Pen Vibe

Pens are one of the most basic tools that writers can use, so when whole worlds of imagination flow out of them, it seems magical.

And maybe it is – the story inside a writer’s head comes to life when the words hit the page.

That’s why, even with all the technology available to writers today, some still prefer to start their work with nothing but a pen and paper to hand.

Novelist Zoe Sumra is one of them. The London-based writer recently some time out to answer some questions from the Tiger Pens Blog.

Tell us a little about yourself.

I decided to become a novelist when I was three – I’d just learnt that the youngest published author was four and a half, and realised I had eighteen months to beat that. I didn’t quite manage it: I actually started writing novels when I was twelve. Since then I have written an epic fantasy trilogy – firmly in the trunk – and quite a lot of space opera in what is now a fully developed story universe. When not writing or reading, whether for pleasure or research, I spend most of my spare time fencing, in the gym as an adjunct to fencing, or rehabilitating ankle injuries. My day job is as a print controller in the advertising industry. [Read more…]

Rob at Rob’s Art Supply reviews learns to control the Pentel Pocket Brush Pen.

Margana at Inkophile glides across the page with the Platinum #3776 Century Yamanaka fountain pen.

Heather at inlovewithjournals swoons over the Franklin-Christoph notebook.

The Weekly Pencil runs into trouble sharpening his Koh-i-Noor Toison D’or 1900 Series 2B pencil.

The Passionate Penman turns his attention to the Sakura Pigma Micron 005.

Lito at Palimpsest takes us back in time for P & J Arnold fountain pen ink.

Tina at Fueled by Clouds & Coffee charts a bumpy course with the Pilot Waverly Nib.

Michael at Inkdependence almost likes Noodler’s Dostoyevsky fountain pen ink.

Brian at OfficeSupplyGeek wishes J. Herbin Bleu Azur fountain pen ink were darker.

Christine at Pentulant dives into the Jinhao 159 fountain pen.

Rhonda at the Blog of Rhonda Eudaly sweeps up with the Midori Eraser Mini Cleaner II.

Business 2 Community makes the case that doodling is an effective tool to improve communication, increase productivity and spur creativity in the workplace.

A Flavorwire article from a couple years ago making its way around social media again shows the hand-drawn/hand-written plot outlines of several famous authors, including J.K. Rowling and Joseph Heller.

The Providence Journal profiles a doodler who developed his craft into a regular business selling pen-and-ink sketches on the US festival circuit.

All4Women explains why journaling is good for your mental health in a succinct 12-point list that covers everything from stress management to panic attacks.

The Sprachen blog explains in depth how to start and organize a language notebook for tracking your progress as you learn multiple languages.

Seinfeld’s “All I said was I liked the pen” holds the No. 1 spot on the Pentel blog’s top 10 pop culture references to pens. (On a related note, a few years ago, we rounded up some of the best movie/TV fight scenes that involved a pen.)

This interview with Swedish poet Emina Gaspar-Vrana on the Memopipwrites blog contains one of the best lines ever about pens and writing: “Who needs a shrink when you have a pen?”

Kinja asked readers to vote for their five favorite pens and the Pilot G-2 made the top of the list. Maybe their readers just don’t know pens.

Lito at Palimpsest shares a Kate Chopin letter griping about the tiny invisible hairs on her pen.

The Passionate Penman block-prints his respect for the Tombow Mono 100.

Ian at Pens! Paper! Pencils! splashes through some J. Herbin 1670 Stormy Grey fountain pen ink.

Patrick at The Cramped gets to the point with the new Field Notes Planner.

Ray at Fountain Pen Quest experiences disappointment with Toucan Bright Green ink.

Maybelline at On Fountain Pens finishes delving into the meaning of Iroshizuku fountain pen inks.

Azizah at Gourmet Pens feels no intensity from Diamine Red Lustre fountain pen ink.

George at My Supply Room finds his match with the Retro 51 cat fountain pen.

Matthias at Bleistift appeals to his Swedish readers to identify a mystery pencil from television.

Tina at Fueled by Clouds & Coffee learns new appreciation for her drawing pens.