Ink sampler

I corralled all the inks in the house, and using a broad italic nib, did an ink test on various types/finishes of paper. This is a block of Clairefontaine Triomphe which has a very smooth surface and is great for nibs with wet, juicy ink flow - although it does take an extra second or three to dry. You can see the shading in most of these inks. BTW, putting a, "t" on Sheaffer's Scrip ink is a habit I've had since the 1970s and one I'm finding exceedingly hard to break!

Natalie Goldberg's, Writing Down the Bones, is a classic book for wannabee writers and is very inspirational. I highly recommend it.

Yep, Montblanc Killed my MacBook Pro Today

One of my fps. Not a Montblanc. I don't use a MacBook Pro either.


I just finished a 20,000+ word writing project using a fountain pen instead of a laptop which took a lot less time than you might imagine. I've used fountain pens off and on for 40 years and whenever I remember to use them, I wonder how I could have forgotten them in the first place. I can write for hours without muscle fatigue or having my hand cramp up. With the right paper and ink and if the nib is tuned you feel like you're writing on a sheet of glass. They are a beautiful and elegant way to put words onto paper.

I found this article which sums up the differences between fountain pens and laptops. Maybe there's a fountain pen in your future too, even if you don't want to completely spit the high tech hook. :)

NSFW: Yep, Montblanc Killed my MacBook Pro Today