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As a beginner learning the Palmer method of Business Penmanship (Monoline Cursive without line variation), I have researched some conflicting information about which nib is best (counting in that this is a highly subjective matter, of course). I gathered some of the pro/con arguments for each of both nib types I could find so far (this forum and reddit): 1. On the one hand, some people say you should use stiffer pens, which give you more feeling of "contact" with the paper (= "feedback" I guess it is called?). This supposedly should give the beginning learner a better feeling of control and precision which is advantageous when learning the letterforms and arm movements of a Monoline Cursive from scratch. As a beginner learning the arm (muscular) movement, you lack a lot of precision compared to the "learned" finger movement, so every additional precision coming from the pen is welcomed (although of course Palmer pros over time get more precision from their arm movements, but I am a greenhorn/beginner). Thus this school of thought recommends stiffer nibs like Sailor 21k F / M-F or Platinum gold or very feedback-y Pilot nibs (like PO / Posting or an EF (hard) Pilot Falcon/Elabo). They also say stiffer nibs are less tiring to write with than softer nibs, because the feeling of control is somehow supposed to make the hand relax more? (I have to admit, I didn't quite understand that argument). They also say, because of the feeling of precision and control, it gives the hand security, thus psychologically allowing you to write faster with stiffer nibs. 2. On the other hand, some people say with Monoline Cursive you should use a light hand, thus softer pens that glide across the page in a "buttery" fashion (think of Pilot gold Fines/Mediums) are said to be the best by that school of thought. They also say softer nibs are less tiring than stiffer nibs to write with as they need less effort to write with, as the Palmer method with muscle movement is all about reducing/allieviating writing fatigue and finger cramps. Which is of course in contrast to what school of thought 1 (stiffer pens for Palmer method) says. The "soft nibs for Palmer method" school of thought also say you write faster with softer nibs, because they glide effortless because they have less resistance on the paper. Added information: What is not in question for me is the nib size: I think Fine (or Extrafine) suits me best, since I tend to write medium-sized. I am practicing Palmer with a Rhodia ruled 7 mm, which "forces" me to write rather small, so Medium is too broad and it tends to not look very elegant in a 7 mm confined handwriting (might you please visually refer to the given example photograph below (sorry for the German!)) Also fine nibs allow me to see my mistakes more clearly, which is more frustrating 😄, but obviously ultimately more helpful for the learning pen(wo)man. Question: What are your (subjective) experiences? Which kind of nibs (not nib width/size, but nib softness/stiffness) are better for 1) fast writing and 2) writing endurance? Thank you for sharing, I value your human insights and experiences (I refrain from asking ChatGPT for this). P.S.: In the end I will have to test both myself, I want to buy a beautiful pen and already spent a lot on PO nib (will arrive soon), but fear I bought the wrong nib. Unfortunately I live in a country where there are little opportunities to try out different pens before buying and I lack the funds to order like 10 pens from japan and then send 9 the "wrong" ones back.

In order to improve my handwriting, I'm going through two exercise books: Michael Sull's "American Cursive Handwriting" and Austin Palmer's "The Palmer Method of Business Writing." The former includes practice sheets but the latter doesn't. In lesson 32, page 70, Mr. Palmer writes "As there are six-sixteenths of an inch between the rule lines in the practice paper generally used, and in all the the Palmer Method practice paper... ." So, where do I get this 3/8" paper or "Palmer Method practice paper?" Also, what is Seyes paper? Where do I get French-ruled Clairefonte paper or notebooks? I wrote to Michael Sull and asked him what is the spacing on his Clairefontaine Tablets but didn't receive any response. I also wrote to John Neal Books asking about the spacing of guidelines in their P76 Strathmore Writing Pad, lined, P35 Clairefontaine Lined Pad; and P86 Logos Calligraphy Copperplate Pad, but again didn't receive any response. I don't have access to a printer so I would like to buy paper with guidelines (and maybe 52 degree or 55 degree lines) on it.