5 ms·

> My handwriting is pretty bad i know it might sound dumb, but have you tried playing with a fountain pen? The feedback is way different from a ballpoint pen

by znpy 2y ago

> My handwriting is pretty bad i know it might sound dumb, but have you tried playing with a fountain pen? The feedback is way different from a ballpoint pen and it also depends on paper and the kind of ink. It makes writing way less "predictable" and a bit more enjoyable. a cheap one (5-15$) with a medium nib might be a good start... some people move on to collect fountain pens, but i do most on my (on paper) writing with a ~20$ Pelikan Jazz.

xarope 2y ago
I've realized that when I use cheap pens on hotel stationery, my handwriting looks terrible, probably because the surfaces are too smooth? Other than fountain pens, are there other alternatives that give more tactile feedback?
- sam29681749 2y ago
  IMO felt tip pens feel comparatively rough to gel, and ballpoint pen, etc.
- mbivert 2y ago
  Nibs / dip-pens ;-) It's only half a joke: having to regularly dip the pen in ink, be mindful of how much ink you have, having to swiftly wipe it once in a while to avoid drying ink (& flow issues), forces to slow down & take "micro-breaks". This benefits the handwriting, but also the quality of the study. And is surprisingly relaxing. (so called "crow-quill" nibs are relatively cheap, available, carry a fair amount of ink)
- wrp 2y ago
  What you are asking for is more "tooth", something mostly determined by the paper. Most stationery fans prefer smoother papers, but I agree that after a certain point, increased smoothness makes my handwriting worse. If you are stuck using a very smooth paper, I would suggest either a fiber-tip or a drier gel pen. Gel pens with a clicker (e.g. Zebra Sarasa) tend to write drier than those with a cap (e.g. Uniball Signo). Also try a fatter tip. Although this may not be acceptable in many situations, a soft pencil may provide even better control on smooth paper.
  - xarope 2y ago
    yes, that's what I've noticed; when I write in pencil, my handwriting almost looks good (!), but when I try to do the same with a Bic, it's terrible. Will give the Zebra Sarasa a try.
komali2 2y ago
I write a lot with a fountain pen and if anything it made it harder to understand my handwriting... even the next day I'll have a hard time. I've considered the "just learn to write better" approach and I've tried here and there but I've been handwriting journals for 28 years and I'm just not sure it's possible to write cleanly at the speed I handwrite at this point. Especially since it's in cursive.
- sam29681749 2y ago
  I can't imagine anyone writing at their 'fastest' is going to produce something that is broadly legible.
- Dilettante_ 2y ago
  Slow means smooth, smooth means fast.
sph 2y ago
I know your comment is in earnest and I don't mean to make fun of you, but there is something so funny in our Americanised world where everything is reduced to "it's not you, you just need to buy the correct gizmo that will solve all your problems." Fountain pens enthusiasts are like music gear or mechanical keyboard enthusiasts, that justify their hobby and believe spending on the next shiny thing is the key to fulfil their whatever, until the next shiny thing arrives. The thing is... if one dislikes or doesn't care about writing that they have basically forgotten how to, it is not spending money on a fancy writing implement that is gonna turn them into a medieval monk scribe.
- Woeps 2y ago
  > The thing is... if one dislikes or doesn't care about writing that they have basically forgotten how to, it is not spending money on a fancy writing implement that is gonna turn them into a medieval monk scribe. The thing is, it does actually... Because it "forces" you to slow down and take time for it. I hated writing (heavily dyslexic) but after getting a fountainpen and purposely slowing down I noticed it went better. Now I write in my own language again, I spend whole evenings writing scenes, essays, debates and letters. Sometimes it is the tool that forces a bit of change (if you want to change of course).
- TeMPOraL 2y ago
  > but there is something so funny in our Americanised world where everything is reduced to "it's not you, you just need to buy the correct gizmo that will solve all your problems." OTOH, it's an improvement over the other world of solving everything through "discipline" and other kinds of wishful thinking. Like, you can complain and worry that your kid can't seem to learn how to cut things right with their scissors, try to force some discipline and conscientiousness into them - or you can stop causing them and yourself so much grief and realize that a left-handed person needs left-handed scissors, as using the wrong type for your hand works to prevent the cutting action.
  - znpy 2y ago
    > OTOH, it's an improvement over the other world of solving everything through "discipline" and other kinds of wishful thinking. kinda, the truth is somewhere in between in my opinion. most things related to our body movement do require training to be mastered. I think that writing is no different endeavur. It's just that fountain pens can make it more pleasant.
creesch 2y ago
Probably good advice if you are right handed and have good fine motor skills. At least way into the 90s kids here learned to write with fountain pens. For me this meant pages full of smudges, forked pens and generally unreadable text. As soon as I was allowed to switch to a regular pen my handwriting improved a lot (still not great, but better).
js8 2y ago
I think you don't even need to go to fountain pens. As a long time user of ballpoint pens, I recently started using gel pens and I wouldn't go back.
- dogmayor 2y ago
  I still prefer using ballpoints with schmidt easyflow 9000 ink[1], but yeah rollerballs (gel) are a great midpoint between fountains and ballpoints. My Zebra G-750[2] is super smooth. [1] https://www.jetpens.com/Schmidt-EasyFlow-9000-Hybrid-Ballpoint-Pen-Refill-Medium-Point-Blue/pd/20717 https://www.jetpens.com/Schmidt-EasyFlow-9000-Hybrid-Ballpoi... [2] https://www.jetpens.com/Zebra-G-750-Gel-Pen-0.7-mm-Black-Ink/pd/33082 https://www.jetpens.com/Zebra-G-750-Gel-Pen-0.7-mm-Black-Ink...
abdullahkhalids 2y ago
You started a flame war. So let me just say that I exclusively use a fountain pen to write. That handwriting is a lot better. But when writing digitally for teaching or meetings, I use a wacom tablet. That is pretty bad for writing.

by znpy 2y ago

xarope 2y ago

I've realized that when I use cheap pens on hotel stationery, my handwriting looks terrible, probably because the surfaces are too smooth? Other than fountain pens, are there other alternatives that give more tactile feedback?

sam29681749 2y ago
IMO felt tip pens feel comparatively rough to gel, and ballpoint pen, etc.
mbivert 2y ago
Nibs / dip-pens ;-) It's only half a joke: having to regularly dip the pen in ink, be mindful of how much ink you have, having to swiftly wipe it once in a while to avoid drying ink (& flow issues), forces to slow down & take "micro-breaks". This benefits the handwriting, but also the quality of the study. And is surprisingly relaxing. (so called "crow-quill" nibs are relatively cheap, available, carry a fair amount of ink)
wrp 2y ago
What you are asking for is more "tooth", something mostly determined by the paper. Most stationery fans prefer smoother papers, but I agree that after a certain point, increased smoothness makes my handwriting worse. If you are stuck using a very smooth paper, I would suggest either a fiber-tip or a drier gel pen. Gel pens with a clicker (e.g. Zebra Sarasa) tend to write drier than those with a cap (e.g. Uniball Signo). Also try a fatter tip. Although this may not be acceptable in many situations, a soft pencil may provide even better control on smooth paper.
- xarope 2y ago
  yes, that's what I've noticed; when I write in pencil, my handwriting almost looks good (!), but when I try to do the same with a Bic, it's terrible. Will give the Zebra Sarasa a try.

komali2 2y ago

I write a lot with a fountain pen and if anything it made it harder to understand my handwriting... even the next day I'll have a hard time. I've considered the "just learn to write better" approach and I've tried here and there but I've been handwriting journals for 28 years and I'm just not sure it's possible to write cleanly at the speed I handwrite at this point. Especially since it's in cursive.

sam29681749 2y ago
I can't imagine anyone writing at their 'fastest' is going to produce something that is broadly legible.
Dilettante_ 2y ago
Slow means smooth, smooth means fast.

sph 2y ago

I know your comment is in earnest and I don't mean to make fun of you, but there is something so funny in our Americanised world where everything is reduced to "it's not you, you just need to buy the correct gizmo that will solve all your problems." Fountain pens enthusiasts are like music gear or mechanical keyboard enthusiasts, that justify their hobby and believe spending on the next shiny thing is the key to fulfil their whatever, until the next shiny thing arrives. The thing is... if one dislikes or doesn't care about writing that they have basically forgotten how to, it is not spending money on a fancy writing implement that is gonna turn them into a medieval monk scribe.

Woeps 2y ago
> The thing is... if one dislikes or doesn't care about writing that they have basically forgotten how to, it is not spending money on a fancy writing implement that is gonna turn them into a medieval monk scribe. The thing is, it does actually... Because it "forces" you to slow down and take time for it. I hated writing (heavily dyslexic) but after getting a fountainpen and purposely slowing down I noticed it went better. Now I write in my own language again, I spend whole evenings writing scenes, essays, debates and letters. Sometimes it is the tool that forces a bit of change (if you want to change of course).
TeMPOraL 2y ago
> but there is something so funny in our Americanised world where everything is reduced to "it's not you, you just need to buy the correct gizmo that will solve all your problems." OTOH, it's an improvement over the other world of solving everything through "discipline" and other kinds of wishful thinking. Like, you can complain and worry that your kid can't seem to learn how to cut things right with their scissors, try to force some discipline and conscientiousness into them - or you can stop causing them and yourself so much grief and realize that a left-handed person needs left-handed scissors, as using the wrong type for your hand works to prevent the cutting action.
- znpy 2y ago
  > OTOH, it's an improvement over the other world of solving everything through "discipline" and other kinds of wishful thinking. kinda, the truth is somewhere in between in my opinion. most things related to our body movement do require training to be mastered. I think that writing is no different endeavur. It's just that fountain pens can make it more pleasant.

creesch 2y ago

Probably good advice if you are right handed and have good fine motor skills. At least way into the 90s kids here learned to write with fountain pens. For me this meant pages full of smudges, forked pens and generally unreadable text. As soon as I was allowed to switch to a regular pen my handwriting improved a lot (still not great, but better).

js8 2y ago

I think you don't even need to go to fountain pens. As a long time user of ballpoint pens, I recently started using gel pens and I wouldn't go back.

dogmayor 2y ago
I still prefer using ballpoints with schmidt easyflow 9000 ink[1], but yeah rollerballs (gel) are a great midpoint between fountains and ballpoints. My Zebra G-750[2] is super smooth. [1] https://www.jetpens.com/Schmidt-EasyFlow-9000-Hybrid-Ballpoint-Pen-Refill-Medium-Point-Blue/pd/20717 https://www.jetpens.com/Schmidt-EasyFlow-9000-Hybrid-Ballpoi... [2] https://www.jetpens.com/Zebra-G-750-Gel-Pen-0.7-mm-Black-Ink/pd/33082 https://www.jetpens.com/Zebra-G-750-Gel-Pen-0.7-mm-Black-Ink...

abdullahkhalids 2y ago

You started a flame war. So let me just say that I exclusively use a fountain pen to write. That handwriting is a lot better. But when writing digitally for teaching or meetings, I use a wacom tablet. That is pretty bad for writing.