Excited squeals came from the south end of Target. Curious, I maneuvered my cart toward the sounds and discovered children in the school supplies aisle. Their mothers held lists which they simultaneously check-marked as the kids shouted, “I want the red one. That’s my favorite.”
“Ooh, look at this, Mommy. Can I have this notebook?”
“I don’t have a backpack yet. I have to find the right backpack.”
I watched with joy as the kids filled up carts with their assortment of goodies. The moms folded their lists and stuck them in their purses, then headed for the registers.
And I remembered shopping with my son for his school supplies. We made a day of it. Searching the ads for the best bargains, driving to the preferred stores, choosing what he wanted for another year of learning, then topping off the day with a pizza supper. Not only was it a fun mommy-son experience, but it represented hope for a successful school year. For the making of new friends. The introduction to a new teacher. The satisfaction of completing another nine months toward that final goal of graduation.
Hunting for the perfect supplies during August is still one of my favorite seasons. I usually wait until the 3rd week of August, after the kids have had top picks of all the choices. Then I look for my personal favorites and the tools I consistently use for my writing and editing tasks.
My list always includes:
- Pentel Gel Pens. They don’t smear and they dry fast. Perfect for book signings or just everyday use. Purple is my color of choice which is sometimes hard to find. One year I scored a 4-pen package with green, blue, black, and the coveted purple.
- Plenty of sticky notes. All sizes and a variety of colors. Perfect for marking places in books without destroying the corners by folding them down. Handy for leaving notes all over the house or thanking a waitress for serving my meal.
- Notebooks and legal pads. I prefer white or pastel colors, but not yellow. Something about yellow legal pads hurts my eyes. But a variety of notebooks are always needed for those first drafts I like to write long hand.
- Folders which keep my filing system in order. Some in the usual manila style. Some more colorful. Some with pockets which I give to attendees when I host a writing retreat. Expandable files to hold folder ideas which become chapters in books.
- Paper clips, staples, Scotch tape, rulers, staple removers, scissors — all the usual office fare.
- Journals. Throughout each year, I go through several journals. For personal use, Bible study, ideas that become works in progress, and gifts for other writers. I’m always on the lookout for unusual and colorful journals.
- Several years ago, a patron gave me reams of paper which I’m still using. So I won’t need to replenish my stock for a while.
One year, I scored an amazing purchase — a rolling cart — which I use every time I present a workshop or carry books to an event. The rolling cart has an adjustable handle, solid wheels, and the capacity to handle up to 50 books. It has become one of my favorite teaching tools.
Since everything is on sale during this season, writers can easily stock up on what they need. And find new items to add to their supply closet. Remember to keep the receipts and careful records, because all office supplies are tax deductible.
And remember that writers, too, need visual reminders of the important work we do. Hope is also represented for us as we choose the best tools so that we can write and polish and rewrite. Then submit an article or approach a publisher. Hold our books in our hands and know we have completed our work, hoping to impact a reader somewhere in the world.
Enjoy your own shopping time for writing supplies. And follow the squeals in the school supplies aisle. You might just find me there.
©2025 RJ Thesman – All Rights Reserved
Image Attribution: Poison_Ivy / Pixabay
I used a favorite notebook to outline my newly released book, Sustain Us, Oh Lord: Finding Strength When Life is Hard.