Weapon of Choice

Mind Mapping Your Way Out of Writer’s Block »

Weapon of Choice

June 3, 2010 by Lee Laughlin

When we talked about imagery for this blog, we debated keyboard or pen? All of us are computer literate, but we all agreed there are times when the pen is mightier than the keyboard. I think it was Lisa who said she particularly prefers the pen when drafting fiction. I have to agree. There are times when the thoughts just flow more freely from the pen to the paper vs. the fingers to the keys.

To be sure, pen selection is a very personal decision. Just walk down the aisle at any office supply store and the choices can be overwhelming, from ink color to tip size, to ink delivery method, it is all there.

My personal preference is blue ink with the occasional red for editing. I also keep a supply of purple pens on hand for notes. I know many who like a fine line (OMSH for example), but I prefer a bolder line. It is easier for me to read. I keep a few Flairs around, but the ink tends to smudge too easily. I’ve tried Sharpie’s new line of pens and they have their uses, but my preference is a roller ball.

Hands down my favorite pen right now is the Jetstream Retractable rollerball pen from Uni-ball. The pen sits in my hand well and the ink flows like a smooth stream of melted chocolate. It comes in fine and bold point, blue, black and red inks. The downside is that at $3.50 a piece they are on the high end of disposable pens when it comes to cost. I have also had trouble locating 4 packs of just blue, and spending $35 for a dozen pens bugs me.

I’m very fickle when it comes to pens, but I’ve been a Jetstream fan for going on a year now and I have yet to find anything better. That doesn’t mean that I haven’t been looking. So, what is your favorite kind of pen?

Posted in Uncategorized | 13 Comments

13 Responses

on June 3, 2010 at 11:15 am | Reply Lisa Jackson

I love pens. Thick ones that I can actually grip. My favorite is one I just got a couple of months ago as a birthday gift – it’s a Chesterton Rollerball. It even came monogrammed. :)

As a lefty, I’ve always been challenged to write without smudging the ink all over the page, so finding a pen that cooperates is wonderful.

I purchased a fountain pen last year, and although the pen fits in my hand well, and it can write well on the page, the smudging factor is an issue. I have to write slowly – and that’s find sometimes, but not when the muse is active!

I’m playing around now with different refills for the Chesterton (it came with a sample pack of 6 different ones) to see what type of point I end up liking the most.
on June 3, 2010 at 2:58 pm | Reply Joe D'Eramo

Sanford uni gell kicks proverbial butt. Be sure to get the 1″ tip. There’s a significant drop off if you get the the .7″
on June 3, 2010 at 5:22 pm | Reply jme2469

I’m a pen junkie and have been known to walk out of an art supply store with a bug busting full of colored sharpies, drafting pens, and luscious felt tips.

My every day pen of choice, however, is the Pilot PreciseGRIP in black, extra fine. I can only find them at certain stores, so I tend to stock up … in fact, I’m glad you wrote this post because I need to replenish my secret stash!
:)
on June 4, 2010 at 9:09 am | Reply Mind Mapping Your Way Out of Writer’s Block « Live to Write – Write to Live

[…] doesn’t require any software. All you need is a blank piece of paper (preferably large) and your favorite pen (colored pencils and markers […]
on June 4, 2010 at 10:02 pm | Reply Diana Taylor

I’m with you. I like blue ink and a good, solid pen body.

Rarely do I use those pens that come in a box of a dozen. Levenger offers a nice selection of pen and such.

Just as drivers of exotic automobiles want to “be one with the road,” I want to be one with the paper.

http://www.levenger.com/PAGETEMPLATES/NAVIGATION/Products.asp?Params=category=8|level=2|pageid=151

Cross and Waterman are two of my other favorites.

I also have a nice collection of old typewriters. But we’ll save that for another time!

Diana Taylor
Top Dog
Pug At The Beach
Delray Beach, Florida, USA

http://www.PugAtTheBeach.com

Pug At The Beach ~ It’s not about a breed. It’s about a lifestyle.

Providing hope & inspiration through a variety of media including the Pug At The Beach book series ~ an illustrated book of life lessons for grown-ups. His name is Pug and he lives on a Caribbean island. He’s part Dalai Lama, part Jimmy Buffett, and a whole lotta fun!
on June 18, 2010 at 10:14 am | Reply 4 Steps to Capture the Muse – Documenting Ideas « Live to Write – Write to Live

[…] 1: Be prepared Recently, Lee wrote about favorite pens and Wendy covered favorite notebooks. Like any writer, I have my own idiosyncrasies about my tools […]
on July 1, 2010 at 12:33 pm | Reply A Peek Behind the Curtain and Some Updates « Live to Write – Write to Live

[…] Pens. I love pens. I was at the doctor’s office and I found my latest pen crush, The Bic Pro Plus Ball pen. It writes as smoothly as the JetStream I’ve been lusting after, but the Bic, is about half the cost of the jet stream. The only thing better than a great pen is an inexpensive, great, pen. […]
on September 17, 2010 at 8:07 am | Reply Friday Fun – What inspires you? « Live to Write – Write to Live

[…] We’ve talked a lot on the blog about finding your muse, just doing it, and the tools we use when lightning strikes. Today we want to ask – what inspires you – images, characters, […]
on November 16, 2011 at 4:00 pm | Reply Mind Mapping Your Way Out of Writer’s Block | Suddenly Marketing

[…] doesn’t require any software. All you need is a blank piece of paper (preferably large) and your favorite pen (colored pencils and markers […]
on December 14, 2011 at 10:36 am | Reply Top 10 Gifts for Writers « Live to Write – Write to Live

[…] out here at Live to Write-Write to Live, you already know we have a pretty strong addiction to pens and notebooks. They are, after all, the writer’s constant companion and tools of the trade. We […]
on December 20, 2011 at 7:06 am | Reply 4 Steps to Capture the Muse – Documenting Ideas | Suddenly Marketing

[…] 1: Be prepared Recently, Lee wrote about favorite pens and Wendy covered favorite notebooks. Like any writer, I have my own idiosyncrasies about my tools […]
on April 30, 2012 at 6:18 am | Reply Too tired to write – self-care for writers « Live to Write – Write to Live

[…] writer’s tools are many and varied – software and hardware, favorite pens, special notebooks, style guides, frameworks, and a good thesaurus. When it comes right down to it, […]
on August 24, 2012 at 10:19 am | Reply Kit

I love pens! My favorite kind is a Papermate Profile 1.4B. It works great for all my writimg needs! :)