Writing implements

[Redlass]

On those occasions when you do write longhand, what writing instrument do you use?

I like to use pencil for most outlines or drafts, though if I really want to write something quickly and don't plan to change much, I'll use a pen. (I used to prefer PaperMate pens, but I'm slowly accepting Bics. And there's nothing like the fountain pen I got as an anniversary present at work.)

When I'm editing or writing notes at work, nothing but a felt tip marker will do. For editing, I usually use red (I know, how cliche, but it does help the desktoppers find it easily and we go through fewer drafts). As I look around at my phone notes and to-do lists, they're all done in black felt tip. I have a green felt tip that I use if I'm the second editor and we want to be able to distinguish between our marks.

[sibhreach]

A pen? A marker? What are these things?

Nah...I use a pen (from time to time - and even more at work) when I'm writing things out, long-hand, which is terribly rare.

The only things I will bend my "typewriter/wordprocessor/pc" rule is when I'm writing letters to friends - but even then, most of the time, I write in fancy fonts.

My favourite pens are blue Paper*Mate, and this really funky TwinStars(tm) yellow pen I found years ago in a high school classroom that got me turned onto blue pen-ink in the first place.

Before that - I was strictly black pen-ink from those snazzy $5 Parker Roller Ball pens. I've had 3 of those and every single time someone's borrowed it, they compliment the pen!

I miss my stainless-steel one badly. It was stolen in '96.

I haven't bought one of those since, the experience was so traumatic. Honest.

Maroon - got misplaced forever
Black - someone "borrowed" it
Silver Stainless Steel - out and out stolen!

Okay. I realise I'm obsessing over pens - but these were/are really good pens!


Cairlí
Who will shut up now

[soxfan[$]]

I only use pens. Not because I don't ever need to erase (hah!), but because I find it easier to deal with. I'd rather cross stuff out than erase (which either results in a page of lightly smudged text I have to write over, or big holes where the text used to be). Also, you don't have to sharpen pens, just refill them if they take refills, and you won't get lead poisoning from chewing on them.

I'm not particularly choosy about brand -- I just grab whatever's handy.

Ailsa

[rich2003dm]

I do my best work with crayons on a brown paper bag.

Rich

[jenninca]

Gel pens all the way, baby. The weirder the better! I'm particularly partial to the two or three color-in-one pens and the ones loaded with extra glitter.

Cindy
who really is not twelve years old

[nicholmere]

The PC is my first choice, but when I'm out and about in RL I prefer anything fun and fancy. There is a great chunky line of pens out right now in bright neon colours - purple, green ... etc. Since all my pens eventually make it to the floor of my car, anything that makes them easier to find is great.

[murasaki]

I like pens, but now that I'm a student again, pencils make things easier for me. I like mechanical pencils because I'm obsessed with having a sharp writing point.

For pens, I like the fat ones with black or purple ink. I have a huge callas on my middle finger from holding my pencil too tightly as a child and it's never going away so I need the fat pens with the rubber grip. I also like a very fine point.

Purple is my signature color and usually distinguishes my editing marks from anyone else's.

--naomi

[tipu]

Originally posted by Redlass
On those occasions when you do write longhand, what writing instrument do you use?

Normally... whatever I can find on my desk/in my pouch?...

Until I came to the States in '96, all my schoolwork was done with pen/pencil/paper... I think I phazed out a few teachers during my first semester by turning in written work...

Again, until I hit the States, I really liked using fountain pens, and usta have a set with calligraphy nibs just 'cos. But in the zit-cream saturated world of the campus, it didn't behoover me to appear with unsightly ink stains on me digits, so dat was dat...

I've a thing for fine point ritin instruments... me favrite was the set o' 0.1mm Japanese brand I'd brung over from the Middle East, but I'm down to my last grey pen from dat set... n I nearly got in trubble using dat one on some important papers once 'cos the immigration orficial thot I'd used pencil...

Rite now, I'm attached to a colorfulled set of 0.3mm Pelikan felt tippers... when ritin, I generally print pret-ty small... the color shows up when I mark up black ink journal papers.

In pencils, it's Pentel 0.5mm mechanical all the way, tho I did have a fling with a buncha shameless transparent mechanicals for a while...

[ThePirateKing]

The Sanford Uni-ball Vision, in Fine tip. It comes in a whole range of colors, including a very nice emerald green, and the smooth rollerball just feels soooo goooood...

[Grouch]

Originally posted by ThePirateKing
The Sanford Uni-ball Vision, in Fine tip. It comes in a whole range of colors, including a very nice emerald green, and the smooth rollerball just feels soooo goooood...

Too weird!!
Right now, as I was reading your post, I happened to be fondling just such a pen in my fingers (though, I prefer the lipstick-red version). It is my pen of choice at work, my able assistant as I edit copy each week for our post newspaper here at Fort Richardson.
Long live Uni-ball!!

[jo.com]

Sitting at my computer I almost always use a pen...have no idea why. If I'm writing a review in longhand (as on a plane) I almost always use a pen because I seem to be able to read my writing better. But if I'm making just some scribbles I'll grab a pencil if it is handy. The problem with pencils is the lead breaks in my pocketbook and I am forever losing mechanical ones.