9 of The Best Pens on Amazon

CARRIE ANN CONVERSATIONS | 9 Of The Best Pens on Amazon

I’ve always been particular about the pens I choose to write with; the combination of ink and paper, the feel of the flow of pen strokes against a notebook… I find that the perfect pen does wonders for my creativity, encouraging me to pour thoughts out, and transforms the act of writing into a peaceful retreat from the noise of everyday life. It can be a challenge to find a pen that writes well, lasts for a long time, and doesn’t smudge. Having the proper tools to handwrite your thoughts, whether it’s in the form of a letter to a loved one or a new idea, will always enable you to create and keep drawing you back to put more work in. If you’ve always wanted to discover your favorite pen but don’t know where to start, here are nine that will always encourage you to spend more time writing.

1. PILOT G2 Rolling Ball Gel Pens, 0.7 Point

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One of my personal favorites, I always keep some of these rollerball pens around to jot down my thoughts or sit down to journal.

2. OOLY Color Write Fountain Pens

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The beautiful writing style of a fountain pen combined with bright ink that doesn’t smudge makes this the perfect choice to inject a little creativity into your writing routine.

3. Hillento Slim Lightweight Metal Ballpoint Pens

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This smooth and minimalistic assortment of pens in various metallic colors will make you want to keep track of them and encourage you to use them as often as possible.

4. Pilot Varsity Disposable Fountain Pens

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If you love the look and feel of an old-fashioned fountain pen but find yourself losing track of your office supplies, these inexpensive pens might be the perfect solution.

5. Uni-ball Vision Rollerball Pens, Fine Point

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These Uniball classics have a great weight to them, making for one of the smoothest and most consistent pen strokes you could find.

6. Uni-Ball EYE Colored Rollerball Pens, Fine Point

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If your mind works better when you’re able to color code, or you just like to make your notes more fun to look at, this pack of pens in different smudge-free inks will brighten up your desk and your work.

7. Pilot Precise V7 Rolling Ball Stick Pens, Fine Point

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If you’ve got an affinity for fine-point pens, these Precise V7s will make for some of the cleanest lines on any paper.

8. Matte Black Forest Fountain Pen

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This Matte Black Forest pen is so beautiful, it’ll transform any time you choose to write with it.

9. PILOT Precise V5 Colored Ball Stick Pens, Extra Fine Point

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This assortment of colored stick pens is a great staple for anyone who prefers to work in color.

9 Essentials to Start Letter Writing as a Hobby

CARRIE ANN CONVERSATIONS | Letter Writing Essentials

As we continue to live with limited socialization, there has never been a better time to take up written correspondence as a way to keep in touch. Letter writing offers us so many things at once: a more thoughtful and tactile form of communication, a form of gift-giving that shows someone time was spent in thinking of them, a physical memory one can keep for years, and even an art form. Taking the time to sit down and write to a loved one can be meditative as well as a thoughtful gesture, and that moment of peace can be a blessing for all of us right now.

Here are a few tools that can help make letter writing more of a part of your everyday life.

MUJI Stationery Set

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This pen case comes with everything you need to start taking pleasure in writing. This coordinated kit contains high quality pencils, pens, sticky notes, and an eraser.

Pretty Simple Lettering: Modern Calligraphy & Hand Lettering for Beginners

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If you’re looking to turn letter-writing into more of a creative outlet, this book on calligraphy is a great place to start.

PILOT Varsity Disposable Fountain Pens

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These pens offer the grace, elegance and tradition of fountain pens while still being affordable and manageable.

American Greetings Pastel Stationery

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This simple, lovely stationery will keep you motivated to use it to send letters to your loved ones.

Big Capacity Stationery Pen Pouch

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Staying organized with your supplies allows you clarity and calm as you write. This large capacity pen pouch will give you easy access to everything you need when it’s time to start a correspondence.

Purple Agate Note Cards and Envelopes

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These beautiful notecards will brighten the day of anyone who receives them.

Premium Gel Ink Ball Point Pen

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These smooth, high-quality gel pens will make writing a pleasure and a joy.

Marbrasse Wooden Desk Organizer

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This organizer can help to keep all your materials in order while helping to establish an organized space to do writing.

Mont Marte Calligraphy Set

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This starter kit can enable you to explore the creative aspects of writing, encouraging you to invest time and attention into writing in new ways.

9 Journal Prompts For Personal Reflection

Journaling regularly can be a hard practice to get into, even if you’ve journaled in the past and know you enjoy it. It can be daunting to get started, to know where to begin, especially when we are processing so many daily changes and stressors. It can be easy to let journalling fall by the wayside even with the best intentions; we can become too bogged down in our daily list of tasks, or subconsciously believe we have nothing to write about. If it’s been a while since you’ve journaled, maybe you’re hesitant at the concept of trying to get caught up.

It can be freeing to reevaluate the way we look at journaling; to realize we don’t have to serve any particular agenda. There are no rules about what you’re allowed to write about or how you’re supposed to write it; journaling doesn’t have to be chronological or linear, it doesn’t have to have a certain amount of depth or gravity to be important. Even if you’re just writing about your favorite meal, or a day trip you’ve been thinking about, or a song that’s been on your mind; journaling is there to meet you wherever your subconscious leads.

Journaling can be a powerful tool for self-care: it forces us to be fully present with ourselves, gives us a direct outlet to listen to our deeper conscious, and forces everything else to wait for a moment while we focus on what we need. Even if it’s just for 10 minutes, give yourself a chance to attend to some of the thoughts that usually move through your mind unnoticed. Sometimes all we need to help get us started is a small push, a bit of direction, a single question.

If you want to start journaling about yourself, your personal growth and experiences, here are a few questions to help get you started:

What’s one thing you’ve learned about yourself in the past year?

If you could have a conversation with yourself from 10 years ago, what would you tell them? What do you think they’d be proudest of you for?

Which quality of yours is the most important to you?

What’s one way you think you’re similar to yourself as a child and what’s one way you’ve changed?

What do you think your greatest weakness is? How has your approach towards managing it changed over time?

What are three words you would use to describe yourself? What are three words your favorite person in the world would use to describe you? How similar or different are these two sets of words, and why do you think that is?

What’s one thing about yourself that you wish other people would more easily recognize?

What’s the greatest lesson a role model taught you when you were young?

What’s one way you’ve grown or changed that surprises you?

Journaling is such a vital way for us to understand ourselves, our needs and perspectives on a clearer level. Take the opportunity today to spend a bit more time getting to know yourself today; self awareness always makes our journey easier.