I will make a fuller reply later, but there are many reasons to write by hand. Studies have shown that students who take notes by hand in lectures have a better retention and understanding than those who type on a laptop.
As well, when was the last time you read a really beautifully written paragraph in any novel or non-fiction book. When the pen (dip or fountain) was replaced by the keyboard (typewriter and later computer) the quality of writing went down. Just look at the last paragraph in "Origin of Species".
Ok, full reply below --
Fountain (and Dip) Pens
I am a member of one of the last cohorts of school children in the Australian Education system who learnt cursive writing while using a dip pen. Specifically, one of these abominations --
resulting in this --
Later on, in high school, I migrated up to a fountain pen. It was a Chinese copy of a Parker 51 that I bought for 3 shillings, and it lasted me all through high school.
More recently I have really become interested in fountain and dip pens, as wll as inks. I have a substantial collection of inexpensive Chinese pens, as well as a few expensive Japanese ones (Pilot, Platinum, Sailor). Also a few Parkers (45, 51, 75, 100).
As to why you should write by hand, using a proper liquid ink pen (dip or fountain)
- A ballpoint has no class. It's like ordering a $100 Wagyu steak and slathering it with tomato sauce.
- Liquid ink pens can be sued with very little pressure. You can write for extended periods without fatigue and/or pain in your hands and fingers.
There is a definite connection between the shape of the words as you write them and their meaning in your mind. This connection doesn't happen with a keyboard (typewriter or computer).
When you write by hand your mind is working faster than your writing, so you can think up a better way of saying what you want. If you are a fast typist, you are writing faster than your mind can think, so you tend to type using more familiar, often over-used, phrasing and vocabulary.
If you want to try using an ink pen, I would suggest a good quality, inexpensive Chinese pen to start with. These are all available on eBay in the price range $5 ~ $50. Models to look at include –
- Jinhao 100 Centennial
- Jinhao X-750
- Moonman M600S
- Wing Sung 699 Vacuum
There are, of course, a myriad of others to look at, including PenBBS, Crocodile and Kaigelu.
You will need an ink to go with your pen.
Workhorse Inks – Parker Quink, Sheaffer (Skrip), Waterman and Pelikan 4001. All have versions of Blue, Black and Blue-Black, but I would start with a Blue.
Ink to make your heart sing – Monteverde Horizon Blue. This is a replicant of the legendary Parker Penman Sapphire. PPS is now so rare that it sells for a price that, per ml., matches Chanel No 5 Perfume.
Permanently Permanent Black ink – Noodler's (bulletproof) Black.
Ink to sign legal EU documents with – Koh-i-noor Document Blue.
Ink to sign Births, Deaths and Marriages documents in England and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts – Diamine Registrar's ink.
You will need paper. To begin with I would suggest –
- Rhodia or Clairefontaine pads or notebooks
- Oxford Optik
- HP Premium Choice 32 lb.
And, if you want to try out dip pens –
- A straight (not oblique) pen holder
- 2 (or more) Hunt/Speedball 513EF nibs
- Sheaffer Blue Ink
- One of the above papers.
Enjoy!
