Messaging via Free Pens

This one is fun, and you don’t even have to say a word. Just leave a pen lying around. We can all do that, right? Maybe in a doctor’s waiting room, at the grocery check-out, those center tables inside banks, or even leave a small handful in a library or bookstore. Everyone loves a free gift. Why not send your little activist message imprinted on a free pen someone happens to find? It’s easy. You’ll be long gone by the time someone finds it.

What would you print on a pen for others to find? Something inspirational? Something humorous? What about a little activist message to get people thinking in more openminded ways, perhaps about LGBT+ rights or respect? Let’s think of some:

“This pen is always write.”

“My kingdom for a verse!”

“Pens don’t work without drag!”

“Clicks Not Cliques”

“This Pen Accepts Everyone.”

“Be Fabulous!”

“Left-Handed Pen”

“Diversity, Equality and Inclusivity”

“The + in LGBTQ+ Might Be You”

“I’m Your Pen Now. Gotta Love Me.”

“Free Pen from a Fabulous Guy”

“This Pen Writes Flamboyant. Try It.”

“Make Fabulous People Your Role Models.”

To create your own, search online for “custom pens”. You will find a lot of options.

You might even have a local printing shop able to put messages on pens, too. (Local purchasing is always better for our neighborhoods, right?) Some places allow you to purchase just a single pen, while others might have minimums such as 50 or even 500. Costs vary from as low as $0.18 for bulk stick pens, up to a dollar or more for a low quantity of very nice gel pens with comfort cushions. Great assortments are out there, in a variety of prices, materials, features, looks, and inks.

I have no affiliation with these, but they came up in a search online: 4imprint.com (500 at $0.18 for a stick pen, also have nice Gels)

Vistaprint.com (can buy a single one for $2.99, cheaper in bulk)

Pens.com (50 at $1.39, nice variety of click pens)

Pensxpress.com (50 at $0.68. I like the Orbit Swizzle.)

For a local shop, try American Logowear, Things Remembered, The Print Center, Tops Pens & Promotional Products, Staples Printing. Send me a photo! And a story if you have one! Thanks for considering it! Little Activisms encourages readers to consider small changes we can make to help social causes, and to feel good about ourselves for taking small risks. Judy Saint is President of the Greater Sacramento Chapter of Freedom From Religion Foundation and author of The Pleasant Atheist Adult Coloring Book available on Amazon.