I think it's wonderful that besides being a serious, published author, you also have a real love for the physical tools of your craft. I really enjoy your videos. At some point, I'd very much like to hear of the creative process you go through. Often, I find that to be the most fascinating aspect of an artist, perhaps even more than the actual 'piece' itself.
Yes, I saw that a little while after filming - deeply irritating. I should have checked first - it would have been much more professional. Still, at least now I know! Thanks, Fyfe!
Binge watching your videos the last few days since I found you on a search for what my husband calls “pen porn” in my fountain pen obsession ...I may end up on Patreon. Love the space you are in, reminds me of my own...and feeling inspired to write the book I have felt from within for a long time. Completely enjoying every minute of what you share...thank you from New Hampshire USA
Hi, Anji, and many thanks for the comments. Please apologise to your husband for me taking up your time! It's always good to meet other obsessives, isn't it? Best of luck with the writing, by the way. That's another addictive pursuit!
I’ve got all of these books in my collection. Awesome books. Tomoe River paper will always be the best out there. I do now prefer the 68gsm Tomoe River though. That extra weight makes it even better. BUT, then I love that ‘crinkly’ feeling of the 52 gsm TR paper. lol. Brilliant! I hope your tour went well Michael. It’s also brilliant to find an author I knew nothing about and is also in the UK. I’m in Notts. and like you have to buy most of my gear from the USA sometimes.
Yes, I adore the 68 gsm paper. I used that for all my ink tests, and it was just wonderful to write on. However, the 52 definitely appeals for notepads too. I don't care about a little shadowing, and the paper is so smooth to write on, and means I can have so much more paper per pad. It's enormously practical - ideal for me!
I love my notebooks from Nanami Paper.. I have the A5 dot and A6 with grid (this one is my ink journal) - looking a B6 either blank or lined.. oh and LOVE that they pack in the number of pages. The A5 is my daily journal and while I only write about a paragraph per day - still thoroughly enjoy it with my fountain pens.
That Cafe Note was lovely. And yes, thanks for the comment. For some reason I had it fixed in my head that Nanami used their own paper, but I have been corrected!
Nanami use Tomoe River paper. I think Hobonichi do too. Seven Seas' website explain it all. They make the Nanami notepads. But, (That's an Oxford but ;)) the prices! It makes me feels suitably spendthrift as I only use Clairefontaine and Oxford Notebooks. As I have said elsewhere, the Oxford Notebooks use Optik paper, which is superb. Thanks for another great video. Midori next time?
Thanks, Paul - it went really well, and was thoroughly enjoyable (if tiring). Back in the saddle again now, and getting ready for a week's hard writing!
I have used only Paper for Fountain Pen notebooks for almost two years now, and I won’t stop. They are my favorite because they are hardback, one color, and don’t have a logo. That is the simpleness I love in a notebook. I take one everyday to school and I have taken them across country and continent and even in a canoeing trip and had them in a dry sack! It held up perfectly. And of course they have Tomoe River paper, which needs no explaining. I can not recommend those notebooks enough! I love your videos series!
Thanks so much, Michael. I can see exactly why you like them so much. I can imagine I'll be buying more of these before long. I love the format too - and I can always make my own logo for the front!
Michael Engstrom i have used them too. But I haven’t been able to ordered from their website since 2018. I need to order again and can’t seem to find how to order these lovely paper for fountain pens notebooks.
As all others will tell you, Nanami uses Tomoe River paper as well... So the paper is the same, only the grid/lines/blanc and white/ivory and size and cover are different
Many thanks, Lourens - and yes, two days after recording this film, a friend wrote to tell me that the Nanami books use Tomoe River - it was just too late for me to be able to add a comment, irritatingly! Thanks for the. comment!
@@writerlywitterings fun fact, we had a branch in Holland of the manufacturer, but i do not think the fountain pen interest in this paper was anything like it is now. It was mainly toner back then. www.tomoegawa.nl/history/
I am trying to find out about the Rhodia"R" Premium Stapled Notepad, it does not say anythign on the pad itself, but i am trying to determine if it is acid free. Would you know this. the rhodia page also says nothing on this
I'm afraid the honest answer is, I don't! They were sent to me by a very generous viewer of this channel, who had a number of notepads and wanted me to test them! I think if you want them, it should be easy to find them on the internet, though.
Ah, depends on the use, though. A Midori is by far the better of the two for carrying in a pocket. Lighter, fits into most pockets; the Leuchtturm is better when there's a table to hand, in my opinion. I prefer the wider format for writing more extensive notes or characterisation. And I've covered them in the latest video! Thanks for the comment!
@@writerlywitterings I have Midori A5 notebook , not a travelers notebook .Midori paper is more fountain pen friendly , while leuchturm paper quality is inconsistant .
I like how the writing feels on Tomoe River paper but I will always go back to Rhodia because TR is so thin that I can't use the backside of the pages due to all the shadowing (I don't like the look). Doesn't that bother you when using notebooks with such thin pages?
To be honest, no it doesn't. The reason is, I think, that the TR paper, when I have written on both sides, doesn't show through too much to my eye. What I mean is, if I've written on one side and turn over, yes, I can see all the shadowing coming through. However as soon as I start to write, it just sort of fades away and the fresh writing shows up clearly. And then, of course, the benefits of the thinner notebooks, more paper etc just mean it's a far better notepad (for me) than Rhodia. Thanks for the comment, though, Hendrik. It's really helpful to get different perspectives!
@@writerlywitterings Thanks for telling your perspective! I will give it a try and see if I can get used to writing on both sides of thin sheets after all.
Hi, Allison, This is an interesting one. I've tried to find someone selling in the UK, but couldn't. I contacted Nanami in the US, and "Dave" helpfully replied that he doesn't have any UK suppliers, but that he'd be interested in dealing with one. Let's see whether we can find a firm here willing to import and sell. Sorry I can't be more help. Mike
That is Noodlers Baystate Blue. A really violently bright ink! I am told that many water it down a little, because it is a very highly saturated ink in the raw state! Also, be aware it goes through paper like a bullet. You need special paper to cope with it!
Every-time I want to try a Noodlers ink I find one or the other is problematic. Did more research, Baystate blue is a beautiful bright blue but “radioactive”. Now I understand why you use a Twsibi Go and not your besutiful Homo-Sapian :)
Hmm - no, I don't, but I could record it. Trouble is, it's quite a long one, so I may have to look at hard editing. I'll have a think about that, Shaif. Thanks for the query!
I have the same problem, my penmanship has been the bane of my existence my entire life, since my earliest days in school. I nearly flunked it in grammar school, and my dad made me practice for hours every night, to no avail whatsoever. I'm now 55 years old and it's no better. I've tried courses, self-teaching books, CZcams etc. Nothing helps. What I wouldn't give for handwriting like Michael's.
I don't honestly think that there is much I can do to help on writing, Xantic, much though I'd like to. The thing is, to find a style that you like. That could be a specific angle for each letter, a specific type-set (how you produce an "f", say, or how far above the line you go with "t" compared with an "h". I will put my mind to it, but I'm not sure it's something I can help with - it really comes down to practice. That and a nice fountain pen - I do find people think writing with a fountain pen looks just so much better than when writing with a ball-point.
I really don't think my writing is very good. My mother had a beautiful copperplate handwriting that was regular and precise, but mine wavers in angles and character sizes far too much. I'm five years older than you, Mark, but I think that the only thing that makes my writing look moderately acceptable is the way that I use fountain pens or pencils. They are much more forgiving on the eye than ball pens. I'll see if I can come up with some ideas, but don't hold your breath!
@@writerlywitterings Don't sell yourself short, I've seen other commenters that agree with me that your handwriting is quite pleasant to read and to watch you do it. If it were textbook perfect I wouldn't like it as much (I'm the guy who also likes your unedited videos with all the organic mistakes included, so, there's that). I've been using fountain pens of all types for just over a year so maybe there's hope. Once in a while things seem to converge and I get a few words laid down that look pleasant, but rarely in script.
I often forget the "e" too! Hmm. I love Moleskine for their looks, for the back pocket, and for their history. But as something to us ... bloody awful. I tend to use fountain pens, and I have never found a pen with a thin enough nib and slow enough flow of ink to be able to use the things. For pencil or ball-point (although not, I've found, roller ball), they work, but when I use any of my pens I have always had feathering, bleed-through and every kind of problem between. It's really disappointing. In fact, I even went so far to buy a "sketch book" Moleskine because I was sure that they would be better - but it's clearly designed for pencil only, because there's a coating on the paper that prevented my using watercolours! Absolutely no idea who thought that paper of high weight (it must be 120-140gsm) shouldn't be used for watercolour sketching! So, in short, thoroughly disappointing notepads for me, which is part of the reason why I started looking at other manufacturers and testing their samples!
writerlywitterings thanks for your thoughtful reply especially in light of the fact I’ve just found your review of moleskines;) I agree with your assessment;)
Hi, Anthony, Well, I've had a few people ask that, but it's a very different style and approach, making videos to teach/instruct, rather than just reviewing. I may well see if I can think up some method, because you aren't the first to mention it, but I can't afford to spend too long on the videos - they aren't my day job! Watch this space! Cheers
The naname notebooks are truly wonderful. I’ve had a similar reaction to my own. Also, the pink paper is blotting paper! :D it’s so handy.
Yes, I was informed about the blotting paper shortly before the film went live. It's always a case of timing, isn't it! Thanks, Adventure!
I think it's wonderful that besides being a serious, published author, you also have a real love for the physical tools of your craft. I really enjoy your videos. At some point, I'd very much like to hear of the creative process you go through. Often, I find that to be the most fascinating aspect of an artist, perhaps even more than the actual 'piece' itself.
Thanks for the commment, Sicilian. It's an interesting idea - I'll see what I can do!
The pink sheet that comes in the Namani box is blotting paper, I believe. Nice video.
Yes, I saw that a little while after filming - deeply irritating. I should have checked first - it would have been much more professional. Still, at least now I know! Thanks, Fyfe!
Binge watching your videos the last few days since I found you on a search for what my husband calls “pen porn” in my fountain pen obsession ...I may end up on Patreon. Love the space you are in, reminds me of my own...and feeling inspired to write the book I have felt from within for a long time. Completely enjoying every minute of what you share...thank you from New Hampshire USA
Hi, Anji, and many thanks for the comments. Please apologise to your husband for me taking up your time! It's always good to meet other obsessives, isn't it? Best of luck with the writing, by the way. That's another addictive pursuit!
I’ve got all of these books in my collection. Awesome books. Tomoe River paper will always be the best out there. I do now prefer the 68gsm Tomoe River though. That extra weight makes it even better. BUT, then I love that ‘crinkly’ feeling of the 52 gsm TR paper. lol. Brilliant! I hope your tour went well Michael. It’s also brilliant to find an author I knew nothing about and is also in the UK. I’m in Notts. and like you have to buy most of my gear from the USA sometimes.
Yes, I adore the 68 gsm paper. I used that for all my ink tests, and it was just wonderful to write on. However, the 52 definitely appeals for notepads too. I don't care about a little shadowing, and the paper is so smooth to write on, and means I can have so much more paper per pad. It's enormously practical - ideal for me!
Awesome video - i will be ordering all three pads
Good choice!
I love my notebooks from Nanami Paper.. I have the A5 dot and A6 with grid (this one is my ink journal) - looking a B6 either blank or lined.. oh and LOVE that they pack in the number of pages. The A5 is my daily journal and while I only write about a paragraph per day - still thoroughly enjoy it with my fountain pens.
I may well be tempted to the Nanami books, away from my Leuchtturms. A Nanami with dot grid would be about the most perfect notepad imaginable!
Thanks to this video I will be purchasing a Nanami notebook!
Good choice! They are really good notebooks. I really hope you like it!
Nanami uses the very same 52 gsm tomoe river paper. No difference. Just fyi. I love the cafe note!!
That Cafe Note was lovely. And yes, thanks for the comment. For some reason I had it fixed in my head that Nanami used their own paper, but I have been corrected!
Nanami use Tomoe River paper. I think Hobonichi do too. Seven Seas' website explain it all. They make the Nanami notepads.
But, (That's an Oxford but ;)) the prices! It makes me feels suitably spendthrift as I only use Clairefontaine and Oxford Notebooks. As I have said elsewhere, the Oxford Notebooks use Optik paper, which is superb.
Thanks for another great video.
Midori next time?
I think I've already done a Midori or two - if not, definitely Midori soon!
A lovely choice to have, I think you will have gone for the hard back? Hope your week is going well!
Thanks, Paul - it went really well, and was thoroughly enjoyable (if tiring). Back in the saddle again now, and getting ready for a week's hard writing!
I have used only Paper for Fountain Pen notebooks for almost two years now, and I won’t stop. They are my favorite because they are hardback, one color, and don’t have a logo. That is the simpleness I love in a notebook. I take one everyday to school and I have taken them across country and continent and even in a canoeing trip and had them in a dry sack! It held up perfectly. And of course they have Tomoe River paper, which needs no explaining. I can not recommend those notebooks enough! I love your videos series!
Thanks so much, Michael. I can see exactly why you like them so much. I can imagine I'll be buying more of these before long. I love the format too - and I can always make my own logo for the front!
Michael Engstrom i have used them too. But I haven’t been able to ordered from their website since 2018. I need to order again and can’t seem to find how to order these lovely paper for fountain pens notebooks.
As all others will tell you, Nanami uses Tomoe River paper as well... So the paper is the same, only the grid/lines/blanc and white/ivory and size and cover are different
Many thanks, Lourens - and yes, two days after recording this film, a friend wrote to tell me that the Nanami books use Tomoe River - it was just too late for me to be able to add a comment, irritatingly! Thanks for the. comment!
@@writerlywitterings fun fact, we had a branch in Holland of the manufacturer, but i do not think the fountain pen interest in this paper was anything like it is now. It was mainly toner back then. www.tomoegawa.nl/history/
@@LourensRolograaf That was fun to read all the history of the tomoegawa company and tomoe river paper - thanks for the link!
I am trying to find out about the Rhodia"R" Premium Stapled Notepad, it does not say anythign on the pad itself, but i am trying to determine if it is acid free. Would you know this. the rhodia page also says nothing on this
Ah - I don't know. I'll check.
Thanks for the great content! Where do you procure your Nanami notebooks?
I'm afraid the honest answer is, I don't! They were sent to me by a very generous viewer of this channel, who had a number of notepads and wanted me to test them! I think if you want them, it should be easy to find them on the internet, though.
Midori >leuchturm
Ah, depends on the use, though. A Midori is by far the better of the two for carrying in a pocket. Lighter, fits into most pockets; the Leuchtturm is better when there's a table to hand, in my opinion. I prefer the wider format for writing more extensive notes or characterisation. And I've covered them in the latest video! Thanks for the comment!
@@writerlywitterings I have Midori A5 notebook , not a travelers notebook .Midori paper is more fountain pen friendly , while leuchturm paper quality is inconsistant .
I like how the writing feels on Tomoe River paper but I will always go back to Rhodia because TR is so thin that I can't use the backside of the pages due to all the shadowing (I don't like the look).
Doesn't that bother you when using notebooks with such thin pages?
To be honest, no it doesn't. The reason is, I think, that the TR paper, when I have written on both sides, doesn't show through too much to my eye. What I mean is, if I've written on one side and turn over, yes, I can see all the shadowing coming through. However as soon as I start to write, it just sort of fades away and the fresh writing shows up clearly. And then, of course, the benefits of the thinner notebooks, more paper etc just mean it's a far better notepad (for me) than Rhodia. Thanks for the comment, though, Hendrik. It's really helpful to get different perspectives!
@@writerlywitterings Thanks for telling your perspective! I will give it a try and see if I can get used to writing on both sides of thin sheets after all.
I wish you luck.
Many thanks, Gristle!
Hi Writerlywitterings, where can I buy Nanami Cafe Notes B6 Slim 176 x 110 and any supplementary notebooks/inserts,please, I’m in the UK. With thanks
Hi, Allison,
This is an interesting one. I've tried to find someone selling in the UK, but couldn't. I contacted Nanami in the US, and "Dave" helpfully replied that he doesn't have any UK suppliers, but that he'd be interested in dealing with one. Let's see whether we can find a firm here willing to import and sell.
Sorry I can't be more help.
Mike
writerlywitterings Hi Mike, I am so sorry I missed your reply - thank you for making the enquiry, it’s much appreciated.
Not sure if I missed it but what is the name of this bright blue ink ?
Thank you
That is Noodlers Baystate Blue. A really violently bright ink! I am told that many water it down a little, because it is a very highly saturated ink in the raw state! Also, be aware it goes through paper like a bullet. You need special paper to cope with it!
Every-time I want to try a Noodlers ink I find one or the other is problematic. Did more research, Baystate blue is a beautiful bright blue but “radioactive”. Now I understand why you use a Twsibi Go and not your besutiful Homo-Sapian :)
Do you have any video's about your agatha christie talks?
Shaif N that would be marvelous. She’s my favorite author.
Hmm - no, I don't, but I could record it. Trouble is, it's quite a long one, so I may have to look at hard editing. I'll have a think about that, Shaif. Thanks for the query!
Okay, Adventure - I'll see what I can do!
PLEASE DO A WRITING TUTORIAL, MY WRITING, VERY AWFEL, SO MY TEACHERS GET VERY ANGRY FOR MY POOR WORK PRESENTATION.
I have the same problem, my penmanship has been the bane of my existence my entire life, since my earliest days in school. I nearly flunked it in grammar school, and my dad made me practice for hours every night, to no avail whatsoever. I'm now 55 years old and it's no better. I've tried courses, self-teaching books, CZcams etc. Nothing helps. What I wouldn't give for handwriting like Michael's.
I don't honestly think that there is much I can do to help on writing, Xantic, much though I'd like to. The thing is, to find a style that you like. That could be a specific angle for each letter, a specific type-set (how you produce an "f", say, or how far above the line you go with "t" compared with an "h". I will put my mind to it, but I'm not sure it's something I can help with - it really comes down to practice. That and a nice fountain pen - I do find people think writing with a fountain pen looks just so much better than when writing with a ball-point.
@@marka.200 YES, MY WRITING IS STILL MY BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT. FUNNY I WOULD SAY THAT.
I really don't think my writing is very good. My mother had a beautiful copperplate handwriting that was regular and precise, but mine wavers in angles and character sizes far too much. I'm five years older than you, Mark, but I think that the only thing that makes my writing look moderately acceptable is the way that I use fountain pens or pencils. They are much more forgiving on the eye than ball pens. I'll see if I can come up with some ideas, but don't hold your breath!
@@writerlywitterings Don't sell yourself short, I've seen other commenters that agree with me that your handwriting is quite pleasant to read and to watch you do it. If it were textbook perfect I wouldn't like it as much (I'm the guy who also likes your unedited videos with all the organic mistakes included, so, there's that).
I've been using fountain pens of all types for just over a year so maybe there's hope. Once in a while things seem to converge and I get a few words laid down that look pleasant, but rarely in script.
What are your thoughts on moleskin notebooks?
Whoops! Forgot the “e” on the end...
I often forget the "e" too! Hmm. I love Moleskine for their looks, for the back pocket, and for their history. But as something to us ... bloody awful. I tend to use fountain pens, and I have never found a pen with a thin enough nib and slow enough flow of ink to be able to use the things. For pencil or ball-point (although not, I've found, roller ball), they work, but when I use any of my pens I have always had feathering, bleed-through and every kind of problem between. It's really disappointing. In fact, I even went so far to buy a "sketch book" Moleskine because I was sure that they would be better - but it's clearly designed for pencil only, because there's a coating on the paper that prevented my using watercolours! Absolutely no idea who thought that paper of high weight (it must be 120-140gsm) shouldn't be used for watercolour sketching! So, in short, thoroughly disappointing notepads for me, which is part of the reason why I started looking at other manufacturers and testing their samples!
writerlywitterings thanks for your thoughtful reply especially in light of the fact I’ve just found your review of moleskines;) I agree with your assessment;)
leuchtturm1917 next?
I think I had better. They are the pads I use every day still. It would make sense to test them against the Nanami notebooks, wouldn't it?
Enjoy your videos. Why don't you take it to another level and teach us how to write. Not the novel, but writing in general. It's becoming a lost art.
Hi, Anthony,
Well, I've had a few people ask that, but it's a very different style and approach, making videos to teach/instruct, rather than just reviewing. I may well see if I can think up some method, because you aren't the first to mention it, but I can't afford to spend too long on the videos - they aren't my day job!
Watch this space!
Cheers
Why are you showing us, always, to dring something? It will be better to drink it on your resting time!
Because I am a keen tea drinker and talk about tea and coffee too.