Avoiding Writer's Bump (Callus)

[thv]

Hi everyone,

 

While I enjoy writing with a fountain pen, I tend to develop a writer's bump fairly quickly (even after an extended break to let it go away).

 

I've tried to write with a lighter hand (through conscious effort + using a somewhat heavier pen - so that the pen can rest on my hand rather than my having to push it onto the paper - and with a larger section that tends to fit my hand better) but with very limited success so far (i.e. the bump still comes back really quickly).

 

I also use rather wet inks (Diamine, Waterman) and medium-sized nibs (actually broad but Japanese - one Sailor and one Pilot) that are supposed to be fairly smooth.

 

What do you rely on to avoid or alleviate this problem?

 

Kind regards

Thomas

 

P.S.: I realize this is very personal and has been discussed many times before, but still... If you have come across the perfect daily writer, do not hesitate to share.

[Ghost Plane]

Broader nibs so that the pen glides would be my only addition to what you've tried. It's easier to loosen your grip if the pen behaves like a hover craft and you're not trying to squeeze your writing down to tiny script.

[rwilsonedn]

The issue may be how tightly you are gripping the pen, rather than how much pressure you are putting on the paper. If you are letting the pen just rest on the paper, there is no need to squeeze it--just let it rest in your hand. (This does not require a heavy pen, by the way. Even the lightest fountain pen has enough weight to write without additional pressure.) That should eliminate any tendency to form a bump.

ron

[Wahl]

As a young man, I developed writer´s bump while writing airplane tickets with a ballpoint !

 

I came to hate ballpoints, and never had that problem again using a FP, you are probably putting too much pressure on your grip.

[titrisol]

Having had one since 3rd or 4th grade, the question is why avoid it?

It is a mark of honor

[thv]

Thanks Ghost Plane! I guess I'm already on the broad side (my broad Sailor nib is equivalent to a European medium and the right width for me, my broad Pilot nib is more like a European broad... and actually too broad for my taste).

[Bo Bo Olson]

You are of course holding your fountain pen like a fountain pen, behind the big index finger...not in front of it like a ball point???

 

 

Look up 'forefinger up' in search. Takes three minutes to learn, is an automatic light hold. there should be some pictures.

 

You might be able to find pictures still there. After my computer died, I never took the time to get back to Photobucket, to change my mail address....didn't see how to do so for Idiots.

So I'll do this by words.

 

Look at the 'classic tripod' and discard. It can take months to lighten up your grip from that.

I did have the pain crease, in I used it and pressed like it was a ball point. 10:00-14:00-18:00 causes you to use force....you press to keep the pen from moving.....and do not try to make the pen rest at 45 Degrees behind the big index knuckle unless it wants to 'rest' there. If the pen wants to rest at 40 degrees at the start of the web of the thumb let it. If it's heavy or long and wants to rest in the pit of the web of the thumb let it.

 

The thumb is most important; it is a dam and nothing more. The thumb is flat to the barrel not bent at all....no pressure....it is a dam. You do not have to use any pressure to let a fountain pen rest in your hand, Uri Geller, the spoon bender is the last person to have a fountain pen somersault in his hand.

Do not use the dreaded Kung Fu thumbnail pinch. Flat, no bend, in there is no pressure required.

 

Your thumb is @ 09:00 on the barrel and back from the section. How far back will be explained in a moment.

 

Move the barrel down 1/3 of an inch out of the nail end of your middle finger..out into the flesh....that way you won't press and get that pain, callus and or dent at the inside 'end' of the nail. Then ignore that finger.

 

Place your finger tip on the top of the section, 12:00-12:30 or 13:00, then straighten your index finger...there should be No Big Bend....a slight curve to almost flat on the barrel.

 

Now comes the exact thumb placement...to the crease in the joint of your first index knuckle.

If you have a pen that wants to rest at 45 degrees, like a Large um-posted pen because it is so short. Your thumb nail is level (but still at 09:00...resting on the barrel) with 1/4th to 1/3 of the first finger joint, before the crease. A posted Standard or Medium-long the thumbnail end, could well be at that forefinger crease.

Fiddle around later to see how much that pen needs the thumb to be a bit into the forefinger before the crease and or even with the crease. Make sure you maintain the gap....between 09:00 and 12:30. The thumb is flat.

 

Takes three minutes to learn....needs one sheet of paper for you to practice ... let your script run high and wide and then let your script return to normal size by the end of the sheet of paper.

 

Then just hold your pen like a featherless baby bird.

Do Not make baby bird paste.

 

If you hold like a ball point, the tiny puddle of ink is too tiny and you plow furrows in the paper so need lots of pressure to keep the pen 'steady' and moving.

If you hold the fountain pen behind the big index knuckle ...depending on length and weight of the pen to where it is comfortable.....you have a 'big' puddle of ink to float the nib tip on, or to skate over.

 

It took me three minutes to learn to this 'forefinger up' method....some five or six minutes to get use to it....then for about 3 days I alternated until it was comfortable....much more comfortable than Classic.

Now I only use the Classic on my P-75 and Safari.

[Sasha Royale]

Ah ! The callus pad that develops on the first joint, of the middle finger, of the writing hand, is a curse that nature inflicts on ballpoint pen people. If you use your fountain pen like a ballpoint pen, you will be cursed with "the bump". Use a lighter touch, with fingers extended. The easy flow of ink from a fountain pen allows it. Still getting the bump ? Switch to a medium nib, wetter ink, a heavier pen, and an even lighter touch. I used a Parker 45 through four years of university, and long-winded professors. I never got "the bump" in college.

Edited August 29, 2016 by Sasha Royale

[ac12]

LIGHT grip on the pen.

• If you grip your pen, and your index finger is concave, you are gripping too hard.
• If you grip your pen, and your hand cramps after 30 minutes, you are gripping too hard.
• It is about right when someone can pull the pen out from your hand, straight back.

And a LIGHT hand when writing.

• You are not trying to write on a 6 copy form.

[Bo Bo Olson]

If you don't want the rest of the light grip....just move where you hold the pen further down your middle index finger so it's not at the nail junction....but you will still have the dreaded Death Grip.

[thv]

Thanks to all for your replies!

 

By writing with a light hand, I was indeed referring to a lighter grip. Something that does not come very naturally to me. And even conscious effort did not make much of a difference (at least as far as the bump is concerned - I do have the impression that my grip was not as tight as it normally is).

 

So I'm intrigued by the forefinger up grip. I'll give it a try in a couple of days (I'll be on the road in the meantime).

 

Beyond changing the grip: I also have the impression that a heavier pen would help (with a light pen I tend to "compensate" i.e. apply more force - hence a tighter grip). I note however that Ron had a different take on the influence of the weight of the pen. I'm curious as to the experience of others on that point.

 

Also, are there materials (or possibly shapes) that are less likely to contribute to the bump?

 

Kind regards

Thomas

[Bo Bo Olson]

Unless you rest the heavy or long pen in the pit of the web of your thumb, you have to hold it, and that requires pressure.

 

A light and nimble standard sized pen, like a 200/400 or an old time Eastie, P-75 (checkered silver and light for metal) (one of my first three perfectly balanced pens...have not gone looking over the last 5 or so years, in I have too many really good balanced vintage pens) or a medium-large P-51 or to my shock...the Snorkel is Large but thin...are IMO best, in they are light. Posted of course. That gives them the balance.

 

No pen back when pens had guts could not have good balance, in the top of the line did, if it wanted to sell.

IMO and I am prejudiced, the modern Large pen has little balance....will be thicker, clunkier....not nimble at all. Some are heavy and meant to be seen.

 

I have a medium large '50's 146 that has great balance. The '70's Large 146 I have, does not, and it takes me a minute or two just to get use to it....nib's not as good either.

 

I'm glad you are giving 'forefinger up' a chance. Someone showed a few pictures and I tried it and was a convert. My nerve at my middle finger nail junction stopped hurting.

I could write longer with out fatigue, and my Chicken scratch improved to Rooster Scratch. Well, that and writing more than I use too.

With a ball point my writing became unreadable unless printed....and still does real quick.

[kernando]

Typewriters!

[thv]

Bo Bo: I write unposted - does that change your recommendations?

 

Kind regards

Thomas

[Cryptos]

Weight of the pen should make little or no difference as you shouldn't be bearing down on a fountain pen nib anyway (unless you've got one of those flexible things). So, lighten your grip - this is the primary culprit in writer's bump - and when you've lightened it, lighten it some more!

 

I would almost willing to wager that your perspective of lightness is different from mine.

[Bo Bo Olson]

Thomas, I am not up in the least with the size of Japanese pens,

Living in Germany and chasing semi&maxi-semi-flex nibs, chased the vintage standard pens, with a few medium-large pens. Those I suggest be posted to have the balance, that is lacking in Large pens...out side the Snorkel.

There were large pens when I was young, the Sheaffer PFM, pen for men, which I never saw in real life, nor had it ever been in my memory. But they were seldom. The then nearly unknown in the US giant 149, is over sized; like the 1000 and even unposted sort of clunky.

 

 

In 'forefinger up' I find an unposted Large pen to be a bit small.

There are some who for religious grounds; refuse to post a standard like a Eastie/400/Vac or medium-large pen, like a P-51 or 600, to be too small unposted, so don't use them. Having the nerve to complain they are too small.

 

An Eastie can be had for $30-40. Seven or so years ago they went for $15, and everyone's advice to 'noobies' was to buy one...then the price doubled and that advice died.

A P-45 is a large pen but thin enough to post. Unposted it is too light.

 

I do not suggest metal pens, out side of aluminum or a P-75 in silver.

 

Perhaps someone can tell you if you list exactly which Pilot and Sailor pen you have if they are Standard, medium-large or Large. If standard or medium-large post them.

If they are Large, they will be awkward and top heavy posted. If so you can let them rest in the pit of the web of your thumb.

The trick is to let the pen rest where it will, I have a heavy Lamy Persona, that unposted sits at 45 degrees. If I post it, which I seldom do, it's a big clunky pen so will plump itself down in the pit of the web of my thumb.

 

I keep forgetting, one needs to learn to arm write and not finger write, and that if in classic or 'forefinger up'. That will take a bit to get use to..... I still finger write more than I should. Don't cramp your writing space, have space to let your elbow move.

Finger writing only, requires more pressure in one is not flowing with the writing, but directing it.

 

Fountain pens is a life time hobby, just remember LA was not built in a day.

[sidthecat]

The bump is nothing...what's worse is the dreaded "Trigger Finger".

[Bo Bo Olson]

If one presses the trigger as had as some press using the 'trigger finger', I'd miss the side of the barn from the inside.

Bent joints on a fountain pen are to be avoided at all costs.

[Rednaxela]

My callus went away when I stopped finger writing.

[sidthecat]

I'm nerving myself up for a cortisone shot into the affected part.