cashew | Monday, May 17th, 2021

So, I was looking at new fountain pens (as I am wont to do whenever I'm feeling a bit under the weather), when I re-read the The Beginner's Guide to Fountain Pens By a True Beginner. While there are some generally good advice, especially the bit about the under appreciated impact of inks, I think it still over looks some pretty critical variables. Also, I disagree with the recommended fountain pen starters, so there's that.

Thus, here is a list of the most important variables (in no particular order) that I think one ought to balance and weigh when deciding on a fountain pen:

Nib width: How big do you like to write? Nib width determines line width which determines how big your writing needs to be to be legible. If you like to write big, a thin line will make your writing fade into the paper. If you like to write small, a thick line will make it impossible to decipher the words. So pick your nib width based on your writing size. A good rule of thumb is this: if you prefer wide-ruled paper (>7mm), go with a German Fine; if you prefer college-ruled paper (<7mm), go with a Japanese Fine; if you prefer putting your nose to the paper when writing, go with a Japanese Extra-Fine.
Grip: Avoid the "step-down". A lot of fountain pens design their pen such that there is a noticeable ridge between where the grip ends and the body begins to accommodate the cap. This ridge is called the "step-down". If your habitual grip lands on this step-down, then you'll really dislike the pen you're using. As such, avoid pens with step-downs until you're more experienced and know that the ridge won't be located at the place you prefer to grip pens.
Screw cap vs snap cap: The majority of fountain pens are screw caps. However, screw caps have to place threads on the pen barrel, which can interfere with your grip. As a beginner, it's best to go with snap caps until you have a good grasp of your grip location.
Ink filling/cleaning convenience: While you don't have to clean the fountain pen per se, part of the fun of fountain pens is the ability to use multiple ink colors in the same pen. As such, you'll want a pen that can easily swap out different colored inks. The fastest way to clean a fountain pen is to use a bulb syringe to flush the nib. This is the reason I would recommend a cartridge/converter filling mechanism (aka c/c filler in fountain pen jargon). C/c fillers strike the right balance between ease of cleaning and ease of filling.
Japanese vs German: Let's be real, the only true contenders in terms of quality fountain pens are the Japanese and German brands. The other brands are fine, perfectly serviceable, but they all fall under either a Japanese nib-size or a German nib-size. Buy a Japanese starter (*coughKakünocough*). Or a German starter. If you want to get more pens in the future, go ahead. If you like your starter, know that whatever improvement from here on out is going to be minimal.
Ink samples: A lot of people tend to plunge into the fountain pen game by purchasing four/five bottles of ink at the get go. This is a mistake. First, it's expensive. Second, a bottle of ink, even a 30mL bottle, will last years, if not your whole lifetime. A cheaper alternative is to purchase ink samples. Ink samples are more expensive per mL, but you'll avoid getting stuck with a giant bottle of ink that you don't want. Also, make sure to research mountain of ink when you're trying to decide which inks to sample. Once you've found the ideal pairing between ink and pen, then you can get the ink you want wholesale, and if you're not a prolific writer, a single bottle will last your entire lifetime.
- For reference, my NaNoWriMo draft consumed about 5mL of ink. A 90mL bottle is about 18 NaNo drafts. After about 7 years of switching to fountain pens for my daily journal writing, I've finished two 10mL bottles, half of an 80mL bottle and a 30mL bottle, a quarter of three other 10mL bottles, a fifth of three 50mL bottles, and ~10-20% of two 80mL Noodler's bottles (although I won't buy anymore Noodler's due to antisemitism). I'm pretty sure I don't have to buy any new ink for another decade or two at the least.
Pen ergonomics: A lot of people over look pen ergonomics when getting a fountain pen. Sure, the heavy metal or delicate filigree or cool shape might look interesting, but how does the pen balance in your hand when writing? Light weight pens with long grip sections are more comfortable to write with, and you'll be more likely to write with the pen if it fits comfortably in your hand.
Writing surface, aka the paper: While much ado has been made about the quality of the paper, very little has been made about the grid/lines on the writing surface. Line ruled paper is directed at composition with minimal doodling. Dot grid proliferated with bullet journaling, but offers a good flexibility for people who like to intersperse writing and drawing. Square grid is preferred for planners and techos. Blank pages are better for people who prefer complete freedom to draw or scribble at whatever angle. The grid lines will show more or less depending on the ink in your pen and the nib width, so take that into consideration when getting a notebook for your fountain pen.