I quite often get asked, “Why use a fountain pen?” I think the reason people ask that question is either because they’re under the impression that fountain pens must be harder to use (which they really aren’t), or that they must cost a lot of money (which they really don’t need to).
The Romance of Fountain Pens
I fell in love with fountain pens several years ago. It’s amazing that I did, actually, because my first experience with one wasn’t all that inspiring. I remember seeing a pen display in Staples one day, and thinking to myself “I wonder what one of those would be like to write with?” And then I had a moment of nostalgia, remembering my Dad using one to sign letters behind his big office desk.
Well, it was pretty cheap anyway, so why not? I bought it.
Now I’ve had a number of inexpensive fountain pens since that day, and they’ve been great. But that first one, a Cross Aventura, was poorly produced and it “skipped” continually. (Skipping is when the flow of ink to the nib is not constant, resulting in missing or partial stokes.) Very frustrating.
I quickly set the pen aside, and that might have been the end of my experiment. But then a short while later, I was looking through a Levenger catalog and I came across some more fountain pens. These were quite a bit more expensive, but they looked beautiful. I decided to give it another chance, and ordered a Levenger True Writer.
It turned out to be nothing like the previous pen fiasco. It was a beautiful writing experience right out of the box. And I was hooked.
These days I own dozens of fountain pens, and I use them almost exclusively. In fact, if you came in to my office and asked me for a ballpoint, I’d have to rummage around my desk and I’m honestly not sure if I’d find one. The only regular writing I do without a fountain pen is in my daily planner. And that’s for the practical reason that appointments change all the time, so I use a lead pencil that I can erase.
[Click here to check out all my fountain pen recommendations.]
Anyway, back to that question, “Why use a fountain pen?” Here’s a list of answers:
Table of Contents
My 12 Reasons Why Use a Fountain Pen
1. Fountain pens are more comfortable to write with
The main reason for this is because of how the ink flows. When you put the nib to paper, capillary action draws ink naturally down from the feed and out onto the paper. It’s been affectionately called “a controlled leak”.
As a result, you don’t have to press down hard at all, which means you can write for quite a bit longer without feeling hand strain.
2. They are a more eco-friendly choice
The great majority of pens in popular use today are made to be disposable. Just imagine the total tonnage of plastic that is discarded every day from offices, schools and homes in the form of used-up pens. Even the more permanent executive ballpoint pens almost all use plastic refills that have to be replaced.
With most fountain pens, however, you have the ability to refill the “converter” or barrel with ink from a glass bottle.
It’s better for the environment, but also (eventually) for the wallet! …
3. A fountain pen can actually work out more economical over time
While disposable plastic pens can cost pennies, they really don’t last very long and need to be replaced constantly. On the other hand, one bottle of fountain pen ink can last several years, depending on how much writing a person is doing.
The generalization that “fountain pens are expensive” is also just a myth. There are some amazing examples that can be purchased for just a few dollars.
4. The right fountain pen will make your handwriting look better
Again, this is primarily because of how the ink flows, and how lightly you have to press down. With a decent fountain pen, the nib fairly glides across the paper. With a little practice most people can improve their writing far more with a fountain pen than with other kinds of writing instruments.
(Click here to read my review of a great cursive handwriting course.)
5. They allow you to personalize your writing experience
Let’s face it, a ballpoint is a ballpoint. You can get a little different experience with a gel pen or a felt tip, but that means swapping the pen out completely.
But you can take your favorite fountain pen and completely change the way it writes in a couple of different ways:
a) Nibs
Almost all fountain pens have interchangeable nibs, and replacements vary in size, angle, and the material they are made from. You can choose from extra fine all the way through to double broad, and specialty nibs. Steel nibs are stiff workhorses, while softer gold nibs provide more flex for line variation.
And if you’re so inclined, you can even have a nib custom ground by a trained “nib master” to make it more or less smooth, and to an angle that suits how you tend to hold your pen. (This can be particularly helpful for “lefties”.)
b) Inks
A fountain pens will often write quite differently if you just try a different ink. This is one of the most interesting things to experiment with. And the range of colors now available is endless; you can even get amazing inks with different “sheens” and “shimmers”.
6. A fountain pen makes you stand out from the crowd
No-one’s going to pay any attention as you pull out your BIC Round Stic at a lunch meeting. Even executive dress pens are a very common sight. But take that fountain pen from your jacket pocket and uncap it, and I can almost guarantee you people will look. It’s often an interesting conversation starter (people are fascinated to see one in regular use), and it also says something about you. You’ll somehow seem a more serious and deliberate person. Someone to be reckoned with.
7. You can be part of keeping a wonderful tradition alive
Fountain pens have been enjoying quite a revival for several years now. As a result, new manufacturers have sprung up to produce more pen designs as well as all the inks and accoutrements. That’s a very special phenomenon, guaranteeing the continuation of a historic art form. It’s a special thing to be a part of.
8. There are amazing fountain pens to fit every budget
Yes, you can spend thousands of dollars on a single fountain pen. If you love the Montblanc brand, for example, you could drop some serious money to build a collection, even of their more moderately priced pens. At the highest end, a Montblanc Bohème Royal would set you back over $1,500,000. (Yes, that’s just one pen. If you have to ask the price, you can’t afford it.)
But at the other end of the spectrum, some people have a love for modern Chinese pens, many of which cost less than $10 each.
And there’s every price point in between.
There’s no right or wrong. It’s just what you love, and there are amazing writing experiences at all levels.
9. They are endlessly collectible.
There are literally more fountain pen designs, both vintage and modern, than any one collector could even catalog in a lifetime, let alone hope to own. There are sub-niches to suit every possible taste, and new pens, in new variations and colors, are released every month. It can be a hobby for a lifetime.
Which brings me to say this …
10. You’ll join an amazing community of fountain pen lovers
Today, fountain pen aficionados can be found among young and old, from every walk of life, and from all over the world. With this common passion, and connected online, it’s a very special community. They like each other, help each other, and genuinely appreciate each others diverse tastes.
Oh, and they love to get together whenever they can! Pen shows are now held in cities all around the world, and get more popular every year.
11. Writing with a fountain pen will inspire you to get to work
Do you tend to procrastinate? Do you find the hardest part of any project is just getting started?
It’s amazing what an incentive you might find it is to simply have a favorite (or brand new) fountain pen freshly inked up with some color you’ve been wanting to try, sat there waiting for you on a crisp new notebook that you bought especially for the job.
I’ve heard of writers being completely blocked when sitting down to their laptop to work. But put a beautiful fountain pen in their hand, and suddenly they’re off to the races … longhand.
Which prompts the last answer to the question, “Why use a fountain pen?” …
12. They’re just fun!
And after all, do you really need any other reason to dive in than the fact that a nice fountain pen brings you joy?
Why use a fountain pen? I’ve given you my list. Maybe you can add to it? If you can, leave a comment below.
Leave a Reply