Notebook Hunting

[e_l_bates]

Things I am looking for in a notebook:

• B6 or 5"x7" size
• Soft cover
• Will lay flat when open (whether that be spiral bound or another binding that actually STAYS OPEN without being broken)
• If spiral bound, rings that don't cut into my hand
• Rich color
• Good quality paper that holds up to fountain pens
• Lined paper, not dots

Most of the nice quality notebooks I find are either the wrong type of binding or only have dot grids on the paper rather than lines, or both. Basic spiral-bound notebooks are convenient and have lined paper, but they don't feel nice to write on and frankly, aren't particularly inspiring for writing fiction.

I don't need super-fancy notebooks--I tend not to write in those or get frustrated by my story drafts not "living up to" the notebook they're housed in--but I want a step up from Mead or Oxford spiral-bound notebooks, as those tend to feel too utilitarian for flights of fantastic fiction.

I really like the Koyuko soft-ring notebooks, but those are all dot grids, and I need lined paper or my handwriting goes all over the place. Ditto Lechtturm and Moleskine, and I find those two tend not to stay open well anyway because of the binding, plus they lean more toward hard covers instead of soft.

I love writing first drafts by hand, and after a few years I've finally figured out what sort of fountain pens I like best, so now I just need the paper to go with it.