I Remember September ... Back to School Supplies

By the time I was in high school, I knew what I needed for Back to School supplies. First, I had to have an assignement book. I preferred the Day Runner At-A-Glance Weekly Planners. Each day I would write the homework I needed to do, with a check-off box next to it. Pens I got from my dad, a doctor who had a seemingly never-ending stream of pens, pencils, and mini-notebooks from drug companies. I would get a couple of binders, and then my notebooks. Somewhere along the way I settled on the Mead 5-Star 3 Subject College Ruled with 150 perforated pages. Perforated because these were the days when you frequently needed to write something in class and then turn it in, and it couldn't have those little fringies from the spiral notebook attached. I chose three subject notebooks even though I had a different notebook for each subject because of the pockets: three subjects meant six pockets in which I could tuck things.

As a writer, I mostly compose on my computer, but I still keep a notebook for each project. Some of my writing friends can be very particular and will choose just the right notebook for each project. I have tried that. For example, I purchased this really cute robot notebook for a project I'm working on.

Did I mention it was hot and humid here today?

But I abandoned it midway through for a good old-fashioned school notebook. It seems I always come back to the three subject, college ruled with perforated pages, and it's because I still need those pockets. I have gotten better at taping things into my notebooks -- research, notes to self, that sort of thing. But there are some papers that I need easy access to, such as maps and timelines. For those, I like to be able to just slip them into a folder.

It's a little sad because I do love nice stationery and writing supplies. Have I caressed Moleskine journals in the store? Yes I have. But I guess writer's notebooks are just like everything else: you have to find what works for you. I would love to hear about the notebooks and supplies that other writers use. Favorite type of paper? Best pen? Please share in the comments.