The Lost Files

My reply wouldn't post, so I'm putting it here.


If you consider the different ways you can engage with pens and stationery—as a user, a collector, a hobbyist, a creator, a maker, a vendor—which roles fit best and what percentage of 100% would you assign to each? Are you happy with the balance?

I am primarily a user and content with that.


What is something you want to understand better or develop more informed opinions about?

I generally do that if I have a need for it or stumble across something that looks interesting, but I have no active searching for such at this time.


In the pen community, what's something someone has said or done that stuck with you?

I like tests and comparisons. This year I have one going about which of three pens lasts longest on outdoor labels. The Sharpie Oil Paint pen is winning by a landslide. Sometimes people post pictures of swatch tests for different colors, which is fun to see.


There are now 25 hours in a day, a bonus hour is available to use however you like as long as pens or stationery are involved—how do you spend your hour?

Writing.


In the pen community yearbook, what would your superlative be? (i.e. "Best ______", "Most _______" "Most likely to _______")

Most likely to make a photo-essay.


How do you feel about your handwriting?

It reflects my personality, my history as an activist, and my journey through various languages.


What is something you are proud of doing, achieving, or overcoming?

Writing a huge amount of crowdfunded content.


You're going on a writing retreat anywhere in the world—where would you go, what would you write, and what would you write with?

If I rule out the places where I could use a computer, my usual writing method ... that leaves a nature hike and writing with a pencil on a spiralbound notebook. If I planned to go somewhere especially soggy, I would likely invest in a waterproof fieldbook and its attached writing implement.


What's a current or favorite creative outlet?

Writing. The September 2 Poetry Fishbowl will be on "Communication Styles."

With pens in particular, I sometimes use them for scrapbooking.

A recent thing I did was write an inspiring quote on watercolor paper, which then had a decorative seal applied to it -- there was a booth selling this activity at the Oddities Market. So that was super fun.


What's something that causes you benign envy—the kind of admiration and desire that leads to inspiration or motivation?

I admire calligraphy and fountain pens. My experiments with them suggest that these are not skills I could readily acquire. About the best I can do is decent little flourishes under a name on a holiday card or similar.


What's a comfort item, material, or color?

Certain modern plush or microfiber blankets are worlds above other blankets in terms of comfort and energy restoration. My favorite color is blue.

Regarding pens, I like one with just a little weight, enough that it feels solid without feeling heavy. Some have a really nice grip too. I've got a whole pile of pens I collected from a trade show -- I will always check the swag at events -- and I gravitate to using the prettiest ones with the nicest feel. Some are just cheap flat sticks. Others have little rubber grip pads. Several have metallic copper parts. It's interesting to see how, at the same event, people made very different choices about their swag -- and that's not even getting into the high-end swag like the tape measures. :D

I also like pens with different colored ink. I use those for color-coding some things, like writing deadlines in red on my desktop calendar.


What would be a dream collaboration, project, or partnership?

Worldbuilding a shared world. I would adore being part of a worldbuilding project with a mix of artists, writers, and other skills. It would be fun with a pen maven talking about the respective levels of literacy and writing technology in different cultures. I was part of the Torn World collective while it ran, and that was awesome.