How to Write with a Fountain Pen

New to writing with a fountain pen? Check out our guide here:

#FountainPens #Guide #NotSponsored

GUIDES YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS:

VIDEO CREDITS:
- Script: Ana Liza Banaynal & Sven Raphael Schneider
- Camera: Teresa C. Schneider
- Editing: Chris Dummer

SHOP THE VIDEO:

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Gentleman's Gazette
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These days with technology and innovation, we don't even need to write by hand anymore, but we can just send messages or emails through our cell phones or laptops. However, a handwritten note can really purvey that you really care about the recipient and they feel much more valued, than if you sent them a digital communication.

Even though you can use a ballpoint pen or a roller-ball, using a fountain pen gives you that unique character to your handwriting that can't be replicated by anyone else.

So how do you write with a fountain pen?

→ Choose your fountain pen
0:00 Basics & Introduction
02:04 Size
02:38 Weight
03:31 Filling Mechanism
05:08 Nib

→ Writing With A Fountain Pen
08:09 Use A High-Quality Paper
08:59 Post The Cap
10:02 Hold The Pen at The Right Angle
10:50 Keep Your Hand Rigid
11:40 Apply The Right Pressure

12:00 Can Lefties Write with A Fountain Pen?

→ Fountain Pen Care Tips
12:58 Keep The Cap On
13:16 Clean Your Fountain Pen Regularly
14:12 Keep It Away From Extreme Temperatures

15:01 Should You (or Should You Not) Lend Your Fountain Pen?

15:49 Outfit Rundown

Do you write with a fountain pen? Share your experience with us in the comments!

[vpunk]

When I first got into fountain pens a few years ago it actually motivated me to start journaling. Writing became fun for me.

[thevalkyriandragon]

I literally bought a fountain pen just a few hours ago. The timing on this video couldn't have been more strange and perfect. Great video as always!

[justinleemiller]

Changing to a fountain pen changed my life. I do a ton of writing. It’s such a pleasure to work with a good pen.

[stevenwalker]

I am a Butler working for VVIP and Royal families.
I always carry two pens.
One Mont Blanc fountain pen, which if a guest needs a pen, I will give.

For my self I use Mont Blanc rollerball, for taking notes.

Both pens show elegance and tell my guests, I am professional.

Great video 😊

[vieuxacadian]

I used to draw with pen and ink . I studied calligraphy as well . The character is timeless and immeasurable . A letter written on fine linen based paper by a fountain pen and sealed by a wax standard is something special . My great great grandparents passed down a letter written in French in 1896 . It is something to see ! The Armorie Famile ( Family Coat of Arms Crest ) that sealed the letter dates back to Pre 1695 France .

[paulwinkfield]

I learned to write with a fountain pen in 1st grade (1959) first with pencils then switched over. I ruined at least 2 shirts back then! Just got 2 pens recently to better personalized my letters (yep still send cards specially during birthdays & holidays) your video big help! Thanks 🥂

[samcohen]

You know what they say about a man with big hands ;)


He'll need a bigger fountain pen so he feels comfortable when writing a thank you letter

[itsacarolbthing]

I was taught by my mum to write with a fountain pen when I was very, very young. My mum made me practice hand writing, for which i will forever be grateful. She came from a family of beautiful penmanship.
If you would like to see more content specifically about fountain pens, ink and accessories, I recommend watching the Goulet Nation channel.

[wilhelmtaylor]

In Germany in the mid 50s we learned to write with a fountain pen (or even a quill) starting at grade 3. All the school desks had inkwells built into them. I'm 73 and have always enjoyed using one of my many Pelikans, esp the 600 "city" series. I learned long ago to modulate pressure on the nib so that is has a very human look and would be next to impossible to forge. I have always admired the beautiful handwriting of the older generations and have borrowed from their styles. We also learned Alt Deutsche Schrift (old German script aka Sütterlin) and that lends itself particularly well to the fountain pen.

[OHOBGA]

Gentleman's Gazette convinced me to start using a fountain pen. To improve my handwriting I kept a journal. Perhaps you might make a video on how to write well. Great channel.

[lucafwn]

I've been using fountain pens exclusively at school since grade 8 until post-university. A great writing experience: smoother than a ball pen, more precise, and it didn't leave the page as if it had been ploughed (as my uncle said). I used basic Pelikan pens, with ink cartridges (more practical when you use your pen outdoors for writing a lot: 10 spare cartridges, and off you are for a semester), and I exclusively used Pelikan black (wonderful tone, very clear to read, didn't alter in time, quick drying) on Fabriano notebooks (great paper for writing). EF stainless steel nibs allowed me a small and sharp writing; I had modified a nib, cutting it just under the tip to have a flat nib that I used for calligraphy or for Gothic writing: it was a bit of a kludge, but it worked a charme. Sometimes I also used an Aurora pen with piston system (Pelikan black there, too) and a 18k gold nib, but I wasn't very fond of the flexibility of gold - and the risk of remaining without ink in the middle of a lesson or, God forbid, a test was too much. Now I don't write by hand that much, but from time to time I feel like getting another nice, tooly Pelikan.

[johnlone]

Grew up in the Philippines (70s-80s) and we learned writing using fountain pen, as well as calligraphy in grade school. Writing cursive was a huge part of your grades, we write everything in cursive, our home teacher inspect our note books on Fridays and check our handwriting for its legibility and correct strokes. My wife who also grew in the Philippines, their college has their own signature way of writing cursive, they have to learn it and write as such.

[leosigman]

Absolutely wonderful video. I thoroughly enjoyed it! As a Lefty with historically horrid handwriting, I must say I started getting compliments when writing with a fountain pen. And your information about holding and using a fountain apply to "nibless" (ball-point) pens as well. About lending a fountain pen: Most people today don't know how to hold any writing instrument and have no experience with fountain pens. They can destroy the pen beyond recognition in no time. I know of a friendship that was severely damaged when the borrower dropped a Montblanc Meisterstuck 149 on its tip and refused to believe the repair cost! Also, unless the user is used to writing with very little pressure, the nib may be damaged simply by pressing too hard. Cheap ballpoints with poor quality ink need a lot of pressure. Hybrid ink pens use less, Rollerballs and Felt Tip pens need very little, but some users may still press harder than necessary. Don't lend a fountain pen to anyone who isn't used to writing with one!

[johnthevoice]

I started reusing the fountain pen in my sophomore year in high school. When I learned how to write in 1st grade I learned it by using a fountain pen. I then continued using the fountain pen up until 3rd grade until one day I got so sick of it so I broke the nib as I was writing. And from then on until 10th I have written using a ballpoint pen. The reason why I started then writing again with the fountain pen is because I started to take more interest in classic men style and also because of this channel. And since then, I have appreciated this beautiful writing utensil! Definitely recommend anyone to try writing writing with it! Thanks for this video! 🖋

[alexilic]

This guy took the: "Sell me this pen.", way too seriously.

[patpear]

Ink choices, including shading, sheening and shimmering characteristics also lend a great amount of flair without changing your normal writing style for relatively little cost. When you first start out, you should vary your inks instead of buying multiple pens/nibs after you find the style of pen you want. You can even by 2-3 ml samples of inks from many retailers very cheaply so you can find your signature pen & ink combo from many differing variables. My personal combo is a 1920’s Montblanc 121 with a 14k fine, vintage flex nib with KWZ Hawaii Blue ink for everyday use. You should only use a ‘bulletproof’ ink to sign checks and legal documents because they are considered forgery-proof, I suggest the Noodler’s Bulletproof Black ink.

[FatmaYousuf]

Being a lefty, I've been journaling with fountain pens ever since I was 10 (2008) and no one taught me these basic tips. You get the hang of it pretty quickly yourself; use common sense while writing.

[OrionVX]

Fountain pens are great to write much less exhausting, sustainable and stylish!
I don’t lend my pens because my holding style is different than usual and it really shapes the nib, after writing a while nibs feels much less scratchy.
Because people used to apply pressure to the pens they do the same thing with fountain pens too and It’s not healthy for the nibs.
For everyday use, using like a ballpoint pen I like EF nibs because a lot of papers around us don’t do well with ink.
TWSBI Eco pens are my go to for daily work pens, looks very good with ink, piston fill and good ink capacity!

[thesoundvault]

Growing up with a love for graffiti, I definitely need to find classes on calligraphyand fountain pens. The concept of letter design has always been absolutely fascinating to me for some reason, ever since I was a very young child.

Edit: I know what a nib is from graffiti :)

[carltrotter]

Finally. Thank you Mr. Schneider.

The first video of yours I watched was your Mont Blanc review about a month after it was released, I’ve stayed here ever since. That video set the tone of quality that has remained up until now. Keep up the good work, I’m here for the long run!

Hope you’re having a fun quarantine!
-Carl