Switching To From Ballpoints To Fps

[ChickenScratch]

After writing with ballpoint pens almost exclusively since third grade, I decided recently to learn how to use fountain pens. I find that there are a few habits I need to break:

1. Pressing down too hard on the paper – My pen makes a good clear line with almost no pressure at all, which is less tiring, but still an adjustment to make. I’m one of those people the mirror image of whose writing can be seen embossed on the back of the paper. If I were an old-time secretary who had to make multiple copies of what she wrote using carbon paper, this would be a good thing. In these days of Xerox machines, not so good.
2. Holding the pen too close to the point- My hand always migrates down toward the point as I write (probably part & parcel of pressing down too hard). With an FP, that means inky fingers. Good thing my Safari is shaped so that there is a little ledge near the end of the barrel. When this starts digging into my fingers I know I have to move back up.
3. Letting the pen rotate in my hand- I found out pretty quickly that the nib has to face up toward the ceiling and the feed toward the paper or the FP won’t write. With ballpoints I didn’t even know I was turning the pen. Despite the Safari’s triangular barrel, I still manage to do it. Weird, huh?

Others who may be transitioning, what habits did you have to break?

[RMN]

You may also have to look at the writing angle. Most BP writers hold the pen almost straight up, say 70 to 90 degrees, while fountainpens work best at an angle of 30 to 50 dgr. The nibs are ground for this angle.

 

When pressing hard, with the pen straight up, writers tend to write with their fingers, resulting in cramps. But with a FP the pen rests in a relaxed hand, and the arm muscles do most of the writing.

 

D.ick

[Gilberto Castaneda]

If there is a will, there is a way.

Keep on, you will master it.

[ChickenScratch]

Thank you both for the encouragement.

 

RMN: That's a very helpful tip about watching the angle! I find the ink does flow better when the pen is at a lower angle. Also, I can't maintain it at that angle if my fingers drop too close to the point.

[Randal6393]

After writing with ballpoint pens almost exclusively since third grade, I decided recently to learn how to use fountain pens. I find that there are a few habits I need to break:

1. Pressing down too hard on the paper – My pen makes a good clear line with almost no pressure at all, which is less tiring, but still an adjustment to make. I’m one of those people the mirror image of whose writing can be seen embossed on the back of the paper. If I were an old-time secretary who had to make multiple copies of what she wrote using carbon paper, this would be a good thing. In these days of Xerox machines, not so good.
2. Holding the pen too close to the point- My hand always migrates down toward the point as I write (probably part & parcel of pressing down too hard). With an FP, that means inky fingers. Good thing my Safari is shaped so that there is a little ledge near the end of the barrel. When this starts digging into my fingers I know I have to move back up.
3. Letting the pen rotate in my hand- I found out pretty quickly that the nib has to face up toward the ceiling and the feed toward the paper or the FP won’t write. With ballpoints I didn’t even know I was turning the pen. Despite the Safari’s triangular barrel, I still manage to do it. Weird, huh?

Others who may be transitioning, what habits did you have to break?

 

 

If you work on Problem 1, lightening the hand, you will find that Problem 2 solves itself. And, when not tired, Problem 3 will be much easier. Think light thoughts and "float like a bumblebee" or is that "butterfly"? Anyhow, work on alignment, writing lightly, and just enjoying the process.

 

Luck,

[RMN]

Thank you both for the encouragement.

 

RMN: That's a very helpful tip about watching the angle! I find the ink does flow better when the pen is at a lower angle. Also, I can't maintain it at that angle if my fingers drop too close to the point.

Ahh, but the point is that you try to hold the pen in your fingers. But that is not necessary. Let the pen just rest on the web between thumb and forefinger, and on the end part of the middlefinger. The thumb is just a light support at the left of the pen, and the forefinger rests lightly on top so the pen does not roll.

Your hand should just be a gentle cradle, and that way you don't need to grip the pen close to the nib. THAT grip is for ballpoints.

 

D.ick

[Sasha Royale]

Welcome !

 

With the ballpoint pen, the ball has to track on the paper to "roll off" a stripe of ink. So, you have to press down and

hold firmly, so it doesn't slip in your fingers. You have to hold the ballpoint pen upright. Fountain pen ink is attracted

to the paper. The slightest contact puts down a line of ink.

 

Soooooo -- The fountain pen grip is light, fingers-extended, with a 45-degree slant. Don't rest on the edge of the

writing hand. Rest lightly on the tips of the ring finger and the pinky. Write slowly and enjoy it.

[GClef]

http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m496/gclef1114/Tutuguans/0221141801-1_zpsawtutfef.jpg

[Gilberto Castaneda]

G clef:

That is FREEDOM.

Whilst I did not go back to BP I do not get any rash due to using them.

I have admired your penmanship for a long time.

 

Cheers,

 

G

[GabrielleDuVent]

http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m496/gclef1114/Tutuguans/0221141801-1_zpsawtutfef.jpg

 

You forgot to bleep out the cuss word! Tsk tsk.

[Amyj]

People say to get a glass pen... you learn VERY quickly not to grip it too tight, or push it to the paper hard. For number three, tape your hand to the grip section?

 

I myself managed to stop turning the pen (a habit learned from using pencil exclusively in grade 3 and any time I could help it) because I learned you don't get many of the important notes down in a note-heavy course when you do :3 I have a death grip where my thumb crosses over my index finger, a problem with thin pens, I found out, and have yet to fix it. Angles and finger writing are other problems, although the former is easy to fix.

[ChickenScratch]

The light touch and not gripping the pen is definitely something I need to practice.

 

Amyj: That's a good one about the glass pen! If I went that route I would need several.

 

GClef: Love your handwriting and how you can get thick & thin strokes with a ballpoint! Now that's control.