Despite being a 160-year-old invention, the pencil continues to be the foundation of great creative works. For instance, John Steinbeck famously went through 60 pencils daily during his writing process. Similarly, Ernest Hemingway used the act of sharpening pencils as a mental warm-up before drafting in his notebooks, despite his eventual transition to the typewriter.

        In today’s digital world, while pencils are used less frequently, the small eraser at the tip remains a powerful symbol. It reminds us that mistakes are not failures. It tells us that making an error is never something to fear because we always have the chance to fix it.

Written, translated, and illustrated by: Ratchanok T.