Of the many journals I’ve acquired in my life, a few were so inviting that they made this exploration super easy. Curious about the journals that other professional writers keep coming back to, I asked a pool of authors to tell me about their personal top picks. “I also love the satin ribbon marker that keeps my place,” Daly adds. “It’s so beautiful and brings me a tiny bit of joy every time I open the page!” Graphic Image Leather 9" Flexible Cover Journal ($105) Magic of I Vegan Leather Journal, Unlined ($28) Papier Mirage Foiled Notebook ($31.99) Fringe Studio Sage Notebook ($20) Decomposition Seahorses Book ($10) Moleskine Classic Notebook, Soft Cover, Large ($16.46) As opposed to more elaborate (and sometimes intimidating) journals that tend to collect dust and stay blank for longer, she finds that these give her the freedom on the page she craves. XYark 12-Pack Notebook Journals ($18.99) Field Notes National Park 3-Pack ($12.95) “I’m old-school—I love the feeling of pen to paper. But I hate the wastefulness that comes with printing multiple drafts to edit and I’m still trying to reconcile my obsession with paper products,” Platt tells mbg. One nifty tool that’s making the transition a little easier? Paperlike—a screen protector that’s designed to mimic the feel of writing on paper. Throw it on your iPad, grab your Stylus pen, and pat yourself on the back for getting your thoughts down in a clutter-free way. Paperlike iPad Screen Protector ($39.99) Rite In The Rain Side Spiral Notebook ($7.95) Intelligent Change The Five Minute Journal ($24.95) Emma received her B.A. in Environmental Science & Policy with a specialty in environmental communications from Duke University. In addition to penning over 1,000 mbg articles on topics from the water crisis in California to the rise of urban beekeeping, her work has appeared on Grist, Bloomberg News, Bustle, and Forbes. She’s spoken about the intersection of self-care and sustainability on podcasts and live events alongside environmental thought leaders like Marci Zaroff, Gay Browne, and Summer Rayne Oakes.
