One Small Step In The Forum, One Giant Leap For Me

[bspolstra]

Hello hello!

 

I'm the new guy around here. Hey, StarrySirius. Thanks for pushing me over here (dunno how to link my friend but she'll find out). Thanks to her, I'm showing some great interests in fountain pens. For years, I have been a lurker on multiple sites, but I suppose I should be bold in introducing myself to you, the elders of the fountain pens, the wielders of the inky swords. Yes, I'm a poet, and I love literature as well as the tools that creates the lasting knowledge imprinted on a paper. Ah, but I fancy myself a renaissance man so I spread myself thin. If you wish, you can introduce me to a pen that is appropriate for a poet and one as a traveling pen. I'm considering starting up a collection of my own.

 

Also, can anyone tell me how to add someone as a friend? Or is there a rule for a newbie like me to wait for a period of time before I officially befriend? I'm a shy person to begin with, but I'm working to overcome the challenge, hence the title of this post.

[StarrySirius]

Hello, friend

[sombrueil]

If there is one sure thing about FPN, it is that we love to offer advice.

[Manalto]

Hi there, bspolstra! How's this for a poet's pen? I picture you in a puffy white shirt with lots of ruffles at the throat. Hang on, let me check my watch. I knew it, wrong century again! Oh, well, welcome anyway!

James

[PAKMAN]

Hello and Welcome to FPN!! Glad to have you as a member!

[bspolstra]

 

 

Hi there, bspolstra! How's this for a poet's pen? I picture you in a puffy white shirt with lots of ruffles at the throat. Hang on, let me check my watch. I knew it, wrong century again! Oh, well, welcome anyway!

 

James, spot on! The pen looks really inspiring. I can feel the power of them poetry by simply looking at the pen you've presented to me. Maybe I should buy it and write a poem about it. Already, I'm formulating one.

 

Everyone else, thank you for the welcome! I can feel the warmth of this community.

[Manalto]

If you wish, you can introduce me to a pen that is appropriate for a poet and one as a traveling pen. I'm considering starting up a collection of my own.

 

 

Pen choice is such an individual thing it's hard to make a recommendation for someone you've known all your life, much less a new friend, so this suggestion is offered with the caveat that these are my instinctive choices, as inspired by your words.

 

For a poet's pen, I'm thinking a Rosetta 'Magellan' with a Pendleton nib in swirly burnt umber (or is it burnt sienna?). It's warm and sensual in the hand and the nib has subtle but expressive line variation.

 

For travel, a Sheaffer 'Targa' (not the slim unless you have small hands) in brushed stainless.

It's an anonymous, cylindrical shape with clean contemporary styling and the steel makes it durable for travel. It posts snugly and closes securely.

 

When you open it up, there's that sleek inlaid nib (available in gold for a few more $$$, but the steel nib is excellent) that will compel you to express your thoughts on paper as the world flickers by your train window. Check these out and see if they speak to you. If they don't, I promise not to be offended.

Edited March 3, 2015 by Manalto

[SujiCorp12345]

Welcome to FPN!

[notVirtuThe3rd]

Hi! Welcome to FPN.

I'm really glad you've joined us.

Enjoy!

Best wishes from Japan,

VirtuThe3rd

[Wahl]

[Sasha Royale]

Welcome !

 

Khalil Gibran used a Parker Duofold. * In 1949, he started using a Parker 51.

What do you use for daily writing ?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* and if he didn't, he should have.

[ThomasB]

Hello and welcome from Baton Rouge, Louisiana...Enjoy your time here

[RMN]

Hi and welcome to FPN

 

 

Enjoy the forum

 

 

D.ick

[Blue_Moon]

Welcome to FPN!

Are you an English teacher/instructor? Most of the ones I know would have said the same thing as in your OP.

[bspolstra]

 

 

Are you an English teacher/instructor? Most of the ones I know would have said the same thing as in your OP.

 

Actually, no. I am not English teacher or instructor. I'm just a poor college student who happens to appreciate the beauty of the langauges and words.

 

 

For travel, a Sheaffer 'Targa' (not the slim unless you have small hands) in brushed stainless. It's an anonymous, cylindrical shape with clean contemporary styling and the steel makes it durable for travel. It posts snugly and closes securely.

 

Wow. It looks so simple but holds the aesthetic gleam along the shaft. I'll keep it in mind. Thanks!

[inkstainedruth]

Greetings from Pittsburgh!

I generally recommend that you spend some time, at least at first, hitting the "view new content" button when you log in -- it gives a good overview of a lot of different topics.

Everyone here will be a happy enabler and help you spend any possible disposable income on pens, ink, paper, tools, wax seals.... (And trust me, as a student you probably won't have a lot of disposable income). You will have to learn for yourself what pens are comfortable for you to hold and write with. And that's going to depend on all sorts of preferences as well as what size your hand is. For example, I have smallish hands, so I don't want a pen that's too large and heavy to be comfortable for long writing sessions. I like to post (i.e., put the cap on the back of the pen when I'm writing) so I don't want something that's top-heavy and unbalanced when I do that. Some people don't like metal sections. Or hooded nibs, like on Parker 51s (but that just means more 51s for ME... ). Additionally, you'll have to figure out whether it's better for you to start out with inexpensive pens or save up for one really nice one that you're going to use as an everyday carry. And what width nib really floats your boat (I tend to like F and M nibs, but I'm starting to see the appeal of things like OB nibs and italic stubs). Or if you want vintage or modern (both have their plusses and minuses). And that's something we can't answer for you. So looking over a lot of different threads, and seeing a lot of different points of view, will help you maybe narrow down what you want. Although there is nothing quite like actually holding a pen to see if it works for you. You may, depending on where you are, have access to a brick and mortar store (I don't really, so I have to travel for that, and places like NYC and Boston are not exactly day trips for me, so those sorts of excursions tend to happen in conjunction with the holiday "visit the in-laws" plans). Or a local pen club where people can let you try their pens and inks -- I've gotten suckered into a bunch of inks and some pens that way, but at the same time I know that I'm probably never going to want some pens that other people rave about. And then there are pen shows -- which can be amazing places to find the grail pen of your dreams but can also be overwhelming (all those tables! All those PENS!).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Manalto]

In other words, figure it out yourself.

[H1N]

Hello and welcome to FPN

[Snamellit]

Hello and welcome

[Gloucesterman]

:W2FPN:, Many good people here with lots of great information and a fun place to hang out and learn.

 

And remember the secret greeting of fountain pen people, the World over...

(said in a soft gentle voice, reverently --> "What's the point?"

 

BTW, the response is - "Who cares. It writes nicely!"

 

Okay, so I made it all up. But it sounded good, didn't it?

Welcome.