When Emma Thompson recently told The Late Show host Steven Colbert that she firmly believes in writing longhand with pen and paper because she feels it establishes a crucial ‘connection between the brain and the hand’, I nodded firmly in agreement. I’ve been a copywriter for more than a decade and I reach for analogue tools every day.
Don’t get me wrong – I use plenty of tech to run my business online. Digital content and copy is my bread and butter, after all! But everything I create starts with pen and paper. EVERYTHING.
As well as being my preferred tools for brainstorming ideas, roughing out copy, and refining tag lines, I also rely on them for staying organised and managing my workload. More on this below…
The Analogue Tools I Use to Run My Copywriting Business
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My Paper Planner
I’ve been using an Ella Iconic CEO of My Own Life Planner for quite a few years now. It suits my needs perfectly, allowing me to set annual and quarterly goals, write monthly to-do lists, plan my week, and track my habits. It’s chunky, but I rarely need to use it ‘on the go’ so its heft doesn’t bother me.
I also love the way this planner divides any goal setting into four categories – business and career, home and family, health and fitness, and personal. There are also lots of prompts to reflect and review your progress throughout, including what you’re grateful for each week and space to record special memories each month.
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Our Family Wall Calendar
Although I don’t use this to schedule work, it does form the foundation of my planning routine. We use a Good Tuesday 5-Column Family Wall Planner to record things like college term dates, Carl’s work travel schedule, and any family trips and activities. I also use the spare column to note down birthdays and other key dates.
Most of these are then copied over into my paper planner so I can schedule work accordingly. I also transfer relevant information to my meal plan each week. For this, I use a simple template I created myself. It’s not aesthetic or particularly creative, but it works really hard for our family.
There are currently three of us living at home. Carl travels a lot for work, and our son is employed part time while he’s at college. This means there are multiple schedules to keep in mind when planning meals and organising our lives.
We’ve tried using a shared Google Calendar in the past, but it just doesn’t work for my brain. Physically writing things down seems to be the only way I can absorb them. This system might seem repetitive to some, but it helps me retain information and feel less overwhelmed.
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My Go-To Notebook
I was a devotee of Moleskine for years. I even referenced the brand on my About page! Unfortunately, the quality took a nosedive in recent years and I’ve completely fallen out of love with their notebooks. So, what am I using instead?
Enter Typo. Specifically, their A5 Hard Lined Notetaker Notebook. The 80gsm paper is smooth, fountain pen friendly, and easy to write on. It comes in a range of colours, and I believe there are options for personalisation too. I chose to adorn mine with a simple gold journal charm.
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My Favourite Writing Tools
I prefer writing with a fountain pen. I have three in heavy rotation – a white Lamy Safari, a Kaweko Classic Sport in Bordeaux Red, and a Sailor 1911 in ivory with gold trim. The latter was an anniversary gift from Carl. It is both beautiful to look at and write with.
Generally, I alternate between black and blue ink, but I’m currently searching for the perfect shade of dark green to add to my rotation. I’m leaning towards Feathers of Fei Cui by Shanghai Stationery. Some might deem the shimmer unnecessary for work tasks, but I disagree!
The only other pen I keep handy is the Pentel Energel X 0.7mm. It writes well and I don’t mind throwing them in the bottom of my handbag when I’m out and about.
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Work With Me
I’m Franky, an experienced copywriter and digital content creator who’s spent more than a decade helping ambitious business owners and solopreneurs communicate with their ideal clients. Need fresh copy or creative content for your small business? I can help! Browse my portfolio here and get in touch to discuss your project.
Love Audrey xxx
