The Fountain #026 - One Pen To Rule Them All
How do you use your fountain pen?
This question is not as silly as it may first appear. I have found that many choose to use a fountain pen only for specific purposes. Writing an initial draft by hand. Editing. Journalling morning thoughts.
Fountain pens have replaced all my pens and are my writing instrument of choice. For everything.
Whether it’s my morning journaling, work notes during the day, notes while on the go, I use a fountain pen. And a different pen, and ink, for each.
I cannot imagine ever using anything else again.
And I’m not alone…
In an interview with Tim Ferriss, author Neil Gaiman spoke extensively about his love of fountain pens:
“…most of the time, not always, I will do my first draft in fountain pen…I like the feeling of the fountain pen. I like uncapping it. I like the weight of it in my hand.”
YouTube artist Peter Draws, creates art using pen and ink, which he shares with 1mil+ subscribers on his YouTube channel. He even has fountain pen collaborations with Nahvalur, with his artwork appearing on the pens themselves.
Stephen King reportedly wrote Dreamcatcher with a Waterman fountain pen, which he referred to as “…the world's finest word processor to him”.
King is quoted as saying that he found writing with a fountain pen to be therapeutic, rhythmic and calming. That using a pen slowed down his thought process and helped him to consider each word.
While some write with them, others prefer to edit their printed drafts with a fountain pen. The contrast is stark - of a handwritten edit in a bright ink against the bland printed word, highlighting what needs correcting. Re-phrasing.
The tactile nature of writing with a fountain pen is different. More purposeful. Intentional.
Dare I say, therapeutic? 🙂
Do you have a specific purpose for your fountain pen? Or have you embraced it whole and adopted it for all your creative works?
Until next time.
** Neil Gaiman is active on BlueSky and will often engage on the topic of fountain pens.
Resources
Neil Gaiman interview on the Tim Ferriss podcast
Peter Draws YouTube channel
Nahvalur x Peter Draws fountain pen collaboration
P.S.
I am looking for guest posters for the newsletter. I am interested in your story with fountain pens.
It may be a review of a pen or ink, a recent shopping experience, or how you started with your first pen.
If you are interested in contributing, please let me know.
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