http://www.passionatecritters.org/2008/09/05/the-power-of-pen-pencil-and-paper/ Romance Writing Critique Group Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:26:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.passionatecritters.org/2008/09/05/the-power-of-pen-pencil-and-paper/comment-page-1/#comment-170 Silke Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:44:55 +0000 http://www.passionatecritters.org/?p=104#comment-170 Okay, I write my notes in longhand now. I also keep a journal (sporadically). However... I do this with a good fountain pen. (I use a Parker P51, 60 years old, with Diamine Washable Blue ink.) It makes a difference. A BIG difference. I'm a fountain pen nut and I've always loved them -- but for some obscure reason forgot to actually USE them. A few months ago I sat there, looked at my handwriting and... yeah. Chickenscratch. In fact, you could probably read chickenscratch, but my handwriting was worse. I couldn't read my OWN writing a day later. I'd kept a journal with a ballpoint and I'd be damned if I could read any of it. So I dug out my old school fountain pen. I cleaned it. I flushed it. I got it to flow. Then I managed to get my "Holy Grail" pen -- the P51 -- for what amounts to peanuts, compared to what that pen normally sells at. (It took over 50 attempts at auctions to get one I could afford.) Now? I can read my writing again. I use my FP's every day at work, despite the strange looks I get from my colleagues. One of them very proudly flashed a MontBlanc Ballpoint at me the other day and said "I have a decent pen. It's a MontBlanc!" and I looked at him and said "So?" The thing is... It's a BALLPOINT. MontBlanc are famous for their FOUNTAIN PENS. I can pick up a ballpoint for under £40. But if you want a FP... try closer to £800. That was an epic fail on the impressive front. Instead he demonstrated that he hasn't got a freaking clue, and bought it for posing only. :) Okay, I write my notes in longhand now. I also keep a journal (sporadically). However…
I do this with a good fountain pen. (I use a Parker P51, 60 years old, with Diamine Washable Blue ink.)
It makes a difference. A BIG difference.
I’m a fountain pen nut and I’ve always loved them — but for some obscure reason forgot to actually USE them. A few months ago I sat there, looked at my handwriting and… yeah. Chickenscratch. In fact, you could probably read chickenscratch, but my handwriting was worse. I couldn’t read my OWN writing a day later.
I’d kept a journal with a ballpoint and I’d be damned if I could read any of it.
So I dug out my old school fountain pen. I cleaned it. I flushed it. I got it to flow.
Then I managed to get my “Holy Grail” pen — the P51 — for what amounts to peanuts, compared to what that pen normally sells at. (It took over 50 attempts at auctions to get one I could afford.)
Now?
I can read my writing again. I use my FP’s every day at work, despite the strange looks I get from my colleagues.
One of them very proudly flashed a MontBlanc Ballpoint at me the other day and said “I have a decent pen. It’s a MontBlanc!” and I looked at him and said “So?”
The thing is… It’s a BALLPOINT. MontBlanc are famous for their FOUNTAIN PENS. I can pick up a ballpoint for under £40. But if you want a FP… try closer to £800. That was an epic fail on the impressive front. Instead he demonstrated that he hasn’t got a freaking clue, and bought it for posing only.

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