How Have Pandemic Restrictions Changed Your Pen Use?

[Tom Kellie]

No changes for me whatsoever. Most of my fountain pen use is done at home, and there's plenty of home time nowadays.

 

~ Intensity:

 

What you've written above also applies to me.

Tom K.

[PAKMAN]

Not using my pens as much, because, Oddly, I stopped journaling when all this pandemic started. This really aggravates me and I don't seem to be able to make myself start up again!

[sansenri]

Ive been forced to work exclusively remotely. Zoom calls, emails and Slack fill my day. But I still have a set of 4 or so inked pens in rotation. But early into this I realized I should take advantage of this and change my go-to pens. Prior to social distancing, Id generally make sure I had on hand pens that could be clipped to a shirt or in a shirt pocket, and perhaps a pen Id be ok with in a front pocket of a pair of jeans. My selection also tended to be stealthy to a degree, so my pens didnt Get seems as intended to show off, or attract attention. But thats out the window now. Ive got my brightly colored, or bulky, or stiff clipped pens inked up. Ive also put some that arent excellent writers into the mix, since I can always mess with them (prime the feed, dab with water, or whatever) and not worry about being stuck in a meeting without a pen. So Ive managed to dig a bit deeper into the pen drawer and reacquaint myself with some of my rarely used pens.

 

So thats what Ive noticed/chose I do differently with my pens during the pandemic. How about you?

My experience is very similar to yours.

I've been forced to work from home, but I do like to put my considerations, schemes, todos, and other ideas to paper, and despite all the Teams teleconferences I still take notes at meetings (not so much to avoid boredom but not to forget the details I need to get on with work afterwards...), so I still have those 4-5 pens inked at a time.

What has changed are the pens, I've pulled out some of my better pens, some I was still waiting to ink, as I was a bit concerned of talking them to work, or some of the eyedroppers which may not have been so wise to use in a meeting, and I'm rather happy with that.

[bongo47]

Not using my pens as much, because, Oddly, I stopped journaling when all this pandemic started. This really aggravates me and I don't seem to be able to make myself start up again!

 

I’m bad at journaling, but bought one of the 5-year ones, “Some lines a day” a few years back. There’s many a-gap in my entries. When the sheltering started I was pretty good about writing, but then it started to drop off. Some of it is the days are pretty much zoom call, emails, Slack, workout, make the family dinner. Kind of amplifies the boredom to write that over and over.

[PAKMAN]

For some reason I can't seem to let my self start back with out trying to fill in the gap from where I stopped!

[Intensity]

Not using my pens as much, because, Oddly, I stopped journaling when all this pandemic started. This really aggravates me and I don't seem to be able to make myself start up again!

 

I find that on the days when I just can't focus and find anything interesting to say, I just do a very brief recount of any highlights or just what I've done or what has happened--even if it's only 3-4 sentences. Then I just sketch or doodle something. If I feel particular lack of artistic inspiration, it can be geometric designs. I really enjoy the process of using a fountain pen and different inks, so even just doing those simple things is therapeutic.

[Intensity]

For some reason I can't seem to let my self start back with out trying to fill in the gap from where I stopped!

 

And to add to the above, if the gaps are in a dated planner, any gaps get filled by going backwards and adding random thoughts with new dates noted; perhaps in different ink color. Or new sketches. Empty paper is empty paper!

[AmandaW]

For some reason I can't seem to let my self start back with out trying to fill in the gap from where I stopped!

That's why I stopped using dated books and instead bought a cute little date stamp (with red ink!) to begin each entry in a blank book. No gaps. And I write or draw or doodle or stick things in as I feel like each day. And if I'm not up to it: doesn't matter, no pressure. Dates stamps are available in many designs and colours...

 

[praxim]

A date stamp? AmandaW, how could you!

I do the same but I write the date with a, a, a fountain pen!

 

[AmandaW]

A date stamp? AmandaW, how could you!

I do the same but I write the date with a, a, a fountain pen!

 

It's a fountain pen opportunity! I am thinking I could collect stamps and then, if I didn't have a pen and ink, to match or contrast I would need to go looking for one. Or more, if I were caught with indecision.

[Intensity]

I write in a date in a top corner when I use my blank Paper for Fountain Pens journal. Mostly I use that for my travel records, so there are plenty of missing days between trips, but the sheets don't stay blank. If I skip days in my Hobonichi Cousin planner, I do go back and fill in later but adding current date to fill-in stuff.

[inkstainedruth]

My pen usage really hasn't changed all that much. When the lockdown first happened (end of March around here in PA) it was leading up to NaPoWriMo anyway -- and because of being at home I was a lot more prolific than I am some years. But overall, it's about the same: I journal (3 pages daily -- on the few days when I don't get to morning pages, or even do them late if I had to get up super early for some reason, I'm out of sorts) -- I write to do and shopping lists, I pay bills. Other than NaPoWriMo, I haven't been able to concentrate enough to write much since the end of April.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth