from the desk of nibsandnovels
I'm a fountain pen, planner, and journaling enthusiast who also has a deep love for books. Subscribe to my email newsletter for a weekly letter from my desk.
the thought process behind my system
from the desk of nibsandnovels September 30, 2026 my journal stack (without any of my work specific books) Hey pen friend! I'm still finalizing my planner and notebook choices for 2027, but I thought I'd share with you the thought process behind my journal and planner system. When I think about my system, the goal is for it to help me with one of three things: being more productive, gaining knowledge, or reflecting on life. So every journal or planner falls into one of the following...
my return to the pocket size notebook
from the desk of nibsandnovels September 16, 2026 Disclaimer: This email contains some affiliate links. If you make a purchase using an affiliate link, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for your support if you do so! Hey pen friend! Have you tried journaling in a pocket size notebook? Personally, I always keep a pocket size notebook as an everyday cary inbox style notebook. Basically, it's a place to house my notes and thoughts when I don't feel like carrying the...
all fountain pen addicts need a currently inked journal
from the desk of nibsandnovels September 9, 2026 Hey pen friends! Today's email is for the fountain pen addicts. I have a question for you. How do you keep track of the fountain pens you ink up? If you don't keep a currently inked spread in your journal or have a journal dedicated solely for tracking inked fountain pens, I think it's time to start. Anyone that is an avid fountain pen user knows that there's a lot of variety when it comes to fountain pens and the writing experience you can...
my reading highlights from july and august
from the desk of nibsandnovels September 2, 2026 Disclaimer: This email contains some affiliate links. If you make a purchase using an affiliate link, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for your support if you do so! Hey pen friend! If you've been following me on Instagram, you probably know that I am a reader. I was actually a bookseller for a few years while in university and before starting my career. I even kept a book blog in the 2010s. So I've decided to bring...
my go to pens and inks for planning
from the desk of nibsandnovels August 26, 2026 My Hobonichi Weeks Hey pen friend! Have you decided on your planners for 2027 yet? Now that the full Hobonichi lineup is out, I'm narrowing down my selections. I'm trying to have a couple of options just in case my top picks are unavailable from any of the USA retailers. But to switch gears a bit, shall we talk about pens? Today, I want to share some of my favorite pens and inks to use in my planners. Before I start getting into specifics, I...
are you a planner or a journaler?
from the desk of nibsandnovels August 19, 2026 Hey pen friend! With planner season around the corner, I'm curious to know if you're a planner or a journaler? I believe there are two main approaches to how someone utilizes a planner. Understanding which approach works best for you may help you choose the right planner and use your planners to the fullest. What do I mean by planner vs. journaler? When I think of how someone utilizes a planner, I believe there are two main approaches: Planners...
five tips for beginner planners
from the desk of nibsandnovels August 12, 2026 Hey pen friend! It's planner season! I always get so excited when planner season comes around. Starting a new planner or notebook always feels like a fresh start. However, if you're new to the world of planners, I'm sure it can be a bit intimidating. There's so many planner brands out there with different layouts and sizes. Picking one can be a difficult choice. Today, I'm offering some of my two cents for planner beginners. I don't know if I'd...
migrating to a new Hobonichi Weeks
from the desk of nibsandnovels July 29, 2026 Migrating to a new Hobonichi Weeks Hey pen friend! I've come to the point where I have used up the notes pages in the back of my Hobonichi Weeks. Luckily, I knew someone that knew someone that could pick up a new Hobonichi Weeks for me from Japan. So it's time to migrate into my new planner. While I'm at it, let's take a look at how I use my Hobonichi Weeks. my Hobonichi Weeks How I use the Hobonichi Weeks planner. The Hobonichi Weeks has three...
my journal organization is all about the key
from the desk of nibsandnovels July 22, 2026 My journal organization is all about the key. Disclaimer: This email contains some affiliate links. If you make a purchase using an affiliate link, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for your support if you do so! Hey pen friend! I was first introduced to the idea of organizing my journal using a key through the Bullet Journal Method and then through various YouTube videos on commonplace books. Truly, the key is the most...
sometimes a journal needs a rebrand
from the desk of nibsandnovels July 15, 2026 Sometimes a journal needs a rebrand. Disclaimer: This email contains some affiliate links. If you make a purchase using an affiliate link, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for your support if you do so! Hey pen friend! There are so many journal styles out there. You can keep a bullet journal, a commonplace book, a junk journal, morning pages, etc. In essence it's all just a notebook, a writing utensil, and ephemera, but...
I'm a fountain pen, planner, and journaling enthusiast who also has a deep love for books. Subscribe to my email newsletter for a weekly letter from my desk.