In September there was an article on the value of using the fountain pen for journal writing. Here are a few more reasons that you might consider giving up computers and ball points for this “fancy” pen:
Simplicity: It is just ink, paper and a pen that responses easily – that’s it. Oh, the same argument can be made about a ball point except when it runs dry, skips and dries out before you even use it. And for the computer buffs a notebook and pen are easier to carry. But also, what happens when you have a computer’s crash or forget the password to your computer’s files? The notes are gone and so are the thoughts on how the scriptures have added to your life. Oh I know, paper burns, but house’s fires are less frequent than computer’s crashes.
Writing draft history. This applies to all writing instruments, not just fountain pens but, if we agree with the supposition that it is easier to write with a fountain pen it belongs here. Anytime we write something it is usually a first draft. Hand writing it out in double space and then editing it the first time on the same paper helps organize your thoughts and recognize writing patterns – both good and bad. It is also easier to take notes and organize them into coherent thoughts. We used to write book notes on 3×5 index cards and then organize the cards around the outline of a report. I know some have found the computer easier but cutting and pasting from the screen does not help you edit – or keep the quote succinct. Plus it is much easier to layout your cards then to try to organize this out on a computer screen. Computers are great for short memos but for a serious report, hand write your notes and large sections of your draft. You will retain the information better and it will be more your own writing and not just a cut and paste exercise from the internet.
Limitless ink colors, many of you use different ink colors. Maybe because of mood or for artistic reasons, we want variety in our color. fountain pens permits that, If is just a matter of changing ink. You can use the same pen.
Wide variety of style: there is a pen out there to meet every need. Ball point pens force you to use just a few standard styles, not so with fountains pens, they come heavy or light, thick or thin, large or small, it is just a matter of finding the right size to feed your need
Improve your handwriting: usually you decrease speed when writing with a fountain pen – but it also makes you wish you had kept up with your handwriting! So you find yourself pushing to do a little better. Considering I could not even sign my name a few weeks ago, I am much improved but a long way to go!
Handwritten notes help you remember and learn. Recent studies have shown that students who takes notes by hand retain more than students who takes notes by computer. The student who used the computer had more notes but yet retained less. Students who wrote their class notes “engage in more processing than laptop note takers, thus selecting more important information to include in their notes” (Mueller/Oppenheimer: “The Pen is Mightier than the Keyboard”, 2014). So, if you want to retain more, write it.
As an aside, having used hand notes and computer notes extensively, I find I am wordier using the computer. Hand writing an article like this one, forces me to be better organized and reduce verbiage.
The Analog Oblate
