Hello my friends, nice to see you!

Today, we’re going to decide what we want to write with. This might sound small, but it’s actually really important—when you’re putting in all this effort, you want to enjoy what you’re writing with and what you’re writing on. All writers pay attention to this.

So I want you to go on a little treasure hunt! Look for different kinds of paper—maybe notebooks, loose leaf, plain printer paper, the backs of envelopes, coil-bound, hardcover, softcover. Pay attention to how each one feels, and decide what you like.

Do you prefer paper with lines, or paper without lines? If you like lined paper, do you like wide-ruled or narrow-ruled?

If your parent or guardian is up for it, you could take a trip to the office supply store or the dollar store and explore all the different pens and paper. Ask yourself: Which one of these do I like right now?

You don’t have to decide forever—you’re just picking what you want to start with.

Now let’s talk writing tools. Do you like writing with a pencil or a pen?

If you like pencils, do you prefer mechanical pencils—the kind you can refill with lead—or the classic wooden ones you sharpen? Do you like the eraser on the back, or do you prefer a separate eraser?

And if you’re into pens, there are so many kinds to try! Gel pens, felt tips, fine liners, rollerballs, calligraphy pens—even felt-tip markers. Maybe you want to write with a rainbow and use some narrow-tipped markers—that could work great too!

You can really write with anything, but the key is to pick something you enjoy and that looks good to you when it shows up on the page.

Okay—once you have the paper you want to write on and the tool you want to write with, we’ll be ready to begin!

Good job!