Jul
30
2008
The Lost Art of Writing With a Fountain Pen
Posted in the Category of New New Things and Writing Tips
I noticed Chris when I was walking through National Airport in D.C. yesterday. Sitting at Starbucks, he was writing in an old-fashioned ruled journal with a fountain pen. Nearby, at the ready, was his ink-stained blotter. At the adjacent table was another guy with, predictably, an open laptop.
I was so astonished that I circled back and asked if I could take a photo. Chris was quite agreeable. "It’s my sanity," he said. He had on green sneakers and was on his way to Aspen, CO.
Can you remember when you kept a journal? I wrote one for years but never mastered the art of a fountain pen. Wish I had asked more about what he was writing but I didn’t want to intrude.
Comments
Debbie Weil said on July 30, 2008 at 01:08 PM
Susan,
You’re right—that’s probably a moleskin notebook. I love them. But I use a cheap 3 X 5 inch spiral that I get at CVS. I jot everything down in it - phone numbers and reminders. I call it my “paper pilot” (like palm pilot).
Sarah Wurrey said on July 31, 2008 at 01:45 PM
I love fountain pens too, when I was a teenager I was relaly into cool pens, and quite good at calligraphy.
But I did always hate the skritchy-scratch noise they make, it makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up!
Sarah Morgan said on July 31, 2008 at 09:13 PM
I live and die with my fountain pen. I’m left-handed, so I love them because the ink dries faster than ballpoint ink, so I don’t get smudges all over the side of my hand anymore.
But I’ve had people stop and notice - lose the topic in meetings - ask how it works. It’s a fun conversation starter.
(I’m also been journaling my whole life. Maybe they go together?)
Jean Gogolin said on August 7, 2008 at 08:47 PM
Having someone ask how a fountain pen works reminds me of a friend whose teenage kids asked him what an LP record was. He told them, tongue in cheek, it was a CD that was too big to fit into the computer. I think he had them for a minute.
Janet Engel said on August 15, 2008 at 05:06 PM
Love the post on this-- great reminder that we can balance 2.0 with old school techniques that still create impact-- thanks!
Jerome W. Mapp said on August 27, 2008 at 10:17 PM
There’s nothing like breaking out the pen and putting words on paper. Some things in life should never change.
Motorcycle Fairings said on September 3, 2008 at 02:23 AM
Fountain pens never lose its drama. It’s so much more interesting to read a handwritten journal over a typewritten letter. Good to know that there are still people who feel this way.
Susan Reynolds said on July 30, 2008 at 12:51 PM
That’s a heartwarming picture. In fact, wouldn’t it be wonderful for his grandchildren to someday open that book and found whatever random thoughts he’d written that day in the airport?
One of the best gifts I’ve gotten in the last few years was a new fountain pen. I hadn’t used one since eighth grade when last they were required at school. My moleskine and my fountain pen make a happy couple - but there’s no way to compare them to laptop, smart phone, etc. It’s just not the same.
And Debbie, thanks for reminding me to add a fountain pen or three to my Amazon gift list!