Paw Prints — Review

Holidays are always a mixed blessing for me as a writer. In many ways, time away from writing or editing is a bonus as my brain gets to switch off. That sounds exactly what a holiday should do, right? So, what’s the downside? The downside is that once my brain gets to relax in such amazing scenery, it also gets creative. Too creative, usually, as nine times out of ten I’ll come up with a plot for another book! As a consequence, I need a notebook on me at all times! And, given the weather we had, one that will withstand the rain and cope with being chucked around in a backpack.

Enter the Rite in the Rain notebook, and The Alwych, both of which I road-tested (almost to death, but not destruction!) on holiday.

I love a good pencil, me. Emphasis is on good though. Scratchy pencils - you know, those ones that seem to have a grain of sand in them as you write - well, they can take a running jump, frankly. But a pencil that writes smoothly, has a decent darkness to the line yet holds its point over many lines of writing...? Well, that's every pencil-lover's dream, isn't it?

Let me give you a flavour of 9 different pencils and what they're good for. Some of them are definitely writing pencils. Some of them are softer and at a push, could be used for sketching or doodling.

“Inspired by the vanishing sub genre of agricultural memo books, ornate pocket ledgers, and the simple, unassuming beauty of a well-crafted grocery list, the Draplin Design Co., Portland, Ore. - in conjunction with Coudal Partners, Chicago, Ill. - brings you “Field Notes” in hopes of offering “An honest memo book worth fillin’ up with GOOD INFORMATION.”48 pages. Militantly imperial (3-1/2 by 5-1/2 inches). Card-stock cover. OK paper.As someone who is fond of a notebook, Field Notes are, in the most objective terms, OK. The paper is generally, well, ...OK. The covers are ...fine. Take a fountain pen to them, and...

Dapper Notes pocket notebooks are made by hand. From scratch. One by one. They have 48 pages, and the cover is made from two layers - a good looking fabric on the outside, backed by book cloth inside. There's an end-paper that's always divine and they are sewn, not stapled, using wax-coated linen thread.

"These durable notebooks will last a lifetime to hold and tell your story inside."

Where can you get your hands on them? Nero's Notes, of course!