Twsbi Eco keeping up

Been a week behind in journaling. Had a major life thing happen and didn't know if I'd back track to fill in the time that lapsed or move from that date forward. Well when I sat down to write it all was pouring out. I was using a leuchttrum a5 medium sized notebook. Filling every line and space including the header and footer of each page. 

I went through 10 pages of writing, using a fine nib with relatively small writing. The pen was uncapped most of that time. A few breaks because I was writing for a couple hours. The entire time the pen was never ink starved. And I'm almost out of ink in the one now there was only once I had a hard start from pausing for a good half hour uncapped. 

I was using noodler's saguaro wine. I hear some folks having problems with ink drying in the nib after a minute or two. I was impressed this kept up. I've never had such a long writing session.  A ball point would of created awful hand cramping but I only did towards the end. Only reason that happened because I moved from my desk to the sofa and was holding the journal in hand. 

Points for twsbi Eco fine!

Writing with fountain pens.

There has been something about writing with fountain pens that has just been speaking to me for months now. Some how this tool has brought forth a level of happiness I have yet to figure out just what it is. But, what ever it is. I shall enjoy and write forth. 

Steppin' up my pen game

Now there are many folks out there that have spent many hours talking about fountain pens. The benefits to writing by hand versus writing on the computer. I am not going to be one of those well written writers. I Just write the ideas that come to my mind. This may or may not be your thing, so take this as a warning from me to you. 

What is it about fountain pens? I just don't know, but I have a few thoughts behind my reasoning thus far. 

In the years past I have been searching for the pen that would suit my style of writing. I never ventured into expensive pens, and even now I am not going to go down that path. I usually look towards economical pens. For the longest time that I can remember the pen of choice for me was the bic clic stic. (Yes, that is how it is spelled.) The medium point pen and smooth ink provided the best writing experience. Then Bic Pens did away with these pense and replaced them with their Atlantis model. Although that was a decent enough pen, it got the job done, it just didn't quite have the same ink flow that the previous model.  A few years ago I found some of the bic clic stic for sale at Target's back to school section. Never saw them anywhere else, and no other time of the year. Subsequentially I have now seen these pens resurfface as a regular carried pen by many discount chains. But there is just something that has changed about the pen. The mechanism is still the same, and the weight and shape but it happens to be the ink that seems to be have changed. How can I call? Well, I have had many of these pens. And they just seem different to me, not that I have any other proof than my own claim to their change. They just have not written the same for me. So I have several pens on my desk that have never quite suited the needs i had for an ideal pen writing experience.  (I hear you say, what is the deal, it gets marks on the page that can be read later, so who cares what you use) 

Would you drive a brand new ford fiesta when you can find a used mustang for the same price? A fiesta will certainly get you to point A and B then back. But what kind of driving experience would that be?  I know that I am not going to be comfortable driving several hours in a mini - cooper, even if I am driving by myself. Same thing goes with driving something fast and flashy like a Lamborghini could be fun for a moment but I wouldn't want to buy one.  I would be afraid to drive it anywhere in fear that it would get damaged or stolen. Not something I'd use to drive back and forth to the grocery store.    Driving something that large, fast or costly isn't going to give me a better experience. What I would prefer to drive is something that is comfortable and practical.  A mid-size sedan suits me just fine. A 4 cyclinder engine is suitable, but I would certainly prefer a v6 engine. Having a four-wheel or all wheel drive is a nice thing, but not a required must have in my car. 

What does having a certain type of car have to do with a pen, let alone a fountain pen?  That's what I am trying to explain. Sure a bic stic works, but a bic clic stic would be a bit nicer. Either can get your words on the page. However writing for longer periods of time can cramp up your hand. The ink could be to sticky causing additional drag, fatiguing your hand.  And the choices of ink colors can be quite limiting.  My next level ball point pen was a Retro 1951 franklin.  Love the weight of the pen, and the ink was smooth. (The liquid refill worked better than the gel refill but then depended on the paper I used. Refills were $5 each and only had blue or black choices.)  

When I found my first "real" fountain pen, it was after looking up ink refills for my Retro 51.  That first pen was a Lamy Safari Blue with a fine nib. I read that the fine nib was a good choice for left handed writers, and for using cheap paper. Who doesn't have access to cheap paper for any type of writing experience? I have more of it than "nicer" paper. That pen has been what I have been looking for in all those previous ball point, rollerball, and gel pens I have purchased over the years. Trust me, I have had a few. Certainly not as many as some folks have, but more than I ever would need at one given time.  This pen allows my words to flow at the rate my hand can pretty much keep up. The ink flows with out globbing on my page, drying out or slowing me down and at the same time it doesn't allow my hand to just race off. My hand can write for pages and pages with out hurting or tiring out before I have finished what it was I was writing. 

There you have it. Some insight I have had as to why I have gone the way of the fountain pen.  I can change my color of ink any time I get bored. With various nib sizes I can swap out on my Lamy safari can fit the flow of my handwriting of the day. There are days I write large and fast.  My hand writing has it's own personality. I'll save this topic for another day.  I think I have said enough for now. Maybe you too might think about what your writing with right now. Or you will just go on and click on to next randomb blog the website shows you.  So utntil next time, go write something down before you forget it.