The Cultivated Toolkit | Tools for Thinking, Writing, and Publishing

Tools for thinking, writing, and publishing

Tools shape thinking.
They slow us down or speed us up, invite reflection or distraction, create friction or remove it.

This page is a working catalogue of the tools I use to think clearly, write, publish, and run Cultivated and Creative Soul Projects. I don’t chase specifications or trends. Everything here has earned its place by reducing friction in real work.

Many readers ask about the stationery and media tools I use. This page is a reference shelf.

A Philosophy of Tools

I think of tools as environments for thought.
Paper creates space for ideas to unfold.
Pens slow thinking into language.
Cameras shape how stories are noticed and felt.

The goal is not optimisation.
It is cultivation:
choosing tools that support clarity, creativity, and sustained attention.

The Paper Shelf

Notebooks and paper for thinking in ink

Paper remains the foundation of my thinking system. Different formats create different cognitive spaces
— structured planning, open exploration, factual logging, or visual ideation.

1. Concept A4 Yellow Legal Pad — for brainstorming and drafting ideas
2. NIMIRO journal — daily reflective journaling
3. Collins Ledger — factual daily log; neutral, non-reflective record
4. Ottergami notebook — sketching and visual ideation
5. Oxford Composition Notebooks — planning Cultivated Notes episodes
6. Smart Planner Pro — weekly planning and editorial planning
7. Dingbats Reporter Notebook — everyday carry notebook
8. Oxford Black ‘n’ Red Notebook — conferences and travel
9. Moleskine A4 Notebooks — studio jotting and working drafts

The Writing Shelf

Pens, pencils, and drawing tools

Writing tools shape how ideas flow. Some invite precision, others encourage exploration and mark-making.

1. Sailor Fude De Mannen Caligraphy pen — versatile for writing, sketching, and annotation
2. The Penac Protti 0.5 and 0.7 mechanical pencils — everyday drafting
3. The rOtring Tikky 0.7 mechanical pencil — early sketching and structural layouts
4. I have boxes of Staedtler Noris school pencils — durable, practical, and widely used in the studio
5. I have this lovely Parker fountain pen — correspondence and long-form writing
6. Waterman Fountain Pen — occasional use; a sentimental piece
7. Art and Fly colouring pencils — colour work and diagrams
8. Pentel Brush Pens — lettering and expressive writing
9. Sharpies & Sharpie Ultra-Fine — Video Notes and visual frameworks
10. Pental Energel 07 — everyday general-purpose writing

The Organisation Shelf

Tools for carrying, storing, and structuring work

Stationery is more than paper and pens. These tools help structure physical and cognitive workspace.

1. Pen loop holders — for notebooks without built-in holders
2. RapEsco pencil sharpener — functional, tactile, and reliable
3. Canvas bags — repurposed for stationery and field kits
4. Metal ruler — straight lines and layout work

The Publishing Shelf

Media and camera tools

I trained as a media communication scientist and journalist, and media tools remain central to how I explore and share ideas.

1. Panasonic S9 — main camera for talking head and field work
2. Sony ZV1 — travel camera
3. GoPro 10 — walking shots, unusual angles, and movement
4. Wireless Comica — roaming audio capture
5. Caden Shoulder — media carry
6. Zhiyun Smooth Q2 — mobile stabilisation
7. Zecti Slider — manual motion shots
8. Ulanzi Grip — modular camera rig
9. ESDDI Lamp — studio and field lighting

The Everyday Carry Shelf

Tools for client work and travel

When working on-site or travelling, these are the pieces that travel with me.

• Osprey Quasar Rucksack — daily carry and travel
• Macbook Pro — primary work system
• Anker Power Bank — mobile power
• Growing a Business by Paul Hawken — a frequently revisited book

Studio Edition

A separate list of tools that live permanently in the studio—desk setups, reference shelves, filming rigs, and archival systems—will be added here over time.

Further Viewing

A walkthrough of how these tools are used in practice is available in the Stationery Essentials video.

Questions and Conversations

If you have questions about any of these tools, I’m always happy to discuss them. Tools are part of the creative process—and part of the conversation.

Cultivated Classification: Supporting Library
Domains: Creativity, Publishing, Tools