What’s My Point? Consider the Pencil

The Evolution of an Underrated Tool, Plus Its Famous Users: Thoreau, Morrison, Dahl, Steinbeck, More

For years now I’ve used a FriXion erasable pen from Pilot for all my non-digital writing. But recently I found myself stranded without my pen and was forced to use—of all things—a No. 2 pencil, as if I were back in grade school. I loved it!

I enjoyed the slight scratchy sensation of pushing and dragging the sharpened graphite across the page, leaving a …