[Pen/Pencil Review] Smaller is Better – For Editing – the Pilot Hi-Tec-C 0.25mm
This is the last one of the “Smallest Pen” mini-series. Though not small in length, it is the finest point I’ve knowingly used. Today’s pen is the Pilot Hi-Tec-C 0.25mm in brown ink. With the onrush of Steampunk in literature, I’ve had “brown” days…and I don’t have TONS of brown ink pens.
At first I thought I’d finally found a pen that was “too fine” for my writing tastes and styles. Though the steel needle-point nib is sturdy and doesn’t make me feel like I’m going to break it, I do occasionally have the fear that I’m going to rip through paper. I do put quite a bit of pressure on my pen points when I write – I’ve tried to stop that, but it’s a bad habit (like eating too fast).
I also initially thought that the narrowness of the line took away from the richness of the ink, and that is a factor. There’s no way you’re going to get a deep, intense line with something this fine pointed. That’s just a given. So I was starting to despair that I’d finally found my limits.
Then, I made an amazing discovery…this is (for me) the perfect pen for editing and proofreading manuscripts. Oh, my gosh, yes. The Hi-Tec-Cs are 5.5″ long capped, and 6.25″ with the cap posted, which makes it long enough to be comfortable in the hand. It’s a good diameter – a little on the narrow side, but a decent grip size, even though it doesn’t have any cushy grippy parts. It’s all-in-all a good, every day pen.
What makes it fantastic (for me) for editing? The super fine 0.25mm point can get into small typeface places for editorial marking and notes. And, if I’m working on a basic, 12-point Courier New, double-spaced manuscript? There’s WORLDS of space for revisions, notes, and changes with this pen. In fact you can see that in this tiny bit here:
This may just turn out to be my “go to” editing pen — and I definitely want more colors in this size for that purpose (I do tend to edit different drafts and projects in different colors). There is a difference in ability to get in and do good editing with the 0.25mm as compared to even the same pen in 0.4mm. This is the one case where SMALLER is BETTER.
I give it 3.5 out of 5 Bronze Pencils, just because it’s now a “specialty” pen. I’d use them for a specific function, not necessarily all over writing.
[From the Archive] Holidays and Writers
Sorry I’ve let this slip for a couple of weeks. I think there aren’t that many more of these. This is from December 2009…
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Happy Holidays! As we approach Christmas and New Years, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by everything falling on our shoulders at once. So, how does a writer try to get everything done without becoming even more insane?
• Solution #1 – Time Manage. Whether it means guarding your writing by squeezing it in either on lunch or other breaks at your day job, or while your holiday treats are baking/cooking, you can – if you’re good at multi-tasking – get your writing in. Writing can be like the new exercise studies – even if you only get small spurts in, those spurts are cumulative. I DO NOT recommend less sleep – EVER. Proper sleep will help you maintain your health – you can’t write if you’re sick.
• Solution #2 – DON’T DO IT. Don’t try to do it all. If your work and family obligations make it so that adding – or keeping – one more thing will make your life beyond busy, then take a break. Drop SOMETHING, even if it’s writing. I know that sounds blasphemous, but it’s true. If you’re actually looking at writing a JOB, then it’s time for a vacation. Every job needs a break. As long as it’s a limited amount of time, and you get right back to it, taking a break can help you refresh and see your writing with fresh eyes. BUT YOU HAVE TO COME BACK!!! If you don’t feel comfortable taking a vacation from writing, consider it like this… when everyone else in your family thinks you “don’t work†because you work at home, remind them of this… it’s not that you don’t work, it’s that you NEVER LEAVE work. You’re on the job and AT the job 24/7. That makes a vacation even more valuable.
So, as the holidays scream towards us, take stock of what you want to accomplish in 2010. Next week is the dreaded “resolution†time. However, I think we should use it as goal-setting time, but that’s still another week away. For now, enjoy Christmas. And, truly, it’s okay to go on a writing vacation – though if you’re on a serious deadline, then all bets are off.
[Writer Post] Random Thought Process Post – or – “Squirrel!”
I’m feeling very “Squirrel” like when it comes to the blog this week. It’s not that I don’t have anything to say… I ALWAYS have SOMETHING to say, it’s just none of it is a full blog. So taking some tips from other blogs around – like Jay Lake‘s – I’m going to do one of his “link salads” or as another person I know calls it “link sausage” – with some commentary.
First off, congratulations to my friend, Maureen McHugh. Her book, After the Apocalypse was ranked on the Publisher’s Weekly Best Books of 2011 list. Before Tina Fey even. Couldn’t have happened to a nicer person and band roadie. She is quite deserving of this honor.
Second, the AntiSpec movement–though right now it’s primarily for designers, it’s for all creatives. Spec work isn’t “just” an art/design thing. It’s something writers have fought for years without really realizing it, and its’ becoming more prevalent with ebooks. Especially when you have Keynote Speakers at the Frankfurt Book Fair quote as saying: “As the value of content approaches zero,†Stein said, “people will pay for context and community.†We all have to fight to be paid AT ALL in this industry – much less fairly – let’s try to keep the money flowing to the author.
And speaking of being paid fairly… Clifford Pickover, a physicist I have read and follow on Twitter, posted this link about the death of the Midlist (mostly geared toward non-fiction, but applies to fiction) and how advances have shrunk. At least the author of the piece is looking for someone to take up the slack.
And to elevate some of the dire… Tiger Pens posted a link to this blog. If you run a writer group with people struggling with writer’s block, or are a teacher looking to encourage students to write, or want a good game for a writer’s group, check this link for Fall Writing. This is a creative way to get writers of all ages to think.
If you want more of a “game”, I received Rory’s Story Cubes for Christmas last year. http://www.storycubes.com/ This is a Boggle-like game where there are images on dice, you roll the dice and make up a story based on the images. And I just found out… there’s an app for that. I may just have to download it – I see a bar game at SF conventions.
And there is your NaNoMo distraction for the week. If you’re participating, go forth and write. If you’re not participating…go forth and write. I MUST remember to put up an archive post this week. I don’t have THAT many left.
[Pen/Pencil Post] The Zebra Technoline 0.4mm BallPoint Pen
Continuing the smallest pen “mini” series, today’s post is on the Zebra Technoline 0.4mm ballpoint pen. This was from a JetPens.com New Product line and only available through JetPens or other online retailers, the Technoline line is not available on the Zebra Pens website. So this pen is not yet widely available in the US.
Obviously I ordered the green one. This pen has some similarities to the OHTO I reviewed last week. It’s lightweight – less than half an ounce in weight. It’s only 5″ long, which makes it barely long enough to be comfortable. It’s a wider body than the OHTO, so it’s more comfortable in my hand, especially with the slightly softer rubber finger grip area.
According to JetPens, this ballpoint ink is oil based, which makes it fast drying and allegedly waterproof. I’m not about to dump water on my work to discover if that’s the case. But I haven’t had any trouble with ink smearing, so I will give it the quick dry thumbs up.
The Technoline sports solid stainless steel hardware at the “business end” of the pen. The writing point is a very solid but tapered metal protecting the very fine point refill. I like that. It’s almost impossible to bend or break this point while writing normally. And the reservoir indicates a long-lasting ink. I’ve found the ink itself to be as dark and rich as anyone can expect from such a fine point and, frankly, from ballpoint ink. The lines created are smooth without skipping or glopping.
This is a solid pen running about $3.50 from JetPens.com. It’s refillable, and for those who prefer a ballpoint, a very competent pen. They have higher end styles for those who want a “nicer” desk pen. But for a “go to” ball point, I’d use this one. And if I could find an inexpensive way to have them made into promotional products, I’d probably do that, but alas that’s something for WAY down the road. I don’t think VistaPrint or Amsterdam can get these down into my price range just yet… but I hope they try.
I give it 3.5 bronze pencils.
[Writer Post] Hey, Look, It’s November Again! Time for Multi-Tasking
We’ve reached another November. That means ’tis the season to write tons of words very, very fast. It’s NANOMO (or NANOWRIMO) month. For all of you taking the challenge to write 50,000 words in the next 29 days, GOOD LUCK.
That’s not sarcasm, really. Though I don’t participate in NANOMO specifically, I posted my reason on Facebook yesterday – EVERY month is NANOMO for me (if I’m doing it right). I do support and admire those who do. I am still struggling to make sure I write SOMETHING every day – that whole small amounts consistently thing. And it is a struggle. But one I love, even when I’m tearing my hair out.
This is NOT a pseudo-annual “anti-NANOMO” post. Been there done that. It’s not even a pep talk for doing a little bit every day. Been there done THAT, too. (But Rhonda, you rehash topics ALL THE TIME! What’s different?) Nothin’. This is a rehash of my “to do” list. With one “To DONE” (sort of) list.
2011 was supposed to be a “Finish Something Darn It” year. And it’s (again) SORT OF happened. Kinda… As with most of us, there has been a lot of stuff happen this year that’s put speed bumps and major detours along the way. I have gotten a couple of new stories written (one submitted and published already). The one I was challenged to write in August is currently with some first readers. I have my notebooks of things to be working on put together.
I do multi-task. So I do have multiple projects going. I know several of my Pro Writer friends who’d come beat me with a FOCUS! Stick, but this is how I roll until there’s a deadline. As with last week, when I was determined to finish my short story – darn it.
I have three novels that are in stages of completion. One is my first novel which I’ve started completely rewriting. Basically I’m reading the old chapters and then redoing them. WHY? Because when I wrote it mumble-mumble years ago, it was okay to have 3rd Person Omniscient POV in SF. Now it’s called “head-hopping” and it’s…frowned upon. Since it’s an ensemble cast, I’m choosing a character per chapter to use as a POV character.
I’m also trying to work on my YA novel and my serial killer novel. A lot of that is clean up typing work to get to where I was and move forward. I do have a backlog of typing that needs doing. THIS WEEK, I’ve been pretty good about doing some morning work on it.
It’s hard to work on just one of these projects. I like them all for different reasons. The YA novel is much like the new Once Upon A Time only different. I love this Fall Season of TV for helping make Fairy Tales “cool” again. The First Novel is the kid I’m trying to get out of my house after raising it. The serial killer novel is where some of the technology rage goes when I have to fight stuff.
Don’t get me STARTED on the notebook full of short stories that may need revision or in various stages of completion. Or the new plot bunnies starting to poke out their wiggly little noses. So you see… NANOMO, it’s not just for November anymore. 
[Pen/Pencil Review] Going to Extremes – The OHTO Pieni Needle-point 0.3mm Ballpoint Pen
Last week I wrote about the largest pen I now own – the Lehr Arts .50 caliber handmade bullet pen. This week I’ll begin a short series on the smallest pens I now own. Jimmy and I did a run on JetPens.com last week. I wanted to do an experiment to see if there really is such a thing as “too fine” a point on a pen.
I’m starting with the OHTO Pieni Border Needle-point i 0.3mm ballpoint. I, of course, got the green one. I did buy one pen with a “finer” point, but this one fits the rest of the criteria as well. The OHTO Pieni retractable needle-point is only 4.875″ long retracted, and 5.0625″ long point out and 0.29″ in diameter. This is a very DAINTY pen.
I know there are shorter and smaller pens on the market, but this is as little as I can go without losing function. This pen is barely long enough and thick enough in the barrel for me to work with. I also tend to shy away from needle-point pens because I am so heavy-handed with my writing that I’ve broken needle-points before.
However, as with the OHTO fountain pen I’ve reviewed, this pen is a pleasant surprise. The pen point is solidly constructed of stainless steel (rather than plastic into metal) which gives the writing tip more stability and strength. I don’t feel like I’m about to bend the tip out of shape. The ink flow is smooth. With this pen being both extremely fine point and ballpoint, I knew the ink wouldn’t be as dark and rich as other inks, but I was surprised there as well. Though, true, it’s not as dark (and you can’t expect it to be) as the Hi-Tec-C roller ball black ink, it’s still easily readable and dark for all the narrowness.
The OHTO Pieni comes at a moderate price point for a refillable, keep for a while, retractable ball point pen. On JetPens, it runs just under $6. However, because of it’s compact size, it won’t be a “go to” everyday pen for me. It’ll be a fun, grab on the go pen. It might end up in some travel gear because it is petite and light and takes up little space. It’s sturdy construction will also make it a good “purse pen”. It’ll take some abuse.
I give it a 3.5 out of 5 Bronze pencils.
[Writer Post] Networking…You Never Know…
When you’re a writer, you never know when or where you’re going to have an opportunity to “network”. Yes, network is one of those overused “technical” words that has lost all meaning like “platform” and “robust”, but I don’t have a better word to use…unless it’s “Schmooze” and I just LOVE that word (no, I’m not being sarcastic this time). But back to the point… schmoozing can happen just about anywhere at any time — especially when you may not think you’re not at your best for such a situation…like when you’re simply attending some other kind of show, like The Original Fort Worth Gun Show.
I never expected to do anything but people watch, handle some weapons to see what fits me. Maybe get some holiday gift ideas for family. There’s a LOT of hand-crafted jewelry at these things – in the midst of weaponry and survivalist food/gear. What I amazed me was what I came away with – a pen and a book, a prop for Redheads of the Apocalypse, and topics for this week’s blog posts.
The pen, I’ve already talked about in the pen blog. If you haven’t seen that one, check it out. Lehr Arts does dynamite work…well, maybe not dynamite, but I haven’t seen their whole line… The book is the shocker.
I met Daryl Parker at the show. He’s a local guy who’s part of a shooting range in the area called Marksman’s Challenge. He was a competitor on History Channel’s Top Shot. He was at the Gun Show promoting the range, himself, and his book, Sacrifice of the Season – which is a dark historical fantasy – at the beginning of the American Industrial Revolution, West Virginia, with Faeries. I’m fairly certain he’s put this book out himself, which a lot of people are doing, but he’s found and interesting niche to catapult from – gun shows – which is important when you start down this road. I wonder how he’d do in the SF convention realm – we could use his weapons expertise for research – and he could benefit from knowing more people in his literary area.
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I was NOT expecting to find a historical fantasy author in the middle of a gun show. But if Daryl can use his range and his TV work to help find new fantasy fans…more power to him. I will support that. In fact, I did – I bought the book.
As for the Redheads prop, now that’s not as far of a leap. One of the jewelry vendors had a lot of skull jewelry (I know, I was so not shocked). I started talking to the guy because one ring that caught my eye – which is a band made of little skulls like Caroline Specter had at FenCon. He just didn’t have one in my size – yet. He did let me have one to use in a future manuscript and wants me to send links to electronic stuff to recommend to his daughter. Oh, yeah, I need to do that. 
Three good connections. One gun show. You just never, ever know where you’re going to meet people who like what you do and might help you out. So keep that in mind when you’re wandering around any event. You never know who you might meet or what might happen.
[Pen/Pencil Review] .50 Caliber Purpleheart Wood Ballpoint Pen by Lehr Arts
A Facebook comment said, “Heavy round for heavy words”. Or so I can hope, maybe. This Lehr Arts ballpoint pen is hand -crafted by Aaron T. Lehr in Austin, TX. I do like buying one off pens on occasion, especially if it supports an independent artist. This pen is made from a .50 caliber bullet with a purpleheart wood finger grip.
This is no lightweight pen. In fact, it’s the heftiest – by a large margin – pen I own. It’s 6.75″ long, which makes it long enough to be comfortable in my hand (and I’ve got a medium sized hand – not “man hands”, but I’m definitely not “dainty”), I couldn’t even begin to tell you what it weighs – though I could probably use it as a blunt force weapon in an extreme situation – it is after all mostly brass. It’s a twist open ballpoint (probably medium) with a Cross refill mechanism.
Note to Cross or other refill makers: I know it’s a pretty small refill, but if you could make a gel ink refill that fit your ball point pen mechanisms like Parker has…I k now I would be eternally grateful and would spend lots of money with you.
Back to the pen. It’s remarkably well-balanced for something this big. It’s definitely wider and bulkier than anything I’ve ever used, but not uncomfortable. The bullet casing is naturally gradient from the widest end – which has a diameter of just over 0.75″ down to the point. The finger grip is comfortable being hand-turned wood – I chose one with the 1.5″ of finger grip, though they have 1″ finger grips and many different woods and stone materials to choose from. The hardware is brass to go with the casing.
This is a beautiful piece of work. This is definitely an ART pen. It’s not truly designed for everyday use, but almost comfortable enough to do so. I could definitely see it used for people with fine motor skill issues or joint issues – it’s heavy, but ergonomic and being wide, doesn’t require a lot of knuckle bending.
If you like dealing with independent artists, are (or know) people into weaponry, and need gift ideas – or if you just like collecting one of a kind pens at a reasonable price – go check this guy out. I picked up this pen for $25. They have smaller caliber bullet pens that are shinier with Parker refills for $35, which is a price point you can’t argue with for the uniqueness of the pen. The artist and his wife sell pens at area gun shows (which is where I found this one). Check out the website. Tell ’em I sent ya.
And just because it *IS* so big that it might not be comfortable to a lot of people, I give it a 4 of 5 bronze pencils.
