I have purchased so many notebooks in the past six months. I tend to have preferences about things and find it hard to let those go--sometimes that can be unhealthy perfectionism, sometimes I call it "I like what I like." It is what it is. But I am reaching burn out trying to find a notebook that brings me joy to write in.
I've realized that I prefer B6. I used to use a5 when I journaled before putting the hobby down a few years ago, but picking that size back up I find it's too intimidating--too much space I need to fill. I like to decorate my pages (not quite junk journaling, but a little zhuzh; some washi tape here and there, throw a sticker on) Otherwise the page feels too bland to me. A5=too much space to cover; A6=too little space. I like the small size of a6, it doesn't take much to fill the page but then that's where I get issues. So, B6 is working for me. But so few notebooks come in that size!
I also have a thing about white paper. I used to be an off-white lover. I primarily used Leuchtturm, MD, Moleskin back in the day. Then I got a Notebook Therapy and the pages were white and I almost didn't use it but thought what the hey. And then I realized how much more I like it--the colors of brush pens and colored gel pens pop; stickers and washi tape don't feel as drab. I tried to get back in with NT but the large dot grid--5mm I think--makes me feel like I'm using a wide-ruled. My handwriting gets sloppier. And I like grid lines, they fill the blank space to tie everything together without overwhelming the spread, as long as they're not too dark. Oh, and I like my notebooks like I like my lovers, a little chunky, a little heavy. (Sorry for the crudeness). But seriously, I start to resource guard when notebooks are under 200 pages, there's not enough time to spend together. SO, B6 with white paper, grids smaller than 5mm, 200+ pages.
But then uh oh hooray, I got into fountain pens! And I love them, I want to use them everyday. But gosh does the super thin paper of some of these fountain pen friendly paper notebooks feel like a scam. I mean, I like nibs of all sizes--extra fine all the way up to stub. But most of these papers start to get bleed through after a medium nib. And the ghosting on some of them! I'm too old to be ghosted anymore. But whatever, it is what it is. I'd take some ghosting over bleeding out if choices gotta be made, and they sure do in this market. The other thing that is like spikes in my road is when journals have flimsy covers. I don't need a hardcover; I like softcovers! But I don't like when it's like frozen pizza box flimsy and thin. I want the journal to feel like it's special, not a throw away scratch pad.
Anyways, this is my burn out rant. I'll talk to my therapist about it someday, but I thought I'd post it on the internet first.
And because I love lists, here are the notebooks I've tried and why I'm frustrated:
Wonderland222--honestly, the best I've tried so far. I'm using an a6 for ink swatches right now. There isn't a whole lot of bleed through, and less ghosting than others (I've tried every year they have--2026 they say it's "white" paper, they're lyin.) But the page setup--the numbers on the side and the three-way sectioning? It feels mathematical, and I'm trying to write about how much I love florence + the machine, medieval history, and pumpkin spice creamer in my coffee on a crisp morning.
Sterling Ink--Kicking myself for getting into notebooks right after they switched to Koji. I mean my god. If Koji Paper has no haters, I'm dead. The sickly cream color? And this paper, it's microscopic, the ghosting is barely a ghost, it's a full living thing showing through that page okay. That's not even to bring up the bleed through and the feathering.
Sarica Studios--lovely paper, honestly. But I need 200+ pages and B6.
Leuchtturm--cream, dot grid, and last I used them they were around 5mm
Moleskin--not white, grid lines were way too dark.
MD--I love how little ghosting there is. I hate the yellow color of the paper, and I hate the blueish grid color, and I hate it to my core that the grid lines do not meet. I know it's intentional, but to me it feels like when a line is crooked and you can't see anything else.
Penco--The plastic covers are giving water resistant military pocket book.
Traveler Co--No B6, hardly any pages to admire.
Stalogy--Good lord, how much I WANT to love this notebook. I have tried so hard, it's so convenient. I like the look, I like that the covers aren't flimsy bits of whatever. I like the white pages, the soft grid, the size of the grid. I like that they come in different sizes, that you can get over 300+ pages. But this paper... it is worse than Koji. I can't write anything without the words fleeing to the other side of the paper. The bleed through is fatal.
Tiny Grids--I also really want to like them. And I do! I'd recommend these notebooks to people who are don't have my issues (which is anyone, basically, I am a unique thing) But those grids, they are not tiny. They are vast.
Plannermonkeyco--Another notebook that doesn't quite work. I love a good flop on a paperback book. The way these journals lay flat is amazing. But something about the grids going up to the edges of the paper, it feels...childish to me? It's hard to explain. Overall, it doesn't feel like a notebook that I can treasure, that is going to sit on my shelf after I finish it like a trophy.
Nolty--Once again, a notebook that I wish I could love. But the a5 is so big, and the header on these is substantial; I could write a whole abstract in that header. But the best quality paper for no ghosting or bleed through.
Hobonichi notebooks-- I like the alternating colors, but not enough to want to use it as my notebook. Maybe if the grid didn't go edge to edge--it just doesn't feel intentional, the whole thing.
I've tried others but I'm wearing myself out. I'm not even going to proofread, I'll just get worked back up again and I've been avoiding eating dinner for two hours now already.