Pen & Paper
This community is all about using pen and paper as a deliberate choice — because handwriting helps memory, deepens learning, sharpens focus, and unlocks creativity in ways screens often can’t. Whether you’re sketching ideas, drafting a to‑do list, or mapping out a semester, the physical act of writing slows things down just enough for the thoughts to really land.
All notebook and calendar types are welcome here: plain bound notebooks, bullet journals, Filofax systems, ring‑ and disc‑bound setups, sticky notes, legal pads, or whatever you throw together.
Privacy matters. With paper you keep control as your notes aren’t tracked, used to train algorithms or so. That sense of ownership makes paper a safe place for brainstorming, personal plans, and messy drafts that you don’t want floating in the cloud.
This is a place to share practical tips, clever layouts, before‑and‑after spreads, and what you’ve learned about staying organized (or unorganized) offline. Post pictures, ask for feedback, swap templates, or just brag about a perfect page.
Come as you are: Neat planner nerds, scrapbookers, list lovers, or anyone curious about slowing down. Bring your spreads, hacks, inserts, index systems, and the little rituals that make your setup work.
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They are great, I started journaling earlier this year and the paper really is excellent. I am using, micron 08 archival pens and while they are a little scratchy feeling, they don't smear all that bad as a lefty. Way better than the pilot v5s I had been using.
Agreed! I've noticed that even with wet inks, this paper allows fast enough absorption and drying that it doesn't bleed onto the previous back page when I close the book.
Just realizing how important drying time is for left handed folks, that makes a load of sense! Archival ink sounds like a great option if that's a priority. I'm curious if you've used any tools that use alcohol based ink. I know those are normally coloured markers but they might dry even faster.
I have not played around with them much because they bleed on other thin paper but I will give them a shot again, I like the way they write otherwise. Do you have a recommendation?
The only alcohol pens ive used were brush pens/marker tipped pens. Those ones were gifted to me by my sister a few years ago when she visited Korea and Japan.
I believe the brand was Tombow? The writing experience is different since it's not a pen in my case (though I do know that brand does make alcohol ink pens, so you could look into them!) Even so, I like the brush tip sometimes so I whip it out occasionally.
I've heard people who use dip pens with alcohol based ink. I don't write exclusively at home, so dip pens aren't my thing. Pretty sure fountain pens and alcohol ink don't work since the ink is too thin, but I might experiment with that!