Does the way that you write affect what you write?  Do you write better when at your laptop?  Or perhaps when you take your favorite pen to paper? Do you have a particular notebook that helps you to feel inspired?  The concept of the tools that you use to create affecting the creative process has certainly boosted the reputation of brands such as Moleskin and Parker.  Some writers even cling to their writing habits in an almost superstitious way, some locking themselves in the bathroom or refusing to write with anything other than a single color of pen.

For me, one sure way to keep me writing is to go 'old school'.  Even as a child I always had a bit of a fascination with paper.  I loved the different textures and colors and weights.  There were whisperings of formality in watermarks, and embossed seals somehow lent an air of gravity to any letter I wrote.  As a teenager I amassed an overwhelming collection of notebooks and journals, usually allocating each one to a different type of writing.

As I got older I graduated to typewriters.  I loved the crisp, decisive clack of the letters hitting the paper.  I loved the slightly letterpress effect that each sheet of work had.  And then along came computers, and I am sad to say that I neglected other ways of writing, favoring this speedy and instantly editable way of working. 

Last year, however, I turned thirty, and as a birthday of some significance, relatives and friends seemed determined to give me gifts that they felt summed up my existence to that landmark date.  To my great pleasure I received several writing-related gifts. (Despite now earning a full time living as a writer I am still thrilled when someone else identifies this as my legitimate profession.)  Among them was a pair of Moleskin journals (already now half full of scribblings) and an exquisite leather bound journal.  This last gift was found for me by my brother and was handmade in Italy by a craftsman whose family have made paper and leather book bindings for centuries. This book is so intimidating to me that I have to admit there are precious few words that I was written in it.

Book making is a skill that is sadly dying out as books become just as mass produced as every other element of our twenty first century live.  So I was thrilled to stumble across this exceptional company selling beautifully tooled leather bound journals on Etsy.  Available in a variety of sizes and styles, these gorgeous books are an ideal gift for any writer, and speaking from experience, the journals would probably be appreciated for otherwise hard-to-buy-for introspective teenagers!

If you are looking for a pen to accompany these journals, try the Nakaya Foundation for handmade, highly detailed fountain pens.  You can create your own custom pen by selecting a nib, casing and design.  The pen can even be engraved with your choice of name or short phrase.  Each pen comes in a beautiful gift box and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.