Pencil or pen?

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zaynab_m
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Re: Pencil or pen?

Post by zaynab_m »

The good thing about pencils is you can erase any mistakes/extra words off your page without your notebook looking untidy. Despite that, I usually use pens simply 'cause I'm used to them, and they write smoothly. I used pencils in school ages ago!
Also, I have a separate notebook just for story-writing. It has a cover of green, blue and purple stripes - quite pretty, if you ask me! In it I jot down any story ideas, phrases, vocabulary or anything at all to do with writing, that pops into my head. I've written a few short stories in there, and the beginning to two novels - one a fanfiction, the other a sci-fi story idea I got.
Keeping a separate notebook for stuff like this is really useful. If it's small, you could keep it around with you everywhere and jot down any ideas you think of. Sorry, I'm old-fashioned - you could use the more modern approach. Just pull out your phone every time you think of a story idea, and quickly type it out so you remember. Happy story-writing! -Zaynab
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bethanytaylor99
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Post by bethanytaylor99 »

I prefer a pen a lot more than a pencil but if a pencil is all I can find then I shall use it.
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Post by cranej80 »

I prefer pens. I hate when pencils smug on the page.
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Connoisseur
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Post by Connoisseur »

Pen, specifically, fountain pens and good gel pens. Something about the texture of writing with pencils just feels "scratchy" and dry to me...I hate it. This is why I cannot draw unless I'm drawing in ink; pencil makes the worst scratching sound, has the most unpleasant gray color, etc.
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doyle5
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Post by doyle5 »

Pen! It doesn't fade like pencil. Erasing what you've written because its seems like a bad writing idea to you at the time can be a big mistake. Especially, when you realize that you can use that idea in another writing project or use the idea in the same way in the same book you were working on at the time. The original idea is always good to look at even if you still remember it.
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Post by MyBrokeCollegeLife »

I prefer pen because even if I make a mistake and scratch it out I don't lose the work I've done and might later reuse the wording in an area that it better fits. I hate the thought of losing ideas so even if I use a pencil I never touch the eraser.
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Post by KateNox »

Definitely pen! For me it's just easier, I hate the sound pencil makes while writing and also not a fan of smudging. Pen traces won't fade and even if you have to scratch your mistakes, sometimes it's better when they stay on paper instead of being erased.
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Post by ChelseaL-25 »

When I'm writing, it has to be in pen or else I don't feel as if the piece that I have written actually exists. Pencil disappears when smudged (I'm a leftie) and doesn't feel final. If I don't have a pen, I won't write it down.
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Hannah-E
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Post by Hannah-E »

I usually use a pencil because I think I can write better, but pens are fun for writing fancy. :)
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Post by njzeba »

I definitely prefer pen. I'm always afraid of my work being destroyed easily if I were to use pencil and this has happened countless times when I was a kid to the point that I just gave up writing with pencils. There's something about pens that are magical and they glide effortlessly against paper but that's just me :P
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Post by Loverockers »

Pen, since I think it's easier than sharpening a pencil again and again. Also, you have the choice of choosing the color of the ink. But sometimes if the notebook paper is too thin, I prefer the pencil.
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prospero1501
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Post by prospero1501 »

I have to use pen, and even then I'm quite picky. The ink has to flow smoothly with a minimum amount of pressure, which ultimately led me to the use of dip pens, fountain pens, and quills. There is a famous author who does this: Christopher Paolini, author of The Inheritance series (Eragon).
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Post by tortoise keeper »

I have to say that I prefer pen. I don't do a lot of old fashioned hand writing now though with a tablet being so handy. I would probably develop a really bad case of writer's cramp if I did.
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Post by Vermont Reviews »

I love using both. The more I write the better it gets.

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JCunha77
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Post by JCunha77 »

I really love to use pencils and I guess I am a little bit weird because I don't erase I cross things out just like I'm using a pen. I also like the sound of an old school typewriter.
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