Handwritten newsletter | Think Clearly

This is so neat (and an idea I have had kicking around for a bit). Signed up on the spot.

But wait, there’s more…

I took the time to peruse the site and found that this is part of a methodology and course offering that is described as the following:

Think Clearly is a creative practice for connecting with your purpose, hatching your visions and making them come true. It all begins with pen and paper.

Yep, I’ll be spending some time with this as well.

(via Swiss Miss)

My Pacific Crest Trail Moleskine Journals | The Hike Guy

I was laid off from my job of six years and decided to hike as much as I could of the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). The journey started at the Mexican border near Campo, California, headed north through the harsh deserts of eastern California, into the wilds of the Sierra Nevada, and through the thick forests of Northern California. 159 days later, my life-changing journey came to an end in early October after hiking nearly 1,700 miles of the trail. I came home with a strong appreciation for life and nature, a thinner waistline, and over 850 pages of journals! Before sharing any of the stories, videos, or thousands of photos I took on the journey, I’d like to share that which is most precious to me: my journals.

The image above is just one of many. This whole post will strike you with wanderlust and the desire to pack up a pen and paper and hit the nearest trail.

Shuffling cards to think | 52 Tiger

Many writers and creative types have little habits they engage in when they need to think. Some shoot hoops, others go for a walk and so on. I shuffle cards. I keep five decks of cards at my desk for this sole purpose. Whenever I’m thinking through an article or a tricky passage, or I simply need to come up with something to write about, I’ll shuffle my cards.

I used to keep a yo-yo around for the very reason but stopped the habit a long time ago for some reason. Think it is time to pick it back up.

A Reflection on One Year of Daily Journaling – The Newsprint

What matters is that it has changed my life. Recording, recognizing, and signifying important events in the past year has improved my memory and my realism. Pushing the tidal waves of thought and emotion through the nib and onto paper has created a metaphorical bottleneck — my recorded thoughts now have structure, my daily doings now have amplified importance.

Another beautiful essay with stunning photos from Josh.

The Paper Method — The Brooks Review

What I’ve found after switching is that I can take notes faster by hand, quieter by hand, and I actually do remember my notes better (requiring me not to need to reference my notes as often), all while not losing my focus.

Young Master Brooks has found his way to us. Welcome, Ben.

3 x 5 Card Envelopes – Levenger

I’ve been using these for a few years to dash off a quick handwritten note to friends and family.I usually keep a few, with some 3×5 cards and a book of stamps, in the front flap pocket of the Hobonichi Techo cover I use. If I’m going through the day and a distant friend enters my mind, it is not unusual for me to jot a quick hello and send it off the next time I pass a post. (Which I just did this morning so I thought I’d share.)

The Last of the Typewriter Men — Backchannel — Medium

“Computers are being updated all the time,” he said, rolling his eyes at a PC laptop his son keeps in the corner. “Your computer becomes obsolete in a very short amount of time. It’s slow. It doesn’t have enough memory. A new model comes out. A printer won’t work with it anymore. That Underwood over there”?—?he points at a gleaming, black machine fit for James Joyce?—?“it’s 100 years old. What computer is going to last 100 years?”

What we believe in.

Custom Sketchnote Moleskine Re-Run Questionnaire

I have one of these, a gift from Mike Rohde after I begged him for one, and it’s great! Mike is trying to get enough interest to convince Moleskine to do another a limited run. Check them out and cast a vote if you like what you see.

The Right Kind of Friction – FIELD TRIPS by TOM BIHNFIELD TRIPS by TOM BIHN

When was the last time what you stared at a blank sheet of paper with nothing but a pen in your hand? No Google. No Wikipedia. Just you and the thoughts in your head. For me, it had been years. It was embarrassingly hard at first, but once the ideas started flowing, it felt great. It forced my brain to pull its weight rather than just riding along on the automation and web search train.

Would have missed this guest post by Doug Lane if my friend Jason Remus had not tipped me off to it. Great stuff.

Pilot Vanishing Point – The Newsprint

No use quoting a single bit since no word or photo is to be missed. Stunning work. I have a Vanishing Point and agree with every word.