Even if you're focused on writing a novel, writing short stories can be
a wonderful creativity tool to help you strengthen elements of your fiction, experiment with characters and simply stay loose.
From Stephen Fry and Tracey Emin's modest wooden pencils, to James Dyson's slickly designed mechanical gadget, Dave Eggers» labyrinthine nibbed
tool and Paul Smith's jewel - like object worth # 3,000, each weird and
wonderful pencil featured in the book becomes an accurate portrait of its owner, demonstrating that in the digital age the pencil is no longer just a simple work
tool, but a much - loved totem of
creativity.