I bloody love handwriting and prefer it over typing all day long, but you gotta have the right pen.
Call off the search, it’s finally happened. I’ve found the pen of my dreams. For someone who takes notes on LITERALLY EVERYTHING, this is quite the feat – then the shop closed down.
Paperchase is the culprit and I will never forgive the corporate monsters for taking the quirky stationery giant from our high street. I know they’re popping up as concessions in some Tesco stores but none of them are anywhere near me and none of them stock the pen of my dreams. So that’s it. It’s gone.
I discovered the pen of my dreams smack bang in the middle of my shorthand exams – the perfect glide being paramount to my 60wpm success. Blue ink, plain black, unassuming design, optimal grip. Sold in a three pack, I went through four packs in less than 6 weeks.
That was 2015. Like a blur, a mirage. as quickly as I enjoyed the success of a perfect scribed drilling page, it was gone
Cut to 2024. Whisper it quietly, I think I’ve done it again. Stood at the till paying for NYC Tarot cards, at Books Are Magic in Brooklyn, I spied pens and pencils baring the store name, and I love to fully support the indies. I grabbed three of each for my kids, paid and wondered out to explore the surrounding area.
I’m home. My eldest daughter bought me a beautiful William Morris bound page a day 2024 diary and I’m eager to get started. Books Are Magic pens were gratefully received then hapzardly discarded in favour of $3 Statue of Liberty foam crowns.
I picked up the neon pink pen and began to write about our New Year’s Eve exploits. The black ink glided. Words flowed across the page. I felt the rush of the 4 minute long shorthand exam all over again as I recalled sparklers in the front yard and coal over the threshold. This is it. All the way from Brooklyn, with love!
Do you hand write a lot? What’s your go to? Any old biro? Do you have a fave? Drop me a DM on the contacts page with your recommendations.
Kate Reilly James 