38 Comments
User's avatar
Jessica Lahey's avatar

Oooooh how this question makes my heart flutter. One? I have to pick one? Fine tip Sharpie, I guess, but that leaves so many out!!!

Expand full comment
Norah Wakula's avatar

Makes my heart flutter, too. I have a pen fetish, for sure.

Expand full comment
Valerie Kathawala's avatar

A good, sharp No. 2 pencil! Mostly because pens are landfill; pencils are a (big picture) renewable resource.

Expand full comment
Amanda's avatar

I'm with you. I love a good, sharp, not-too-hard-not-too-soft pencil...

Expand full comment
Kay Lock Kolp's avatar

Hello friends! I'm sure I know some of you from the wonderful AmWriting Facebook group, I am very new to Substack!

I love this question… The kind of pen I use most is Dragon speech recognition software : )

and I do love it. It kicks ass!

I think in terms of physical, handheld writing implements, I've got a great Bic mechanical pencil that I really really love. It's got this rubbery section that acts like a fidget! I also love sharpie fine-tip markers.

KJ, Jess, Sarina and everyone, I hope you are well.

Expand full comment
Matthew Landis's avatar

Pilot G-2 07 Gel Pen. Sadly, it is landfill fodder, but I like the way it skates across the paper.

Expand full comment
A Woman of Uncertain Age's avatar

Bic medium point, blue. Old-school.

Expand full comment
Jane Roper's avatar

A uniball vision elite - the perfect pen. Runner up: the Pilot Varsity.

Expand full comment
Norah Wakula's avatar

I used to use this pen. Hmmmm, ... I may have to try it again -- for a little change!

Expand full comment
Dre Carlan's avatar

Always wanted to try a nice Mont Blanc, but honestly, a Pilot 05/07 would totally do.

Expand full comment
mindy dwyer's avatar

Parker fountain pen.

Expand full comment
Olivia Rose Scott's avatar

One pen I would use for the rest of my days are the Pentel EnerGel gel pens in 0.7mm or 1.0mm. Those pens feel good in my hand, easy to write with, and last a good while. I currently have several of these pens (currently majority black with some blue and green & purple for my planner) assigned to various notebooks. So, each notebook (currently moving between I think four notebooks?) has a pen to itself, and when that pen dies, it gets a new one, specifically for that notebook. Helps the pens last longer, because I Use. Pens.

Expand full comment
Martha Shinn's avatar

At the risk of being really old school I journal with a fine nib fountain pen.

Expand full comment
Marie Cloutier's avatar

I'm in love with the Platinum Preppy right now. I use pen for my journal and a nice hard pencil for creative writing. I love the Tombow Mono 100 HB or 2B.

Expand full comment
Ruth's avatar

Until a couple of years ago, I wouldn't have had an answer to this. Today? Paper Mate InkJoy 0.5 gel pen.

Expand full comment
Joann Pensabene's avatar

My Zebra F-701 fine point, black ink.

Expand full comment
Bradford (bop) Rowe's avatar

Perhaps I should have mentioned that I am part Passamoquody on mothers tribe.

Expand full comment
Phoebe Farag Mikhail's avatar

The Pilot Dr. Grip Center of Gravity Retractable Ballpoint Pen. It is refillable, and the only pen that doesn't make my carpal tunnel flare up.

Expand full comment
Phoebe Farag Mikhail's avatar

And because I don't want anyone to take it from me, I ALWAYS carry around an extra cheaper pen or two to give in case someone needs to borrow a pen, because NOBODY can have my ergonomic Dr. Grip!!!

Expand full comment
Jill Witty's avatar

Easy! Uniball jet-stream 1.0. They flow so easily, don't smudge. I buy them in boxes of 12 and constantly need to replenish because people take them, they're that good. :)

Expand full comment
Sarina Bowen's avatar

I'm also a Jetstream girl!

Expand full comment
Jill Witty's avatar

I was surprised nobody else had mentioned it. They're truly a no-brainer for me.

Expand full comment
Norah Wakula's avatar

Pentel EnerGel Needle Tip .5 and for making lists on yellow legal paper a good old Bic Round Stic M.

Expand full comment
David Perlmutter's avatar

A BIC. The standard bearer for affordable black ink pens.

Expand full comment
Sarah Kisko's avatar

A good old, dependable blue Bic pen for me!

Expand full comment
Bradford (bop) Rowe's avatar

Quill preferably eagle

Expand full comment
Mike Cipolla's avatar

Eagles are directly protected under two Federal laws: the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. These laws generally prohibit the possession, use, and sale of eagle feathers and parts.

Also, must be member of specific tribes and apply to a Federal agency to buy them for religious purposes.

Expand full comment
Todd Crickmer's avatar

I am an accountant by trade, and I have always liked the Pentel mechanical pencil for business. However, for writing, I can't get along without my trustee laptop. Nothing else will do.

Expand full comment
Amanda's avatar

Pentel Energel .7 metal tip, preferably in purple or blue. Does it smear sometimes…yes. We can’t have perfect things all the time. Is it

Unprofessional to only write in purple…could not be bothered. These pens make me happy and in 2024, that feels important

Expand full comment
Sarina Bowen's avatar

I love Energels too, and find them less smeary than G2s.

Expand full comment
Jess Mujica's avatar

Ah, great question! I have loved the pilot G2 gel 0.7 for a very long time. However, recently my Dad gifted me the Zebra SARASA dry x20 at 0.7 size and as it claims it does not smudge. It skates across the page as smoothly(dare I say, more smoothly?) as the Pilot G2! So, now I love both! Lol

Expand full comment
D. P. Snyder's avatar

Pilot, G2 Limited Premium Gel Roller Pen, Fine Point 0.7 mm, Rose Gold Barrel, Black Ink. I have been using the exact same pen for years because I purchase refills. Cannot do without it.

Expand full comment
Shane Lim's avatar

Sakura Pigma Micron 0.3

Expand full comment
Jennie Nash's avatar

Is this a pen for illustration, too? And you write with it?

Expand full comment
Shane Lim's avatar

Well I can’t draw, so I only write with it. It’s a fantastic ink pen for lefties because it dries almost as soon as it touches paper. No messy smudging!

Expand full comment
Matej Rumanovsky's avatar

steel Diplomat Rollerball Traveler

Expand full comment
Jennie Nash's avatar

Steel! Is it comfortable in the hand?

Expand full comment
Matej Rumanovsky's avatar

Yes!

Expand full comment