From Paper Obsession to Published Pages - How we write books as Stationery Freaks
How do two writers, bound by their devotion to beautiful stationery, actually write books? In this episode, Helen and Rob reveal their individual paths, uncovering the shared foundation of paper-based ideation – the noodling, expanding, and connecting that begins on the page with their beloved notebooks. Explore their transition to digital tools (Rob's a touch more intricate!), their editing journeys, and their distinct publishing routes – Helen to her website, Rob primarily through self-publishing. Expect delightful detours into UK National Stationery Week, Rob's exciting new project requiring more notebooks, and Helen's potential planner evolution. Want to see their cool process diagrams and more? The newsletter is your visual companion. But for the nuanced details and personal insights, tune in to this engaging conversation.Newsletter is here.
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38:54
When did you become a Stationery Freak?
In this episode Helen and Rob talk about whether there was a defining moment, or time, when they became Stationery Freaks.They start with Stationery Stories:Helen has an occasion to break out a new notebook - an Atoms and Astronauts one from Vinted. Rob's been watching too much Parisian Agency on Netflix - so is trying to adopt a Parisian style and coolness with a new Folio packed with a Yellow Legal Pad and a couple of Moleskine Cahiers. Helen introduces the (potentially) new segment of the show called "Stationery Freaks in the Wild", in which she shares a story of a fellow writing retreat stationery freak who rocked up with a yellow legal and a BlackWing penHelen introduces a new concept for fellow Stationery Freaks to try - shop at home!Becoming a freakHelen remembers scented pens and rubbers/erasers as a childHelen recalls calligraphy class at school and learning to write using an italic ink penRob remembers his Chemistry teacher, Dungeon Master, who ensured students had extremely, dangerously, sharp pencilsRob remembers Christmas Eve gifts of notebooks and pensBoth recall gift shops at museumsHelen explains that she's always needed stationery to control her life, otherwise it would be a catastropheHelen also reveals that she uses stickers to denote which type of bin to put out. Rob just goes on what everyone else is doing. Rob recalls putting tunes on and writing film scripts - and how that positive feeling dwindled when he tried to do it on computers.Rob mentions that Domestika has some great tutorials on creating infographics!Helen speaks about how simply the act of thinking back to early stationery memories was a really positive experience. Is there a time when you knew you were a stationery freak? What memories do you have about early stationery use?Let us know - we're on Instagram @stationeryfreaksukThanks for listening!Subscribe to the newsletter and find all of our casts at:https://stationeryfreaks.com/
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32:56
Hoarding notebooks and when to use a new one - Stationery Freaks Podcast
In this episode we explore why we both have huge hoards of unused and partially used notebooks, and what makes us crack open a new notebook.You can find videos, photos and a deeper dive into this topic in the newsletter.In this episode:Helen is still searching for her full collection of mechanical pencils. The Penac Protti goes down well at work, but Rob ends up with pencil all over him at work, and refuses to share his doodles with his work colleagues. Rob describes Helen’s notebook storage unit with remarkable accuracy.Helen defines her key purpose for using a new notebook.Rob goes down the emotional route for deciding on using a new notebook (Clarity, Excitement, Despair).Rob and Helen both commit to doing a video of their notebook stashRob has 12 notebooks on the go, all originally started with a purpose, but they get morphed as he never has the right notebook, in the right place, at the right time. Helen’s least transient work is creative writing - hence her notebook has a clear purpose long term.Rob thinks pairing down to one notebook is the answer, but then the stack of spare notebooks taunt himRob finds a fellow freak who loves pens and pencils but has no time for notebooks or paper. Helen realises she will never have enough projects for all of her notebooksRob sees a business opportunity to sell his half-used notebooksHelen is off to London with her daughter and visiting a well-known stationery store. We mention these other Stationery Freaks casts:Vinted and StationeryLittle red notebook mentioned in this cast on goal setting.The dichotomy of minimalism and stationery freakness.Maria Le Van notebooks and London stationery shops.The perfect mechanical pencil.Find out more in the newsletter. Thanks for listening.Rob & Helen
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35:12
The perfect mechanical pencil
In this episode we chat about all things pencil related. We cover:Why Rob has so many notebooks he cannot move his writing deskHelen's latest Vinted stationery haul - and a surprise penThe lovely folks at Penac sent us some free samples - and they are brilliantHow we use pencils and paper for getting unstuck, or in Rob's case, for 99% of his writingWhy the non-permanent nature of pencils lends itself to creative thinkingWhy Rob bought the Rotring 600 pencil but hasn't used it muchAnd much moreGet images and links to everything we discuss in the Stationery Freaks newsletter.
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31:55
The Hobonichi switch revisited - a year of using the system
In this episode Helen shares how she’s getting on with her Hobonichi system, a year after making the switch from Bullet Journaling. We did an episode on this switch in early 2024 - you can listen to that episode here, where Helen shared why switching over the New Year was a bad idea. And so, a year later, we revisited this topic to hear how Helen is getting on, what’s adapted and whether she still needs a suitcase to carry around her growing sticker collection. I ask Helen about the Hobonichi system, how it differs from Bullet Journaling, how she organises her stickers, whether Helen then keeps each notebook and how her system works. Helen shares more about the Hobonichi eco-system, bulldog clips & paper clips and how she’s had to retire her massive collection of Washi tape.We also talk about or mention:Mark and Fold stationers & our chat on the show with founder Amy.Atoms to Astronauts notebooksLamy Fountain Pens (aff link)Our interview with Fountain Pen legend, Urban HafnerAnd lovely kind comments left on Rob’s video from fellow stationery freaks(Some images of Helen's planner are shared in the newsletter).
Ireland