I recommend starting with a pencil if you’re just a beginner and want to focus more on the letter shapes than the tool itself. The softer the pencil, the easier the writing. While a classic 2B pencil will work just fine, I personally prefer mine softer. My favorite is the Staedtler 4B Soft Pencil.

Lefties may find that a triangular-shaped pencil helps, such as the Stabilo Left-Handed Pencil. These are especially popular for children just getting the hang of writing.

For writing on dark paper, I recommend a Fons & Porter White Mechanical Pencil. These are extremely easy to erase, making them great for sketching out a composition, writing over it in ink, then erasing it after.

Rollerballs are my personal favorite handwriting pen because their water-based ink flows freely, requiring very little pressure to write. I usually reach for a uni-ball Eye Micro Rollerball Pen – my absolutely favorite everyday pen. It is smooth, opaque, fine-tipped, and fast-drying.

If your hand feels cramped when writing, try getting a fatter pen or adding a pen grip. You won’t have to grip the pen as hard, which will keep your lines smoother and your hand more relaxed. (Many people with arthritis also find this solution helpful!) For a wide-barrel pen, I suggest a Pilot Dr. Grip Ergonomic Ballpoint Pen, which is very smooth – not always the case with ballpoints. You could also invest in a pack of universal grips to add to pencils and pens, such as these Omni Ergonomic Pen and Pencil Grips.

A good fountain pen loaded with fine ink is not only luxurious but can really improve the writing experience. If you’re looking to get your first fountain pen but aren’t ready to invest in a premium model, I recommend the Kaweco Classic Sport Fountain Pen. (See the Accessories section for ink suggestions!)

Gel pens offer a great selection of vibrant colors, however they can have sticky ink that doesn’t always flow in consistent lines. Personally, I use gel pens when I need opaque, light-colored ink, or something extra fun like glittery ink. For white pens, nothing beats Sakura White Gelly Roll Pens, which come in three point sizes for fine to medium writing.

My all-time favorite tracing paper is the Borden & Riley Translucent Layout Pad. It’s reasonably priced, very smooth, and strikes just the right balance between weight and translucency. If you’re after an even more durable tracing paper, I recommend Canson Smooth Vellum. It has a lovely finish and super smooth surface.

As far as notepads that double as both tracing paper and regular paper, I can’t say enough positive things about Rhodia’s line of top-bound pads. They don’t ripple, bleed, or tear. As an added bonus, Rhodia Notepads have the perfect lay-flat binding, so you can flip the sturdy cover under the pad without sacrificing a stable surface.

For buying in bulk, a 500-sheet ream is a more practical choice. Premium Laserjet Paper is the most economical option I can recommend. It is thin enough for tracing and most pens will not bleed on it. The premium choice is John Neal Practice Paper. This is the paper I provide students in my calligraphy workshops because of its beautiful off-white color and subtle texture. It is truly bleed-proof, making it ideal for fountain pens and other watery ink. I recommend it both for tracing and finished work, such as letter-writing.

The hardest type of good practice paper to come by is black paper. Fortunately, Rhodia teamed up with calligrapher Paul Antonio to make the PAScribe Calligraphy Practise & Correspondence Pad. The black paper has darker black horizontal lines that serve as baselines, and has Rhodia’s classic lay-flat binding. This is the perfect paper for light-colored ink, such as Sakura Gelly Roll Pens.

This is a collection of fun writing accessories I love, but which are absolutely not necessary supplies. If you’re a stationery nerd like I am, though, I bet you’ll love them, too!

If you’re interested in adding handwriting guidelines to a journal page, envelope, or other surface, I’ve got two tools you’ll love. The Miseyo Handwriting Lines Roller Stamp creates inked handwriting guidelines quickly and easily. For a much more customizable experience, the Alvin Letter Guideline Drawing Tool allows you to pick your baseline spacing and italic slant angle. Use it with pencil to draw erasable guides!

Another way to get easy-to-follow guides is through templates that you can place over any surface. There are lots of letter addressing guides out there (and it’s not too hard to make your own!). I like the Skatan Envelope Addressing Template Set because it comes with three sizes for various envelope shapes and layouts.

Now here’s a really fun one! The Kutsuwa 5-Angle Pencil Sharpener lets you sharpen a pencil to any of five lengths. This means you can customize the sharpness from blunt to very fine.

If you’re developing a love of fountain pens, you may have a pen that takes ink cartridges (like the Kaweco Classic Sport I recommend above). The J. Herbin Fountain Pen Cartridges are hands-down the very best I’ve ever used. Their array of unique color options is absolutely breathtaking, from Olive Green to Cloud Gray. And if you have a traditional fountain pen that takes ink from a pot, J. Herbin makes amazing bottled ink for your pen, too, including scented inks. Yes, they really smell like flowers.

A custom sealing wax stamp is a beautiful way to elevate any letter into the realm of artwork. Lots of companies offer pre-made and custom designs (such as your logo or signature). I recommend Back to Zero for their wide array of custom options and wax colors. They even offer stamp handles made of quartz and vintage doorknobs!

A slightly padded writing surface always yields nicer, smoother writing than a single sheet of paper on a hard surface because your pen can slightly press into the paper, resulting in less shaky strokes. This is why padded mats, like this Leather Writing Desk Mat, have been a popular desk accessory for centuries. You definitely don’t need a writing mat to create padding, though! If you’re writing on loose paper, put at least a couple more sheets under it. Writing a thank you note? Put some padding underneath. It will look better, I promise.

Many people find that writing on a slightly raised, slanted surface makes their writing more comfortable and consistent. Adjustable, portable options such as the Ergo Writing Desk are a great way to customize your own writing experience without replacing your entire desk!

There are countless stationery brands that offer gorgeous sets of cards, handmade envelopes, writing paper, and more. As there are too many to share here, I will focus on the most common stationery-related question I receive, namely where to buy blank paper and envelopes in medium to large quantities.

I’m absolutely head over heels for the Indian Cotton Paper Co. line of 100% cotton colored papers, envelopes, and place cards. These somehow combine beautiful handmade texture with a surface that doesn’t bleed!

A popular choice for stationery is Paper Source, which carries a dizzying array of colors and sizes. I have always recommended Paper Source to clients for handmade invitation projects, because they take ink so well and are relatively affordable when you consider their quality. The flat and folded cards are thick card stock with no fibers, so ink won’t bleed and you can write on both sides. (And they also work in your home printer!) The dark papers take white ink beautifully.

Cards & Pockets boasts a unique selection of shapes, sizes, colors, and papers for crafting hand-made invitations. This is a great choice for the DIY lover who wants make their own holiday cards or invitations.

And rounding off the list is Envelopes.com, which is a great choice for very large quantities and offers services like return address printing.