Month: October 2019

Yes, there are things we all hate about fountain pens. But those pesky problems from yesterday aren’t the whole story. There is an answer to every objection.

1. Cleaning them out. Well, there are some people who love cleaning. I suggest finding one. If they can also cook, never let them go.

2. Ink stains. After a while, you stop caring so much about inky fingers. They don’t last long. And if someone notices, chances are they will ask, “Oh, are you an artist?!” Then you can modestly suggest, without saying so, that yes just a little. This is a great ice-breaker if you actually sketch. And, if you don’t, even better. A half-nod, a slight lift of the eyebrow and a mysterious smile, followed by a “Do you?” question, will lead your interlocutor away from the topic of your messy hands, while simultaneously giving rise to the flattering suggestion that you just might be Banksy.

3. Not the best carry-around option. People deal with this in different ways. The super-committed buy a swanky Franklin-Christoph pen case (or two) and carry all their inked fountain pens every day, pretending, “Problem, what problem?” The more practical carry one or two fountain pens, selecting models known for durability and not too pricey. The final group just keeps their fountain pens at home or in the office, which also helps mitigate the final issue (appearing uncool).

4. There’s always another one to buy. Now, see, it’s always how you look at things. This is not a problem.

5. Not the coolest hobby. Unless … we look at it as “going analog,” and then, we are ahead of the curve. Plus, we basically are carrying concealed weapons with sharp points that, oops, accidentally might squirt ink at those who cross us. Pretty formidable, actually.

Yeah, I like fountain pens and ink, but let’s be honest. not everything about them is good. There are plenty of things we all secretly dislike about fountain pens.

1. Cleaning them out. Tedious and time-consuming. You don’t have to do this with pencils, ballpoints, rollerballs or any other writing instrument. Even the quill just needed the occasional trim before you plucked a new one.

2. Ink stains. I don’t care how careful you are: if you are a regular fountain pen user, you’ll end up with ink on your fingers. Usually right before a party, date or job interview. That’s if you’re lucky. If you’re unlucky, you’ll end up with ink stains on your favorite shirt, or your kitchen floor. The newer you are to pens, the more it happens, but it happens to everyone.

3. Not the best carry-around option. I’m not even talking about going on an airplane, with changes in air pressure to contend with. I’m talking about regular commuting. Sure, if you can control your environment enough to always keep your fountain pen nib-up and protected from jostling, that helps. But most of us will eventually pull off a cap to start writing, only to find ink has leaked. Or we’ll lose a pen, and it won’t be a 50 cent Bic but a Lamy Safari in discontinued color. Or we’ll drop a Montblanc, nib down.

4. There’s always another one to buy. Only determined minimalists keep it to a handful. For the vast majority of us, it’s easier to add than subtract, and there are always tempting new pen releases to make us wish for more.

5. Not the coolest hobby. Let’s face it. If your hobby is “playing guitar,” and you “play in a bar band on the weekends,” you are way cooler than me, whose hobby is “fountain pens and inks” and who “loves to get together with pen fans on the weekends.” Unless your band plays Renaissance music in period costume, in which case I’m totally bullying you. Kidding. I’d know you get me.