In which I worry about the most pointless things I own.

So, I was hoping that I’d have a thing to briefly mention this week, but I don’t, so that’ll have to be mentioned when it’s mentioned. Something needs to happen before I can talk about it properly. Well, I can talk about it but I’m going to choose not to until this thing happens. And all of that makes it sound like a massive deal, when it’s really not the BIGGEST news ever but it’s exciting for me so… Wait and see. (I bet it’ll happen within about half an hour of me posting this blog. Bah.)

So, on… Tuesday? Yesterday, on Twitter, one of my followers asked me how many pens I have. So I went through the whole “do you mean fountain pens or everything?” Everything apparently. So, out came my six or so pen cups, my six or so pencil cases and a couple of binder pouches stuffed with pens I’d stacked on a World of Warcraft Monopoly box by my desk. (Side note: what’s better than World of Warcraft Monopoly? Free World of Warcraft Monopoly! Ahem.)

I went through every pen storage device thing that I own and I wrote down every pen. Except refills for pens, pencils, mechanical pencils, highlighters and felt tip pens.Or multi-pens actually, ’cause I wasn’t sure whether to count those are one or four (each of my four multi-pens has four ‘cartridges’ in is, thus four pens? I don’t know.) Anyway. I have eight A4 sheets here with every pen written on a new line.

So, I counted all my fountain pens, all my roller-balls, all my biros, all my gel pens and all my… Whatever’s not in the exclusion list. I have about 289 pens kicking around.

Two hundred and eighty nine pens.

Just let that sink in.

Yeah, I can’t believe it either.

Do you know what’s even worse?

Most of them are biros.

OH MY GOD. I don’t understand why either! I hate biros, I really do. I don’t understand why I have so many of the things. I swear to Chuck that they’re multiplying. I don’t know how I’m going to get rid of the things. It’s a well known fact that biros are notoriously difficult to run out. It’s like they just… I don’t know. I hate the things and I have no idea why I have so many.

I mean, I can use up all my gel pens. Easy enough. But then I’ve got all these darn biros to get rid of. How on earth am I going to do that? I can’t just get rid of them – I find it almost impossible to throw away a pen that still works just fine. Time for lots of colouring and scribbling and stuff I suppose? I don’t know. That’ll be my next “mission” after all my gel pens are gone. I’ll keep you updated on that, ’cause I’ll need your prayers guys.

Good lord.

Er, yes! I don’t have much else to say really. I just wanted to lament about that horrifying discovery to people who’d understand.

Until next week!

Danni

X

Blog post word count: 514 words.

Review: BroLeatherWorks’ Midori-style Leather Notebook Cover.

Hi guys.

So I have a review for you today. Just a small one mind, especially after the mammoth size of last week’s post.

First! I have not been asked or paid or anything to link to any of the following sites or to do this review. I purchased my notebook cover with my own funds, and all opinions are entirely my own.

(Also while I’m thinking about it, please forgive the slightly terrible photos. Especially the last one, ’cause it was taken under my yellow desk lamp. The others were taking under natural light.)

It started with the Midori Traveller’s Notebook, which was an interesting concept in itself. Then came along the Pelle journal; a cheaper version of the Traveller’s Notebook, but with three sizes instead of two and a few more leather colour options (I think the sizes are more standard too). And then, the lovely Kate over at The Life of the Perpetual Student posted a video about her Midori style notebook. It turned out to be an A5 version.

That was more attractive to me. A5 is a size that I use on a more regular basis. And it’s easier for me to get my hands on, and for cheap too. The Pelle and Midori notebook refills are a) not quite sizes I’m used to b) not exactly cheap especially in the case of the Midori ones, and c) not easily obtainable here in the United Kingdom. (More to the point, the Pelle journal is practically impossible to get from a UK source, the Midori a little less so.)

So I thought about it for a little while, and then I saw a “customise your own” listing on Etsy, from a shop called BroLeatherWorks. I messaged the seller, Stefano Bramato, a few times. He was very quick to respond to me, very helpful and very friendly. So, I ordered one; an A5 cover that opened like a notebook instead of a reporter’s notebook in canyon tan coloured leather (which reminded me of the 5th Anniversary Edition of the Midori Traveller’s Notebook to be honest), with a single strand of light turquoise elastic. (Stefano also does double elastic, which looks quite good, but I know it would’ve gotten on my nerves.)

I paid $33.50 (that’s American dollars, just so you know), which worked out, according to my PayPal history as £22.24. Including shipping. Yup. That’s like, half the price of a regular (not passport sized) Midori notebook cover.

I purchased it on the 1st May, Stefano dispatched it on the 6th, and it arrived on the 10th. From Italy.

So, the postman knocked on my door, I signed for it, and took my armful of post upstairs. This is what I was greeted by when I opened the envelope:

My dear lord it smelt so good. And that leather smell hung around until… I think Monday evening. Here, let me give you a little close up on that bow:

That badge is so cute. It’s on my elastic at the moment, but I think I have another plan for it, so we’ll see whether I keep it or not. Anyway. So that’s the outer packaging. Simple, yet elegant. And I’ve kept the tissue (though it’s a bit stronger than tissue so I don’t know what to call it) it was wrapped in. So, what was under the wrapping?

THAT is what was waiting for me under the wrapping. (The thing on top is a little handwritten thank you note, with a note about his shop.) The leather is so thick and so smooth; the colour is so pretty and I can’t stop touching it. I’m not currently using it properly, it just sits on my desk and I keep petting it, but I know what I’m going to do with it.

It even has the shop logo hand stamped on the back;

Stefano even included a little home and hand made insert too, which I love. (You can even see the little bookmark):

Oh, and one more thing. Look:

(This thing is -mine- baby!)

Basically. I have nothing bad to say about this seller or this product. I’m extremely happy.

Until next week folks!

Danni

x

Word count: 698 words

Oh! If you want more information on the Midori Traveller’s Notebooks and the Pelle journal then the lovely Azizah over at Gourmet Pens has a review of each, and then a massive comparison review:
~ Azizah’s Midori Review.
~ Azizah’s Pelle Review.
~ Azizah’s Comparison.
Finally, the folks at Ink Nouveau have a video on the Midori Traveller’s Notebook.

In which I talk about writing and the Internet.

Hello folks!

So. If you pay any attention to some of the things that I say, or if you remember a lot of things, then you’ll know/remember that that I’m an avid listener (and fan) of several podcasts. I was listening to episode 199 of the “Enough” podcast the other day/week (it’s called “That’s All I Have To Say To You” for reference) and minding my own business while doing whatever it was I was doing (probably playing with pens, let’s be honest) when Mr Myke Hurley says (amongst other things, including the awesome phrase ‘geeky nerd nerd’ which I found hilarious); “why does everyone on the Internet want to write?”

I think Patrick Rhone tackled this fairly well from what I recall, but, I’d like to chip in a bit. I mean, I can’t speak for everyone, but I can, obviously, only speak for myself.

I should let you know that I am going to look at this from a fictional/creative person’s perspective instead of from an article/non-fiction based one, because that’s how I roll. Oh, and this is me so it’s probably going to be a long one. Get comfy.

First, I think a little history might be in order, and then I’ll get around to answering the question. Probably a little along the way too. Oh, and I might even throw in stuff about me that I don’t recall mentioning before. So, here we go.

I’ve been writing stories since I was little, since I was in year… Four or five I think so maybe since I was about seven or eight. Ish anyway. (To put it in perspective, I’m almost 24 now). My maths is terrible and my memory isn’t much better. So, I’ve been writing stories for as long as I can remember. Just like the fact that I’ve loved books for as long as I can remember. I think it somewhat goes hand in hand. In fact, I could talk before I could walk and crawl and whatnot so I’d imagine that my poor mother would’ve had to listen to me babbling to her a lot. I just tell stories with my hands by typing/writing now. Anyway, there used to be a time when you would hardly ever see me without some form of reading material. I love stories, books, words more than I love most other things.

Books, stories, fairytale and whatnot were there when no-one else was for me. Disney stories were my friends when everyone else was hanging out with the neighbourhood bully and I had been left out again. I identified with with the characters in my books much more than the kids in my class. Especially in primary school – it was really odd having divorced parents in my year group. It didn’t feel like… Y’know it felt like I was the only one? I mean, I don’t remember if I was, I probably wasn’t, but it really felt like it. It wasn’t all bad, I think having split up parents is one of the main reasons why someone told me that I might like “The Suitcase Kid” by Jacqueline Wilson. That did it for me, I read everything by her that my school’s library had, and then asked for a load of her books for Christmas and birthdays and stuff. I even got one of her books as my year 6 leaver’s present (“The Illustrated Mum” just so you know, which I still love the concept of.) I identified with the girls in Wilson’s books so much. I wanted to do it; I wanted to write like that. I can’t say that, at that age, that I knew I wanted to have them identify with my stories, to help them escape from their own lives. I’m not sure that nine or ten year old me was really… Aware of all the precise reasons why people loved reading. Despite the fact that I knew why I loved it so much.

This love of books intensified as I hit secondary school. I moved away from where I’d spent all ten years of my life thus far, and I started a new school. God that was lonely. I needed books more than ever. Secondary school was really… Difficult for me. It didn’t really perk up until the last term of year nine and even then it was almost too little too late. Bullies really, really suck man. I mean, what gives you the right to make someone else’s life so utterly miserable?

English was my favourite subject alongside… History I believe. But English was always my favourite. I wasn’t necessarily good at it, at all of it, but I enjoyed it. I looked forward to it. Except for when I had… I think it was Mr Clarke in year eight. He wasn’t a very nice guy to be honest. I think he scared me a little. But anyway. English was my favourite all throughout secondary school. English Language was the first course I signed up for in college actually. Then in my second year I took English Literature. Then, obviously, I went to Uni to take a Creative Writing course.

(Are you all still with me? If you are, thank you!)

Basically, I’ve been connected, for lack of a better term, to words my entire life. I’ve always loved reading and I’ve always enjoyed writing. I’ve always realised that they’re both things that… They helped me y’know? Escapism. Liking books, shows and movies and… Anything that tells a story. It connects people, it helps you realise that you’re not the only one going through certain things. The Internet is just a bigger library, a bigger book club, a bigger writer’s circle. There’s so much already there, that whatever you put online is just another drop in the water; it’s easier to admit that you want to write because apparently everyone else does too. (Or, if you’re a more… “Glass half empty” type, it can devalue the whole “I’m a writer” thing ’cause apparently so is everyone else. But, that’s another thing.)

As for ‘writing on the Internet’ – I think I first put something online 2006. (I should really, really take some of that down because it makes me cringe to look at it, but I digress) and I continued to do so until University. I mean, I used to post my fiction online, nowadays I don’t. I just put things like this online. I think there’s a big difference between posting fiction and posting something like this. Probably something to do with the fact that you can find people’s thoughts all over the Internet, from Facebook to Twitter to blogs, so it’s not so… Hard to post them. I think that might be another post for another time.

So… Why do I/did I post things online? Um. I suppose that there’s a wider audience online and a bigger change that people will see whatever it is you post, especially if you’ve tagged/labelled it right. I suppose it’s easier to share things with people, ’cause you can just send a link and leave.

I put things online for that reason – the internet is a bigger audience/larger possible reader base. I mean, I’m not bothered if people find me or not, but hey, if they do, it’s a nice bonus. It’s something to do, that I enjoy. Anyway. I’ve never really had the biggest circle of people in “real life” that I’ve been able to/felt comfortable enough with to share my writing with. Especially not face to face. I mean, man, I suck at face to face interaction. The writing workshops in my second year of university were really hard for me for that. I think even my criticism comes out too nice?

I don’t know, maybe that’s a good thing either way. You don’t always need to be so harsh with people, especially the creative types ’cause if they’ve given you something of theirs to look over and/or review or whatever, then be darn grateful ’cause that’s hard. Especially face to face. Handing over something that you’ve spent hours and hours on isn’t easy. Us creative types are (almost always) constantly worried that someone (we’ve trusted with one of our “babies”) is going to tear it apart (and not in a good way) or laugh at us or… Whatever you know? Sharing your creative self, your creative heart and soul, if you will, is hard. Even more so face to face. (And that might be the… Fruitiest thing I’ve ever written, but darn it, it’s true.)

Putting stuff online is easier ’cause you can “hide” behind usernames. It’s also easier to take criticism from a faceless person, I think. You can post something and walk away for hours or even days and not look at it for as long as you want. Unless you’ve signed up to something like email notifications of comments or whatever. And even then! You can set comments to be approved by you before they’ll be posted to the world. Although, admittedly I can’t really hide behind my username; it’s unique, it’s mine and I’m very possessive of it. Plus, I sign my name at the end of every blog post. I don’t really think it’s very hard to find me, so… No running and hiding here! But that’s because I’m getting better and braver and frankly, I guess I don’t care too much? Most of the stuff I post is my opinion, and I think people need to stand up and claim their opinions more, instead of retracting them all the time if/when they’re ashamed. I find it easier to share my thoughts and opinions than my fiction, at this time anyway, so that’s what I do. I’m not saying that I don’t share my fiction; I have special people for that, I just don’t share it with the world. Yet. I think. One step at a time, baby steps!

So, in summery I suppose! (In my case at least) it’s not a case of everyone in the Internet wanting to write. In my case, I wanted to write and then the Internet came along. I use it as a… Hmn… Communications device, an improvement tool, a bigger platform to “talk” to more people. (That and putting things online is a great, massive storage system if you don’t have much space. It’s seriously a huge filing cabinet.)

I’m not really sure that all that properly answered the question. I tend to dance around the topic and then get there in my own, rambling way. A massive ‘thank you’ if you managed to read it all; seriously, well done.

Something shorter and hopefully more light hearted next week!

Danni

x

Blog post word count: 1776 words. (Holy cow, seriously?!)

*insert witty title here, preferably with a 80s music montage*

Hello folks!

I’m feeling might fine and dandy today. It might be the oddly bright weather we’ve had recently. It might be the fact that I’m utterly enjoying writing at the moment. It might be the fact that I’m expecting post. Or there could just be something in the water. Who knows? And frankly, who really cares? I’m going to grab this good mood by the horns and keep a tight hold on it. Wouldn’t you?

So anyway. I re-tidied my desk, like I said I would. The underneath looks much better now. Even if I haven’t quite learnt where everything has been moved to yet, but I’m getting there so it’s not all bad. Hurrah for productivity!

Writing is going very well actually; my word count at the end of the second month of the Year of Continuous Writing is 39,516 out of the 182,500 word goal I have over all. The target for the end of yesterday was 30,500 so I’m a little bit ahead of myself. Yay!

Reading isn’t going so well, but I’d rather not read if it means that I get to spend most of my time writing y’know? I think it’s a fair trade off myself. Bedsides, it’s not like I’m not reading a single thing – I read a lot of reviews, articles, blog posts and fanfic online so… Yeah, it all counts. To me anyway. For me? Whichever way. I still think that it counts.

The post I mentioned last week? Yeah that’s coming, I promise. I’m working on it when I’m not working on about a bazillion over things at the same time. I keep thinking about it so it’s not going away any time soon. I just have a to do list as long as my arm.

If you follow my stationery Tumblr you might have noticed that I recently completed my collection of J. Herbin ink cartridge tins. Woo! Yay for small achievements!

On that note, I’m going to leave you with a photo that I took recently that I’m quite pleased with.

Until next week guys!

Danni

x

Blog post word count: 350 words.

Lamy Fountain Pens – April 2013

Uh oh. I think she’s broken!

Hello folks!

How are you all? I hope you’re well. Me? Well, that’s the thing…

So, if you know me at all, you’ll know that I’m the stationery nut of my circle of friends right? So, technically, this week is MY SEASON – I mean, it’s National Stationery Week. So you’d think that I’d be in my element right? You’d think I’d be happy about this and celebrating… Well… No, not really.

As you’d expect, I do have wish lists. Of course I have, I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t have wish lists as long as my arm. But nothing is really jumping out at me. I’ve made one purchase that was was more out of… Obligation maybe? More of a “this person has the rest of these, and I can’t find them anywhere else, if I don’t get them now I won’t be able to find them again,” – that sort of thing. Not that whole “OMG! Want! Need!” Yeah, this is unusual for me. It’s weird and I don’t like it.

In somewhat related news; I’m thinking about rearranging my desk again. That’ll be fun. No, I’m actually serious. I enjoy sorting and tidying things. It’s for for me. I have to rearrange my notebooks again anyway; the stack of used ones touches the top of the shelf that they’re on and there’s no more space on top or next to them to keep them all together. So, rearranging must be done. And I’m half tempted to stack all the unused ones again to take a better photo; maybe even one of my short self next to the stack. Of course I’d need the boyfriend’s help with that. So yes. I might do that on Saturday or something; we’ll see when I’m able to get around to that.

Writing’s going well, I’m not reading again though, which kind of sucks. Well, not unless you count copious amounts of fan fiction, which I do. Ahem. I’m still writing at least 500 words a day, and that’s not including all the planning for various AU stories I want to write. Which is all I want to write at the moment, but hey, Alternative Universes are stupidly fun! Plus, they’re that step away from pure fan fiction and a step towards original fiction. The pens are getting used and thrown in the used pen cup (an empty pick n mix cup) and seeing that pen cup fill up is the most satisfying thing ever. We just won’t talk about the stupid amount of ink cartridges that I have to use up after the gel pens and the ink samples. Although, ink samples re easy to get through.

Apart from feeling oh so broken about stationery (a feeling that I think is disappearing quite quickly the more I think about it, hurrah!), all is well! Oh! Y’know, I might’ve just been rudely slapped around the face by next week’s post. That’s what listening to podcasts while you write does to you I suppose. It might be next week’s post, it might be for the week after. It depends how long it takes me to write it. We’ll see. Stay tuned for that.

So yes! Until next week folks!

Danni x

A Surprising Change.

Hi guys!

So, recently, I’ve been really into planning the things that I write. I find this really weird ’cause normally I’m more… Or I used to be more of a “why should I waste time planning when I could be using that time to write?” kind of person. But recently? I’m having too much fun actually planning. I might not ever get too far into writing he actual thing, but at least I’ll have plenty of notes for when/if I ever pick up that piece again.

Is planning supposed to be that fun though? I mean, I have a close friend whom I call my “twin” who I throw ideas at, and she throws ideas and suggestions back at me. It’s crazy fun. I didn’t realise planning could be fun? I wish I had though, I would’ve done more of it for past projects!

I also do a -little- research if I need to, but I don’t do a ton of it. I mean, I don’t do more than a couple of days worth; I don’t go crazy. Hell, I don’t think that I even do more than, at maximum, a couple of hours worth of research. And maybe that’s being generous.

I like to plan a bit and then write. If I need to research something, then I’ll research it then and there, if I can, but I try not to do loads ’cause the I spend more time reading than writing and I think that’s kind of counter-productive. If I can’t research right away, then I’ll make a note of it and do it when I’m able to.

Although, upon saying that, I can read articles on various websites for hours without realising it. Purely accidental and mostly for a fun, not really for research. I guess that I find research too… It reminds me too much of essays and school and… I find too much of it really rather boring! But that’s just my opinion. If research is your thing, then awesome – it’s just not mine.

So yes, I’ve been writing a lot, planning more and keeping up with my 500 words a day for the Year of Continuous Writing. I started notebook 31 on the 12th, so I’m actually doing well on that front; this notebook will probably take a little while to get through though, ’cause it’s got… 250 sheets in it I think. It’s one of those Pukka Pad project books, the ones with the removable dividers? Yeah, one of those, in A5 size. I’m making great strides in my “use up ALL the gel pens!” goal; I’ve only got about three Uniball ones to go, and then a handful of Zebra ones. After that, I get to go through my pen pots and my pencil cases to find more pens to burn through. It’s all really rather satisfying.

So… I think that’s nearly it. Oh! My year of Continuous Writing word count. Okay. So, my aim was to write 500 words a day, so technically I should be on about 24,000 words by the end of today. However, I am actually on 32,433 words, and I haven’t actually written anything today that I’d add to that. 32,433 words since March 1st. I’m not going to lie, I’m feeling rather pleased with myself right now. Heh.

Okay, that really is it now; see you next week!

Danni

x

Blog post word count: 588 words.

To annotate or not to annotate, that is the question.

Hi guys!

So, I’m going to follow on from Lil’s idea yesterday, ’cause it’s one I otherwise wouldn’t come up with.

Writing in books. I have done it, back in secondary school when we had poetry anthologies. We had to annotate our books – those were the only notes that we were allowed in the exam after all so annotating the hell out of the anthologies was highly encouraged. I think that my anthology was the only book I wrote in though.

In college, I’m pretty sure that I didn’t annotate my books, even if they were falling apart and second hand. (In fact, I think one or the reasons why I didn’t annotate my books was BECAUSE one or two were falling apart. I didn’t want to lose my notes.)

I don’t think I did in Uni either? I might’ve done for my textbook/s (see also, college; for the textbooks that I had to buy myself so were -mine- and not the books I borrowed from the teachers).

I don’t like writing in books very much. Even if they are second hand and/or falling to pieces, I still don’t like it. I’d rather write on photocopied pages. If I have to write in a second hand book, I will, but I won’t enjoy it very much. Or, like Lil, if it’s my only copy, and it’s a book I really love, I won’t like or do it. If I can get another copy, then yes, sure I might go crazy. But maybe just in pencil.

I do like pointing out mistakes in printed works though. I was given some reading material from some Jehovah Witnesses once. I took great joy in going through and highlighting all the errors and stuff. But I like editing like that. I call it “spell check editing” ’cause honestly? Grammar and I are not friends. I struggle with that a bit, I think.

I can’t break the spines on my books, or fold the corners of pages either. I hate it. If I lend you a book and it doesn’t come back to me in the condition I gave it away in, you are NEVER borrowing anything of mine ever again. Just like if I see that your own things are in disarray, I won’t be lending you my stuff. Sorry not sorry. I look after my things, it’s how I was raised. Which is probably why I don’t like writing in books too much!

Until next week!

Danni x

Blog post word count: 413 words.

*insert witty title involving the 20th century*

Hey guys.

How are we all? I’m a bit sick at the moment; I’ve got an utter rotten cold so my brain power is lacking.

So, this week – books from the 20th century.

I… Don’t really know what to write this week. All my favourite books I covered a couple of weeks ago. I don’t actually have any others. I believe they’re all from the 20th century. I’m honestly not entirely sure, and I don’t have access to copies of all the books to check. Actually… I think maybe… I think it’s an even split – some are, some aren’t. Either way. All my favourite books are listed in the post from a couple of weeks ago. I mean, I don’t tend to think about when things were made. If I like them, I like them, if I don’t then I don’t, kinda thing?

It’s also not like any of the books on that list were particularly old either – I mean, they’ve all been released in the twenty something years that I’ve been alive, so it’s not like I can even say “Oh, I like this thing about this book that was written before I was born; I wish these books that were written after I was born had more of that specific thing.”

I’m not much a fan of anything that was made before 20th century, if I’m honest with you. In fact. I don’t think I’m much of a fan of anything that was made before the 1970s. And that’s being generous. I don’t even really know why. I’m just not a fan of archaic things I guess? Books especially. I’m not entirely sure why – it’s probably something to do with the language. I very much associate old books written in older English with my English Literature classes at school and college. And I -really- wasn’t much of a fan of those.

I don’t know. I guess I read to escape most of the time, not to learn. I read to relax my brain. Having to wrap my brain around archaic language isn’t really relaxing, in my opinion.

So, yeah… I don’t know. I don’t really have much else to say on the matter? My brain is, honest to god, like a soggy tissue right now.

Hopefully, I’ll be better by next week,

Until then,

Danni

x

Blog post word count: 387 words.

Comics, graphic novels and manga; illustrated story telling.

Hi guys!

So, Jon’s choice of topic – favourite comic books, manga and things like that.

I used to read a lot of manga. Not that many different series (Series’? Serieses? What’s the plural of that?) but the ones I did read had a lot of books in them. I don’t read really read them any more though, I associate that more with my early teenage years. I don’t really read comic books either.

My favourite manga series though, from when I was into all of that, is a series that actually I’m still very fond of; “Rurouni Kenshin” by Nobukiro Watsuki. This is also the manga that my username Kenouni Renashin is based on. A good friend of mine took the original title and did a little word wizardry with it; missing it up, and making it sound more feminine. I think he did a fabulous job. Of course he did, I’ve been using this username for a very long time. Since college at least, and maybe even a few years prior to college. But basically, I’ve been using it a very long time and I’ extremely fond of it; attached to it even. It’s pretty much… Yeah, it is. My username is me; it’s a part of who I am now. And I have a manga to thank for that.

Aside from that… I like The Umbrella Academy. Not just because it’s Gerard Way’s creation, although that is probably a big part of how it appeared on my radar. I can’t really say why I like it. It’s different? I’m quite fond of The White Violin’s character design? I don’t know. I’m looking forward to the third instalment, and the Danger Days comic that’s due out this year. (I’m not sure when the third instalment of The Umbrella Academy is out; probably sooner rather than later now MCR have split.) I think that Gerard is a great storyteller; it’s evident in his lyrics too.

Aside from that? I don’t really read comics, as I said. I do have an Alice in Wonderland graphic novel somewhere, but I haven’t really read it, but I do like the art style. I think that’s my problem. I’m very picky with art styles, and I never really like any of them.

I’ve thought about picking up “Suicide Squad” or “Gotham City Sirens” but… I find most comic books expensive for what they are, even collected editions. I’d rather have an actual book, or two, ’cause I can normally get maybe two books with the money I’d spend on a collected comic book. Even if I got them from Amazon.

I do like the Deadpool character though. The boyfriend collects some of his books, and I’ve looked through one or two and I find him quite funny, but that’s about it. All I know, really, is that I prefer Marvel to DC and I’d rather watch the films thanks. I have nothing against comic books, or those who like them, but they’re just not for me.

Unti next week folks!

Danni

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Blog post word count: 508 words.

My favourite writing equipment.

Hi guys!

So, this week, we’re talking about favourite writing equipment, as the title says. Guess who’s idea that was? Oh wait, that would’ve been mine. Of course.

Let’s get the obvious out of the way. I prefer pens and paper. But when it comes to narrowing that down…

This is actually a really tough topic for me. It’s like choosing your favourite child when there shouldn’t be favourites, because that’s kind of wrong. Ahem. Erm. Yes. I wish I could say that I have a bunch of brands and names and things for you but I really don’t, as I found this tough. Basically though, I will write on anything, with (almost) anything if that’s I have to hand. Yes, I’m one of those types. But, I do have my preferences.

Paper wise: I would prefer paper that doesn’t make the most basic pen bleed and feather like god knows what. But really, if I have to write on plain, I really don’t mind. It’s not an issue. I would prefer to write on lined, as long as the margin doesn’t take up half the page. Actually, I’d prefer if there wasn’t a margin but either way. I like squared paper and I like dotted paper too. Hey, I’ll even write on that graph paper stuff I used a lot of in my Science classes if I have to. I don’t mind. I don’t even mind if it’s a pad, a notebook or loose sheets. Or if it’s A4 or A5 or… Whatever. As long as it’s not A6 I’m not fussed. Actually, even if it’s A6 – I don’t mind the size as long as I have plenty of it.

In regards to ink, ’cause talking about that is a bit easier than talking about the actual instrument right now… I’ll use cartridges and bottled ink, I’m not fussed. I have more cartridges than I do bottles of ink because I’m only just getting into that. Colour wise, I’ll try anything once. But I prefer blues, greens, turquoises and things of that spectrum. And purples, like Lamy’s Violet ink cartridges (and it really annoys me that you can’t get a bottle of this). Love love love that colour. Although, I’m not overly keen on black ink, for the most part. In biros? Maybe. In fountain pens or gel ink pens? I’d really rather not thanks. But if it’s all you’ve got then that will do. I don’t really think that I’m a fan of using yellows, light oranges or light greys either, but I’ll really try anything once and use anything if that’s all I have access to. But, I’d prefer blues, greens and purples.

Now for the actual writing tool. I’d really, really rather not use a standard pencil. If I’m going to use a pencil, I’d rather use my Kura Toga (with or without the squishy gel grip, I don’t mind) and I’ll use a ballpoint/biro if there’s nothing else. I’d rather use a gel pen, but would love to stick to fountain pens.

Speaking of gel pens, I like Uni-balls the most I think. I mean, I seem to have the most of them. Or Pilot pens. I like those too. Or, Pentel Sliccis or something. I have quite a few gel pens so I guess I’m not overly fussy regarding the type. My colour preferences for gel ink pens are pretty much the same as my colour preferences for fountain pen ink.

So, the order of preference for the actual instrument, from least preferable to most, would be this: standard pencil, biro, mechanical pencil/Kura Toga, gel pens and fountain pens. Somewhat obvious I think?

But, here’s where I come unstuck. I cannot pick a favourite fountain pen. I have been seriously thinking about this for a week and a bit, maybe a touch longer, and I honestly don’t have a clue. I don’t think it’s because I have so many, I think it’s genuinely because I can’t pick a favourite. a couple of favourites maybe, but not just the one. I will however think on it some more.

So, here we go. Some paper that can handle ink, ink that falls under the colours I favour and a fountain pen. Those would be my favourite writing devices. I so prefer doing things by hand. I know I should have some brand names and samples and whatnot for you all but I honestly don’t think I’ve had enough variety to give you those.

That’s it from me this week, I’ll see you next with with Jon’s choice of topic!

Until next time,

Danni

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Blog post word count: 768 words.