On being human
Notes on reclaiming an analog life - and a pen review!
It seems a little hypocritical to be typing up these thoughts here as I’m about to espouse the wonders of handwriting and analog communication, but we have to start somewhere, I suppose.
I don’t know about you, but I feel like the tides are starting to turn, and there’s a real interest in the physical doing of things and finding ways of being the most human we can be. Maybe it’s the recent AI backlash - booing pro-AI graduation speeches1 and protests against AI data centers2; or the compounding evidence about the cognitive benefits of physically writing3; or the trending switch among young people4 - going from “smart” phones to “dumb” phones to take greater control over their time, energy, and mental health.
For myself, I know I prefer writing appointments and schedules in a physical calendar; writing physical “thank you” notes instead of emailing; reading a physical book instead of a screen - but I also appreciate the conveniences of quickly obtaining information (although I’d rather go to direct sources than have an AI summary trying to spoon feed me whatever it found), typing up easily editable notes (as I’m doing here), and having reminders set on my phone to make sure I get to appointments and remember important events. I also enjoy listening to books on walks, while knitting, or doing chores (yes, I count that as “reading” in my Storygraph account5). So, I admit, I won’t hang up all the conveniences for a fully unplugged life.
Still, I appreciate everything I gain when I choose to complete a task physically and deliberately. And I appreciate the generous response of anyone who chooses to do the same, giving me the joy of reading the thoughts of another human in the most direct and meaningful way possible - in a postcard or letter - with bonus points for interesting stamps!
If you like to collect stamps, my latest Collage O post might interest you…
We were sold a view of the world that valued immediacy over craft, now over later.
What used to be a commonplace societal activity (letter-writing) has turned into a rarity these days. I understand. We were sold a view of the world that valued immediacy over craft, now over later. We responded with greater urgency and intrigue about what technology could bring. In the process, we forgot how human the act of making art - drawing, acting, playing an instrument, and writing - holding pen and paper - could make us feel. The physicality and patience required connect us in ways that an online world rejects. And it literally lights up our brain!
A recent study in Frontiers in Psychology monitored brain activity in students taking notes and found that those writing by hand had higher levels of electrical activity across a wide range of interconnected brain regions responsible for movement, vision, sensory processing and memory.
Why Writing by Hand Is Better for Memory and Learning, by Charlotte Hu edited by Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, February 21, 2024,
And so I continue to make analog choices whenever it makes sense (and even sometimes when it doesn’t - Yes, I just ordered 100 newsletters professionally printed on recycled paper so that I can send them in the mail and hand them out instead of offering them online6)
While I do use my iPad to “write” with a stylus for much of my mailed newsletter, I also handwrite a short note to every recipient, and was pleased to receive a request from Ellington Pens to review one of their writing tools - how fun is that?!
Ellington Pens - Fountain Pen Review
Admittedly, my prior writing tools were generally acquired for art projects, from hotels and businesses, or via leftover school supplies from my kids. My nicest pen was an Ooly (pictured below, center), which had rather thin ink, and it would dry out too quickly for my irregular writing schedule. The Manuscript Pen (left) I rarely use (the tip was too wide for my liking), the Koh-I-Noor Radiograph pen is a specialized drafting pen I use for my reverse glass painting, the Manuscript Fineliner Pen (in blue) is okay when I want a felt tip (which I don’t like for letter writing), and the dip pen (far right) is used mostly with inks appropriate for adding thin lines to my artwork.
It may come as no surprise, then, that I love the feel, weight, and smoothness of writing with the new Ellington pen.
My Ellington Scarlet fountain pen arrived quickly and in an elegant box with three ink cartridges. Scanning the QR code took me to a Facebook link (which I don’t generally use), but I easily found the video instructions for assembling my pen on their website.
I chose a “fine” pen nib, but I feel like I could’ve gone down one size for my letter writing. Still, I think it suits my writing style.
While I’m not generally a connoisseur of all the finer pens available to avid letter writers, the Ellington pen has opened my eyes to what a quality writing tool can feel like - and makes me even more likely to choose a handwritten note over an email! They have many beautiful styles and colors too. Feel free to check them out HERE. (Full disclosure - I received a free pen for my willingness to honestly review their product. I do not receive any commission for purchases through their product links.)
Reclaiming an analog life
Other than letter-writing, though, how else will I choose analog over digital?
compiling a timeline of historical events that interest me in an accordion book
editing my current book projects (a historical novel-in-progress and my “Book of Inspirations” due out in August) via a printed copy (albeit my first drafts were typed)
keeping a journal of favorite quotes
keeping a journal of favorite poems
continuing to keep up a physical planner
weekly analog collaging
wearing a watch
printing photos to have and share
graduate school note-taking!
Do you have a favorite analog tool, project, or plan? I’d love to hear what trends you’re noticing or what analog ideas you have!
To being our most human selves,
Jennifer
https://www.npr.org/2026/01/25/nx-s1-5684321/trump-ai
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/handwriting-brain-connections-learning
https://www.pcmag.com/articles/can-a-dumb-phone-improve-your-life-i-talked-to-6-people-who-made-the-switch
The StoryGraph is “A fully-featured Amazon-free alternative to Goodreads.” https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/jenlo
My next Analog newsletter is mailing in June. Sign-up Here.
I definitely prefer drafting short work by hand rather than typing, and I've even attempted longer pieces fully handwritten. 😅 Love the new pen, too! ✨