One of the reasons I see people advance when explaining why they gave up on regularly keeping a journal—a pen and paper journal, I mean—is that writing longhand can be exhausting.
Sadly, they’re right.
One can quickly get cramped fingers or a tired hand and wrist, which won’t do much to encourage anyone to pick up their pen and write a little more in their journal.
But what’s even sadder is that there is an easy fix: use the right pen.
OK, to be exact there are three things one should consider:
- the paper used,
- the position we’re sitting in and the ergonomics in general,
- the pen used.
In conjunction, they can as easily drain all our energy or help preserve it tremendously. And writing is all about managing one’s energy.
Imho, of those three things the simplest thing to change is the pen. To find one that will work great for you. One that you will enjoy writing with, instead of dreading it.
Take the ballpoint pen for example.
I’m willing to bet it’s the most widely used writing device anywhere on the planet. From the cheap Bic crystal to the expensive Montblanc Meisterstück, even the classic Jotter from Parker, all ballpoint pens work exactly the same. They use a tiny ball to dispense an oil-based (aka thick) ink when they’re pressed hard enough on the sheet of paper. They’re incredibly reliable and practical. They can be used in almost any position and anywhere—even in space.
Alas, it’s also the one requiring the most force to write with (even the space pen requires force, just a different one). As one does need to press them hard enough on the paper otherwise it will not leave a mark and because one needs force, one also needs to grip it tight.
A ballpoint pen is a great tool but if you have any excessive fatigue writing with one, or with any other tool for that matter, imho it’s worth trying something different.
Ballpoint pen, gel pen, rollerball, pencils, markers, fountain pen, maybe a dip pen and why not the quill, and I certainly forgot to name quite a few others.
What’s you favorite? And do you have one dedicated to journaling?
My favorite depends on what I’m writing. For short notes on the go, I’m an official fan of the cheap Bic and the Uniball Eye (this one is a rollerball pen). For years, I also used one of those Bullet Space Pen (it was incredibly reliable). For anything longer than a short note? I’m a fountain pen guy.
Alas, unlike with a ballpoint pen, there are many wrong ways to use a fountain pen which can make the experience less than… effortless.
Back in my days, it was part of the lessons but since kids aren’t been taught to use a fountain pen anymore there is a high risk that even the more adventurous may not fully enjoy using a fountain pen if they try one. Simply because they aren’t taught how to properly use it.
In case you would like to know more about that, here is a great introductory video on the subject: How to Write with a Fountain Pen. It’s made by the Goulet Pens Company, a fountain pen seller in the USA. I’m not affiliated with them, I’m not even one of their customers. It’s just an overall excellent series of advice. You may also watch their other beginner videos. And here is a written article which is excellent too, this one was made by JetPens, another US seller I’m not affiliated with: How to Write with a Fountain Pen.
Before I leave you, I have a request
Let me know if you think this kind of topic is interesting or if you think it does not belong here. Obviously, I find it interesting but I’m also experimenting stuff, trying to find ways to encourage people to post and to comment. So, any feedback will be appreciated :)
I don’t always journal, but when I do I use my Lamy Safari.
A person of taste :)
A few of my Lamy Safari…I’ll admit that I have a sweet spot for them :P
Lamy gang :-)
I prefer the ef nib & carbon black, it is really black and doesn’t smudge if you paint over it with water colour.
What’s the orange one, the end cap is different?
Lamy gang :-)
Now we need an official Lamy gang tatoo :P
I prefer the ef nib & carbon black,
Carbon black is an amazing ink. I use it daily for note taking in my zettelkasten and for general writing. For sketching and writing in my journal I do prefer DeAtramentis Document Brown (btw, their ‘Document’ line is waterproof ink like Platinum Black just with more colors to chose from ;)) mostly because it’s less contrasted… and, well, I like the color.
I noted that with an EF Preppy (which I like a lot) DeAtramentis Document ink was not flowing as well as Platinum Black (which is flawless). I have never noted that difference when using a Lamy Safari… but their nibs are always a tad wider, maybe that’s why?
To anyone reading this discussion: it’s worth knowing it’s very simple to switch the nib on many fountain pens, but it’s even more simple (and cheap) to do it on a Lamy Safari. So, you can easily experiment with various nibs, without purchasing a full pen each time (a new Lamy steel nib will cost around 8€, here in France)
I think DeAtramentis is too dry 😋 I don’t know how to explain it better but Carbon Black is very “fluid” and wet in comparison IMO.
I did some ink hunting for aquarelle painting and there were only like three or four that were both black and not smudging at all, Carbon Black, DeAtramentis Archive and Sketch ink IIRC. The DeAtramentis Document does smudge though, not very much but still don’t drench it i water :-).
Yes, Lamy is the workhorse of fountain pens, and I do like its build with a triangular finger rest and pop on cap. Super sturdy too!
Can you buy Lamy stuff over the counter in France?
I think DeAtramentis is too dry
It is dry, I don’t mind it. That said, like you, my favorite in permanent ink is Platinum Black (I would love if they had something in brown too, though) ;)
The DeAtramentis Document does smudge though
I would say it depends a lot on the paper. On thick and on smooth paper, I have a harder time with Platinum black but I’m not afraid to use either with watercolors after a few minutes.
Can you buy Lamy stuff over the counter in France?
Depends the shop, but yep. For new pens and new nibs, I mean. For spare parts the rare times I need one I will reach directly to Lamy support. They’re no the fastest but they’re great.
Yes, Lamy is the workhorse of fountain pens, and I do like its build with a triangular finger rest and pop on cap. Super sturdy too!
Indeed.
They were designed to help German kids learn proper fountain pen handling. Hence the triangular finger rest and their sturdiness (and ease of repairability). Plus, they write well and I’m a sucker for bright colors… like kids, I suppose :P
He he, I got a lot of the safaris too ; black, white, red, pink/violet, yellow,…
EF nib being my favourite. I don’t think there are any shops selling nibs only here in Bordeaux (my french is not very good) but maybe I’ll buy a pack on ebay/amazon to upgrade my F and fatter ones … It’s so fun to fill them up with other inks too.
Do you only/mostly write when journaling? I try to “journal” but I’m basically only drawing.
EF nib being my favourite. I don’t think there are any shops selling nibs only here in Bordeaux (my french is not very good) but maybe I’ll buy a pack on ebay/amazon to upgrade my F and fatter ones
The thing with Lamy (and German nibs in general) is that they are fatter compared to similar Japanese ones… For people new to fountain pens, by large the majority of nibs will either be German-made or Japanese-made, no matter the brand of the pen and not considering customized nibs, and as a rule of thumb it’s admitted that for the exact same denomination, the Japanese ones will be thinner). So a Fine or an Extra Fine will more or less always be thinner on a Japanese nib. Does it matter? It depends how big and how small you write. The smaller your handwriting, the thinner you will want the nib to be.
All of that to say: I have a small handwriting and I find the Lamy Fine OK but already a tad too fat to my taste (and it’s just that: personal preferences), whereas I can use Japanese Fine without any issue. So, it helps to be able to try a fountain pen nib before committing to it, also don’t be afraid to try out various nibs from various origins to find the one that will suit you best ;)
Do you only/mostly write when journaling? I try to “journal” but I’m basically only drawing.
Yep, I mostly write. I’m trying to sketch a lot more but I’m so used to writing. It’s words, everywhere, and sketches here and there. I try to have at least a sketch per page. Alas, I’m not there yet. I hope this will help me to sketch more (and with more confidence): I’ve just subscribed to a sketching classes.
I like modern fountain pens, they… swoosh, and many modern fountain pens’ ball points make them fairly easy to adapt to.
But I’m also the guy who buys the giant pack of 60 bic pens and tosses them all over the office because he can’t be bothered to keep up with a pen.
But I’m also the guy who buys the giant pack of 60 bic pens and tosses them all over the office because he can’t be bothered to keep up with a pen.
I know that. I have a drawer full of Bic packs, and I always carry 3 with me at any time (one 4-colors in the loophole of my agenda, another with whatever book I’m reading, plus a couple index cards for reading notes, and a spare third one in my bag). They’re so practical and so cheap I don’t mind losing one, or giving one away. BTW, the 4-color one it’s just because the loophole is too wide for crystal Bic (I simply replaced all colors with blue refills ;)
Currently a Pilot G2
I think that most people just don’t write so often anymore so it hurts a bit getting that endurance back up
I think that most people just don’t write so often anymore so it hurts a bit getting that endurance back up
That’s very true.
I remember when I was in my early twenties I wrote so much and all the time (mostly longhand) I had grown a callosity on my finger where the pen would rest. Some 30+ years later it’s still there, just less noticeable.
edit: Pilot are nice pen, btw
You’re absolutely right about gripping a ballpoint pen. My solution was less than ideal for several reasons, but since the main reasons why I write are for the experience of doing so and because I commit things to memory much more easily when I jot them down and I don’t actually care about keeping and accessing my writings in a serviceable manner, it works for me. And it is effortless.
I write with a stylus on an Android tablet. Slight disassembly allows one to adjust the stylus’s sensitivity, which means you can press it as hardly or as softly as you like against the screen. At maximum settings, even hovering a centimeter or so above the surface is enough to produce a line on the screen, though obviously such a high sensitivity is undesirable (it continues to register even as you raise the pen between writing a word and crossing the t, for instance). I glide over the screen, stylus lightly held in my hand, and my calligraphy is actually better than with a real writing implement due to the lack of tension.
It works for me. Ymmv.
You’re absolutely right about gripping a ballpoint pen. My solution was less than ideal for several reasons, but since the main reasons why I write are for the experience of doing so and because I commit things to memory much more easily when I jot them down and I don’t actually care about keeping and accessing my writings in a serviceable manner, it works for me. And it is effortless.
Yep, writing stuff down help so much with memory. At least, I find it invaluable on short-medium term memory. As far as I’m concerned, I often don’t even need to read my notes to remember them but for the longer term memory I also know from experience I will need to re-write them from scratch, rephrasing them to make them truly permanent.
Hence, the importance of taking-notes when studying anything, be it at school or anywhere. Or when watching or listening to something. I will often take notes while listening to a podcast, even when on the go.
I write with a stylus on an Android tablet. Slight disassembly allows one to adjust the stylus’s sensitivity, which means you can press it as hardly or as softly as you like against the screen.
That’s clever. Even though I don’t own an Android tablet, I would like to know more about that disassembly part you mentioned :)
Absolutely. Before, I would always copy my notes ovsr to a more permanent format later and tbat would help with memorization. Little did I know I was applying an actual learning technique called Spaced Repetition.
It depends on the stylus. Some 3rd-party models are supposed to be easier to modify, but in my case I use the stylus that came with my Samsung tablet. You just need to use something thin to carefully dislodge and remove the button on the side of the pen and there’ll be a couple of screws inside. One of them controls the sensitivity. I don’t kmow what the other one does.
Sounds tricky (and probably not doable on my Apple Pencil) but a really cool way to make it even more yours. I like that.
