Word. Notebooks Review

I love pocket sized notebooks. I love making lists. Word. Notebooks combines both of those things into a simple system to keep you organized.

I am not a fan of overly complex GTD-like systems. I like my lists, I like boxes and checks, and I like to scratch things off. My system mostly resembles the Getting Sh-t Done system I came across several years ago, and Word. follows along a similar path.

What you will find on the pages of the Word. Notebook is lined paper with a bullet point surrounded by a circle in the margin of each line. This is where the Word. System takes place. It is simple in its execution: bullet point for a new task, circle for important, slash for in progress, and X for complete. It doesn't get more straightforward than that.

Aside from the task list system, how does the paper handle inks? From the About page, the paper is Lynx Opaque Ultra smooth white 60# text (for comparison, standard Field Notes is 50# and the America Is Beautiful edition is 70#). It does a good job with the pens you would expect it to, like gels and ballpoints of all sizes, is average with rollerballs, and fountain pen inks are a mixed bag. In other words, standard performance for almost any pocket sized notebook.

I am a fan of the overall design of the notebooks, and the people I shared them with were thrilled with them. They won't make my regular rotation because I can't handle lined paper on a daily basis but I can see Word. Notebooks meeting a lot of peoples needs. Even I may not be able to pass up the blue and red floral designs from their new Fresh Series.

Thank you to Word. Notebooks for sending me these samples to review. Much appreciated!

Ink Links

-- Zen in red (And All Other Tasks)

-- De Atramentis Jeanne d'Arc (East...West...Everywhere)

-- A Nice Write Up in Design World Magazine! (Edison Pen Company)

-- Franklin-Christoph Dark Denim (Inkdependence!)

-- Three Stephens' Inks or Concentrate wins the day (Palimpsest)

-- Stipula Twister Ti Demonstrator (Silent Seeing)

-- TWSBI Micarta V2 review (Fountain Pen Day)

-- Exacompta FAF Pad – Retro Desk Pad (OfficeSupplyGeek)

-- Review: Onion Skin Paper (Gourmet Pens)

-- Moleskine Better Have Some Thick Skin (Brand New)

-- Graffiti diary in Hobonichi Planner (Notebookers.jp)

-- Montblanc Noblesse Slimline (Goodwriterspens's Blog)

-- Crónicas Estilográficas (Pilot Inks at Flea Markets)

-- Diamine Music Inks (Pens Paper Inks...Whatever!)

-- Pilot Iroshizuku Yama-Budo (Ed Jelley)

-- Pilot Down Force (The Clicky Post)

-- At Work With Aaron Draplin (A Continuous Lean.)

-- Luke Shuman (What Do You Carry)

-- Pelikan – Brilliant Black (Informal Scribble)

-- Just a Bad Batch (Notebook Stories)

-- A pen with a sea of clouds (Leigh Reyes)

-- Pilot Custom 823 Fountain Pen Review (Write to Me Often)

-- Pilot Elite95S (2013) (kmpn)

-- Tale of a Vandal Notebook User: Going Indie, Part 2 (Peaceable Writer)

-- Invincia Stylus (Ionsomnia)

-- Chronodex July - December 2013 Weekly Diary Free Download Released (Scription)

Scribal Workshop Cryptid Siren Blue Ink Review

I had only heard about Scribal Workshop inks in passing before running into several bottles for sale by Anderson Pens at the Atlanta Pen Show. My blue ink radar went off, and I came home with a bottle of Cryptid Siren Blue.

Scribal is a family run business with ink being made by "Scribe and Chemist" Lucas Tucker. Along with the Cryptid line of inks, Scribal produces Bunny Washable Inks and Historic Inks, which is their iron gall line. Cryptid is essentially the standard fountain pen ink line, so that seemed like a good starting point.

The Siren Blue is a fantastic shade of blue - one of my favorites in fact. It leans on the darkish side of the spectrum with hints of black, grey, and even a touch of green. There is a moderate amount of shading and the dry time would fall into the "fast" category. And that may be an issue.

My nib would dry out almost as fast as the ink did on the paper. If I paused for a few seconds I would have a hard start, even with the 1.5 mm TWSBI stub used in the review. I loaded it up in my EF nib Vanishing Point and had the same issue. It frustrated me enough to where I had to clean it out. I could see this being a feature for artists and sketchers who like a dry, controllable line, but I need a little more smoothness for writing.

I'm going to keep trying it in different pens until I find a good match because the color is excellent. I can even get past the oregano-ish scent from the bottle if it were just a bit more lubricated.

Brian Goulet reviews the entire line of Cryptid Inks at Ink Nouveau. Has anyone else tested out ink from Scribal Workshop?