The quest for the perfect pen never ends. Right now, my favorite pens to journal with are these Uni-ball Vision Elite Rollerball Pens Bold Point in Assorted Colors ($13, 5pk). I only use them for journaling because the ink just glides out so effortlessly in such a deep, rich color that I am able to write pages and pages in cursive without ever having to lift up my pen. I alternate colors on different days and when I flip through the pages, I feel like I am looking at a garden with so many different flowers. — CD

I’m an advocate for journalling because it’s the best tool for self-discovery. I have a dream journal, meditation/poetry journal and a daily (brain dump) journal — most of them are blank books. But by-far the easiest diary to maintain is a guided journal called Moon Lists: Questions and Rituals for Self Reflection. I write in it only once a week coinciding with each new phase of the moon. It enhances my self-awareness, sparks gratitude and encourages me to be more intentional about my goals and dreams. It’s an 18-month journal, and I’m only 4 months in. I’m really looking forward to this finished relic of introspection. — CD

Scrivener is a specialized word processor for writing books. I’ve used to write my last three published books (non-fiction) and now I’m using it to write a novel. It’s especially useful for collecting and organizing research materials. I can add audio recordings, websites, images, and videos, making them easy to find. It also has excellent outlining and corkboarding tools. In addition to helping me write books, I use Scrivener to write long articles and reports. The Mac version is on sale for $30 (It’s usually $50). — MF

If you are lucky you won’t need to write an obituary very often, but when you do, here are a few things to remember. Bookmark this article: How to write an obituary. — KK

I came across this encouraging Reddit post for all creatives: “Read this if you’re concerned your idea has been done before and you’re feeling unmotivated.” A reminder that “The idea doesn’t matter nearly as much as the execution does. No one will have your taste, your mind, your unique perspective on the matter.” — CD

Now that iPadOS 14 turns my handwriting into typed text, my Paperlike iPad Screen Protector ($40, 2-pk) has really paid off. It feels like I am writing on a smooth pad of paper instead of glass. I bought it back in June, a couple months into the pandemic, so there were shipping delays, but well worth the wait. It goes perfectly with the Apple Pencil and I’m finding any excuse to jot down notes or draw. — CD

I’ve been upgrading my daily to-do notebooks with these self-adhesive library card pockets. It’s just an easy way to keep receipts, post-its and other notes together until I integrate them into my digital filing system or task list. These manila pockets along with my better pen holder help to keep my love alive for my analog to-do list. — CD

Pilot Frixion pens and highlighters have hard plastic erasers. Rub them over the ink and the writing vanishes. Unlike a pencil eraser that wears away the paper, a Frixion eraser creates heat, rendering the ink invisible. I use them for my paper to-do list, book highlighting, and tabletop gaming. — MF

A few years ago a reader turned me onto a nifty variation of my favorite Pilot G2 gel pen, which is a mini pocket version of the same pen. Same liquid black, same fine tip, same profile, just a lot shorter to better fit into my pocket. The Pilot G2 Mini is my everyday carry. — KK

In my workshop and studio, I label boxes, shelves, drawers, cases, bins, and parts with a very dense white “ink” which is really white correction fluid in a stubby pen. White is usually much more legible than black, but white ink is much more difficult to apply heavy enough to cover any surface. These Pentel Presto Jumbo Correction Pens do a fantastic job applying thick non-drippy white paint via a fine point tip, and are small enough to carry in my workshop apron. They draw perfectly opaque white on any surface, instantly, even vertical surfaces. I have not found anything else that will do that. — KK

I found out about Webster’s 1913 Dictionary from David Perell’s excellent Friday Finds newsletter. Perell uses this 107 year old dictionary because he thinks “modern dictionaries have lazy definitions that focus too much on simplicity at the cost of precision.” I also love the extreme Simplicity of the interface. it’s worth bookmarking. — MF

A lot of characters aren’t on your keyboard, but you might find them useful. For example, ♠, ♣, ♥, and ♦. An easy way to browse and use these hidden characters is by visiting Symbololology, a one-page site with about 500 non-keyboard characters. Symbololology,  where have you been all my life‽ — MF

My wife ordered a 24-pack of these cheap Bic mechanical pencils. I tried one out and I actually like it a lot. The lead diameter is 0.9 mm and it has a number 2 lead inside. It also contains one extra lead in the barrel. A 24-pack sells for about $.25 a pencil. They are supposed to be disposable, but why not buy a bunch of 9mm lead for cheap and keep using the pencil? You can even get colored leads! — MF

Story, by Robert McKee, is the best book written on how to construct a great story. McKee’s masterclass on story writing is well known in Hollywood. It is condensed into a 4-hour audiobook (better than the written book), performed by McKee himself. It is not just a manual for screenwriters; these short 4-hours turned me into a super fan, able to appreciate stories on whole new levels. Indeed, I found this book profound and realized that it is a useful guide to constructing an interesting life, which in the end is also a story. — KK

A while ago I recommended a pen holder strap that I was really excited about (and still am because it’s French and pink), but thanks to Rayan Parikh sharing what’s in his bag, I’ve now discovered these adhesive pen holder loops ($6/5pk). I’ve stuck these on all my notebooks so that I always have a pen ready. — CD

I like mechanical pencils, and my favorite is the Uni Kuru Toga with a lead-rotation mechanism (Model No. M54521P.24). Every time you touch the tip to the paper, the mechanism inside the pen ratchets the lead a few degrees. The result is the point stays rounded instead of taking on a chiseled profile as often happens with mechanical pencils. It’s inexpensive but very well-made. Mine has lasted for years. — MF

Earlier this month I tweeted: “I have been trying to get better at touch typing since I switched over from hunt-and-peck two years ago. I am not improving — speed and accuracy are terrible. Does anyone know of an app or method that works?” Of the many useful suggestions offered, the best app for me was keybr.com and the best advice (which is obvious only in retrospect): “Focus on accuracy when practicing. Practice every day. When making too many mistakes, slow down. Without accuracy, speed will be tricky to increase.” — MF

Ideas always hit me right before I fall asleep. So I bought these Glovion LED Light Pens ($15/3pk) to write them down without waking up my husband. The light is bright enough to write under, but not bright enough that it pulls me out of my half-awake state. I love that I no longer have to fight that nagging urge to get up and write something down before I forget. – CD

The Sakura Pigma Manga Basic Set comes with 5 pens: 4 Pigma Microns (sizes 005, 01, 05, 08) a black brush pen, and a white ink gel pen. The ink is waterproof and very dark. At $8, it’s a good deal. — MF

After reading this post on How to begin a novel using AI, I’ve been having fun using this neural network, Talk to Transformer, to come up with prompts for new poems. I’ll just type in a few lines or start with an image that haunts me, and I’m always surprised by the seemingly original imagery that it gives back to me like this one (prompted by my aunt’s back tattoo of a phoenix): The days passed like smoke under my feet. “That should be enough for now.” She paused and sighed again. But still the phoenix kept going.— CD