The Best Writing Paper Ever?

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Cheers for now!
Mike

[@jasondortch2313]

My first trip to the UK was in 1994 at the age of 19. I sought out the best British stationary I could find and ended up with Three Candlesticks. It was reserved for special correspondence and I kept that pad for many years. Many trips later to the UK I discovered Smythson stationary and Christmas cards which have become some of my favorites. Here at home in the US I’ve bought and used Crane stationary which is 100% cotton fiber and somewhat of a luxury. Fountain pens are an interest but I’ve never really used them much but thanks to you I’ll be giving them a try again. Cheers!🇺🇸🇬🇧🇺🇸🇬🇧

[@writerlywitterings]

Very glad to hear it, my friend! Let me know which type of pen you decide to look at!

[@pmichael73]

I was the same. I loved the stationery in the British shops. Alas, the selection has declined a lot, but there are still wonderful papers to be had. (Incidentally, I love using the stitched Clairefontaine student notebooks - fabulous paper and you can buy some very thick ones, too!)

[@jasondortch2313]

@@pmichael73 I’ll look for Clairfontaine notebooks next time I’m over! I’ve also bought G. Lalo stationary which is also French.

[@Richard_Barnes]

As per the live chat Mike - am obviously up for the writing club. We could each include a ‘stamped and addressed envelope’ for you to return a letter in. That would work well I feel as we all know our correct postage and addresses, etc.

[@writerlywitterings]

Yes, I think that's a good solution to my concern, mate. I'll be in touch!

[@normm7764]

Wouldn't work for those overseas.

[@writerlywitterings]

@@normm7764 Didn't think of that, but of course you're right. I think it may come to a Patreon arrangement of some sort, unfortunately.

[@Tracywhited2]

Yes on the pen pal club. I’d be very interested.

[@writerlywitterings]

Thanks so much, Tracyann. This is looking like it's going to be an interesting diversion!

[@caterinarollo]

I would be ENORMOUSLY interested in your correspondence project!

[@writerlywitterings]

Excellent, Caterina - I will be working out how to do this and will have a video up in the next week or two to get it started. Many thanks for your enthusiasm!

[@caterinarollo]

@@writerlywitterings Great! Thank you, as always!

[@norbert-gottlieb-courlander]

Definitely interested, thank you Michael!

[@writerlywitterings]

My pleasure!

[@douglasmattingly1250]

Always nice to have an opportunity to use one of my fountain pens and share ideas with fellow writers.

[@writerlywitterings]

Excellent, Douglas!

[@johngrubb007]

Oh goodie, new papers to look out for. Thanks for the review and glad you found some notepads for your writing folio with the bonus of being excellent for fountain pens.

[@writerlywitterings]

You are so welcome! It was fun finding out about the new papers!

[@JavierDiaz-zm1qd]

I never thought about this Pen pal thing. It sounds interesting and another way to learn to write and correspond through letters. I will like to try.

[@writerlywitterings]

That is great news, Javier. I have a lot on just now, but I'll hope to get this going in the New Year, if you're still keen!

[@mathurinkerbouchard8931]

A big YES on the pen pal club!

[@writerlywitterings]

Cheers, Mathurin!

[@t0dd000]

Hmm. I have a couple pen pals now. And I send out letters to family and a couple friends (one-way pen pals). Sounds interesting depending on what it really means.

[@writerlywitterings]

If you want to get more on it, I'll be sending out the details from the email noted in the video: [e-mail], if you're interested.

[@markcotter2931]

Excellent idea!

[@writerlywitterings]

Thank you! Cheers! Looks like there are plenty of people who feel the same way so I'll be working out some logistics shortly!

[@anguswhite8233]

Haven’t used BB for years: used to like their airmail paper - would assume it would not fair as well as the stuff you were using; loved Tomoe River paper when I discovered it as it was as thin as my old airmail paper but coped with fp ink as well:)

[@writerlywitterings]

I used to use the airmail paper every week, but I lapsed. Tomoe is bound to be better, I'd imagine, but I can see myself buying more BB: one airmail in one notecase, the second ordinary paper for correspondence. Loving the BB paper, though. Much better quality than I'd expected!

[@andrewbrindle5346]

Yes, I'd be interested in some sort of correspondence group! I'll wait for further information. Great video, as usual ...

[@writerlywitterings]

Excellent - many thanks!

[@VickyFlint]

Yes would definitely be interested in a pen pal club 😊

[@writerlywitterings]

Coming soon!

[@bryanfletcher-nz8229]

By the way, how hard is it to find Air Mail (Par Avion) envelopes, nothing here in NZ, but Basildon Bond make an "outstanding" one in blue paper with the red/blue checked borders - classic! I love writing to pen-pals of like mind, and just rambling on about our latest discoveries and showing off our latest inks by changing within the letter as a new subject arises. I'm with you on not swabbing samples, how does that show you how it writes or shades? Always a pleasure and an excuse for a cuppa when I watch your videos. When restricted to a 7mm line guide, do you go down a nib size? Another interesting question for the viewers to answer might be, what does it cost you to post a letter Nationally & Internationally. For me to post to you is a small barista made coffee or a loaf of expensive bread - $3.80, that's 2 pounds or 2.30 euros. To post within NZ is $1.70 or 88p (more than a Newspaper). Posting Christmas cards is almost a thing of the past. Also gone are the annual Health Stamps which where a stamp marked about 10% more( $1 +10c) so it could fund children's holiday camps, alas the coin counters stopped them about 7 years ago.(Est.1929)

[@writerlywitterings]

Last time I checked, a foreign letter was exactly double a UK first class one. That assumed the same weight to EU countries, and much lighter to the US or Australia. Now it's changed again. Now the first class stamp is 95p, but all EU letters up to 100g cost £1.85. For letters under 20g to the rest of the world it's also £1.85, but to post letters up to 100g it's not £2.55. And heavier is much more expensive. Thanks for the comment, Bryan!

[@fyfesandy3491]

I've use Fabriano, which comes in pads that can fit into envelopes. Basildon Bond champagne colour works well with brown inks.

[@writerlywitterings]

Thanks for that, Fyfe. I'll have to get one of each ruddy colour, I think! I haven't used Fabriano, except for their watercolour paper, which I find wonderful for sketching, so I'll have to try some of their correspondence paper!

[@gregorywoodbridge7590]

Stumbled upon this...would love a writing club, esp someone overseas ( I’m in the US). Subscribed!

[@writerlywitterings]

Awesome! Thank you - I will be trying to outline what is possible (and what isn't) early in the new year. Have a good one!

[@donovanpoe1063]

Love the video as always. I recently bought my first fountain pen because of all the pens you showed on here. It's just a little LAMY Safari but it still writes wonderfully compared to the ballpoint pens. I used to use. Also, I'd be very interested in the penpal idea... However, I'm in the US and I'm sure the postage for that would be expensive. ALSO, my handwriting is absolutely dreadful. Sometimes I can't even read what I have written.

[@writerlywitterings]

Hi, Donovan, And thanks for the vote of confidence in my video-making! I'm really glad you're enjoying the Lamy. I'm trying to see whether there is a way of sorting out the postage/admin costs of the penpal club. There should be several ways of sorting that out, I think - one is just to accept that foreign stamps cost more, and work out how much. However, I'll have to think it through in a lot more detail. All best wishes

[@TheFribos]

I surely am interested in your correspondence project!

[@writerlywitterings]

That's good. If you write to me at [e-mail], I'll send you a link.

[@normm7764]

I would be interested in a Pen Pals Club. There are other resources that claim to provide this, but I have become very wary of a lot of stuff on The Web. Thanks for the videos.

[@writerlywitterings]

Thanks for sharing!

[@sistergoldenhair0727]

If you want pen pals there are great pen pal groups on Facebook and also try Global Penfriends.com. I’ve been on there over ten years and have met some great people!

[@normm7764]

Tracie L. Stimpson Thanks Tracie , always good to have recommendations. I will check it out!

[@angbane]

Good to know the classic papers are as good as the fancy ones. A writing club is of interest. Perhaps add it as a tier on your patreon?

[@writerlywitterings]

Thanks so much, Angela. I will be thinking about that, and I agree - a new pattern tier would make perfect sense.

[@annies8075]

I've not tried the Three Candlesticks paper, so will have to try it out ☺️

[@writerlywitterings]

I highly recommend it, Annie. A really good, solid paper that works well with all my pens.

[@Outandaboutwithpoggy]

Ive just got some from Amazon, bit apricey but oozes quality

[@JoelTurrell]

A philology lesson: "sont" is the past tense of "sint", which is Kiwi for "send" in England. Okay, so it isn't , but I did enjoy that slip of the tongue. BTW, I would be interested in pen pal club. I am certain that my location in Lewisburg, PA would prove expensive for all, and though I am not a member of the Bucknell faculty, I do tend to be verbose.

[@writerlywitterings]

My brother moved to NZ many years ago (early 70s) so I can easily understand your lesson, Joel!

[@romelmadray2636]

Sounds interesting, a web community could be set up as well. Canson marker paper works well for inks and is very smooth, and is more affordable than rhodia, works well for marker pens as well.

[@writerlywitterings]

Interesting, Romel. Many thanks, I'll have to look into that.

[@pigsydney]

I would be interested in pen pal club,sounds like good fun.

[@writerlywitterings]

Cheers, Pigsydney - Keep watching for more information! I hope to get it off the ground early next year.

[@Outandaboutwithpoggy]

Definetly Basildon Bond as long as that single sheet of heavy ruled paper is included

[@writerlywitterings]

You'll have to wait and see!

[@Outandaboutwithpoggy]

@@writerlywitterings You are cruel in the extreme

[@Outandaboutwithpoggy]

The names BOND, Mr Basildon Bond I presume said Mrs Moneypenny as she glided her hand over the smoothness of the paper, her fountain pen waiting to make contact for the first time

[@writerlywitterings]

You're getting far too excited!

[@Outandaboutwithpoggy]

@@writerlywitterings It's your voice that does it for me, just don't tell Clare my wife

[@NelsonFJ]

Basildon Bond, unfortunately, is not available in my country. When the international shipping situation normalizes I will certainly import some pads. As for the writing club, it's an excellent idea.

[@writerlywitterings]

Many thanks, Nelson. I am going to go ahead with this as an idea - do you think it would be best to have a separate section for this as an idea? I'm thinking a new video to introduce the concept, and where I can have a different channel to talk about it for those who're interested, or to keep mentioning it in existing review videos? I'm in two minds.

[@NelsonFJ]

​@@writerlywitterings A new channel, or a separate section initially does not sound like a bad idea, since, certainly, and regardless of the number of people who participate, it is a niche in the "modern world". But on the other hand, the subject does not differ much from what you normally post, as it complements pens, paper, and other stationery products, even your books. To be honest, I believe it will depend on how you want to organize the project. Maybe, start on this channel, and see how things are going and, then, decide whether to separate it from your regular content or not.

[@writerlywitterings]

@@NelsonFJ Good idea - that does make sense - thanks!

[@ChuckHenryII]

Not sure how it would work coming from the US, but I would definitely be interested in the pen pal/letter writing club. Sounds like a great way to connect during these times!

[@writerlywitterings]

You're in! Thanks for that - keep watching this channel, and I'll get an update as soon as possible. Cheers!

[@sistergoldenhair0727]

Just get the international forever stamps and you’ll be just fine;)

[@writerlywitterings]

@@sistergoldenhair0727 Sadly, there is no such thing in the UK. The problem with, say, you sending me a stamped, addressed envelope is that US stamps are not recognised in the UK and vice versa.

[@Outandaboutwithpoggy]

I looked everywhere for a3 Blotting paper but alas no such luck at the price I wished to pay so it looks you have done the same as me , used two sheets of A4 together ( Mine is sellotaped at the back ) does the same job

[@writerlywitterings]

No, this is a sheet of A3 with a big fold in the middle! Can't think where I got it from now - it was a while ago I bought this block.

[@JBFire97]

As already suggested below a stamp addressed envelope may work. Interesting idea and I’m sure would have a lot of interest! Thanks as always.

[@writerlywitterings]

Would you be interested too? My main concern, if I have one, is purely about giving my address out to the world. I've got to give some thought as to how I can provide it, but without spreading it all over the internet. I think asking people to contact me first via my website would work. This is working out to be a brilliant idea (i.e. it wasn't mine!)

[@JBFire97]

@@writerlywitterings Yes, would be interested. Right to be cautious about your home address.

[@bkr_vids]

How about a patron account? People who support you can then write to a PO Box once the incoming support justifies the additional expense of getting one (they’re pricey). In the meantime, I know it’s not really the same, but I have resorted to scanning my handwritten letters and sending them via email to some people on occasion, to ensure delivery (some places are less reliable).

[@writerlywitterings]

@@bkr_vids Hi, Favio - I do have the Patreon account already - and a $2 per month subscription sounds reasonable - and being able to arrange a PO Box address would be a good idea. More thoughts to mull over - many thanks for that!

[@writerlywitterings]

@@JBFire97 I'm afraid so. There are too many people who assume that all authors are by definition millionaires!

[@sistergoldenhair0727]

No need to reinvent the wheel. Facebook has pen pal groups for people who are fountain pen and paper enthusiasts. I like your idea very much, but if you find it too labor intensive that is a free alternative and you don’t have to worry about getting too many letters;)

[@writerlywitterings]

Very true - this is more for others who want to write to me, though!

[@sistergoldenhair0727]

Great papers but some of these would be too think for correspondence paper for me because my letters tend to be quite long and would require me to spend more on postage. I’ll stick with my Tomoe River paper. Also, have you tried onion paper? Works with fountain pens pretty well.

[@writerlywitterings]

No, I haven't had a chance to try onion paper yet. Good to hear that you like longer letters! So many folks find it tough to fill one side of A5!

[@Outandaboutwithpoggy]

Well Mike, I've ordered a couple of A5 Three Candlesticks writing pads and matching envelopes in white and cream off amazon and should arrive today in anticipation of a correspondence club., been busy putting videos on my two youtube channels this past week, if you do decide to go with it then please let me know, I did send my thoughts via email a couple of days back Regards Mike

[@writerlywitterings]

Hi, Mike, Sorry, what with travelling etc I've fallen behind on emails etc. I'll try to get back to you now. Meanwhile, I have to admit I love that Three Candles paper. Really gorgeous for pens. As to the club, that's likely to go ahead early in the New Year, I think. I'll let you know. Just now things are too busy to try to organise anything, sadly. All best Mike

[@anguswhite8233]

Like the ink (unsaturated blue) you used on your Conway Stewart Broad: what’s that, please?:)

[@writerlywitterings]

This is one of those horrible situations where ... I cannot remember. It was either Akkerman's Delft's Blauw or Diamine China Blue. China Blue, I find, is remarkably similar to Delft's Blauw. I was sent a sample of Delft's earlier this year and absolutely love it, but sadly Akkerman have run out - Covid means they couldn't keep up with demand - and so I hunted around for the nearest comparable ink, and hit on China. Which sort of means, whichever it really was, you should be OK with the Diamine version! Hope that makes sense!

[@caitlinday4395]

Thanks for the great video. Does anyone know if would be possible to print on this paper? I've got an inkjet printer and ...really bad handwriting... :')

[@writerlywitterings]

Ah, I really couldn't say. I suspect that Three Candlesticks would have a problem - it has a glorious texture - ideal for a pen, less good for most inkjets. The Basildon Bond has a smoother surface that might work OK, but you'd honestly have to try them out with your specific printer. Some are more robust than others. If you contact the companies, they may send you a sample for testing.

[@dmichaelbetts]

Hi. Great video. Does the Three Candlesticks pad include a lined sheet?

[@writerlywitterings]

I'm afraid not - but I think that with the thickness of the paper, a lined sheet probably wouldn't help. It's thick enough that any writing on the opposite side is completely hidden - no shadowing - so I think it's too opaque for lined paper to serve any purpose. I have to let you know, though, that I have just written four letters with this paper, and when I read your note, I had to grab the pad to make sure I wasn't being a berk and missing something really obvious, like a lined sheet hidden at the back! There is a blotting sheet, but no lined sheet.

[@dmichaelbetts]

@@writerlywitterings that's a pity. I'll have to try and figure out a way of writing in a straight line. My text tends to roll downhill. I found some printable guide sheets on the interweb yesterday with lines in various rulings, so might go over them with black sharpie and see if they will show through.

[@Yesica1993]

Are your books a series where you have to start from #1 to understand what's going on? Or do you have standalones for newbies?

[@writerlywitterings]

Oh, you can start anywhere. It's a standard contract nowadays. Publishers don't like to think of people picking up a book and learning they have to read the previous twenty in the series to learn what's happening, so all my books work as standalone or as part of the series.

[@jamesaritchie1]

Great. Just great. More paper I want desperately to buy. Our income has dropped drastically because of Covid, but I would still be willing to pay a fee for such a club, even if i can't use it very often. If I can use it, I'm paid up, and if I can't, the fee will help someone else receive letters. Do try to keep the fee reasonable. Say, under a thousand dollars. That said, this is a difficult time of the year. Much, much lower income, and the holidays on the way. Traveling, presents, etc. It might be best to start such a club in January. Just a thought.

[@writerlywitterings]

Hi, James, and thanks for that. Yes, I doubt it will kick off until early January. Meanwhile I'm looking at options such as PayPal or Patreon to fund membership. Both could work, The interesting thing may well be the old system of keeping people's names and addresses on file (EU rules on data collection and storage are a minefield) but I'd hope I can get around that with the fact that other people would be writing in, and thereby confirming their interest. I would hope to keep the fee under $1,000, but if you are happy with that, I'd be delighted to take your money! More seriously, on Patreon I could have a monthly charge from $3 upwards to fun things. I'll have to look at the cost of writing to America (so, add in the cost per sheet of paper, cost of envelopes, cost of stamps etc). The charge per person has to be the same (I don't have time to check on all postage all across the world) so I'd hope to keep it low. This isn't intended as a money-making venture for me, but more a way of helping other people connect, and helping them to spread the word about enjoying writing.

[@jamesaritchie1]

@@writerlywitterings This sounds better and better. I confess to being incredibly ignorant about such rules and organization, but everything you say sounds very good.

[@lukjad007]

I have just found your corner of the internet and admit I am quite interested in joining a pen pal club. Has this happened yet?

[@writerlywitterings]

Glad you joined, Luke!

[@sensemaya1]

Have you tried Original Crown Mill?

[@writerlywitterings]

Yes - I tried that in the previous paper test. It's been one of my standard Go To papers for a while - but it didn't stand up compared with Basildon Bond or Three Feathers, I'm afraid - but that was my own testing, and of course it may well be fine for others, depending on the type of pen, type of ink, etc.

[@sensemaya1]

@@writerlywitterings Ahhh....For some reason I missed your review. But I have 20 mins of fun ahead of me now because I've found it. OCM is quite rough on some FP's I find. Thank you

[@Richard_Barnes]

Basildon Bond for the win! 😀

[@writerlywitterings]

You just gave me a ruddy heart-attack! It didn't occur to me that people could see the video was coming up, and I assumed I'd accidentally set it up to instant publish. Phew! Hope you like it - you're mentioned a couple of times (politely)!

[@Richard_Barnes]

@@writerlywitterings - 😂 brilliant. 👍🏻

[@writerlywitterings]

@@Richard_Barnes Thank you so very much - I look forward to my heart returning to normal ...

[@ellelala39]

Tomoe is, for me, a perfect match for any ink. The BB would be too thick of a paper for me.

[@writerlywitterings]

Tomoe with the 68 gsm in particular, is perfect for any ink - but I haven't seen any in a notepad for writing correspondence. Have you?

[@ellelala39]

Loose sheets thru Amazon. 68 gsm. White.

[@ellelala39]

And Jet Pens offers it in cream.

[@writerlywitterings]

@@ellelala39 Thanks!

[@GrayWithMe]

Stalogy is a bit thicker than Tomoe and I’m trying that out currently

[@marka.200]

In the US, as usual, sad news about this paper. Under $5 US, great, + nearly $11 US shipping, not great. ;-( I'll keep looking for better sources.

[@writerlywitterings]

It's crazy how prices for postage operate, isn't it? I know that this paper is wonderful, but the weight of posting paper makes it so difficult. All I can suggest is, if you speak to someone like Brian Goulet, he might consider it a worthwhile line to bring in, in which case his order would bring down the cost considerably?

[@marka.200]

@@writerlywitterings Great idea, thanks!

[@raouldontneedthem3416]

Thank you for your today's review of papers. I think that when you said "For those of you in America", speaking about your book, you did mean "For those of you in the United States", because I presume that you know that America is a continent, NOT a country whatsoever. Regards!

[@writerlywitterings]

Sorry - it's the same as people speaking about "England" or "United Kingdom" or "British Isles" - each of which is discrete. However, I believe that for all the countries of the Americas, the book is on sale at the same time - from Canada to Argentina. Apologies, I should have been more careful.

[@invaderzim1964]

Actually there is no continent called America. There is North America and South America for continents. America as a country only refers to the USA.

[@raouldontneedthem3416]

@@invaderzim1964 My comment was addressed to Mr Jecks, only. However, I thank you for your opinion. I have just learnt from you now that the OAS (Organization of American States) actually covers just the U.S. states (Alabama, Illinois, Florida, etc.), not the whole continent. But now I wonder why the label in front of the U.S. Representative says "United States", instead of "America"; who knows...

[@raouldontneedthem3416]

Just one more thing: then, Christofer Columbus discovered North America or South America?

[@invaderzim1964]

@@raouldontneedthem3416 it's an easy look up question that I'm surprised you haven't done already. Since there is no Central American continent, Central America and the Caribbean are considered part of North America- wikipedia. Fyi, my original comment was not an opinion but a fact. The United States of America is the ONLY country in the entire world that has America as part of its name. That statement is also a fact and not an opinion.