The Right Pen for You
When it comes to writing by hand I must have a pen with smooth flowing ink. Writing in a journal needs to be a comfortable experience. It’s taken me a while, but I’ve found several pens that feel right for writing in my journal. I like the nib to be fat and for the ink to roll out in a long velvety uninterrupted line. My letters curl and circle back on themselves, so this means I hardly ever let the pen leave the page. For me, this allows the thoughts to trickle down easily onto the page.
You might be different. You might enjoy those pens I think are scratchy and sparse. Maybe this suits the way you think and feel better than the kind of pen I enjoy. It doesn’t really matter what kind of pen you use. Just aim for one that feels right for you. It needs to feel comfortable in your hand. You shouldn’t be aware of your fingers straining around the pen. The pen should feel like the tool or implement it’s meant to be; an extension of your thoughts, a part of your body. No one wants to work with awkward tools.
Experiment with different pens. I’m always checking out new pens as they’re released onto the market. I can get lost just writing “Hi there” as I test the various inks out on the little pads in the shops. Gel pens feel good to write with, but for me they just don’t go the distance. I need to lug around several with me in case I have a really intense journal session and wrote like a mad thing using up all the ink. And they tend to dry up at the wrong moment.
For the most part I stick with pretty basic brands and make sure I have at least one extra on hand. Paper Mate have good pens in their collection. Be prepared to spend as much as you need to. The right pen is going to make all the difference to keeping your journal writing experience pleasurable and something you’ll want to keep doing. What kind of pen do write in your journal with?
Heather
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POSTED IN: Journal Tools
6 opinions for The Right Pen for You
bibi
Oct 15, 2005 at 8:31 am
what is up with putting all the focus on the pen man.i have to wonder.Is it really about the pen?????????????.but on a different note i agree,having the right kind of pen is kinda important to me also.
Heather
Oct 15, 2005 at 9:14 am
Lol, thanks for making me smile tonight. Yeah, it’s not all about the pen, but it does help having the right one. ;-)
Devon
Feb 3, 2008 at 12:45 am
For me the whole focus is on the pen, the way it fells, it’s smoothness, if it’s a retractable and even the way it looks. My favourites are: Pilot G6, Pilot VBall RT, Uni-Ball PowerTank RT, Uni-Ball Jetstream RT, Pilot BPX, Uni-Ball 207 (Signo) and last, but mont bnot least the WaterMan Ici & La 23K gold and Mont Blanc Boheme precious white metal, without any of those i can’t write, they have to have curves, not like crappy paper mate 5cent pens
Heather Goldsmith
Feb 3, 2008 at 1:49 am
Hi Devon,
Thanks for sharing all your favourite pens. I think it really does make a big difference what you choose to write with. Thanks for commenting. ;-)
sophia
Mar 19, 2008 at 12:49 am
Hi Heather. I felt a kinship with you when you mentioned how much time you can spend/waste fooling on the pen isle in the stores. :) I do the exact same thing. I even have my husband doing it. It’s like a writer’s Holy Grail! THE ultimate writing tool.
Personally I prefer those gel-type pens and I also like the body of the pen to be sort of fat or thick and grippy.
Heather Goldsmith
Mar 19, 2008 at 1:04 am
Hi Sophia,
Yeah, pen shopping is fun, hey? I just wish those gel pens lasted longer. I’ve been known to use one up in about 9 or 10 pages, which simply isn’t long enough for me. Hope you find some pens you love writing with soon. Thanks for leaving a comment. ;-)
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