Who’s inspired by a plain white pad of paper? We offer our compendium of brilliantly designed journals for the scribe in all of us.

+ Moleskine promises to remain a classic for years to come – but even classics need an update once in a while. The company recently launched the latest addition to its XS line of delightfully teeny notebooks – hardcovers in ruled or plain paper. In a departure from Moleskine’s traditional “any colour you like, as long as it’s black” approach, the 65-by-105 millimetre journals come in yellow, green pink and purple ($10).

+ If you’re having trouble choosing a colour, the Pantone Chips notebook by Chronicle Books embraces every hue under the rainbow – at least, a wide selection of tones from the colour systems guru’s graphics palette. Added value: you’ll always have a paint chip booklet on you, for those impromptu design sessions ($12, available at Magic Pony on Queen St. West).

+ And for those who prefer a distinct void of colour, Whitelines’ notepads feature light lines on a slightly-tinted background that disappears when photocopied – so that the object of your affection will think you can not only craft brilliant prose, but write in perfectly straight lines at the same time. Isn’t that what everyone looks for in a mate? ($20, available at Chapters).

+ Don’t let the threatening 3-D forms on the covers of the Armed Notebooks by Megawing fool you; the PVC-clad books actually carry an anti-violence message. The grenade, we’re told, is designed to remind us life is ticking. Each of the three journals features a different type of paper: light grey plaid in the grenade book, oversized rules and a blank bottom portion in the knife, and blank paper in the revolver ($30, available at Rolo).

+ While we’re on a slightly ominous tear, consider the Exorcise Book by British design studio Product of Your Environment. The classic exercise book is re-imagined with an evil bent. The book is bound with 365 pages “to help rid you of your demons,” says the studio ($30, available at Up To You).