EDC stands for Everyday Carry. It is often a collection of items that you carry with you at all times to tackle the mundane little challenges that life throws at you. These can include practical tools like wallets, keys, pens, multitools, etc.
Depending on the type of activities you indulge in, your EDC toolkit varies. An outdoorsman might carry a lighter, some packaged water, a flashlight, or perhaps an EDC knife. But we’re not talking about the great outdoors today; rather, we’re focusing on those who write about it. We’ll be looking at EDC items that writers can benefit from.
EDC Accessories Varies for Different Writers
It must be stated that not all writers are the same—surprise, surprise. Digital writers who primarily use their laptop or mobile phone for typing would have a completely different set of EDC items that would be beneficial for them, like headphones, charging cables, cable organizers, and the like. Here, in this post, our main focus is on traditional writers.
The EDC Bolt Action Pen
Hard to argue with the fact that a writer would, at the end of the day, require a pen. Gone are the days of using stone to carve your thoughts on cave walls—modern times have made some major advancements like inventing the pen we know and love today.
An EDC kit could contain a couple of affordable ballpoint pens, but we’d recommend being better prepared. No point filling up precious space with use-and-throw EDC pens; we’re aiming for quality here. The Bastion Bolt Action Pens stand out. It’s built strong, elegant look, and is compatible with EDC. Ideas strike at any time, anywhere, and for those specific moments, having an EDC pen handy can be the difference between jotting down the plot for the next big manga or forever losing it to the sands of time.
Pen Parts and Accessories
The survivalist does not carry numerous cheap lighters; they carry one that does the job well and is fixable and sustainable. There is a poetic and practical value to this, and it’s taken to the next level with customizability. Swapping out bolt action pen parts and accessories like clips, O-rings, or springs allows you to personalize your pen and, of course, have it perform its primary function effectively. A good pen is a lot like a car, your hands get used to it, and maintaining the same EDC bolt action pen extends its life and preserves its reliability.
Good Ol’ Notebook
A notebook, the canvas of a writer. They come in all shapes and sizes with varied paper materials and thicknesses. Whilst there is no specific notebook recommended as your EDC, a handy notebook, usually pocket-sized, is recommended. However, depending on how much carry capacity you have, you can opt for a bigger one.
Highlighters and Multi-Coloured Pens
Monochrome is classic, but it can get dull. It can get a little boring, and sometimes you just need a bit of flair in your life. While it’s certainly not for everywhere, some writers swear by the value of highlighters and multi-colored pens for organizing and emphasizing their notes.
If you’re writing a character, different characters, plotlines, or perhaps arcs of the story can be denoted using a variation of colors, simply to make things visually engaging and help you, the writer, set the tone better.
A Watch
The human attention span has been steadily decreasing. No research is required—just ask yourself if your ability to focus on a singular task is as impressive as it was before the era of social media and short-form content. Mobile phones are useful, but they’re a distraction. However, one must keep track of time. Instead of using a mobile, writers can include an automatic watch within their EDC kit.
Protective Gear and a Backpack: Where Are You Going to Keep It All?
If you’ve got your handy EDC pen, notebook, watch, parts, and accessories, ask yourself: where are you going to carry them? Perhaps those cargo pants with countless pockets could do the trick, but mostly a backpack does the job quite well.
While the definition of a backpack is quite vague, we don’t recommend going for backpacks that are just one big pocket, unless you’re planning on investing in an organizer separately. Bags with built-in organizers are perfect for neat freaks or, let’s not even go that extreme, people who like things organized. A separate compartment for your pens, notebooks, and accessories would allow you to get them even in pitch darkness—though writing in that condition would be the more impressive feat.
Conclusion
EDC tools aren’t a “must-have” but just a means, a practice, that makes the art of writing a little more enjoyable and, dare we say, adventurous. Being prepared, at all odd times, to simply grab hold of your backpack, bring out your trusty EDC pen and notebook, and start jotting down plotlines is quite satisfying.
