Because I sit at a desk in front of the computer for most of each workday, I try to mix things up “after hours” with my journaling and other personal writing by moving to a standing desk or a more comfortable club chair. I own several different standing, lap, and writing desks, making me something of a self-proclaimed connoisseur of this particular niche in the office supply world.
The Good Made Better Writewell, shown pictured here atop my standing desk in “writing slop” mode, with two fountain pens installed in the Penwells.
And it really is a niche, because there aren’t that many options out there, which is why I was so excited to see that Good Made Better had brought a prototype writing desk, the Writewell, to the D.C. Pen Show in August. Given how busy the show was, I didn't have much time to talk to Dan, but I could see how excited he was about the prototype and he promised to send me one when it was ready for review, prior to the Kickstarter launch.
The underside of the Good Made Better Writewell. The wood grain on this product is beautiful, and the craftsmanship top notch. Not only is it going to make working on this surface every day a joy, but you’ll see the Writewell featured as a backdrop to a lot of TGS product reviews and photos.
The Writewell fills two roles for me. First, it’s a lap desk, which was the original idea behind the product. While the underside of the Writewell includes no padding, I haven’t had any issues with comfort, and the Writewell rests both comfortably and evenly on my lap regardless of whether I’m sitting with my legs crossed or uncrossed. (This is a personal observation, so YMMV.)
An antique writing slope from my personal collection, which I thought might be fun to post here.
Second, the Writewell functions as a desktop writing slope, allowing me to angle the paper slightly upwards when I’m working at my standing desk. I use the Levenger Sit-to-Stand Rolling workstation, which I like, but I also find the work surface slightly too low, even in standing mode. By adding the Writewell, it’s at a perfect height. I’ve always enjoyed portable writing desks and writing slopes, and have had several antique models in my collection over the years. (Pictured above). The Writewell is a modern take on this age-old concept.
The Writewell with a journal set up in the “Reader’s Kit” add-on. The Reader’s Kit is a two-piece adjustable book stand that features a brass book rest and an acrylic page holder. While the version I have is a prototype, I have had no issues getting most books and journals to fit.
In terms of accessories and add-ons, the Writewell sent to me for review features two integrated Penwells, which allows me to alternate between two different fountain pens while I’m journaling or taking notes. This solves a key problem with my previous go-to lap desk, an older Levenger model sort of like this one, which uses an elastic band/pen loop system. While the Levenger lap desk itself is comfortable and offers a large work surface, I vastly prefer the Writewell’s integrated Penwell system as it makes it much easier to cap/uncap pens by holding them securely. Even more convenient is the “Reader’s Kit” add-on, which can be used as a book, pad, or tablet holder that’s especially useful when transcribing passages into my commonplace book or cleaning up notes I’ve taken elsewhere. (I don’t necessarily use book-holders when I’m actively reading, as I rarely read at a desk.) Other customizations and add-ons are available, including brass and wood roll-stops and recessed niches, which hold pens and the Bookfellow book weight. You can even change the number and location of the Penwell - the standard Writewell comes with one, but you can add an extra and/or change the orientation from right to left.
My next challenge to Dan: A portable writing box!
Takeaways and Where to Buy
The Good Made Better Writewell is currently available on Kickstarter with 12 days remaining in the campaign. Pledges start at $179, with add-ons and modifications such as additional Penwells, a brass or walnut roll stop, recessed niche, and reading kit available at extra cost. The “as-reviewed” model shown here would cost approximately $275, which honestly, given the quality of construction and lack of any truly comparable product on the market, represents excellent value. A writing desk like this won’t fit a need in everyone’s workflow, but the versatility of the Writewell in allowing me to move from “lap mode” to “podium mode” makes it a must-back for me. I’ve ordered a second one, which I plan to pair with my second standing desk that I keep at the office.
While of course there are no guarantees that any Kickstarter project will be successful, Good Made Better is an experienced maker with an excellent Kickstarter track record. I would encourage you to visit their website and check out their other products, including the Penwell pen holder, the Bookfellow book weight, and more. I’ve been proud to collaborate with Dan on our own T.G.S.-exclusive Penwell, which features an “Aged Red” finish that you currently can only get via the T.G.S. Curated Shop.
Disclaimer: Good Made Better sent me the Writewell Writing Desk for review purposes, free of charge. I was not otherwise compensated for this review, and I do not receive any commissions or affiliate fees if you back the project via Kickstarter. All opinions expressed here are my own.