How do you write? That is the question of the week.
I use my Kindle keyboard, my laptop, and paper and pen. My pens aren’t anything special except to me. They’re ball point. I usually bet them while I’m on vacation in local gift shops. Good pens are also the free ones you get at the hotels. Seriously.
The other day I tried a new pencil. I almost never write in pencil, but I was intrigued by a recent podcast from Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach. I listen to her podcasts pretty regularly or I’ll read the transcript which is what I did in this case.
You can listen or read by following the link below:
Do You Need Stephen King’s Pencil?
I think we all kind of feel that the greats have some kind of special ability besides the actual excellent writing – a comfy chair, a perfect mug of their drink of choice, a light that shines on the paper or the computer and leaves no glare, and if writing on paper, a writing implement.
To be honest, I felt that Stephen King was a felt tip or gel roller type of writer. Or an old-fashioned typewriter like the kind I learned on in high school in the eighties.
But according to Ann Kroeker’s research, Stephen King’s pencil (not pen) of choice is the Blackwing 602. On the side of the pencil is the tagline: HALF THE PRESSURE, TWICE THE SPEED. The eraser is larger than on a school pencil but squared and squished.
I had to go to an artist materials supply store. And they cost $2.25 each. I bought a couple to let my upcoming students try them out.
And I have to tell you…
I loved it!
It was smooth. It was fast.
I liked it.
I’m not going to change what I write with (for the most part) but I really did enjoy the feel for it.
Anyway, if you’re reading this Stephen King and you want a couple of extra pencils, email me your address and I’ll send them out. I’ll even spring for shipping.
In the photos below,
I have the actual sample of my writing with the pencil. I wrote on a multimedia grade sketch pad. I also have photos of the pencil and the pen I am currently using.
Griffins and Ginger Snaps 
I got my husband a box of Blackwings moons ago, and I love them but the erasers don’t last very long. Certainly not the life of the pencil. For more bucks I could have gotten an accompanying Blackwing eraser with a gift set of the pencils. That was through a catalog we don’t get anymore (Levenger). But they really are awesome pencils. Ticonderoga, even the “soft” version. Remind me to show you a concrete poem I wrote based on a sculpture of pencils at the SUNY Adk library.
Meant to say the Ticonderoga soft version doesn’t measure up.
I actually enjoyed writing with the Blackwings even though it was just an experiment, but I’m really a pen person. I did notice that their erasers are big for a pencil – they can be pulled out and extended – but I usually use a separate eraser when I’m using a pencil. It was nice and smooth. If you want to go back, Arlene’s Artists had them (and others); I barely got out of there with my credit card intact and I didn’t need most of their supplies (I use plain old Prismacolor colored pencils, nothing fancy.)