One Pen One Month Challenge

[NumberSix]

one book for a month

What an interesting idea. I have always thrown a book aside as soon as I finished it. (not that I don't sometimes come back and re-read later)

 

I wonder what I would choose? Depending on the book, I would probably end up reading at least twice if I really focused.

[bemon]

What an interesting idea. I have always thrown a book aside as soon as I finished it. (not that I don't sometimes come back and re-read later)

 

I wonder what I would choose? Depending on the book, I would probably end up reading at least twice if I really focused.

Last book I read took me 3 years. But I LISTEN to one every two weeks or so if that counts.

[NumberSix]

Last book I read took me 3 years. But I LISTEN to one every two weeks or so if that counts.

 

Certainly it counts IMO.

[NumberSix]

Nearly 2 weeks in, and I confess I am getting a little bit bored of just writing my P51 with Pelikan Royal Blue. I have written 17 pages in my journal, plus bullet journal daily pages (mostly - I missed a few days). And my standard scratch paper notes throughout the day. When is this thing going to run out of ink?

 

Part of the lesson of this challenge is learning to know a pen. That means learning to know just how long this ink fill lasts!

[sandy101]

Are you getting bored with the pen, or the ink?

 

The 1st time I did this, I used a piston - so it was the same ink for around 2 weeks until I could change.

 

The 2nd time was with c/c - so I was able to control the amount of ink a little more, and change the colour a bit more frequently.

 

Have you noticed anything different about the way you use the pen, or is it the same as when you started?

[NumberSix]

I only got the P51 shortly before I started this challenge, so I cant say Im using it any differently. I have no issues with this pen at all. It writes great, and its the perfect size: just slightly thicker than a Parker 45.

 

I only meant to say that I am just getting a little bit tired of only writing in one color. I dont even have a problem with the color itself; in fact, I quite like it. But I had gotten used to writing in three or four different colors throughout the span of a day.

[sandy101]

Yes, I had that issue too - it wasn't the actual number of pens I missed, but the number of colours.

[Karmachanic]

Yes, I had that issue too - it wasn't the actual number of pens I missed, but the number of colours.

Fill to 50% capacity and change colour each time

[Estycollector]

I've never understood this self imposed restriction, and it is common for other hobbies. The thought/justification/concept is that by using one there will be something learned.

 

I tend to just pick up a pen to use for.....writing...duh. Whatever is in the shirt pocket at the time will suffice. I like the variety of taking a different one along for the ride.

[sandy101]

I've never understood this self imposed restriction, and it is common for other hobbies. The thought/justification/concept is that by using one there will be something learned.

 

I tend to just pick up a pen to use for.....writing...duh. Whatever is in the shirt pocket at the time will suffice. I like the variety of taking a different one along for the ride.

 

 

One of the reasons to start the thread was to find out if vintage pens were indeed "better" than modern ones, and we often get the idea thrown about that there are such things as "jewellery" pens that are designed to be looked, rather than written with.

 

The only way to come up with some kind of test of these claims was to use a pen over an extensive period - and then one has some experience of living with a pen over a period of time - and be able to assess the practicality.

 

So far we've had vintage pens, modern pens and extremely expensive pens being used and so far no-one has come up with any significant complaint about them, apart from using eye droppers at high altitudes - and the occasional leak.

 

So, we've got a shared body of anecdotal evidence that seems to show that it is possible to live with modern, vintage and jewellery pens - and most folk report that something happens somewhere around week 2 that makes the pen better to write with. Whether it is that they've spent so much time with it that their hand gets used to the weight, or that the pieces are working optimally, I don't know.

[A Smug Dill]

I've never understood this self imposed restriction, and it is common for other hobbies. The thought/justification/concept is that by using one there will be something learned.

 

 

I see the value of that type of restriction, or exercise, in the name of training. For example, using only one's legs for both attack and defence for a given session in unarmed combat training, to loosen one's reliance on using one's arms for blocking movements, learn to balance better on one leg while the other is raised and used to absorb or deflect impact, develop more fluidity in stringing together blocks and counterstrikes. Or using only one tool (or a limited set of tools) at hand to solve a puzzle or problem, thus necessitating exploitation of a given tool's full range of capabilities and perhaps discover new uses for it. It could even be fun; placing restrictions on how one must communicate under competitive pressure is the primary premise of games such as Pictionary.

 

But I just don't see any prospective need to achieve some particular artistic writing or drawing outcome while I don't have my preferred instruments at hand. I could explore the fuller range of a pen's capabilities, or force myself to develop more facility in doing certain things with that instrument, in dedicated and planned out sessions of study and experimentation focused on that one pen, but I see no need to restrict myself to using only that pen outside of those sessions or exercises. Discipline in contextual separation and compartmentalisation are also good for cognitive and motor skills training.

[NumberSix]

I am finding this exercise to be a healthy reminder that I do not need to compulsively acquire more and more pens. Consider it a reset from constantly spending and wanting to spend. It is fun to have a variety, and I will not stay with only one pen forever.

 

But this challenge proves to me that I could, and thats a good thing.

[Estycollector]

 

 

I see the value of that type of restriction, or exercise, in the name of training. For example, using only one's legs for both attack and defence for a given session in unarmed combat training, to loosen one's reliance on using one's arms for blocking movements, learn to balance better on one leg while the other is raised and used to absorb or deflect impact, develop more fluidity in stringing together blocks and counterstrikes. Or using only one tool (or a limited set of tools) at hand to solve a puzzle or problem, thus necessitating exploitation of a given tool's full range of capabilities and perhaps discover new uses for it. It could even be fun; placing restrictions on how one must communicate under competitive pressure is the primary premise of games such as Pictionary.

 

But I just don't see any prospective need to achieve some particular artistic writing or drawing outcome while I don't have my preferred instruments at hand. I could explore the fuller range of a pen's capabilities, or force myself to develop more facility in doing certain things with that instrument, in dedicated and planned out sessions of study and experimentation focused on that one pen, but I see no need to restrict myself to using only that pen outside of those sessions or exercises. Discipline in contextual separation and compartmentalisation are also good for cognitive and motor skills training.

 

Training? Really? It's a pen, bro.

[A Smug Dill]

Training? Really? It's a pen, bro.

 

 

Don't you think we're in violent agreement there? Try rereading my second paragraph. I see no need for training myself extensively in the use of a pen by restricting my choice of pen for a whole month. Discipline in contextual separation and compartmentalisation would be more useful, if I wanted to train myself at all, and that means limiting to the single pen thing for a short study or testing session only.

[Estycollector]

 

 

Don't you think we're in violent agreement there? Try rereading my second paragraph. I see no need for training myself extensively in the use of a pen by restricting my choice of pen for a whole month. Discipline in contextual separation and compartmentalisation would be more useful, if I wanted to train myself at all, and that means limiting to the single pen thing for a short study or testing session only.

 

Sorry for misunderstanding your intent. Writing is just part of a daily process for me. Letter is writing something I do for family and friends. I just don't see the need for self restrictions. Heck, I even incorporate a Mitsubishi 9850.

[NumberSix]

 

 

in violent agreement

This is now my new favorite phrase.

[NumberSix]

Finally gave in to the desire to change my vacumatic P51 from 4001 Royal Blue to a black ink. I think my timing was right: it was acting up a little when I tried to write, and also not a drop came out when I held the pen over the sink and repeatedly pressed the button.

 

Loaded up with Iroshizuku Take-Sumi, It feels weird to write in Black after 2+ weeks of only the same color blue.

 

Do I like it more than the Pelikan Blue? I shall ask myself again in two weeks.

[sandy101]

Finally gave in to the desire to change my vacumatic P51 from 4001 Royal Blue to a black ink. I think my timing was right: it was acting up a little when I tried to write, and also not a drop came out when I held the pen over the sink and repeatedly pressed the button.

 

Loaded up with Iroshizuku Take-Sumi, It feels weird to write in Black after 2+ weeks of only the same color blue.

 

Do I like it more than the Pelikan Blue? I shall ask myself again in two weeks.

 

I see Pelikan royal blue - I want it to turn black

no colours any more, just Pelikan brilliant black

I see people using shading inks and quickly turn away

I like to see sheening ink each and every day

 

You'll be on the blue black next week

Edited March 19, 2020 by sandy101

[NumberSix]

 

I see Pelikan royal blue - I want it to turn black

no colours any more, just Pelikan brilliant black

I see people using sheening inks and quickly turn away

I like to see sheening ink each and every day

 

You'll be on the blue black next week

 

 

Well done!

 

I like Blue-Black, for sure. If I'd had a bottle of one I really liked, such as Edelstein Tanzanite, Diamine 1864, or Iro Shin-Kai, I might have started this challenge with that ink.

[wags]

Day 20... The little black Sheaffer Touchdown is working flawlessly. I don't mind the fact that it doesn't hold a ton of ink. But, I usually just top it off with the same thing I've been using.

 

I gotta say, I'm beginning to jones for a different pen... It reminds me of when I quit smoking. I would keep reaching for that phantom pack of Lucky Strikes in my shirt pocket. I have been having fleeting thoughts of "ooh, I think I'll ink up that Giant Sequoia with the stub nib..." Then I remember, no I won't be doing that.

 

I also miss my desk pens. Just from a convenience standpoint, it's nice to be able to just reach out and grab a pen from a holder when I'm sitting at the desk. Going for the shirt pocket and then having to unscrew the cap makes quick notes a little more clumsy.

 

So far, my hot take is: No sweat, I could go old school and be a one pen guy... But, I would rather not