Left Hook Pens

Oof it’s dusty in here.

So, you may have noticed that it’s been since 2024 since I last posted on this blog. Through a combination of depression, impostor syndrome, and ADHD I just didn’t have the energy to finish a post and didn’t feel that I had anything important or valuable to say. I had been wanting to get back into posting regularly for over two years now, since I hadn’t really been doing that since 2021 or 2022, but as I’ve gotten older time has compressed itself and I feel like I’ve been floating through just-mixed jello for several years now.

Anyway, I recently checked my stats to see how the old blog was doing and I saw that a blog called A Fleeting Ripple had linked to me, so I went to this blog and clicked to their Pen Friends page where there’s a list of stationery blogs that they enjoy reading, including a short paragraph on why they like that particular website and if it’s still active, and my blog was on this list. A Fleeting Ripple called this blog “one of the most fun websites,” and that made my day! I started Left Hook Pens almost six years ago to fill a void of information about writing utensils and stationery for left handers, and to help people find a better writing experience. Thank you, A Fleeting Ripple, for linking to me and making my day. Thank you to everyone that has read this blog, and I genuinely hope that you find it helpful. All of this is to say that sometimes external validation from a stranger is very nice, even invigorating.

To finish this post I’m just gonna list some things that have happened in my life since 2024.

I went to the 2025 St Louis Pen Show

This was my first pen show, as every year since 2019 when I found out about it something else was going on. It was a bit overwhelming and I wish that I spent some time at the ink sampling table, but it was very fun and I plan on going to the 2026 show. I took a creative journaling class by Sugar Turtle Studio and learned a lot; I’ve even done some collaging in my Hobonichi this year. My haul was: a vintage Esterbrook full sized J in brown, a roll of cat themed washi tape from Inky Converters, and a vintage Pilot Elite with a Script nib for my wife. I stopped by the RussPens table and didn’t buy anything at the show, but did order an ebonite pen from him later on Instagram and it is gorgeous.

I started a movie appreciation / criticism Substack

It’s called Spliced and I post even more infrequently on there, but I’m working on changing that as well. I started this in 2023 but am just sharing it here now. I love movies and enjoy analyzing / talking about them. There are only a small handful of posts on there, but if you like reading this blog and also like movies, please take a look.