We all love these pens, some of us are newly delusional (raises hand) and some have been bonkers for decades Whatever group you fall into, the bottom line is we all adore writing with these magnificent instruments

My question is where do you write? Are FPs best on hard, flat surfaces such as a writing desk, kitchen table, or favorite corner of the house? I recently attempted to write while sitting up in bed (a Clairefontaine spiral notebook propped upon my knees - a challenging endeavor :doh: ) and I eventually perservered! Are there some FPs better suited for this? What about writing outdoors? Park benches? Picnic blankets?

Where is your special place to write and have you encountered other geographical obstacles when writing with your fountain pen?

(edited for spelling)

I like to write while sitting up at a table or desk, preferably at a coffee shop!!
If it is for letters to family,etc then i do that at home . I have a desk that doubles as a ham radio operating desk and a writing desk.

Handlebar

In bed (atop books), on desks, tables, wherever it is that I need to write, odds are that I'll use a fountain pen.

I use a fp almost exclusively, but there are times when I can see six or eight of them on the kitchen table, and not a single one has ink in it. I chuckle lightly and reach for my wife's rb.

I have an aluminum portfolio that I got when working offshore. It opens on a side hinge and has a place for paper on both sides. I usually keep unanswered letters in it so I can write wherever. SO I guess I bring my desk with me


Kurt H

I like!!

It might be easier to ask here I don't write.

I've written...

In bed. My prefered position is on my stomach with notebook on the bed.

In the car with my notebook propped on the steering wheel.

Taking notes while walking down the hallways at work

Hanging upside down in a greasy pit tryng to note serial numbers on equipment.

Hanging onto scaffolding while attempting to use my hand as support for the paper.

On the floor while on my hands and knees under desks.

Laying on my back in a crawl space while using the floor above as a writing surface.

My favorite is curled up on the couch with the cradled in my left arm.

If I do manage to sit at a desk/table, I usually end up with a cat trying to eat the paper, the pen, my hand and sometimes my ear.

Random

All of these with a fountain pen? If so, bravo

wherever and however I need to. In bed I sometimes use one of those lap desk thingamabobs. (sorry for the highly technical terminology)

I have a lap desk, for moments when sprawled on the couch. I write in bed, on the subway, on the bus, at my desk at work, at the lunch table, while standing in the train station....

(Possible TMI alert) I would guess that the weirdest place I've written -- with a fountain pen, yes -- was on the gynecologist's table, while waiting for an exam. I don't think my doctor had ever seen someone quite that relaxed about receiving a pelvic exam before. Possibly not since, either.

Okay. So I'm a compulsive journaler. And I like my fountain pens.

At home it's at my federal cherrywood desk with a writing pad inserted with a layer of blotting paper.
But I love to write outside the house, on trains, planes, and ships, but not in cars or buses.
I travelled solo quite a bit, and fountain pen, journal and stationery were constant companions.
I enjoyed writing while waiting for transportation or a meal or anywhere I could sit and take a break.
For practical reasons I use a Parker gel refill bp on hikes and treks.
My favorite scenario is curling up in my sleeping bag after a long day's walk, writing journal entries and postcards with a mug of steaming Darjeeling tea and listening to the rain on my tent.
J

I prefer a fairly rigid surface to write on, so my more usual places are: my writing desk, a lap desk, large books that are handy, a couple of clip boards I bought and carry with me in a tote, occasionally on the cat if she's in my lap, but she's been known to retaliate.

Since I adore smooth paper, I write on either Clairefontaine (spiral or pads) or Levenger's (Circa or their pads; also have their 'Notabilia' notebooks). 9

At my desk, I have my full complement of pens to choose from, but away from my desk, I'm usually limited to the six in my Wilde Wrap (from Pendemonium). Such hardship...

The only place where I dont write is while lying on my back!!

TNS

I like to lie on my back in bed doing my daily crosswords with a fountain pen. The added plus is that a fountain pen will right upside down as long as there is ink in the feed .

It's also an excuse to have a few pens on the night table. That way I can use a different color of ink for different sections of the puzzle

Ok, maybe the different colors of ink is taking it a bit far, but it sure makes the puzzle purty when it's done.

Tom Scott

I prefer at my desk. But I write in the car, anywhere except upside down...

If I'm at work it's usually just a case of whatever surface is available - quite often that seems to be an uncomfortable attempt to lean on the wall and try to persuade one of my Parker 51s that it likes writing that way.

If I'm at home most of my writing is personal correspondence and for that I use my writing box which has just made a guest appearance in one of the photos in the photo forum. I do take my writing box with me if I'm travelling. The only place I don't use it is if I'm sitting outside on a sunny day, then I just tend to find a fairly hefty book to lean on.

(where's the "scared for you" smile) - Be Careful!, RANDOM!


Most anywhere, but regarding the original question concerning writing in bed on a notebook and nib types, a nonspecialized nib would be best. With normal notebooks, you're not going to be the true flat surface needed by stubs and italics - you'll have skipping, etc., and it'll be much harder to write (speaking from experience here).

Just about anywhere, from my desk to holding a notebook in held close to my body on my left arm and held by my left hand while sitting up in bed. Surprisingly, I can "write from the shoulder" in that position.

I plan to obtain (build or buy) some version of what Levengers describes as an Editor's Desk to provide a slanted writing surface.

Well Seattle traffic usually consists of putting your car in park and taking a nap (at least at certain times on 405) so there's rarely ever an issue

To reply to someone else, yes they were all fountain pens. I am thrilled to have my new VP since, as you can see, I rarely have the luxury to deal well with caps.

I'm still morning over my poor Sailor Magellan in XF. It got dropped about 8 feet to a concrete floor one day With some manipualtion I was able to get it to write again. Sadly its no longer as smooth as it once was and there's a deffinate kink on the end of the nib.

Random

Thanks Southpaw, that's some insight I was interested in and it makes sense that I was having trouble writing in bed as I was using a stub :doh:

Ouch! That was painful to read. I hope one day you can have it smoothed to perfection as it was.

Ladies and gentleman, we have a winner! That made me smile, Velma - thanks!