Writing Around the Block

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Bluesky. And her latest book, The Atropine Tree, is now available!)

Last weekend I made another escape to the lake to write. It was less of a writing retreat this year, and more of a writing battle. I've been fighting my way through some gnarly writer's block for a while now, but the deadlines can only be pushed so far before they break, and some of my projects are testing the strength of those limits.

There was very little handwriting this time. Most of my projects are in the digital phase of their existence. My ideal time at the lake is spent with no screens at all, just me, my pen and paper, and the sound of the waves. This time it was the clack of the keyboard as I frantically typed out and added scenes to an existing project.

I still brought my notebook, though. Just in case. This time, my travel companions were my Pebble Stationery Co. notebook in the Hobonichi Tragen case and the Leonardo Momento Zero Grande 2.0 Guilloche I just reviewed last week. While I didn't really get the chance to use them this time, it was a comfort just having them there, just in case inspiration struck and a new story demanded to be written, deadlines be damned.

That didn't happen, though, and that hasn't happened in a long time.

I've gone through these droughts before, and there will be others in the future. Every time, the way out remains the same: momentum begets momentum. Writing begets writing. The best way to bring on a hearty rainfall is to water your lawn.

So, through my block, I wrote about 13,000 words that weekend. I didn't feel inspired, I wasn't "in the flow," and it felt more like wringing water from a stone than spinning straw into gold. But words were made. Not enough of them--I still missed my deadline--but it was progress, and I hope that progress will beget progress.

Now I'm packing my bags for a trip to a writing conference. I'm packing my pen and my notebook and some optimism, and hoping to soak in some inspiration. What's great about the tools we use is that they can always be with us, ready when we are, or when we're not.

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8 is Auspicious

(Kimberly (she/her) took the express train down the fountain pen/stationery rabbit hole and doesn't want to be rescued. She can be found on Instagram @allthehobbies because there really are many, many hobbies!.)

In many Asian cultures, especially in the Chinese culture (of which I am a part), the number 8 is an auspicious/lucky number. The number 8 in Chinese sounds similar to the word prosperity so it is quite common to see the number 8 for personalized license plates, addresses (it’s lucky to have a street address with 8, but 4 is a no-no because it sounds like death), etc. In my case, it’s been 8 years since I got my first fountain pens on May 31, 2017, so let’s take a walk down memory lane to see the early days.

I discovered fountain pens by way of Bullet Journaling so I pulled out my first BuJo to see how this turned into a pen addiction 🙂

First pens (top to bottom): Lamy Safari, Pilot Metropolitan, Platinum Preppy.

One of the spreads in my Leuchtturm 1917 A5 dot grid notebooks shows the beginning of the fall down the rabbit hole. There were many, MANY purchases in rapid succession.

My bullet journal has always been for my personal use and never something I created for social media. Clearly, I did not care about the handwriting in my bullet journal back then (or even now), lol.

This was kind of fun to look back at and see what pens I wanted.

Looking back, I would have no idea that I’d really get into certain pens (TWSBI Eco, Lamy AL-Star, cough cough), or that I’d eventually own quite a few on the list (Pilot Custom 74, VP, Platinum 3776, Visconti Van Gogh), and which ones I put in the “Dream On” column that aren’t on my radar at all, as well some that I ended up getting like the Aurora Optima Nebulosa (I realized I prefer the Optima to the 88) and Pelikan M800 Souveran. I remember adding the Visconti Homo Sapiens Bronze Age because it seemed like that was everyone’s grail pen back then (and still is for some folks), but the black with bronze trim didn’t really excite me (still doesn’t), but everyone else must know something I don’t, right? Wrong! We all like different things, so go ahead and like what you like! It’s also good/fine/normal/natural to like/love some things and having your tastes change over time. It’s a healthy part of any hobby and makes this rabbit hole all the more interesting.

One of the things that drew me into this rabbit hole was not only the cool looking fountain pens, but all the different colors of inks! I had used the Sheaffer calligraphy set when I was a kid, and it came with ink cartridges in 8 colors (blue, blue-black, and black being 3 of them). Not only were there more colors but sheen was becoming a big thing too - Akkerman Shocking Blue, Diamine Majestic Blue, Organics Studio Nitrogen, etc. just looked magical on paper!

My first pen/ink log. I maintained this throughout multiple bullet journals until a couple years ago. Also, goodness gracious, I clearly don’t care how ugly my writing is.

My ink wish list - clearly I am a blue and purple ink fan, but we already knew that. With very few exceptions, I think I own everything on this list, and then some, oops!

Bullet journaling also led me to fountain pens by way of Rock Your Handwriting, where folks posted pictures of their handwriting practice along with their pens and inks. As soon as I got my pens, I started my own journey to improve my handwriting, which used to be really nice from middle school through college, but went to crap after a long career in front of a computer.

One of many Clairefontaine French-ruled notebooks that I used to practice my handwriting daily. This was the prettiest I could make it back in June of 2017.

While I don’t use writing prompts any more, I do still practice my handwriting, still using the same Clairefontaine French-ruled notebooks, only now I’m working on Hamilton lyrics.

Eight years in and I write even more today than I did back then, whether it’s the day’s to-do list in BuJo #11, a packing list for the next pen show, transcribing Italian kids’ books, Meditations in typewriter font, journaling in my TN, or creating my next Currently Inked. I still get excited for new releases, whether they are Kaweco Sports and TWSBI (thank goodness the Precision now comes in Gemini Blue!) or other eye candy. Heck, I even love some non-fountain pens! I love using my pens and inks to learn, remember, be productive, and get thoughts on paper. I still love going to & working at pen shows, making new friends and seeing folks that have since become family. There’s always something new to learn, discover, and try, and I can’t wait to do more. It’s been a wonderful eight years, thank you for being a part of it. Eight more years (and beyond), let’s GO!!

Pen Plans for 2025

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter. And her latest book, The Atropine Tree, is now available!)

It's a new year, and I have some stationery-specific goals for my 2025. Mostly they involve wrangling the stash, which has grown unruly. This year I will have been writing for The Pen Addict almost every week for nine years--that's a lot of stationery! And while I've done small purges here and there (CHAOS!), I need a big one. In 2026 I'll be moving again. Not super far this time--just to a place closer to my new day job, so I'm not spending so many hours of my day commuting. And there's no better way to face the seriousness of one's collection than having to pack it all up and carry it somewhere. So...it is time.

I've been really inspired by Brad's Pen Addict 100 project and the philosophy behind his collection refinement. Every time I read his updates, I thought to myself, "I really need to do this." It probably won't be 100 pens for me. I'm a Pen Addict, but I'm not THE Pen Addict. I feel like 50 is enough pens. But I've also deleted and retyped that sentence a few times, so who knows. Maybe I DO need 100.

I don't actually know how many fountain pens I own at the moment. So that's obviously step one: Inventory. While taking inventory, I can do the first weeding session. There are plenty of pens I already know I can let go of--past review models that I liked but don't feel strong attachment to. And weeded review models will of course go to Brad for future CHAOS giveaways.

I have a feeling a lot of the pens I keep will be for sentimental reasons as much as practical ones. There are some pens I don't use often, but they were meaningful gifts--those would be hard to let go of. But there are also a handful of limited edition pens that I bought out of FOMO that I feel ready to pass along. I've always been more of a user than a collector, and I'm excited to take the penventory back to the ones I love to use most.

I also need to do this with ink. I have more ink than I think I could use in my lifetime. I don't buy it often anymore--maybe one or two bottles a year, but it still piles up! Lots of ink will be entered into CHAOS.

What's that? Notebooks? Oh, hell no. Nobody touches my paper. I will move them myself, if I have to carry them on my own back.

I'm excited to get started on this project, and I'm bringing you all with me for the ride. You'll be my accountabili-buddies. I'm hoping to get the inventory and first round of weeding done by the end of the month.

Happy New Year, all! I hope the best for all of you in 2025.

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Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, for which I am very grateful.

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!