I have an engineering book, fountain pen, Blackwing pencil (and small sharpener), ballpoint pen, ruler, sticky flags. I often have a book with me. Sometimes I have a pocket-size Auden poetry book. Occasionally I have a box of watercolors and watercolor paper.
That sounds so good, Zina! Sticky flags are essential for me too. I used to carry a notebook with Peanuts comic strips cut out from the daily newspaper and pasted onto the pages. Thanks for sharing! It would be great to see a picture if you have one!
Probably have to post it in a note! But yeah… would love to do the picture of all my stuff. I am actually packing for a trip to Indiana and trying to figure out what I can bring. I am a very light and tight packer. It is funny what “the essentials” say about each one of us and what we ultimately value.
Such a nice toolbox! It's great it grounds you. I definitely need my meds everywhere I go, but I also bring with me books and graphic novels to offset the meds and bring me to a zone of creativity.
Nadia, you said it: zone of creativity! Because I have some trouble leaving home, it moves me from a place of anxiety to a place of being creative (= joy making!)
My toolkit has my trusty journal, a fountain pen, some washi tape & stickers, and a tarot deck. I almost always carry my kindle with me, too. Sometimes, I carry an art journal and some inktense pencils, or a small sketchbook, a bunch of collage papers and glue.
Spooky, I was just thinking about this. We have some travelling lined up for next year. A couple of months of interrailing - I’ve been pondering bag choices. I reckon a notebook (I can buy another when that’s full), a couple of BlackWing pencils (plus small brass sharpener), iPad, fountain pen and cartridges, and a small pile of Encouragement Manifesto postcards for sharing contact details. Next month I have a small writing retreat planned … 135 kms cycling to get there so saddle bag packing. I reckon the same selection should fit in!
A friend of mine, Mike Coulter, put me on to the BlackWings. Apparently Steinbeck was a huge fan. “According to his son, John Steinbeck’s ritual was to begin every writing session by sharpening 24 Blackwing pencils and placing them in a pot. He would write with one until it began to dull, then place it in an identical empty pot and take another until he had worked through all 24. Then he would sharpen them all and begin the process over again.”
I get mine from Nicki and Abel at All Things Analogue in Eastbourne.
The writing retreat is literally me heading off on my bike … 135 kilometres to an Air BnB studio apartment on the French Atlantic coast; three nights, some pedalling, some scribbling … seafood … words … and 135 kilometres home to coincide with JoJo coming home from a creative retreat she’s attending in West Wales (with her sewing machine).
Thank you, Barrie, for sharing that Steinbeck story! It’s amazing how ritual is both safeguard and a way to create an opening. Your writing retreat sounds heavenly! I’d love to read about that experience!
I take books too though there’s something about traveling that opens the floodgates to my writing and other creative pursuits. I think I write more when I am traveling. Probably all the extra inspiration! Thanks, Jeanine!
A great toolkit and a lovely article, Priya. Boringly, I take my Kindle to read and headphones on those long-haul flights when I need to zone out. But these days, the main thing I take with me is the desire to return home.
That’s a really interesting idea, Priya. I’ve never really thought of physical objects I bring with me to comfort me.
I mean, my skateboard definitely acts as a release when I go use it, but I don’t like bring it with me if I’m going somewhere that might be challenging.
But now that you’ve made me think about it, I feel like I I should have something.
Michael, I don’t know if I’ll always need one. After I finished writing, I noticed that something felt different- a kind of healing, if you will- that I’d be okay even if I didn’t have this toolkit with me. That’s fascinating to me. Thank you for reading!
I have an engineering book, fountain pen, Blackwing pencil (and small sharpener), ballpoint pen, ruler, sticky flags. I often have a book with me. Sometimes I have a pocket-size Auden poetry book. Occasionally I have a box of watercolors and watercolor paper.
That sounds so good, Zina! Sticky flags are essential for me too. I used to carry a notebook with Peanuts comic strips cut out from the daily newspaper and pasted onto the pages. Thanks for sharing! It would be great to see a picture if you have one!
Probably have to post it in a note! But yeah… would love to do the picture of all my stuff. I am actually packing for a trip to Indiana and trying to figure out what I can bring. I am a very light and tight packer. It is funny what “the essentials” say about each one of us and what we ultimately value.
It would be great to see all of this lined up, Zina! Tag me when you share and I will line my essentials up and take a picture too!
Such a nice toolbox! It's great it grounds you. I definitely need my meds everywhere I go, but I also bring with me books and graphic novels to offset the meds and bring me to a zone of creativity.
I also understood this question literally lol. It's possible it was more figurative?
This one was literal though I guess with all of these questions, the literal points to the figurative too. Thanks, Nadia!
Nadia, you said it: zone of creativity! Because I have some trouble leaving home, it moves me from a place of anxiety to a place of being creative (= joy making!)
Yesssssssss! We need something to offset the stress and practicality of life and make it more fun and imaginative.
I have a notebook and a specific rollerball black in pen in medium.
But I really like your toolkit. I may steal that idea!
Of course! For me, it’s home in a bag, and can I go in hide and rejuvenate myself when I am away from home. Thank you, Kim!
My toolkit has my trusty journal, a fountain pen, some washi tape & stickers, and a tarot deck. I almost always carry my kindle with me, too. Sometimes, I carry an art journal and some inktense pencils, or a small sketchbook, a bunch of collage papers and glue.
That sounds great, Shinjini! I like the tarot deck addition because it brings in more space-holding potential. Thanks for sharing!
Yep, that it does!
Spooky, I was just thinking about this. We have some travelling lined up for next year. A couple of months of interrailing - I’ve been pondering bag choices. I reckon a notebook (I can buy another when that’s full), a couple of BlackWing pencils (plus small brass sharpener), iPad, fountain pen and cartridges, and a small pile of Encouragement Manifesto postcards for sharing contact details. Next month I have a small writing retreat planned … 135 kms cycling to get there so saddle bag packing. I reckon the same selection should fit in!
The writing tools represent home and myself, and carrying both with care as I go out into the world.
I am really curious about BlackWing pencils now. I haven’t heard of them. Are you hosting the writing retreat? Thanks, Barrie!
A friend of mine, Mike Coulter, put me on to the BlackWings. Apparently Steinbeck was a huge fan. “According to his son, John Steinbeck’s ritual was to begin every writing session by sharpening 24 Blackwing pencils and placing them in a pot. He would write with one until it began to dull, then place it in an identical empty pot and take another until he had worked through all 24. Then he would sharpen them all and begin the process over again.”
I get mine from Nicki and Abel at All Things Analogue in Eastbourne.
https://www.mrsblackwell.com/journal/blackwingpencils
The writing retreat is literally me heading off on my bike … 135 kilometres to an Air BnB studio apartment on the French Atlantic coast; three nights, some pedalling, some scribbling … seafood … words … and 135 kilometres home to coincide with JoJo coming home from a creative retreat she’s attending in West Wales (with her sewing machine).
Thank you, Barrie, for sharing that Steinbeck story! It’s amazing how ritual is both safeguard and a way to create an opening. Your writing retreat sounds heavenly! I’d love to read about that experience!
I shall be sure to write some reflections. Thank you for the encouragement 💛✍️💛
I love your tool kit, Priya! And the names of the colors, fascinating! I still take books w/ me wherever I go--old habits die hard.
I take books too though there’s something about traveling that opens the floodgates to my writing and other creative pursuits. I think I write more when I am traveling. Probably all the extra inspiration! Thanks, Jeanine!
My notebook and black pen, taking a few minutes to doodle or jot down thoughts helps me feel grounded and calm.
Headphones and calming music for long flights.
I like your toolkit, Priya.
Thanks, Tinashe! Your toolkit sounds great and I agree, it’s very grounding to have physical pen and paper!
A great toolkit and a lovely article, Priya. Boringly, I take my Kindle to read and headphones on those long-haul flights when I need to zone out. But these days, the main thing I take with me is the desire to return home.
I can relate to that desire to return home, Jeffrey. The cloth bag with the pens and notebook is how I carry home with me. Thank you!
That’s a really interesting idea, Priya. I’ve never really thought of physical objects I bring with me to comfort me.
I mean, my skateboard definitely acts as a release when I go use it, but I don’t like bring it with me if I’m going somewhere that might be challenging.
But now that you’ve made me think about it, I feel like I I should have something.
Thanks for the thought-provoking piece. :)
Michael, I don’t know if I’ll always need one. After I finished writing, I noticed that something felt different- a kind of healing, if you will- that I’d be okay even if I didn’t have this toolkit with me. That’s fascinating to me. Thank you for reading!
That is super interesting. It’s amazing how healing writing can be!
I never leave without a journal, favorite sketching pens, and sometimes teeny tiny watercolors. Total comfort!
Watercolors are totally aspirational for me! I love the idea of whipping them out and capturing a scene from my travels. Thanks for sharing, Megan!