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

The power of good tools

I have a weakness for things that make simple things rather more complicated. A fountain pen when a Biro would do. A notebook when there is perfectly good software. A digital camera with no zoom when the phone in my pocket is already pretty decent. A typewriter when, objectively, a computer would be much more sensible.

This is not optimisation. Maybe it's actually the opposite?

Because sometimes the friction is the point.

Good and useful tools don't always make work faster or easier or seamless. Sometimes they slow you down, force you to pay attention, or make you think twice before hitting delete. They create the right amount of friction to make what sits on the other side of it, reward, much more interesting.

You notice more. You think more carefully. You slow down and engage your brain more. You make fewer things, perhaps, but sometimes better things. You enjoy the process a little more.

As such, this is a working catalogue of the tools I use to think, write, photograph, publish and run Cultivated and Creative Soul Projects – from notebooks and pens to cameras, books, desks and the various bits of analogue loveliness I've managed to convince myself are essential.

Everything here has earned its place by the way. Not because it has the best specifications, because sometimes my choice of tools is remarkably cheap and cheerful and functional. Not because somebody on YouTube said it was the new must-have. And certainly not because it will make me 17% more productive.

Rather, they made the list because I like using it, because it changes how I work, and because it makes me want to sit down and make something.

A Philosophy of Tools

I think of tools as environments for thought.

Paper creates space for ideas to unfold. A good notebook gives an idea somewhere to live. It has edges, boundaries, surfaces and a frame that means you're not fighting the digital infinity and endlessness that can be so overwhelming.

Pens slow thinking into clearer language, or allow shapes, spaces, doodles, images and sketches to reflect what you're thinking. A good pen makes you want to write.

Cameras shape how stories are noticed and felt – they are also a wickedly good way to develop the art of noticing. A good camera makes you look twice.

And of course, you need something to store, hold and carry all of this too.

The goal isn't optimisation. It's cultivation. Choosing tools that help you pay attention to the thing you're actually trying to do. And occasionally choosing the ridiculous tool because, frankly, using it is half the fun.

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. That yellow paper does real work indeed, and the cheapness means I'm not so precious about making a mess.
2. NIMIRO journal — daily reflective journaling. It's been a wonder move, journaling, in helping me think things through, reflect and clarify my direction in life.
3. Collins Ledger — factual daily log; neutral, non-reflective record. Every day I add boring factual stuff. Surprisingly, over a year, there are some real patterns showing.
4. Ottergami notebook — sketching and visual ideation. Wonderful, beautiful paper for sketching. Careful though, super rich ink does bleed through.
5. Oxford Composition Notebooks — planning Cultivated Notes episodes. These are perfect. The paper is a little unappealing and a bit scratchy, but the space, the colours, the flexibility – all on the good side. Careful with ink pens or rich deep coloured pens – it bleeds.
6. Smart Planner Pro — weekly planning and editorial planning. I have an on and off relationship with this. When I use it I feel super productive and have clarity over my week, but then I get bored writing out the same routine each week..
7. Dingbats Reporter Notebook — everyday carry notebook. Love this thing. It's changed the way I take notes – feel like a police man writing my scrappy notes about buying new Earl Grey tea – but it is rather lovely to use.
8. Oxford Black ‘n’ Red Notebook — conferences and travel. These are fairly affordable and give me enough real estate to get ideas down on the move. No point, in my opinion, taking a more expensive notebook on my travels. I've lost too many in the past.
9. Moleskine A4 Notebooks — studio jotting and working drafts. These are wonderful, and I will say, I am a fan of Moleskine even though ink pens bleed and frankly, they are pretty darn expensive for what they are.

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. This is a flipping brilliant pen and remarkably cheap for what it is. It is the pen that changed everything.
2. The Penac Protti 0.5 and 0.7 mechanical pencils — everyday drafting. These are from Japan, and I should be transparent here that I was sent these through the Stationery Freaks podcast connection. As such, no affiliate link included for these. They are fab though. The 0.5 is my favourite. On first use, I pretty much couldn't put it down – crafted 20 odd pages of prose in one sitting.
3. The rOtring Tikky 0.7 mechanical pencil — early sketching and structural layouts. This is a lovely pencil and the one I tend to reach for by default. It's got a lovely weight to it and is on the cheaper end of mechanical pencils.
4. I have boxes of Staedtler Noris school pencils — durable, practical, and widely used in the studio – often stolen by the rest of the family.
5. I have this lovely Parker fountain pen — correspondence and long-form writing. I use this when I'm creating the thank you letters for people who buy the print copies of Take a Day Off, or Zero to Keynote.
6. Waterman Fountain Pen — occasional use; a sentimental piece. My wife gave me this many years ago and I use it often, but maybe not as much as I should do.
7. Art and Fly colouring pencils — colour work and diagrams. These are fab. They have a really nice finish and touch to the pencils themselves. And the colours are rich and deep.
8. Pentel Brush Pens — lettering and expressive writing. These are my go-to for learning notes on A3 paper.
9. Sharpies & Sharpie Ultra-Fine — Video Notes and visual frameworks. I use these a lot. Certainly in client workshops and training.
10. Pental Energel 07 — everyday general-purpose writing. This is the pen that is looped into the everyday ledger, the Dingbats notebook, the A4 yellow legal pad. Essentially, they are my everyday pen.

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. Essential.
2. RapEsco pencil sharpener — functional, tactile, and reliable. Maybe slightly over the top but does the job nicely.
3. Canvas bags — repurposed for stationery and field kits.
4. Metal ruler — straight lines and layout work. An under-rated piece of any stationery collection.

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. Full frame, build in LUTS, and easy to download the mp4 lite format to my phone.
2. Ricoh GR – What can I say. This is pretty much the camera I have on me at all times. It is SO much fun to use and the images it creates aren't perfect, and that's the point. But they do look great with a little texture. It is really wide, 28mm, and has no zoom. That's precisely why I use it. I have an old one, the new Ricoh GR3 is supposed to be just as much fun, and with better image quality. I'm sticking with this for now.
3. Sony ZV1 — travel camera. Brilliant, versatile but, a word of caution, I have no end of problems filming in 4k. It overheats, doesn't save files and generally corrupts everything. In Full HD – no problems at all. Perfect. 4k - watch out.
4. GoPro 10 — walking shots, unusual angles, and movement. Steady and reliable. Always works and helps me get some unusual shots.
5. Wireless Comica — roaming audio capture.
6. Caden Shoulder — my camera carry bag for full day shoots.
7. Zhiyun Smooth Q2 — mobile stabilisation. Took me a while to work out how to mount the phone to this, but once I'd mastered that – buttery smooth b-roll.
8. Zecti Slider — manual motion shots
9. Ulanzi Grip — modular camera rig
10. 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 travel up and down between the house and the studio. Includes almost all of what is listed above.

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.