Lisa L. Spangenberg Analog Defaults

Analog Defaults

Updated February 18, 2026

I used to have a section of analog tools on my Uses page. Inspired by Brad Dowdy’s Analog Defaults page, these are the analog writing tools I use regularly, mostly, daily. As Brad notes, this list is not a permanent list. As my current tools change, I will (sporadically) update this page.

Most of what I write involves analog tools at one or more stages of my writing process. I tend to buy scholarly books in printed codex form (for purposes of citation), and I annotate them, with pencil, flags, and in some cases, ink.

Paper

I use Composition note books for general research notes and draft. I usually have a couple of Composition books in use at any time. I watch for back-to-school sales at chain stores and Renys when these American school standards with lined pages, a sewn and taped binding and marbled covers, are on sale for $0.50 to $1.00. Composition notebooks made with rice or sugar cane fibers will even stand up to F or M nib fountain pens.

I also like these half-size Oxford Junior Composition books that are 4-7/8 x 7-1/2 inches, or the Koyokuo equivalents which have much better paper. These half-size B5 notebooks take up very little space, you can write with one on your lap, or fit one below or above a keyboard on a desk. Fountain pen with an F nib works well, as dopencil, gel pens, or ball point.

I bought an EMSHOI A4 Spiral Notebook College Ruled, 11.2" X 8.27", 150 Sheets/300 Pages, 100gsm Lined Journal on a whim. This is a thick A4-ish notebook with decent paper, great for drafts and notes, good with pens, fountain pens, or pencil, and surprisingly affordable.

Fieldnotes I carry a pocket notebook when I leave home for grocery lists, short notes to myself about things to do or remember, bird sightings—all sorts of things. I am also using a Field Notes Pitch Black for reading notes on a specific topic.

I use index cards, record cards, note cards, 3 x 5 cards or whatever they are called in your dialect, daily. They are useful short for notes to remind me of daily tasks and objectives, reading notes, bibliographic citations, writing prompts, portable shopping lists, all kinds of uses.

Midori spiral-bound notebooks

Johnny Gamber’s hand-bound hardcover journals from Pencil Revolution Press. These are stunning, carefully made books, with high-quality paper.

Pencils

I love a good woodcased pencil, and have a number of favorites. Everyone raves about Blackwing Pencils, and I enjoy using them, but there are lots of really good, enjoyable, more reasonably priced pencils.

Mitsubishi 9852EW This is a beautiful recycled wood natural finish pencil with green foil stamping, (“Master Writing”) and a dark purple eraser. The graphite is smooth and dark. This is probably my favorite writing pencil.
I’m very fond of Musgrave Pencils, especially the Tennessee Red, and the Harvest Pro.
Mitsubishi No. 772 Bicolor editor’s pencil. Great for annotating and marking up hard copy for revision. It’s a almost-as-good replacement for my favorite bi-color, the Caran D’Ache.
I’m using a Pilot Legno wood-body mechanical pencil. The Legno has a beautiful curved wooden body that’s more like a conventional pen than a mechanical pencil. The Legno is exceedingly comfortable for long-form writing. I usually use .05 mm 2B Pentel or Pilot graphite.

Pens

These are the pens in current use.

Lamy 2000 Makrolon F nib with Pilot Iroshizuku Shin-Kai blue-black ink. This pen holds a fair amount of ink, and I keep it filled and in use. This is the primary pen I use for long form writing.
Pilot Custom 74 in Teal with Pilot Iroshizuku Shin-ryoku.
Moonman Fude Nib
Leonardo Officina Italiana Messenger Fountain Pen in “Water” with a stub nib.
Spoke Design Roady with Schmidt easyFLOW 9000 Blue refill. A pocket sized ball point pen that posts, and is extremely comfortable and pleasant to use.
Mitsubishi Uni-ball Signo UM-151 Gel Pens 0.38 mm Red, Blue, and Green for annotating.
Sakura Pigma Micron Pen 03 0.35 mm Red, Blue, and Green for annotating very thin textbook paper (hello Norton Anthology of English Literature).

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