If you’re accustomed to writing with ballpoint or gel pens, using fountain pens may take some getting used to. Read on to learn how to hold and write with a fountain pen or watch our videos below.
If needed, consider if you want to post the cap on the back of the pen. This can make some pens feel more balanced (especially for those with larger hands) or uncomfortably back-weighted. Experiment to see what works best for you.
The nib’s tip, which can be made up of two or more tines, needs to make full contact with the paper for consistent ink flow. The top of the nib (the side opposite the feed) should be facing up. Avoid twisting the pen clockwise or counterclockwise as you write, which you may be used to doing if you use pencils and want to keep the graphite sharp. Twisting while writing with a fountain pen may cause the ink slit between the tines to lose contact with the page and the pen could skip or stop writing altogether.
Keep in mind that you may need to alter your angle and grip slightly depending on the size of your pen and its tip shape. You may also need to make adjustments depending on your writing surface, such as when you write closer to the spine of a notebook.
To learn about the most common ink formulations, the pros and cons of ink bottles and ink cartridges, and our beginner-friendly ink recommendations, read our guide.
There are several fountain pen paper characteristics to consider, such as paper color, texture, and sheet style. Finding the best paper or notebooks for your fountain pen and ink comes down to personal preferences.
Try placing guide sheets and writing boards under paper to keep the size, shape, and angle of letters uniform. There are also worksheets that act as a reference for familiarizing yourself with stroke order and tracing letterforms to build muscle memory.
For more tips on how to improve your handwriting, read our guide.
We should note that it takes some time to get used to writing like this, but with practice, it’ll feel more natural.
Since left-handers are more likely to “push” the nib instead of “pull” it across the page, it can feel scratchy or as though you’re digging into the paper. To combat this, consider using a larger nib size that’ll put down more ink and make writing feel smoother. Some pens come with nibs with slightly slanted tips that better match the angle at which left-handed people write. It’s also a good idea to pick up fountain pen paper that’s notably smooth, such as Clairefontaine Triomphe Notepads, Kobeha Graphilo Notebooks, and Stalogy 016 Notebooks.
To deal with smearing fresh ink, left-handers can change their hand position so they are underwriting, which keeps the hand beneath the line where you’re writing. Placing a sheet of blotting paper underneath your hand can help absorb ink as well.
Writing with a fountain pen takes a little bit of time and patience, but once you get the hang of it you’ll be finding ways to incorporate it into your daily life. Do you have any tips for writing with a fountain pen? Let us know in the comments!