This month I levelled up in geekdom: I have joined the fountain pen community.
Admittedly, it’s the shallow end; unsure it would work with my left-handedness, I wasn’t going to plunk down too much green at the get-go.
But happily these Pilot Metropolitans are working out fantastic for me! All the bloggers who say it’s a “great starter pen” are totally right.
You know I couldn’t resist the aqua color, and the pearly white (with tiger stripes!) is so pretty. I bought 2 because I wasn’t sure if I’d like a medium or a fine nib – turns out (at least for this brand and model) I’m happiest with the fine. So I plan to use that primarily, and use the medium when I’m writing with fancy ink colors.
And oh, the colors! My first order from the Goulet Pen Company is on its way with several ink samples that will allow me to affordably find my perfect shade. (Seems redundant to call it a “signature shade,” eh?)
I never used a fountain pen as a kid in school (we always had ballpoints), so I have no memories good or bad. This is entirely new to me.
The experience of writing with ink that is actually liquid and flowing through the nib onto the paper is more different than I’d expected. It seems instinctive to think more about what I’m writing, and to care more about how I’m forming the letters … it’s been quite surprising. It’s slower but strangely more fulfilling.
There are lots of times when I’ll still use my rollerballs and gel pens – not to mention my Palomino Blackwing pencils! – but for brainstorming and correspondence and lots of other tasks, I’m practicing with my fountain pen. (Srsly, why does my brain insist on calling it “practicing with my spheres”? No spheres involved! No The Lopen either! November cannot come soon enough!!)