has to offer, but it is consistently a great F-Pen, inexpensive to maintain, and in my opinion, is underrated for a Waterman ;]

Of course, I can't use this all the time. I have a Mont Blanc Roller Ball which I use for all my journal goings on; my go-to choice for everyday writing is the Sharpie Premium Stainless Steel pen, it is perfect for an all-around pen.

Pencil? What's a pencil?

I am totally into fountain pens, currently using a variety of rOtring 600 series FPs (EF, B, OB), a shortened rOtring Art Pen with an 1.1mm italic nib and occasionally a Parker Sonnet (M). Staple ink is Montblanc Blue Black, haven't seen the point in using anything else as that is waterproof and shades nicely on a good paper.

Writing with them is just something special. And having the stars align as in combining a nice FP with the right ink and paper makes for a most pleasurable writing experience. And they automatically make me improve my handwriting! ;)

Of course FPs are not suitable for all occasions. Mechanical pencils, leadholders, markers, even rollerballs have their place (I usually carry a bunch due to my trade as a designer).

If I were to test out a fountain pen, which should I use?

Pilot Varsity is a good starter pen (cheap and they work out of the box). If at all possible I would recommend going to a brick and mortar store that specializes in fountain pens, that way you can try out different pens with different inks and papers to get a feel on what works and what suits your style. Due to the amount of possible combinations it might take a while for you to find something that really clicks but when it does it is good.

And finally, a word of warning, all of the things mentioned above combined with the history fountain pens have (collectability due to the huge amount of different makers, models, types of pens etc.) can make it all slighty... addictive. Well, I suppose that applies to anything collectable. ;)

So.....where's the inevitable branch about _paper_... ? :)

@Sean have you looked toward Lamy? If not, I would highly recommend the Safari as a great starter fountain pen. lamy.com

@Julie: Moleskine!

Oh, I love the Moleskine -- don't get me wrong (my company has a closet full of company-branded moleskines, and employees are issued one on their first day). But! There's so much more out there...

@Shannon I've used a Pacman edition moleskine, too--but sadly couldn't deal with the side-binding for more than one book. Large Plain Reporter all the way!

@Jeremias Hooray for leadholders! All the flexibility of varying hardnesses with none of the fly-away feeling of wooden pencils. Also, so much easier to get a sharp or chiseled point and without the fear of ruining the grip (by carving out a chunk of wood) while sharpening. All in all, a most civilized writing implement.

Moleskine can be nice (I have a bunch of their A4 Folios) but their problem is that the quality of paper varies from batch to batch. Currently using loose 100g/m2 paper (StoraEnso 4CC color copier paper or somesuch, smooth and bleed free) and a clip board.

@Rachel Yes! They are essential for sketching stuff. :)

Good old stylos & Pilot V-Signpen

I come from an Industrial Design background, and I love Pilot Hi-Tec Cs. It's a super nice rollerball pen, and doesn't run when you use markers over it.

static1.jetpens.com

jetpens.com

It seems very clear now that I'm not the only one who still devotes a lot of thought to their traditional writing implements in the age of keyboards. Lots of great pen and pencil suggestions here. Thanks for the tips, everyone!