Fountain Pens for Beginners

Diane DeMasi

Diane DeMasi has raised a horde of boys and currently plays wildlife warden to one dog and four cats. Due to her deep-rooted fear of being stranded without pens, papers, and books, she hauls around an assortment of them each time she leaves the house.

Fountain pens are wonderful writing instruments for those who enjoy the heartfelt touch of sending handwritten letters and cards. They are utensils of calm reflection for those who relish curling up with a cup of tea and a journal.

There is a certain je ne sais quoi about fountain pens that enhances the whole writing experience.

If you’ve ever desired to write with a fountain pen, here are some beginner tips you may appreciate knowing first.

TIP 1: BUY A “CHEAP” FOUNTAIN PEN FIRST

Start with something in the $20 and under price range. These pens are only cheap in price, yet the smooth, elegant writing experience is still fully present. Fountain pens in this range are more forgiving; you learn to hold the pen so the nib is at a 45-degree angle and you learn the amount of pressure to maintain a solid, smooth line of writing.

The Platinum Preppy is a great starter pen that comes in a variety of colors. For a more classic style the Jinhao 450 is also a great starter pen and both are under ten dollars.

These pens are enjoyable, user-friendly, and great to experiment with as you learn what you enjoy in nib-size, pen weight, pen height, portability, and inks.

TIP 2: START WITH A MEDIUM NIB

There are plenty of nib-size options available: extra-fine, fine, medium, broad, double broad, italic, bent nib, flex nib, etc.

Medium nibs lay down a bit more ink so they feel even smoother than extra-fine and fine-point nibs. Broad nibs can lay down a thick line that doesn’t provide much distinction between letters, unless your writing is rather large. Plus, the larger the nib, the faster you will go through ink. Medium nibs are a perfect mid-point to experience shading (variations in an ink’s hue).

TIP 3: CLEAN YOUR FOUNTAIN PEN

When your new pen arrives, give it a quick clean. Most pens have directions for this process. If you are unsure you can go to Google or YouTube and search “how to clean (insert your particular pen).” The process is usually simple.

Most pens write fine straight out of their packaging, but wayward silicone or particles from production can impede ink flow. It’s best to clean the pen so you can start with a smooth writing experience from the get-go. 

TIP 4: START WITH INK CARTRIDGES 

Steeped Umber, Emerald of Chivor, Australian Roses, Southwest Sunset, and Ancient Copper are a scant few of the beautiful ink colors available. There are thousands of ink options just as exciting as the fountain pen itself.  Which is why starting with basic ink cartridges sounds so dull.

Ink cartridges, foremost, are less messy. They are easy to insert and a convenient way to keep ink on hand while out and about. Plus, there is less chance of clogging the nib and less cleaning involved when you switch ink colors.

Sheening and shimmering inks are gorgeous and a joy to play with but they are also high maintenance; resulting in swirling the pen frequently as you write and a thorough cleaning when you are done.

Get the feel for your pen, then you can dive into the world of converters (what you usually need to use bottled inks) and the immense options of inks available. 

TIP 5: ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE AND EXPERIMENT

Get a hot cup of coffee or tea, grab your notebook and fountain pen, curl up in your favorite writing chair, and write. Write slowly and savor the words as they form in your mind and flow onto the notebook. Write tiny words and large loopy words, write on different paper types and textures, write in cursive and in print. Play with upstrokes and downstrokes, swirls and loops.

The more you write with your fountain pen, the greater the experience will be. Soon you will add more pens, nibs, papers, and inks to your collection. You’ll explore the nib sizes and find your signature ink, or maybe an array of inks from which to use that emulates your mood-of-the-day. You’ll discover whether you prefer a weightier pen like the Pilot Metropolitan or a lighter pen like the Pilot Explorer or Platinum Preppy.

Share uplifting words in letters to friends who are in the doldrums, send humorous stories and funny cards to relatives who need some brightness and laughter. Write your dreams, your desires, and your struggles, and all that you are grateful for in life. Most of all, enjoy the writing experience.