Ack! It has been the equivalent of about a decade in blogging time since my last post. And now, it has come to this: pens. I have been through my share of felt-tip, rollerball, and fountain pens over time. As you can imagine, once in awhile a well-meaning acquaintance or relation, armed with the recent discovery that I write poetry, will bequeath a gilt and feathered writing implement to yours truly. Though I am, at heart, a pen pragmatist, I like dark writing and a touch of flair. That is why, even though I mostly type straight in to a plain text document on my laptop, when it does come time to put ink to paper, the Pilot Varsity is my newest top choice. Cheap, tough, light, and fluid–what’s not to like in this fountain pen? It travels well in pocket with nominal leakage, marks dark, and moves quickly. The only hiccups I’ve had are in trying to furiously scribble out words–an impulsive bad habit for any writer, where a simple strikethrough will suffice in case one changes one’s mind back to favoring the original word or phrase. In short, this pen supports all my best habits, and discourages my impetuous ones. Where else can you get that for three bucks and change?
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About
Robert Peake's poems have appeared in Iota, North American Review, Rattle, and others.
8 Comments
I buy the Y&C Stylist, an inexpensive Korean pen, at Flax in San Francisco, and I remove the ink and replace it with a Pilot “Dr. Grip” fine point black refill. It changed my life.
As a former teacher, I have a collection of Parker and Cross pens that I never use.
Looks like a nice felt-tip. I’ve never met a cartridge fountain that didn’t leak, but felts tend to hold their ink on the go. Sounds like it’s been a quest.
A true writer could compose Macbeth with a twig and some wet earth. Pens schmens.
I did that once.
I like fountain pens as well. My dad gave me a great one in Christmas of 2006, and it’s been my weapon of choice ever since. I carry a lipstick case full of Waterman cartridges and all is well.
I write first drafts longhand, so it gets a lot of use! Just don’t hand ‘em to left-handed authors for signing. *blush*
Poor lefties. They have to do that kind of arch-over-the-page thing to not smear. Like I said, I’ve never met a cartridge fountain that didn’t leak under my sometimes strenuous travel conditions — but sounds like maybe you found one.
My favorite writing pen is the Pilot P-700 fine tip. It’s the best pen ever. I have two packs of them in my desk.
Looks like a nice gel roller.