Hi. I joined yesterday after doing some research on fountain pens. FPN kept coming up in my searches. I'm a university lecturer and published novelist with an emerging obsession for fountain pens. I do a lot of notetaking and writing in journals, so a great pen is a beneficial tool for me. I now have a Cross II and am not that happy with it. So I'm trying to get in the know by seeing what you good people have experienced and shared. I live in NW Ohio. Thanks for being here!

Welcome aboard! You'll find you're in good company here, as I know several of our members who have published novels. Some of them have even been sold! (The novels, that is, not the members!)

James

LOL, thanks! And I love your sense of humor! First novels are a hard sell, all right!

Welcome to the crowd. I, also, only recently came to realize that there is a large, and friendly, group of people who share my obsession with fountain pens. I'm also a writer, though I haven't had anything published recently, mainly from lack of effort on my part, and also find that a good pen is a great aid to thought. So far as finding something to take the place of your Cross II, there is quite a range of options; as you'll find if you poke around FPN a bit under topics such as "Best pen under $100", "Best pen to start with", etc. For myself I just acquired a new Sheaffer "Prelude" in gold barleycorn from Colorado Pen Company and am extremely pleased with it. I've also just gotten a new Hero "Black Crystal" fine point from an eBay seller in Australia for a whole $9.98 AU, including shipping, and it's a very nice pen. For that price it is an incredible value.

Good luck with the novel, and i hope you have as good a time collecting and learning about fountain pens as I have.

Take care,
Ron

Hi there and welcome aboard too!
You say "Thanks for being here!" and I can only say DITTO!

Mike

Welcome to FPN and I share your sentiments about the FPN 'being there'.

I'm new here also. Published author, but in technical books, not fiction (yet). It's surprising how many authors turn to fountain pens. A connection to writers who have gone before, perhaps?

In any event, welcome to FPN!

Welcome to FPN.

Hello there,

Since this is your first time on the Fountain Pen Network, I think if you really like to get some fantastic information on writing instruments, try a pen show.

Here you will be surrounded by living libraries of information, knowledge and tremendous fun. Since you know the worth of the written word, it pains me when I hear someone as adept in the craft welding an inadequate extension of your soul.

It's quite an ethereal experience when you can actually see, hold and write with different new and vintage pens to determine what you like. Some pens help you with your handwriting. Some gives you different forms of expression. The diversity you will find in pen shows are completely different than seeing pictures on a screen, in a book or anything you'll find at the large corporate office supply chains. You can also use a kaleidoscopic variety of inks too.

Pen shows are fantastic, and you won't regret it. I promise you, each hour of the day spent is worth it's weight in gold.

Check out Susan Wirth's Pen Show Calender if you like to find out more.

Cheers,

Shamouti

Thank you, I didn't know there was such a thing as a pen show! Thanks for the warm welcome, everyone.

Welcome!

There are quite a few university and college professors here as well as writers.

Like you, while always finding them intriguing, I have only recently (past year or two) become more obsessed with fountain pens.

Chris

Thanks! It will be cool getting to know everyone and learning more about pens. I wish I'd come here before buying my first expensive fountain pen! I'm now on the hunt for the perfect pen for me.

Thanks, Ron. That's helpful information and advice. I'm really just learning so I have a lot of poking around to do here. I spent quite a bit of time on ebay yesterday but it is increasingly evident that I don't know what I'm doing, what to look for, or what is or isn't a good value. I'll be sharing more as I get a better handle on things. Appreciate your comment.

I fancy it would be really cool to write a whole novel by hand using a fountain pen. I doubt I'll ever do it, though. But a good writing instrument does help the ideas flow from the mind onto the paper. I think I've had it with cheap ballpoint pens! Good luck with your own writing!

Thanks! Hope to bump into you here from time to time! Good luck with college!

Thanks so much. I've got a lot to learn and this looks like the right place!

Thanks, Mike, and ditto on the Goethe quote about cheap wine!

Heyy! I got relatives and invisible friends in OH. Welcome.

I'm fairly new, having come across here only three months ago during a Google search for Visconti Travelling Ink Pots, and I was AMAZED at the information and community here. Knowing nothing about your personality except that you joined the Network, I think you'll like it here.

I'm not a writer (anymore), but I have writer sensibilities. And I read novels. Heh.

Welcome!

Thank you! I'm originally from NC but have lived in Ohio 20 years!

Once a writer, always a writer, I sez. You're just laying low for a while. Pretty soon the ideas will come and you'll get the ink on the page, I bet! Thanks for the warm welcome.

Welcome to FPN from another pen enthusiast and aspiring writer!

Theresarrt7- where in NW Ohio are you from? Toledo area, maybe?
James P from the pear Tree pen Co.,and i are both from Ann Arbor,Mi, not too far away from NW Ohio.
BTW, there is a Michigan Pen Show during the first weekend of September, and an Ohio Pen Show ( which is one of the major pen Shows) held during the first weekend of November in Dublin, OH, which is a suburb of Columbus, OH.

Welcome. There are many writers on the board, both published and unpublished. Find the correct pen[s] and you'll find 90k+ words flowing off the nib in no time. They're ergonomically friendlier for extended sessions and you'll be amazed how the change of pen and/or ink will jump start work that seemed stalled.

Glad to meet you, and good luck with your writing! I'm excited because I'll be spending the whole summer writing at Provincetown, MA because I've been granted a residency there. Hope to finish my second novel! Thanks for the warm welcome.

Thanks for the info! I'm very close to Toledo. I live in a little town close to Bowling Green State University (where I teach). It's called Bradner. I'll look into those pen shows!

I can definitely see where that would be true. I've waited too long, really. Anything that helps the creative flow is worth looking into, that's for sure.