Writing with a fountain pen can be a unique moment, it transports us. The ritual of writing fills us with charm and, although it’s not a difficult task, it’s not as easy as it seems.

FIRST STEPS

1. Understanding the fountain pen

At the time of writing it is very important to understand the anatomy of the fountain pen. Although there are different models and designs, almost all fountain pens are made up of these five parts: Body; Nozzle; Cap, Nib-feeder. Find out more here.

2. Charging the fountain pen

Before we can write, we must load our fountain pen. There are three main charging systems, cartridge, piston and converter.

CARTRIDGE:

The cartridge is a disposable cylindrical plastic container. It is one of the most common systems, given its practicality and comfort. To integrate it into your fountain pen, you will simply need to press the cartridge onto the nozzle and let the ink run towards the nib.

PISTON:

This system is simple because we don’t have to disassemble our fountain pen: simply insert the nib into the inkwell and turn the plunger. It is very important to clean excess ink, both from the nib and the feeder.

How to choose ink?

CONVERTER:

This system is similar to the plunger system, since it requires an inkwell, but the pen must be disassembled. The converter is then extracted from the pen to load it. It works as a separate piece, incorporated into the fountain pen to replace the disposable cartridges. Converters are very popular for their low cost, and are very easy to change if they break down, without affecting the fountain pen.

Learn more about charging your fountain pen with our tutorial HERE!

Once your fountain pen is charged, let the fun begin!

5 TIPS FOR WRITING WITH A FOUNTAIN PEN

1. Correct grip of the fountain pen

The way you hold a pen greatly influences the writing quality.. The correct way to hold the pen is by relaxing your wrist and fingers. The body of the fountain pen should be supported by the muscle between the index finger and the thumb. The pen should not be squeezed or held tightly. The smoother the hand, the more comfortable and beautiful the writing will be.

Nakaya Fountain Pen

2. Feel the fountain pen

It seems obvious, but it is necessary to feel and understand how each fountain pen writes. Compared to other writing instruments, writing with a fountain pen requires no pressure, in fact excessive pressure can destroy the nib. Each piece has a specific personality, on which your user experience will depend.

3. Finding the optimal point of contact

Each nib is unique and has its own optimal point of contact with the paper, where the ink flow will be perfect and continuous. When you find this point, you will see how your pen flows.

You can learn more about different nibs here.

4. Practice, practice, practice

The more you use your fountain pen, the more you will understand how it works and how it conditions your penmanship. In the same way, you will discover what your aesthetic and functional tastes are when it comes to nibs and inks.

5. Preserve your fountain pen

Fountain pens are delicate pieces, so there are certain basic care requirements to be met. For example, if you are not writing, you will need to put the cap on to prevent the ink from drying.

Likewise, you must keep the pen in optimal cleaning conditions: use water, discharge it if it's not going to be used for some time.

Discover how to clean your fountain pen.

But without a doubt, the most important tip is to have fun!

The world of fountain pen writing is rich and you there is huge market with endless possibilities to enrich your writing experience with the most varied inks, special nibs and materials.