Should You Journal in Pen or Pencil?
Should you journal in pen or pencil? For years there has been a debate on whether the pen or pencil is more superior. Each has its benefits, its pros, and its cons.
One thing you will want to keep in mind is that when you are journaling, you are keeping track of your experiences, memories, and thoughts. These are probably things that you will want to remember or look back on in the future, so you want something that is easy to read and easily kept.
There are other factors that should be considered as well:
- How lightly or heavy you write.
- What feels best in your hand.
- Do you tend to do any creative drawing or doodling?
- Do you want color in your journal?
- Are you worried about mistakes with your writing?
- How fast do you write or want to write?
- Is your writing easier to read in pen or pencil?
- What kind of journal are you writing in?
These are all factors that should be considered when you are trying to decide whether to write with a pen or a pencil when journaling.
The Benefits of Writing with a Pencil
To help you decide on whether to use a pencil or not, here are some of the benefits of using a pencil rather than a pen.
It is easier to fix any mistakes you may make.
One of the biggest benefits of journaling with a pencil is that you can make mistakes and easily correct them. If you misspell a word or decide that you want to change things around, all you must do is use an eraser to take it out and enter what you what to say.
Not only does this help with journal writing, but it also helps with doodling and designing if you want to add some designs to your journal.
It is quicker to get your notes onto paper.
Knowing that you can use an eraser may also make it easier to jot down what you want to say as fast as you can. This is helpful for getting things off your mind and on to paper so that you do not forget.
Using A Pen for Your Journaling
The mighty pen. The pen is probably the most widely used tools when it comes to journaling. For many, the pen is the best thing to use when writing.
Here is why many prefer the pen over the pencil when writing in a journal.
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The pen is permanent.
Not in a scary way! When you are writing your thoughts down with a pen, there is no going back. This can be beneficial if you are journaling things like your goals or plans. Since you cannot go back and erase it, that plan or goal is now on paper and should be used as a motivator.
The pen does not smear or smudge when it is dry, so you can easily save it for a long period of time.
You can use a variety of different colors.
There are so many different colors of pens that are available to you to make your journaling experience better. Not only is there a large selection of colors, but there is also a variety of different tips, weights, and styles that you can use.
Using color can help you organize things in your journal, keep things separate, and make certain things stand out more.
The other great thing about using colors in your journal is that the colors will bring the journal to life. If you are creative and like to draw, decorate, or doodle in your journal, using colorful pens will help you be more creative.
Cons of using a pen.
- As you are writing you may have the problem of getting ink on your hands as you write or doodle. The ink can transfer from the paper to your hands leaving you with a mess.
- You can’t erase it so if you make a mistake you have to mark it out and leave the messy writing in your journal.
Cons of using a pencil.
- A pencil can be easily smudged making what you wrote unreadable.
- Pencils do not have as much weight as pens do, so your writing could be faint and hard to read.
Writing in a journal really depends on your preference and what you feel more comfortable with writing with. There is no right or wrong answer, it really is up to you and what works best for you.
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