Stationary Haul: My Go-To Writing Implements

Mar 9

Mar 9 Stationary Haul: My Go-To Writing Implements

I think in color. Concepts are easier for me if actors come in blue and effects are purple, math is better if the antiderivatives are pink (to contrast with their original expressions, in orange), and I change the ink color in my journal multiple times every day. I've amassed a considerable number of writing implements over the years, to the point where my desk at the end of every class is a jungle of highlighters, felt-tips, ballpoints, and the occasional pencil (perish the thought). Below are a few of my all-time favorite pieces of school supplies, for the benefit of your next boring Core Bio lecture:

Stabilo Fineliners: I will never get over these pens. Never. They are relatively expensive (my set of 20 was $25), but they last an entire year and make every single thing I write a thing of joy. I use them to differentiate cases and conjugations in Latin, theorems in calculus, and themes or running arguments in HUM and SOSC. They come in singles or by the dozen if you want to be even more extra than I am (which is saying something).

MUJI Ballpoint pens: A classic. Also slightly pricey, but similarly long-lasting, MUJI's simple, incredibly smooth-writing pens draw a finer line than Stabilo pens, making them perfect for annotating my puny handwriting or using every inch of a book's margin. They don't have as wide of a color range as Stabilo, but the ink's smoothness more than makes up for it. However, be warned that I have had several explode on me.

BAZIC Fiber Tip Pens: The most recent addition to my collection, courtesy of my wonderful roommate. A set of 24 has every color you could even think about wanting (three shades of yellow!), and the pens are more like highlighters, with a thick, even line that takes about 100 pages of annotation to fade (student-tested).

JetPens: As much as it's a cliche, these are the holy grail of pens. They combine vibrant color (including a yellow that's actually viable for use and a navy that I used as my only pen for a year) with incredible precision. Think along the lines of MUJI fineness, but more intense and durable. They're $2.50 a pop, or $30 for a set of 12 — so, birthday gift pens. The real question is, are you nerdy enough to ask for pens as a gift? I was.