Back to school season is one of my favorite times of year. I have lots of fond memories of walking up and down the displays with my parents and my younger brother, piling in the school supplies while we chatted about how we wanted the school year to go.
Now that I’m older, the sight of half a dozen school supplies aisles still excites me, but not because I’m getting ready for college (been there) or my own child starting school (not doing that).
It’s because I’m a writer, and I know this is the best time for stocking up on writing supplies! And because most of the schools around me have already begun, I can shop with peace of mind, knowing that most of those who need the supplies the most have already taken advantage of the sales. Now it’s the writers’ turns!
We asked our online community what supplies they love to stock up on, and here’s how they responded…
Natasha Oliver said:
Pens. There is no such thing as too many.
Notebooks with cool and inspiring covers. Textures matter.
Highlighters. Ones that smell are preferable.
I think pretty much every writer can agree that there is no such thing as too many pens!
Highlighters are one of the supplies writers don’t realize they need until they’re digging through a junk drawer and cursing the single dried-out, too chunky highlighter for not doing its job. Or maybe that’s just me…
Anne Shedden-Willis said:
A perfectly [sharpened] pencil. The best are souvenir pencils I’ve bought while traveling.
Love the idea of using souvenir pencils—it makes writing even more special!
Nancy Loughlin said:
I love the big lined post-it pads. Perfect for jotting down notes and making lists.
I didn’t used to use sticky notes, but ever since I got into bullet journaling, my eyes have been opened to how useful they can be. Especially now that I’m editing one of my old projects—trying to squeeze long notes in the margins is not the way to go!
Racquel Henry said:
I stock up on notebooks! I like a good old-fashioned spiral notebook (college-ruled, preferably pink) for my novels. Every project gets assigned a notebook and that’s where I put all the revision notes and research. During back-to-school they’re usually around $0.50!
Sticking to a theme or color coding your projects truly elevates the experience.
And, finally, here’s my response:
I buy the cheap (like, under $2) pack of PaperMate The Write Bros. ballpoint pens in black. I use them both for bullet journaling and for drafting at my day job in cheap spiral-bound notebooks. I recommend getting the Pilot Frixion erasable pens and highlighters when they’re on sale, too. Pencil erasers and I don’t get along, but for whatever reason, I find erasing with the Frixions much easier. I do a lot of brainstorming and plotting on paper, and they do that job perfectly! I also write with them on my Rocketbook erasable index cards, which I’m using now to help me figure out how to rearrange scenes in a project I’m reviving.
But you know what I very nearly forgot to stock up on this year? Good editing pens that don’t bleed through paper! It just goes to show you that making a list is everything, just like when kids go back to school shopping!
