It's easy to underestimate the value of the perfect pen, but let's face it: the scattered collection of dried out pens sitting on your desk aren't cutting it anymore. With a new year upon us, its time to clean out those old duds and refresh them with a new set that works for you.
If you're tired of the finger cramps, ink bleeds and barely legible handwriting that other pens may offer, you're in luck! Shop TODAY asked authors of some of your favorite books to showcase their favorite pens, and they shared a selection of comfortable, quick-drying and bold picks that'll also look so adorable in an art cabinet or pencil pouch.
Whether you're an artist looking for some new, colorful ballpoints, a student writing who's in dire need of a soft grip for note-taking or simply someone who's starting a journal for 2026, there will be a pick for you in this wide variety of pens chosen by authors and our editors.
Best pens, according to published authors
While this isn’t a traditional sort of pen that probably comes to mind, it’s a favorite of author Stephanie Garber. Before her first book was released, the “Caraval” writer was gifted a hot pink Sharpie on her birthday by her sister. She still has the same one and even says it still works.
“It might not seem like a practical pen, but I always like to have a hot pink sharpie nearby because I think it makes anything it touches a little more fun.”
“A good pen often stands between me and my next great idea,” says Dhonielle Clayton, bestselling author of “The Marvellers.” Clayton is still fond of handwriting the first draft of her novels, so using the right pen is important to her process. She says these pens help her find her creative rhythm.
“I love the thin 0.5 mm ballpoint, allowing for smooth lines, no smudging and no bleeding through the page. The grip is sleek and comfortable for long writing sessions and the color saturation is gorgeous and rich,” she raves. “These pens are magic!”
Shop TODAY associate editor Erica Marrison writer is also a fan of these pens. She says, "When writing by hand, I always opt for a Muji 0.38 mm pen. I'm obsessed with how fine the tip is (though there are different size options in-store and online) and I love that the ink flows steadily -- there's nothing that annoys me more than when a pen has ink left, but it won't come through the tip."
Leigh Bardugo, New York Times-bestselling author of popular book-to-Netflix adapted series “Shadow and Bone,” loves the Le Pen from Marvy Uchida.
“I think I picked up my first Le Pen at Muji during a trip to New York City — and I still have it because they are somehow enchanted to never run out of ink. This is the pen I reach for when I’m taking notes at a meeting or on a call, or when I’m revising a new manuscript and need to map things out away from my keyboard,” she tells us. “It’s compact, writes smoothly and it has never betrayed me by exploding on an airplane.”
Senior partnerships editor Francesca Cocchi Zabloudil, who is also the author of the upcoming novel, "Have a Great Summer" also recommends these pens: “I keep a set of fine-tip pens from Marvy’s LePen line by my side when I’m line-editing my manuscripts. I love that they glide smoothly on the page without bleeding, and the vibrant colors make editing a little more fun.”
Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, New York Times-bestselling author of young adult thriller “Ace of Spades,” is another fan of PaperMate pens, but prefers this thicker ballpoint style.
“As a writer with dysgraphia, I struggle a lot with pens that have comfortable grips,” she shares. “My favorite pen to use is the PaperMate InkJoy Ballpoint Stylo-Billie [now known as just Ballpoint] because they are bigger than the average pen and are therefore easy to hold/makes writing on paper feel really fluid.”
Tracy Deonn, author of New York Times bestseller “Legendborn,” is a fan of uni-ball pens but specifically calls out this version. “When I’m crafting new worlds and new stories, I always have a uni-ball Jetstream nearby. I love how smooth it writes and how quickly it dries–when the ideas are coming fast, I don’t have time for smears or splotches!” she says.
These Amazon bestselling fine point pens are a favorite of Elena Armas, author of “The Spanish Love Deception.” Often used by artists for drawing, they come in several different colors but Armas is partial to the rose hue that matches her book cover.
“They write smoothly, never smudge and feel fancy even when writing a to-do list,” she raves.
Kai Harris, author of “What the Fireflies Knew,” is a fan of these PaperMate medium-point pens. “This has been my go-to pen for years because it’s fast-drying and inexpensive (which works well for everyday use), but also writes smoothly with thin, crisp lines that are perfect for professional writing (including signing books),” she adds. “I typically use the black pen, but it’s also available in a variety of colors if you want to have fun!”
After receiving a bright pink version of this pen as a birthday gift from her dad, Chloe Gong made it her go-to writing utensil when she “wants to feel fancy.” The bestselling author of “These Violent Delights” and its sequel “Our Violent Ends” admits that even though typing is easy, “there’s something especially satisfying about a smooth ink nib pulling my words out.”
Best pens, according to editors
These affordable pens ring in at less than $7 for a 60-count, and they’re a top pick for editorial operations manager Jillian Ortiz, who says she prefers them over any other pen she’s used before.
“It doesn’t bleed and makes it easy to write clearly and concisely. I hate pens that leak ink and then it smudges all over your hands as you write on the page. They’re so cheap and the best, in my opinion!” she raves.
“I got this pen in Japan and have loved it ever since for its fine tip and small design,” says SEO writer Jannely Espinal.
“It writes so well and the ink doesn’t smear unlike other ballpoint pens. Also, the clip is easy to attach to your shirt or pants if you’re always carrying it around. Whether you’re a cursive writer or want to journal with a cute/small pen, this is a great one to keep nearby.”
This pen is a personal favorite of associate editor Kamari Stewart-Jackson. She says, "It’s designed with comfort in mind and was even recognized by the Arthritis Foundation. I’ve found that I can write with this pen for hours without experiencing any dreaded hand cramping. While it’s only available in black ink, it comes in four fun shell colors."
Editorial director Adrianna Brach isn’t a fan of pencils, so she decided to give this erasable gel pen a try and was pleasantly surprised with the results. “It really impressed me. I love being able to erase ink because I absolutely loathe pencils,” she says.
This colorful bunch is a go-to for former Shop TODAY commerce writer Hannah Baker. Described by the brand as “the first erasable fine point marker pen,” with these, you no longer have to worry about carrying around a bottle of correction fluid for your ink errors.
Brach calls the Sharpie S-Gel with a 0.7mm point her everyday pen. “It glides seamlessly while I am taking tons of notes in meetings and gives off that bold, inky look without the bleeding.”
Production associate Audrey Ekman is a fan of these pens from Pilot. “The classic Pilot G2 wins my proverbial pen bracket every time. I love how lusciously bold, inky and satisfying a G2 is to write with,” she says. “Thinner pens tend to yield illegible chicken scratch from me, but something about the smooth and broad strokes of a G2 actually improves my handwriting... magic!”
Brach is also a fan of the pens, but prefers the fine 0.7mm point over the thicker 1.0mm point.
These pens are a staple for associate editor Sierra Hoeger who says she’s bought them every year since her first year of college. “They’re simple, no frills, yet come in fun colors that make note taking even more so!”
Cocchi Zabloudil is also a fan of this stylish pen. "My debut novel comes out this May and I’ve been on the hunt for a pen to bring to book signings. With a little help from my husband and his Reddit research, my nephews surprised me with this one for Christmas. I’m so excited to break it out!"
Deputy managing editor Jess Bender takes after her dad and his affinity for pens. Growing up, she says she only had two types of pens in the house: pens her dad brought home from his office and these specific rollerball pens from uni-ball.
“While I’ve sworn by uni-ball’s Vision Elite pen for the longest time, I recently came across their older, more sophisticated sibling — the Jetstream — and had to upgrade. You wouldn’t think classic ink colors like black, blue or red would come out incredibly bold, but I was surprised at how striking the hue comes across on paper. It also writes incredibly smoothly and sans smudges,” says Bender.
More pens to try
Treat your inner child with this adorable pen. Not only is its design incredibly charming, but it also has an eraser on the back to remove your mistakes with ease. And if you're not a cat person, you can shop some of Legami's alternative designs, ranging from giraffes to unicorns.
The perfect 2026 planner for you might include some color coordination, to help your eyes and brain remember important events and separate different tasks from one another. In that case, these Pentonic ballpoint pens are a great pack to have on hand. With 10 different colors at your disposal, your journaling or notebook organization dreams will come true.
These pens have a sleek and simple design that will make your desk look polished, in comparison to having a cup of mismatched pens or pencils. Plus, they're made with an extra-fine ballpoint tip for precise, neat handwriting whenever you need to make a note.
When it comes to making great pens, BIC never misses — and these Clic Gel Pens are no exception. Made with an ultra-soft grip, these pens will allow you to write everyday while avoiding hand cramping.
How we chose the best pens
We asked editors and authors for their most-loved pens and which ones perform better when it comes to scribbling, drawing, journaling and writing. Each pen featured by editors is their all-time favorite and some were upgraded with the brand’s latest version.
Meet the experts
At Shop TODAY, our reporters interview a range of qualified sources and experts to capture a wide scope of perspectives on a given topic. We also make sure that all expert guidance and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Stephanie Garber, known for her work in fiction, is the author of the bestselling "Caraval" series and "Once Upon a Broken Heart" trilogy.
- Dhonielle Clayton is the author of "The Marvellers" series and "Shattered Midnight" among other works. She also works as the chief operating officer of We Need Diverse Books.
- Leigh Bardugo is the New York Times-bestselling author of popular book-to-Netflix adapted series "Shadow and Bone."
- Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé is the New York Times-bestselling author of young adult thriller "Ace of Spades," and the 2022 recipient for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work - Youth/Teens.
- Tracy Deonn is the author of New York Times bestseller "Legendborn," and sequel novels "Bloodmarked" and "Oathbound."
- Elena Armas is a romantic novelist, notable for her work "The Spanish Love Deception" among many other books in the genre.
- Kai Harris is an writer and professor at Santa Clarita University who's authored several novels, including "What the Fireflies Knew"
- Chloe Gong is a New York Times and internationally bestselling author of the fantasy novel “These Violent Delights” and its sequel “Our Violent Ends”
- Francesca Cocchi is a senior commerce editor at TODAY and author of the forthcoming novel "Have a Great Summer," available May 26 from Kensington Books.
