EDITOR'S PICKS
A notebook for today’s to-dos, a pen that feels right in your hand, and a color to mark what you want to revisit. Start with tools you will reach for often, rather than filling every inch of your desk.
A pen you enjoy using and a notebook that opens comfortably can make you want to jot something down. Start with what you plan to write today, whether it is work notes or a study recap.
Long-form writing needs different space from notes with tables and sketches. Check the size, page layout, and binding, then consider how the notebook will fit on your desk when open and in your bag when you take it along.
Explore notebooks for your notes
Do you write neatly in small boxes or make larger, more free-form notes? Along with tip size, compare ballpoint and gel ink options and the shape of the barrel to find a pen you will reach for often.
Explore pens for everyday writing
Start by choosing colors for key passages and today’s to-dos. Consider how marking pens work alongside your regular writing, and test for smudging on the paper you actually use.
Explore colors for marking your notes
Picture your notebook and pens together in one spot, ready to pick up again tomorrow. Take a closer look at the tools you would like to keep there.
Want a large notebook for each subject or project? This set of four Morning Glory Campus Mate A4-style spiral notebooks has 7.5 mm ruled pages and different-colored covers to help keep your notes organized.
A styled living space with a small table used for different activities. The notebooks and pens shown are not photos of the featured products.
Looking for a metal-body ballpoint with a little weight for signatures and quick notes? The Monami 153 ID is a single pen with 1.0 mm black ink, bringing the familiar 153 shape to a more substantial writing tool.
Need a fine black gel pen for small handwriting and tight spaces in tables? This 12-pack of Dong-A Fine-Tech 0.3 mm pens is an option for planners and study notes where a thin line matters.
Keep black, blue, and red on hand for different kinds of notes. This Dong-A My Gel 0.5 mm set includes four pens in each color—twelve in all—for color-coding study notes and marking corrections.
Want two tip sizes in one pen for color-coded notes and notebook decorating? This 10-color Monami Live Color set pairs a 0.6 mm fine tip with a 1.2 mm bullet tip, so you can switch between fine lines and broader strokes.
