I think of writing as externalized thinking. I still, if I have a very hard problem, or if I feel a little bit confused about something, (I) have not found anything better to do than to sit down and make myself write it out,” Altman said on the How I Write podcast.
I’m no Sam Altman, but I am more frequently turning to pen and paper as well. In fact, I purchased a very nice notebook and a couple of very nice pens for that very purpose. 
I also turn to pen and paper in certain situations, but not long form writing. I love index cards and pocket notebooks for quick notes, especially at events. Also, when I’m under time pressure to get things done, a concise todo list on an index card.
The friction is how much I value retrieval. I want to search and find anything at any time, so most analog notes get transcribed or scanned. When I’m not on my game, they pile up and add mental overhead if that makes sense.
I may have a condition 
I also love using pen and paper. I write best on reporter’s notebooks. I have some lovely high quality notebooks that I’ve never used as I never feel I have anything good enough to write in them. I too may have a condition!
Take a page (pun intended) from Merlin Mann re his fancy notebooks: Nothing doesn’t go in here.
More on “nothing doesn’t go in here” from Austin Kleon: The problem with fancy notebooks
I just came across a a book by Roland Allen, “The Notebook - A History of Thinking on Paper”. So far a fascinating read. Interesting to note the beginnings of writing and notebooks are grounded in bookkeeping.
I fall into using handwritten notes as a fundamental part of my work. But it can be a bit messy to coordinate with digital.
A good heuristic to apply. Use them up, no matter how fine and pretty. You don’t know what gems will result.
I read this earlier this year. Tremendous book, and one of my favourite non-fiction reads in a while.
You’re no Sam Altman… nah you’re better
Roland Allen’s Notebook was the best book I read in 2024. There’s a good interview with Allen on the Erasables pencil podcast.
I don’t know about that but Sam leads in AI—I lead a school. He loses sleep over what AI might do; I lose sleep over what teenagers might do! 
I just purchased the book.
+1
The How I Write episode was good; thanks! I also listened to Ben Thompson’s episode.
Same! I know I’ll like it.
What are the pens? The one on the right reminds me of a Montblanc I saw once, but I have a hard time believing that you dropped $1000+ on a pen.
When you don’t spend money on app subscriptions, you can afford to buy nice pens.
Seriously, I would never spend $1000 on a pen. This is one reason I’ve been married for 43 years.
It is a pen by Levenger. Below is the link. It is a very nice pen and writes very well, especially for the money.
This is the Montblanc I saw - https://www.jomashop.com/montblanc-112891.html
The pictures don’t do it justice. It’s a beautiful pen. But it’s not $1000 worth of pen. If I really wanted to feel like I was writing with a Montblanc, I’d get their refill and drop it in a pen that didn’t require financing.
I keep looking at those Levengers. They’re beautiful pens too, but I like slightly heavier pens. Half an ounce is too light for my writing comfort.
slightly heavier pens. Half an ounce is too light for my writing comfort
That’s interesting. I nearly commented on how nicely weighted it is—very comfortable to hold and write with.
Montblanc pens reached their price point based on the brand recognition of the gold fountain pen nibs. They are a statement pen, but particularly the modern Montblanc pens are an acquired taste. They are uncomfortable for me to hold for long sessions.
You are right that the refill makes the pen, in terms of rollerball/ballpont/gel pens.
Find a refill you like, then a pen that takes it. A lot take Parker or D1 style refills.
This site The Pen Refill Guide is very useful for matching pen and refill.
My closest Apple Store is 2,427km away.
I do miss having a local Apple Store, like I did when I lived in Scotland, though I didn’t buy much from them.
When I search for “Apple Store” in Apple Maps, it (truthfully) comes up with this:
Yeah, I’ve gone down the refill rabbit hole. One of the more interesting pens out there is the Big Idea Design Ti Arto EDC (Ti Arto EDC : The Ultimate Refill Friendly Everyday – Big Idea Design LLC). It takes almost every refill out there, because the tip has an auto-adjusting collet and the internal length telescopes to adjust. I have the click version of that pen, which is a touch less flexible - but it still fits a ton of refills.
