Inside my Logbook: The gear
All the stationery and gadgets I use inside my increasingly battered folio
Over the last few weeks, I've been sharing my Logbook, the system I use to juggle all my projects. A few of you lovely people have asked me what gear I use, so, as promised, here's the full rundown.
I'll try to keep it all as brief as possible, but I'm a real nerd about these things, so I can't promise!
THE LOCHBY FIELD FOLIO B5
I love Lochby things. I mean, really love them. Maybe even more than biscuits. Okay, that's a lie, but I am as addicted to the wax-canvas wonders as I am custard creams.
I already had three Lochbys when I picked up the B5 and made it the core of my system. Like the Mini-Field Journal and its A5 cousin, the build quality of this bad boy is chef's kiss, and the way the canvas gets worn over time is a joy to behold. I've been carting this one around since April and the patina has already started to form nicely.
Like the rest of the Field Folios, the B5 has a zip to keep everything safe, holds multiple notebooks thanks to the ribbons and features flexible pockets just big enough to hold the essentials without overloading. I keep one pen in the holder and the other clipped in a front pocket, alongside some other tools I'll get to in a minute.
NOTEBOOKS
My main logbook never leaves the folio, permanently slid into the right-hand back pocket.
My first logbook was a Leuchtturm1917, but the 80gsm paper was a bit thin for my liking and didn't really cope with fountain pens, so this time I've gone for the B5 Nomaddict Life Unplugged from one of my favourite notebook manufacturers, Clairefontaine.
At 90gsm, the show-through isn't half as bad, and the paper has a lovely silky feel when writing.
But why B5? To be honest... I just like it, even though composition books aren't the norm in the UK and the size can be quite hard to find. It gives you more space than A5, but somehow feels better than A4, at least to me.
Pure personal preference!
PENS AND STUFF
Weirdly, even though I mentioned fountain pens, my writing implement of choice when bullet journalling is a ballpoint. I picked up the Black Kaweco Classic Moleskine as part of a set in Los Angeles a couple of years back, and it quickly became a fave. It's a chunky little monkey and just sits nicely in my hand.
For those who really want to get into the nitty-gritty, I use the Kaweco Soul 1.0mm refill in blue.
For underlining, I use an ol' faithful – Uni-Ball Eye Fine gel pen in Wine Red (or as I like to call it, Dracula red), which gives a lovely rich line paired with the 40cm Midori Aluminium Multiple Ruler.
Tucked into the front pocket with the ruler, you'll usually find a pack of Post-It Index Filing Tabs to help mark out pages and a pack of Post-it notes of whatever brand I have handy.
For highlighter, my go-to brand is Zebra's Mildliners with a wedge tip at one end and a fine at the other. And, as I'm writing by hand, I also keep a few Tipp-Ex Pocket Mice within reach. One is always stashed in my pen-roll, while another is knocking about on my desk ready and willing to cover up mistakes.
ADDED EXTRAS
A few non-essential added extras, now.
As I mentioned in my bits & bobs post, I often doodle symbols by the day's date to record the weather, but I recently picked up a set of stamps which I've been using over the last week.
I also have a number of roller date stamps for when I want to cosplay as a librarian and stamp a date next to a specific entry. My current one is a smart-looking Fukaisu stamp, which I picked up for next to nothing in a stationery store. I've just found the same one on Amazon, although, of course, there are many to choose from for all your retro stamping needs.
I always have a pile of Ranger Archival Inks to hand, but usually use Plum for the dates and French Ultramarine for the weather symbols.
The other completely unnecessary toy I have is a Phomemo M110 Bluetooth Portable Thermal Business Label Maker, which I use to print out little stickers of books I've read and whatnot. The quality isn't the best in the world, but I kinda like the throwback to photocopied photos and fanzines – made all the more garish when I colour them with highlighters if the mood takes me.
Oh, and one last thing if, like me, you're always sticking things in your pages. All those stickers, pictures and ticket stubs can make writing on the next page a bumpy experience, so it's worth investing in a plastic writing board. Simply slip it under your page, and the surface becomes silky smooth all over again. I grabbed this one from eBay, but there are loads available, including collectable sheets for pocket books by Traveller's Company. (Yes, I have one in my Pocket Folio, because of course I do!)
So there you have it. Nothing too revolutionary, and the important thing isn't actually the tools you use, but finding a way to keep your ideas flowing, your projects under control, and your mind free of noise!
I'll no doubt be adding/changing my gear list over time, so please hit me up with your journalling recommendations. You can reply to this mail or leave a comment below!
Until then, look after yourself and each other,
READ THE REST OF THE SERIES
Go down a logbook rabbit hole with me!
Cavan Scott
Cavan Scott
Cavan Scott
Cavan Scott
WHAT I'M WORKING ON
Thanks to pesky NDAs, I can’t reveal many details about what I’m writing at the moment, so I’ve come up with a sneaky list of project names. Keep an eye on future editions. I'll update everything as the work progresses!
Project: Avarice
- A novelisation for a fantasy franchise, currently in copy edits.
Project: Passer
- A graphic novel adaptation of a top romantasy novel. Currently scripting.
Project: Soldier
- A newly commissioned fantasy novel, currently awaiting editorial feedback on the outline.
Konflikt ‘47
- Working with Warlord Games on the lore and creative direction for the weird World War II tabletop game.
COMING SOON
Star Wars: Scoundrels and Smugglers - Race for Jabba’s Bounty
An all-age graphic novel starring Han Solo, Chewbacca, Jaxxon and a host of scum and villainy. On sale 6th October.
Godfather of Hell
My new creator-owned graphic novel for mature readers. Think Goodfellas meets The Exorcist. On sale 27th October.
MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE GENESIS #4
The beginning of a new arc featuring Man-At-Arms unravelling a dark mystery with his friend, Prince Randor. On sale 16th December,