Our first Writers’ Project interview of the year is now live!

This time, we talked with Christian Patchell, or “Patch” as he’s better known, a cartoonist and designer who recently published a book on his experience with cancer.

You can check out the interview at the Writers’ Project homepage. While you’re there, be sure to check out previous interviews for more advice and inspiration!

Ok, so it isn’t a real holiday. But I still think handwriting is an important cause to promote in the age of electronics… according to the Writing Instrument Manufacturer’s Association (WIMA), which sponsors it, “National Handwriting Day is a chance for all of us to re-explore the purity and power of handwriting.” It falls on January 23, in conjunction with John Hancock’s birthday, because “Hancock was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence and is famous for his large, bold signature.”

Interestingly, Western countries are not the only ones who struggle with this issue. According to a post on The Economist‘s language blog, computers and mobile phones have made Chinese characters much easier to read and look up, but harder to write from scratch:

In Chinese culture, good handwriting was long seen as indicative of moral fibre, knowledge of characters was synonymous with learning itself, and calligraphy was a great art. Now, the Chinese can avoid the drawbacks of the writing system while reading, but in avoiding those drawbacks, they are atrophying their ability to write their language with a pen. Writing on a computer is different – type in “wo” and Windows’s Chinese support will give you the most common character (the one that means “I”) first, along with the ability to choose many other characters pronounced “wo”. The software will usually find the most appropriate character for the context.

Here’s wishing everyone much health and happiness in 2012…

An eagle-eyed reader found these lovely paper cotton planner covers at Quo Vadis Japan. Also on the site: these handsome linen ones.

Unfortunately, since both are manufactured in Japan, they’re quite expensive to import. According to our product manager, Cecilia, a realistic retail price for the cotton covers is an eye-popping $32-50 US dollars, and $52-55 for the linen — without the planners, even! The yen is strong, and textile covers are subject to heavy taxes. On top of that, we’d have to pay an additional 5% to cover the Japanese taxes.

As always, though, if there’s enough interest, we could certainly try it. So here’s what I can tell you… the cotton covers are made of oil cloth and have a special interior pocket for business cards. They come in five colors: rose, sky, stone, chocolate, and lemon. The linen covers are hand-embroidered and also have a business card pocket. They come in red, blue, and gray. Both covers are refillable, and while I’m not sure which of our formats they fit, I can certainly try to find out if it makes a difference.

What do you think? Are they worth it?

We’re going to create a new planner soon, and we’d like your help… If you have a few minutes to spare, please take this survey and let us know what your preferences are in terms of size, layout, cover, paper, and all the other good stuff.

Afterwards, we’ll do our best to incorporate the most popular responses into the design of the new format.

Thanks, and happy planning!

If you live in the NY metro area and you can spare the time today or tomorrow, stop by our Manhattan offices and check out our tabletop sale!

The sale will take place from 10 AM to 4 PM at 143 West 29th Street, on the 10th Floor (it’s between Sixth and Seventh Avenues), and will feature great deals on blank cards and envelopes, notebooks, organizational products, calligraphy items, and ink from Quo Vadis, Clairefontaine, J. Herbin, and G. Lalo.

Some are samples from France that we decided not to carry, while others are discontinued products; there will also be a small selection of current products that are a little dinged up and cannot be sold to retailers.

Many thanks to those who entered our monthly planner giveaway. The winners are…

• Paul W.
• Joelyn M.
• Jenny R.
• Wilson H.
• Pete P.
• Tim D.
• Annie T.
• Sarah L.
• Rori M.
• Lorraine G.
• Jan P.
• Kevin J.
• Christina M.
• Sarah S.
• Sergio G.
• Regina
• Linda K.
• Min Ye S.
• Amber
• Samuel R.

If your name is on this list and you didn’t get my email, please drop me a line and let me know. Otherwise, stay tuned till our next giveaway!

The new year is right around the corner, and if you still haven’t got your new planner (or you’re the sort of person who just can’t have too many), you’re in luck, cause we’re giving away twenty of the following monthlies:

• Monthly 4 – a desk monthly
• Visoplan – a pocket monthly Sunday-to-Saturday planner
• Exaplan – a pocket monthly with 85g paper

Enter before Sunday, December 4.

Update: Thanks to all who entered! I’ll post the list of winners soon…

With apologies to any of the languages I may have butchered in the headline above, a big congratulations to the winners of our latest foreign-language planner contest! The lucky names:

• Catalan: Daniel L.
• Chinese: Eric P.
• Czech: Gabby K.
• Hungarian: Mick C.
• Russian: Liz

By now, everyone on this list should have received an email from me. If not, email us and let us know how we can get in touch with you.

And check back soon for our next contest!

Back in September, we gave away our first batch of foreign-language planners. Today, I’m pleased to announce that our next batch has arrived! This time, we’re giving away:

• Chinese: Affaires Prestige (10x15cm), black Habana cover
• Catalan: Affaires Prestige (10x15cm), red Soho cover
• Czech: Affaires Prestige (10x15cm), black Habana cover
• Hungarian: Affaires Prestige (10x15cm), black Club cover

We’ve also got a refill only of a gold-leafed Russian edition called the Note 16; it’s 16x16cm, if you don’t mind the lack of cover. (Or just make your own.)

As before, you’ll have to specify what planner you want when you enter. Unlike our previous drawings, though, we’re gonna ask you to fill out the following form instead of commenting. (And since the point of this drawing is to hook people up with a product they can’t find in their home countries, please don’t ask for a language that’s native to where you live!)

Enter by Thursday, November 17 at midnight EST.

Update: the contest is now closed; many thanks to all who entered! Click here to see a list of winners.