To those who write with pen, pencil and paper

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stacey+2018
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To those who write with pen, pencil and paper

Post by stacey+2018 »

Greetings fellow book lovers!

It seems there are people who still like to write various types of literary works using pencil and paper. Even though I have a Windows 11 laptop, I rather enjoy noting down ideas with a pen and paper. I am curious to know if people still do this with the advent of computing.

I love to use a fountain pen and a narrow lined A4 paper pad! The models of fountain pen I use are:

1. The Parker Vector fountain pen. I use a fine nib with blue/black ink.
2. The Ellington fountain pen. They have several ranges. I use one from 'The Stealth' range. Coupled with an extra fine nib with blue/black ink.
3. This one seems to be from a Chinese/Japanese pen company. This one is the Hongdian Matte Black Forest. An extra fine nib is also used with this one. Blue and black ink are used too.

I would like to see what type of pen, pencil or other writing implement my fellow writers/readers use! So please reply if you want to. Also if anyone does use a more expensive type of fountain pen, do you utilise cheaper cartridges or stick to the ones made specifically for the type of pen? Being on a low budget, I tend to go for cheaper alternatives.

Thanks for reading! :tiphat: :D :techie-reference: :techie-reference:
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Tina Thomssen
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Post by Tina Thomssen »

Hi! I do both! I use the Google Notes app or Google Docs most of the time, but I will occasionally use paper. I find that using the traditional method is much easier if I need little pictures or non-standard text placement—we can write anywhere on paper!

I have a small notebook, about 4 inches tall, that I use to take notes in when reading for book reviews here. I highlight things in the Amazon Kindle app too. My writing material is just a mechanical pencil from Paper Mate!

I've never used a fountain pen before, but they look fun to write with. :)
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stacey+2018
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Post by stacey+2018 »

Tina Thomssen wrote: 05 Jun 2025, 12:18 Hi! I do both! I use the Google Notes app or Google Docs most of the time, but I will occasionally use paper. I find that using the traditional method is much easier if I need little pictures or non-standard text placement—we can write anywhere on paper!

I have a small notebook, about 4 inches tall, that I use to take notes in when reading for book reviews here. I highlight things in the Amazon Kindle app too. My writing material is just a mechanical pencil from Paper Mate!

I've never used a fountain pen before, but they look fun to write with. :)
Hello! I used to use a mechanical pencil from the Papermate stationary brand, as well as a lined paper pad when I first started writing fanfiction. I remember around this time, I received my first desktop from an old store manager at the time. I DIDN'T like the Tottenham Hotspurs wallpaper though. THAT was swiftly removed. Recently, I have begun to use narrow lined paper pads again. Spending too much time on a computer can be harmful.
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Tina Thomssen
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Post by Tina Thomssen »

Hi again, thank you for the reply! I remember my fanfiction days, except I typed on a Google Doc instead of paper. I had to look up Tottenham Hotspurs as I have never heard the term. I found out that it is a football team. We learn something new every day! I'm not much of a sports fan, so I would have changed the wallpaper too. I use the blue-light filter/night shade thing on my computer half the time. I always have it turned on on my phone. My screen looks weird to me when I turn it off. There's just something about using a classic piece of paper though.
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stacey+2018
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Post by stacey+2018 »

Tina Thomssen wrote: 09 Jun 2025, 15:16 Hi again, thank you for the reply! I remember my fanfiction days, except I typed on a Google Doc instead of paper. I had to look up Tottenham Hotspurs as I have never heard the term. I found out that it is a football team. We learn something new every day! I'm not much of a sports fan, so I would have changed the wallpaper too. I use the blue-light filter/night shade thing on my computer half the time. I always have it turned on on my phone. My screen looks weird to me when I turn it off. There's just something about using a classic piece of paper though.
The night setting on the computer screen sounds good. I might switch mine over. Yup, using the classic pen and paper does have something special to it/
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Tina Thomssen
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Post by Tina Thomssen »

My computer has a slide bar for the intensity of the night setting. Yours probably has something similar!
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stacey+2018
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Post by stacey+2018 »

Tina Thomssen wrote: 10 Jun 2025, 12:25 My computer has a slide bar for the intensity of the night setting. Yours probably has something similar!
Actually it does! I'll try that. On my Windows 11, it is in the Settings Menu!
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Mary Daurio
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Post by Mary Daurio »

Hi Stacey. I'd like to be dramatic and say I write in blood, but I usually don't.
A nice gentleman from my writing group gave everyone who worked on a particular project a disposable fountain pen. It was great and I wrote it into the ground, so I'm going to go looking for your recommendations.
stacey+2018 wrote: 04 Jun 2025, 11:49 1. The Parker Vector fountain pen. I use a fine nib with blue/black ink.
2. The Ellington fountain pen. They have several ranges. I use one from 'The Stealth' range. Coupled with an extra fine nib with blue/black ink.
3. This one seems to be from a Chinese/Japanese pen company. This one is the Hongdian Matte Black Forest. An extra fine nib is also used with this one. Blue and black ink are used too.
I keep a pen and pad around for when I get a flash of an idea. At night, I write them down on the pad by bed, but if I don't sit up and turn the light on, my handwriting is so bad, even I can't read them, so the remarks are no use. I'm usually too lazy to do that. Sad to admit. Happy writing.
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stacey+2018
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Post by stacey+2018 »

The pad of paper and pen beside the bed is a good idea! But first, I would have to dislodge a kitty every time! If you come across a good fountain pen please let me know! I really enjoy trying out different types.
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stacey+2018
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Post by stacey+2018 »

Mary Daurio wrote: 28 Jul 2025, 19:04 Hi Stacey. I'd like to be dramatic and say I write in blood, but I usually don't.
A nice gentleman from my writing group gave everyone who worked on a particular project a disposable fountain pen. It was great and I wrote it into the ground, so I'm going to go looking for your recommendations.
stacey+2018 wrote: 04 Jun 2025, 11:49 1. The Parker Vector fountain pen. I use a fine nib with blue/black ink.
2. The Ellington fountain pen. They have several ranges. I use one from 'The Stealth' range. Coupled with an extra fine nib with blue/black ink.
3. This one seems to be from a Chinese/Japanese pen company. This one is the Hongdian Matte Black Forest. An extra fine nib is also used with this one. Blue and black ink are used too.
I keep a pen and pad around for when I get a flash of an idea. At night, I write them down on the pad by bed, but if I don't sit up and turn the light on, my handwriting is so bad, even I can't read them, so the remarks are no use. I'm usually too lazy to do that. Sad to admit. Happy writing.
I hope you enjoy writing with the fountain pens I mentioned. Dou you have any suggestions on what pen I should try? :tiphat:
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Mary Daurio
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Post by Mary Daurio »

stacey+2018 wrote: 30 Jul 2025, 16:29
I hope you enjoy writing with the fountain pens I mentioned. Do you have any suggestions on what pen I should try? :tiphat:
.
I remember having the reloadable ink fountain pens. You drew back a plunger while the nib was in a pot of ink, so when Papermate came up with the cartridge system, it was a treat. But I only have ones that came in a calligraphy kit, and they are plugged, so I will check your suggestions. But I did see a 13.00 $ vintage Papermate on Amazon.
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stacey+2018
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Post by stacey+2018 »

Mary Daurio wrote: 30 Jul 2025, 20:35
stacey+2018 wrote: 30 Jul 2025, 16:29
I hope you enjoy writing with the fountain pens I mentioned. Do you have any suggestions on what pen I should try? :tiphat:
.
I remember having the reloadable ink fountain pens. You drew back a plunger while the nib was in a pot of ink, so when Papermate came up with the cartridge system, it was a treat. But I only have ones that came in a calligraphy kit, and they are plugged, so I will check your suggestions. But I did see a 13.00 $ vintage Papermate on Amazon.
I remember the ones you had to refill using the plunger! Parker fountain pens, I think, if you purchase them in a kit or box, come with both ink cartridge and the manual refill plunger! I'll have a look for the vintage Papermate fountain pen! I didn't even realize Papermate made their own version of fountain pens.
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