Wiser Web Wednesday – a semi-regular link to posts of interest from around the web by those far wiser than myself:

Dave Rea
During recent months I’ve been thinking about the prospect of indexing my notebooks, as the number of those filled increases. Various spreadsheets and databases came to mind as possibilities, however I think I’ll give Indxd, a new web service created for this very purpose – a try. Yes it is a web service and you might say “but it might disappear at any given moment”.

True enough, though I take some comfort from this:

Once a week, Indxd will send you a backup e-mail containing your index in plain text. If this site ever goes away, your index backups won’t.

For myself, there is no better reason than what Dave has provided here:

But the real reason to build Indxd and put it out into the world is to give something back to the awesome pen and writing community that has welcomed me so warmly. Because this community has brought me a lot of joy.

Certainly no argument from me on that point:
Introducing Indxd: A Digital Tool for Analog Writers

The Gentleman Stationer
Although vintage now, these pens were originally made to be used. That being the case, ink will be required. Certainly some sound advice here, in the third part of this series:
Vintage Pen Primer, Part III: Inks for Vintage Pens

Medium
Originally published in December of 2013, however shared here after Andy Nicolaides sent out the link recently on Twitter, suggesting he feels the relevance of the sentiment in the article remains today.

As someone whose photography is exclusively done on an iPhone – I’d have to agree:
If Only You Had Your Real Camera

Ed Jelley
Another great post by Ed – but surely, though it matters not one iota – I am not the only one who counted the pens in the feature image, expecting eight? I was the only one? Um – ok…moving on then.

Different pens have different filling systems and clear pens (called “demonstrators”) let you see all the inner workings. Tell me that isn’t more interesting than your standard ballpoint?!

Compelling reasons here for those who perhaps have not had much experience with the fountain pen:
8 Reasons Why You Should Write With a Fountain Pen

Top Brew
Top Brew’s weekly look at what coffee means to different people. This time it’s Alex Carpenter – web developer and designer from Grand Rapids. Not an uncommon sentiment for many of us I’d imagine:

Brewing coffee is one of my many hobbies. It is more than just a caffeine fix for me: it’s fun to experiment and explore different coffees and brewing devices. I love coffee.

Alex Carpenter’s Brew Ritual

Fountain Pen Economics
I have only recently signed up to the MassDrop email list and admittedly have not yet made a purchase on any of the attractive pen discounts through the site.

Some interesting thoughts from Dr Jonathon Deans on the MassDrop business model:
Retailer Analysis: MassDrop

The Pen Addict
There have no doubt been some interesting guests featured on The Pen Addict’s Three Questions With series – none more so than fellow Brisbanite (I am proud to say) David Brennan.

With a database of pens like the one featured here, I was not surprised to read “I work in IT…” on one of the answers. This has been one of my favourites so far in the series, on the man behind Nib and Ink (and serious databases):
Three Questions With David Brennan

Steven Pressfield Online
Editor Shawn Coyne of The Story Grid offers some advice on getting that first draft done and dusted, primarily:

I cannot overemphasize how important it is NOT TO RE-WRITE  your first draft. Until you reach its final two words…THE END.

Also listed here are the seven steps Coyne followed in creating the first draft of the his upcoming book The Story Grid: What Good Editors Know, which of course includes at number six:

The next day, I did not look at anything I’d written the day before. I merely scrolled all the way to the bottom of the manuscript, hit INSERT PAGE BREAK, and then wrote that day’s title headline centered on the page and started anew.

Thinking back to my own experience in last years NaNoWriMo, the tight deadline of 30 days practically forces this type of writing, and is probably one of the main reasons so many successfully complete a 50,000 story who otherwise may not ever get there (raises hand)¹:
The First Draft

1. Of course, my own experience totals one – yes one – single attempt at writing a novel, however the title of this blog suggests it is all about me so of course it counts. ↩

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