A Pen To Write A Book With?

[Joe in Seattle]

The size, shape, and weight of the MB 146 is what I would consider ideal for a writers pen. The F nib I have is particularly not ideal, but that could be cured if I wanted to send it out.

[max dog]

The size, shape, and weight of the MB 146 is what I would consider ideal for a writers pen. The F nib I have is particularly not ideal, but that could be cured if I wanted to send it out.

+1

[montserratplay]

Wow! I love that there are so many writers on FPN! I would love to know what you folks think about my impression of writing with a fountain pen. Am I crazy that it feels more "important" and more like "art" than writing with other implements? (And it certainly feels better than writing with a keyboard.) I dunno...it feels like I'm drawing or painting in a way. Maybe because I'm measuring progress by actual ink left on the page. Perhaps my impression relates to the fact that it takes a little longer to write with a fountain pen than other pens and pencils...and it certainly requires more care and preparation.

 

Am I the only one who has had thoughts such as these?

[jameswatts]

I've written 11 plays and much of two novels with my pens. The ones I use the most have been a fine Lamy 2000, a Visconti Homo Sapiens, a pilot custom 823. Pelikan M800, and an Aurora 88.

[flatline]

Wow! I love that there are so many writers on FPN! I would love to know what you folks think about my impression of writing with a fountain pen. Am I crazy that it feels more "important" and more like "art" than writing with other implements? (And it certainly feels better than writing with a keyboard.) I dunno...it feels like I'm drawing or painting in a way. Maybe because I'm measuring progress by actual ink left on the page. Perhaps my impression relates to the fact that it takes a little longer to write with a fountain pen than other pens and pencils...and it certainly requires more care and preparation.

 

Am I the only one who has had thoughts such as these?

 

I'm sure you're not. Writing things by hand is a intimate and personal thing. I enjoy feeling the differences between the different kinds of writing instruments that I use throughout the day so I carry and use a wide variety (drafting pencils, lead holders, roller ball, and fountain pens). When I'm absolutely focused on something and can't tolerate distractions, I do not use fountain pens at all and will invariably reach for my drafting pencils. If I'm just writing for myself (journaling or informal meeting notes), the fountain pen is my favorite because I can let myself be distracted by the actual act of writing. When debugging something, a lead holder or sharpie works well.

 

Those of us who actually make the effort to enjoy writing things by hand probably all have our own pet theories about it. I would imagine that that includes most anyone who would bother to frequent a forum such as this.

 

--flatline

Edited March 17, 2014 by flatline

[Lou Erickson]

I just read an article by Neal Stephenson which says he's writing with a fountain pen, as well. I know I read he says he uses several pens; one for the first draft, then a darker color with a wider nib for the first editing and mark-up, and then it gets dumped into the computer for polishing.

[Namo]

Wow! I love that there are so many writers on FPN! I would love to know what you folks think about my impression of writing with a fountain pen. Am I crazy that it feels more "important" and more like "art" than writing with other implements? (And it certainly feels better than writing with a keyboard.) I dunno...it feels like I'm drawing or painting in a way. Maybe because I'm measuring progress by actual ink left on the page. Perhaps my impression relates to the fact that it takes a little longer to write with a fountain pen than other pens and pencils...and it certainly requires more care and preparation.

 

Am I the only one who has had thoughts such as these?

Sur I enjoy writing with a (good) FP, but it: mainly, for me, a practical decision. Besides pleasure, I still that a FP is the right tool for writing. Some might prefer the computer, some did prefer the typewriter (TS Eliot, J Kerouac...). The pen is the tool that allows me for long hours of writing. I cannot do that with the PC.

[HandLikeAFist]

Yes, the fountain pen experience IS different when you are writing a long project. The main difference is that with an fp the words appear, um, much easier. I can write very fast and for a longer time; ballpoints demand too much pressure, and hand fatigue always ensues. The smooth touch of nib to paper as it lays down the ink in a beautiful line: bliss. My handwriting is a disaster, but the fp makes it both easier to write and to read.

[hypnostene]

I seem to recall (but I can't find the relevant passage) that Thomas Bernhard would write his books (or at least his later ones) with a fountain pen, on the most expensive paper he could buy. He would only write one sentence page page. Admittedly, his sentences could get very long.

[mongrelnomad]

I've written two novels, longhand.

 

Why FPs? It's the most pleasurable form of a mechanical process, simple as. I also like the fact that each pen feels different, and slows me down or speeds me up as required. Strange as it is: a specific fountain pen can affect and inform my writing.

 

I didn't use one pen; rather, I rotated about a dozen pens and as many inks, to keep track of writing quantity and quality on each day.

 

Yes, some pens are rather over-represented (14k MB 146es, Hakases, Nakayas, Omas), but it still took more than one pen!

Edited March 17, 2014 by mongrelnomad

[BillZ]

Thanks for the info. I never knew exactly what the USPS used.

[Bo Bo Olson]

A lever pen has the lowest center of gravity; outside a dip pen....well I don't think of C/C pens much. Many are longer than needed.

A longer lever pen, like a 52 can be used with out posting. There are 52's with out superflex nibs. I don't know the Sheaffer New Balance.

I post my Easties.

I though use the 'fore finger up' tripod variant of grasping a pen, letting the pens own weight set where it rests in my hand. So don't have a balance problem, posted or no-posted, if the pen is long enough.

 

I'd thought of using different colors for different characters...it didn't work for me.

Edited March 17, 2014 by Bo Bo Olson

[BillZ]

I stand corrected on S.F.s choice of pens. This is from an interview with him.

My favorite pen-point manufacturer had all but gone out of business—Esterbrook. I was running out and fairly desperate. On Forty-fourth Street just east of the Algonquin Hotel, on the other side of the street, there used to be an old stationery shop, all dusty and everything, and I went in there on the chance he might have some. He looked in a drawer. He had what I wanted—Probate 313. I bought several gross of those things, so I’ve got enough pen points to last me out my life and more. Another problem is blotters. When I was a kid and when I was writing back in the forties on into the fifties, you could go into any insurance office and they had stacks of giveaway blotters for advertising

[jetsam]

Knife balance seems to be less subjective than pen balance.

Are there any criteria for balance in pen manufacture?

I think that the pen should rest on the supporting knuckle just behind the pen fulcrum, making it very slightly nib heavy.

The higher up the barrel the pen is held, the less wrist movement required for writing.

So far, my Parker 51 fits the bill un posted. I am learning to adjust my grip to reduce discomfort during long periods of writing.

This is easy with the P51 as the section and barrel merge almost imperceptibly, and the barrel is long enough to move my grip up and down it.

The downside is that, for the same reason, the P51 tends to rotate imperceptibly and I lose the honey-sweet nib spot momentarily.

Edited March 17, 2014 by jetsam

[Wheatflower]

Wow! I love that there are so many writers on FPN! I would love to know what you folks think about my impression of writing with a fountain pen. Am I crazy that it feels more "important" and more like "art" than writing with other implements?

 

You aren't crazy, but you aren't universal either. Nothing I ever write will be "important" or "art", and even if I ponied up for a Nakaya that wouldn't change. I don't make art; I just tell stories. My fountain pens are just a tool to make that first horrible draft a little easier to get through. Other people write different things for different motivations--I cannot speak for them.

[death89]

I'd say a Parker Frontier as I have written many essay's through my life with them with little to no hand ache.

Quite agree with this one, frontiers are amazing for long operations but out of my pens I think I'd go for the pleasure of my parker 95 or classic (I assume 180s would be similar/better?). Though I wrote many an essay with my humble P15 energy blue demonstrator (£4.99 in woolworths all those years ago!)

[Abner C. Kemp]

I'd say a Parker Frontier as I have written many essay's through my life with them with little to no hand ache.

 

+1. I have a Parker Frontier with a Medium nib and have always preferred it for long writing sessions. Bargain price too.

[WaskiSquirrel]

I've just finished my second draft of my novel, both drafts by hand.

 

I want a pen that is comfortable and reliable, but I don't focus on one particular pen. I used all my comfortable pens at various times:

 

• Noodler's Konrad (all 3 types)
• Noodler's Ahab
• Pilot Justus 95
• Pilot Custom 823
• Edison Collier
• Platinum Preppy

Honestly, unless the pen is so precious that you have to continually think about it, the best thing you can do is to write.

[ac12]

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... I think I'd go for the pleasure of my parker 95 or classic (I assume 180s would be similar/better?).

 

Ah another who likes the Parker 180/Classic.

Not too many of us, as many feel that the grip and barrel of the 180/Classic is too thin.

I find it just fine for me, it is just a little bit bigger than a #2 pencil.

[death89]

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Ah another who likes the Parker 180/Classic.

Not too many of us, as many feel that the grip and barrel of the 180/Classic is too thin.

I find it just fine for me, it is just a little bit bigger than a #2 pencil.

I grew up on the vectors and 15s so the sections is still easier to hold than those, I really like the texture too! Mine writes very fat and wet for a medium but it does inspire me to get one of the lovely finishes the 180 has, easy to justify a purchase when you know you like it!