Doodles and Finished Pieces

[Chris2Balls [:B]]

Dude, do yourself a favour when you sketch.

First, the paper. Get some reasonably thick paper, at least 180g/m² (85lbs), with a fine grain. Office paper is typically very smooth, which isn't the best for capturing the graphite.
Secondly, don't be afraid to use several different pencils. For outlines and really rough sketching, I'd recommend anything above HB (H, 2H, 4H, etc.), which will allow you to draw very hard, light lines, and if you press lightly, should be easy to erase. It doesn't have to be grey, you could use blue or red crayons too.
For bolder, more definite outlines, use anything below HB (B, 2B, 4B, etc). The softness of the graphite allows you to draw faster and more fluidly, but is harder to erase, as much as the smudging can be used to your advantage. More detail here.
Thirdly, sharpen that pencil and don't press as hard.

Hand Sketches