And hello from beautiful Bloomington, Indiana!
New to fountain pens, I've been lurking around here for about a week.
My closest earlier approach before was with dip crowquills in an art class. The snagging and spattering left me with a sour impression of how nib pens worked in my hand. This was not surprising, I'm a left hander who trained into deathgrip fingerwriting push-penmanship as a child. My cursive is appalling--it's ugly, but in compensation, it's also slow. I'm neither a hook nor an underwriter, I'm variable, though my natural center is with the pen parallel to the baseline, if I've arranged the page to be straight vertical in relation to me. (You know, to have the best possible chance to smear the ink... )

I'm curious, though, and I enjoy changes and learning, so I picked up some Pilot Varsities a few weeks ago, and had a gratifyingly decent experience. I made my forearm sore for a few days trying NOT to deathgrip the pen. At the same time, my boy is on the verge of learning to read, so I was dragging out my lowercase printing to make flash cards for him.
These two things tipped the balance, so now I'm trying to train myself into a legible non-finger-driven (I'm sure there's a better word) handwriting.

And now I'm trying to buy my first (non-disposable) fountain pen from the forums here. Help help, I'm being dragged in...


J.

Welcome, welcome! How's the weather in Indiana today! Hope it's better than what we are having in Iowa.

I'm not left handed but there are plenty of southpaws (THE Southpaw, too) in this forum, so I'm sure you will get good advice

Yes, a bit better! Looks like lake effect is hitting you folks. Stay safe!
We've had enough above-freezing weather that our snow is melted (except for Mt. Mall Parking Lot), and our ponds half-thawed. The weather is cool (about 37f/3c), clear, and windy. I like it, but my wife would be happiest if it were another 45 degrees warmer...

Thanks, I'll go hunting in the penmanship forums soon for Southie advice.
I've also got to find some ink (and probably other paraphernalia) for my upcoming pen... At least I've got enough paper for a while. That's one disadvantage to the piecemeal approach--but an advantage, too, if it's a hobby--the extra time spent researching, hunting, planning...


J.

Hi, J. and welcome to FPN! Sounds like you are off to a good start on your fountain pen journey. Enjoy!

Judybug

Welcome aboard, I'm sure you'll enjoy FPN. By the way, which pen are you considering?

Thanks, Judybug and JRodriguez! I'm enjoying the learning and the feel of FPN so far.

I'm buying K.K. Hon's Harris BCHR lever-fill from the marketplace:
http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...showtopic=26480

This looks like a good pen for my wants and current talent.

Foremost, not fancy, so I can start writing without getting in over my head. I've found if my artifacts are too polished, too high-tone, I hesitate to actually use them. Some folks have the opposite reaction: Extra quality really motivates them to use things. Let's hear it for personalities!

Next, a flex nib, so I can scratch that itch early. Further motivation to learn to write with a light touch!

Last, BCHR appeals to me. The functional, common, retro feel. It comes up elsewhere in my life: Courier New is my favorite font, my PDA is made of paper.

I may go for more ornamental pieces in the future, but not until and unless I persist in this hobby for a good while...

Welcome to FPN. Helpful and friendly folks here. Enjoy!

A welcome wave from a fellow southpaw!

Thanks, Mike1! How's Arlington been, this winter? We just moved up from Houston this last fall, early September. We'd already been through Midwest winters, so it wasn't a shock to us, but my wife will probably always pine for Texas weather.

And thanks, too, Playpen! I was wondering when I'd hear from the goofyhand faction...


J.

You're missing beautiful Houston-type winter down here; I live in Brazosport, about an hour down the 288 freeway. It's roughly 55 and sunny; I can hear the birds outside from my desk here. Indiana is a beautiful state also, though.

Look at it this way: at least you won't have to worry about a hurricane coming up the Ship Channel anymore!

Nice to have you with us.