Writing is such a thankless effort, such a solitary toil. It is however blessed with some of the best accessories of any vocation. We have asked our friend and writer/director Jordan Brade for his picks of the best of the writers' tools.

"As an aspiring Writer-Director, I love my camera, lenses, fancy computer programs, etc. for filmmaking in general, but I get the most mileage out of my writing gear. Here are a few tools I couldn’t live without."

1. Pens

Seems pretty obvious, but I use the cheap Sanford Uni-ball ONYX pens; they’re comfortable to write with, provide the perfect amount of ink, and if I have plenty of replacements if I lose one.

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2. Pocket Notebook

Perfect for jotting down ideas, random words and quotes, or even just for keeping daily to-do lists. I carry my Softcover Moleskine Pocket Notebook with me everywhere!

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3. Regular Notebooks

I use the Moleskine Cahier notebooks for plot mapping and rough draft composition. There’s something about the simplicity of these notebooks that make them an absolute joy to write in!

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4. Journal

I feel that every writer should have a personal journal filled with writings that no one will ever read. A journal provides a safe haven to develop your personal “voice” in your writing without judgement. I use a large Softcover Moleskine Notebook for mine.

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5. Writer’s Bag

The writer’s version of a tool belt! I use mine, a brown Fossil Messenger Bag my mom bought me as a gift, to store everything I could possibly need for a day’s worth of writing.

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​Jordan Brade is a hopeless romantic living in Los Angeles, California while trying to make it as a Writer-Director. You can check out his short films at youtube.com/user/Blackfedorah, and, starting in the next few weeks, start reading regular blog entries from him at blackfedorah.com. Also, follow him on twitter and read the insanity that sprouts from his brain: @Blackfedorah.