Advice to prevent rotating your pen as you write

[itsame]

Does anyone have any advice, tips or suggestions to prevent this from happening? I discover as I write from one end of the page to the other, my pen has rotated at least 20 degrees, if not more. I'm really worried about the damage I'm doing to my nib because of this.

 

Of course, I'm trying to be more cognizant of this fact, but its quite hard when you're writing to devote a significant amount of your attention to your pen. I was hoping I could benefit from your experiences.

[AndyH]

Try a pen with a triangular section, like a Parker 75.

Edited June 13, 2009 by AndyH

[gylyf]

Does anyone have any advice, tips or suggestions to prevent this from happening? I discover as I write from one end of the page to the other, my pen has rotated at least 20 degrees, if not more. I'm really worried about the damage I'm doing to my nib because of this.

 

Of course, I'm trying to be more cognizant of this fact, but its quite hard when you're writing to devote a significant amount of your attention to your pen. I was hoping I could benefit from your experiences.

 

I used to have the same issue. For me, it was largely a matter of concentrating on my hand position until muscle memory eventually took over. You could also start using obliques, to compensate for the rotation. Best,

 

David

[FrankB]

I have never caught on to oblique nibs because I do not rotate a pen when writing. However, if you have a natural rotation you just might be a candidate for oblique nibs. I think it might be expedient for you to at least try an oblique nib to see if that nib style helps you.

[itsame]

Try a pen with a triangular section, like a Parker 75.

 

Frank, that's not a bad idea. I'll keep that in mind. It is a little frustrating that my local stationery stores have a limited selection of nibs. I think I'll have to send it in to the customer service center to get it replaced (if a company does that for free).

 

Andy, are there any modern pens that sport a triangular section? I'm an extreme novice (approaching a week's usage) and don't want to start experimenting with vintage merchandise yet.

[gylyf]

Try a pen with a triangular section, like a Parker 75.

 

Frank, that's not a bad idea. I'll keep that in mind. It is a little frustrating that my local stationery stores have a limited selection of nibs. I think I'll have to send it in to the customer service center to get it replaced (if a company does that for free).

 

Andy, are there any modern pens that sport a triangular section? I'm an extreme novice (approaching a week's usage) and don't want to start experimenting with vintage merchandise yet.

 

The Lamy Safari's section is triangular-ish, though I've never found it particularly comfortable. In a different league altogether, the other pen that springs immediately to mind is the OMAS 360.

David

[AndyH]

I think there are a couple of Lamy models that fill the bill, but I'm more of a vintage guy so the 75 was the one that sprang first to mind.

 

One other thing that might help is making sure you post the cap with the clip pointed directly at the V between your thumb and index finger. That way when you do rotate the section it's immediately visible to you and you can turn it back to the correct angle.

 

My Parker 75 is quite possibly the most comfortable pen for writing for long periods, so I think the triangular section really is useful.

 

ETA: I just read from your prior posts that your current pen is a Cross? I think these sections feel rather "slippery" to me. How about in addition to the posting advice, or if you don't write with the cap posted, you apply a small piece of masking tape to the section? This will not only give you a better grip but also provide a visual indicator of when you're rotating it if you make a small mark on the tape. I wouldn't worry too much about damaging the nib unless you bear down very heavily when you write and I would think that the habit would tend to disappear after a bit more experience as you get used to the feel of a fountain pen nib in your hand and more sensitive to the tacile feedback from the paper.

Edited June 13, 2009 by AndyH

[pmsalty]

I have never caught on to oblique nibs because I do not rotate a pen when writing. However, if you have a natural rotation you just might be a candidate for oblique nibs. I think it might be expedient for you to at least try an oblique nib to see if that nib style helps you.

 

 

I use a left footed oblique cursive italic nib and its use has minimized my rotating my pen while I write. This includes the use of my other "normal" FP's. I'm a left handed over-writer.

PMS

[Artie]

All the above suggestions are good but you don't need to worry about damaging your nib as you rotate it. That is unless you press down so hard that you might push a tine out of alignment or if you write on sand paper. OK sand paper isn't good even if you don't tend to rotate the pen, but under normal usage, the only thing that will happen when you rotate the nib is that as some angle, it will stop writing. That should be incentive enough to twist it back around in your fingers.

[John Cullen]

I think you are right to be a little concerned.

 

If you are using a pen with a fine nib with springy, long tines and you rotate the nib there clearly is a potential to push the tine out of alignment. Even if you have a generally light hand you probably, like many people, do press down a little on a downstroke or when you are feeling annoyance or pressure while writing.

 

Writing fast and making large loops and swoops will also increase the chances of the tines catching on the paper or one of the tines getting knocked out of alignment. I doubt you will "ruin" the nib but you could easily knock it out of alignment and end up sending it out for adjustment.

 

I think this is exactly when some people find they can not use vintage flex fine nibs. They find them scratchy and too easy to get out of alignment.

 

Just out of curiosity, do you throw your elbow out when you write? I am right handed, and I have found that if I try to keep my elbow tucked in toward my body and keep the paper a shade off to my right I get less rotation than normal. Maybe this only helps me given my poor pen posture.

 

Good luck, J

Edited June 13, 2009 by John Cullen

[BillTheEditor]

Duct tape is good.

 

Super Glue also works well, but presents other problems, and is not effective with flighters.

[Blade Runner]

Instead of fighting, try an oblique.

[HDoug]

I used to have the problem but I don't anymore. By being aware of it, you can eliminate it. The suggestions for using a Parker 75 (which allows you to adjust the rotation to your own hand) and Lamy Safari/AL-Stars (which does not) are good too.

 

Putting some kind of "bump" where your forefinger rests when properly positioned might help. I'm thinking of something like the bumps on the F and J key (or D and K key) of keyboards. I get completely lost without those, so transferring the idea to pen position might work.

 

I'm not familiar with oblique nibs, but that doesn't seem to be the solution if the problem is a drifting rotation. What happens when an oblique rotates out of its sweet spot? Anyway, in my case, the problem was eliminated by practice.

 

Doug

[FrankB]

itsame, might I make a suggestion? Have you considered getting either an Esterbrook or a less expensive Pelikan like an M-200? Both have interchaneable nibs, and a variety of nib styles. Richard Binder has more custom nibs available for the M-200 than Pelikan does. Statement of fact, no affiliation. By using one of these pens with different nibs, you can rather conveniently and economically try a variety of nibs to see what suits you best. Both pens have oblique nibs available.

[dcwaites]

Duct tape is good.

 

Super Glue also works well, but presents other problems, and is not effective with flighters.

I was also going to suggest super glue.

 

This is an excellent suggestion if you only want to use one pen, otherwise duct/gaffer tape, Blu-Tac or removable Lock-Tite for those who wish to rotate their pens.

 

More seriously, I think that it simply needs practice. And still seriously, perhaps a couple of dobs of Blu-Tac on the section, between where your fingers hold the pen, will stop you rotating while you write, until your hand gets the idea.

 

As others have said, there are some pens with triangular or indented sections which can guide you. Not only the Parker 75's and Lamy Safaris that have already been mentioned, but the Jinhao X-450 also has an indented, triangular section.

 

The nice thing about the Parker 75 is that you can rotate the nib so that it contacts the paper in your preferred position, while keeping your grip constant. The others can't do that. Sadly, it is no longer in production so you are going to have to look for a pre-loved one.

 

 

[itsame]

Quite a wealth of knowledge here.

 

I'm not really inclined to used to a triangular pen, just because I don't think I'll be "training" my hands then. As soon as I switch to another pen, the problem will return.

 

As cellulophile and others have pointed out, an oblique nib seems to be the best option. That is definitely something worth trying out.

 

Placing slight physical markers on the pen seems to be a great idea. I tried that and that really helped.

 

But I have to tip my hat off to John Cullen: I do throw my arm out and keeping it close to my body does wonders at preventing rotation. It's a little uncomfortable, but ithink I can get used to it; but simple and reall really effective.

 

Thanks fellas!