How to Write with a Fountain Pen
If you’ve never used a fountain pen before,
you may have trouble learning how to write with one comfortably.
Try these four tips and you’ll be an expert on using a fountain pen in no time.
Before we get into the tips, let’s take a look at the anatomy of a fountain pen.
The cap covers the pen’s tip, preventing it from drying out.
When you uncap the pen, the part that you hold is called the grip section.
The barrel attaches to the grip and makes the pen easier to hold.
The feed supplies ink to the nib, the arrow-shaped piece that you use to write.
Inside the barrel is the ink reservoir.
The most common reservoirs are cartridges and converters.
A cartridge comes pre-filled with ink, while a converter can be used with bottled ink.
Click the card above to see how to install a cartridge and use a converter.
Now that you’re familiar with how a fountain pen is constructed, let’s get into our writing tips.
1. Pick the right supplies.
There are three major considerations when you choose a fountain pen:
pen size, filling system, and nib size.
First, match the size of the pen to the size of your hand.
In general, heavier and thicker pens suit larger hands, while the opposite is true for small hands.
Next, decide if you prefer convenience or variety when it comes to a filling system.
We recommend that beginners start out with cartridges as they are easier to use,
but click the card above to learn more about other fountain pen filling systems.
Finally, take a look at your writing size.
Broader nibs are great for large handwriting,
while finer nibs are well suited for small handwriting.
One of our favorite beginner pens is the Lamy Safari thanks to its durable construction.
We’ll demonstrate the rest of the tips using this fountain pen with a medium nib on Rhodia paper.
Fountain pens don’t work on every paper,
so be sure to check out our blog on the best paper for fountain pens!
2. Find the sweet spot.
Unlike other writing instruments, a fountain pen works best when the tip touches the paper
in a specific way, which we like to call “the sweet spot”.
Rotating the nib will lift the sweet spot away from the paper,
so be sure to keep the nib’s position consistent.
A good rule of thumb is to hold the pen so that you can always see the top of the nib.
If you need a reminder, try using the beginner-friendly Pilot Kakuno --
it has a fun smiley face on the nib so you know which way to hold the pen!
3. Write using a tripod grip.
A proper tripod grip is instrumental to writing comfort.
It also keeps the pen in the correct position, which is extremely important when using a fountain pen.
To create a tripod grip, hold the pen between your thumb and index finger
and rest the grip section on the first knuckle of your middle finger.
Keep the side of your palm against the writing surface.
5. Put your arm into it.
If you have trouble keeping your fountain pen’s sweet spot on the page,
try learning how to write using your arm.
Writing with your arms keeps the pen in the proper position.
Plus, you’re less likely to strain yourself,
since the muscles in your arm are stronger than those in your hand.
Most people learn to write by using their fingers and wrist to move the pen,
which can rotate the pen tip and tire out your hand over time.
Fountain pens require some work to get started,
so why bother when you can use any pen or pencil?
There are a lot of different reasons to try a fountain pen, and we’ll go over just a few.
1
Those who suffer from wrist or hand pain will appreciate the smooth flow of a fountain pen.
Because a fountain pen uses liquid ink, it requires almost no pressure to write.
2
When it comes to variety, fountain pens simply can’t be beat.
You can pick a fountain pen to match your style, from cute to modern to classy designs.
Plus, there are hundreds of different ink colors to choose from!
3
Fountain pens are an economical and environmentally-friendly option for marathon writers,
especially if you use bottled ink.
A single bottle can refill a pen dozens of times
so you won’t have to throw away plastic refills when they’re empty.
4
We’re surrounded by cheap disposable pens that don’t inspire any particular emotion.
If you take care of a fountain pen properly, you can expect to use and treasure it for decades—
and even pass it down to the next generation of stationery lovers.
5
Fountain pens are an amazing way to make lifelong friends.
Whether it’s posting photos of collections, talking about new releases,
or attending pen shows around the globe,
there’s a thriving community of fountain pen enthusiasts that you can be involved in.
Do you have any tips to share?
Let us know in the comments below.
Thanks for watching!