Full disclosure, I have owned a paper store for more than five years and until just recently I didn’t own a fountain pen. They were scary and I thought only fancy people used them. And, we all know I’m anything but fancy. As a tried-and-true pencil user, I shied away from fountain pens for many reasons all of which were completely unfounded. Fountain pens aren’t just for fancy people, and they are less intimidating than I originally thought. If you’ve been fountain pen curious but haven’t tried them yet, then let me set your mind at ease.

Myth 1: You have to be fancy and have good handwriting to use one. 

This was one of my biggest hurdles to overcome, but I’m here to tell you that fountain pens are for everyone even people like me who have notoriously bad handwriting (my team will agree)! You don’t have to be a letter artist or a corporate big-wig to own one. We had a woman buy one for her six-year-old granddaughter just yesterday. And, again, if this jeans-and-t-shirt-lover with the worst (emphasis please) handwriting can use it so can you.

 Myth 2: They are only used for special occasions.  

That is so not true! Fountain pens are for everyday use. Jenn, our Penny Post store manager, uses her TWSBI pen every day at the store. Recent Stylebook cover girl and self-professed pen nerd, Maurisa Potts uses her Lamy Safari all the time when out of her office but saves her Esterbrook for her home office. I keep my new pen in my purse and break it out whenever I need it.

 Myth 3: They are too delicate.

So, this was the other big myth I had to overcome. Fountain pens, especially the ones we carry, are meant to last a lifetime. The nibs are meant to last for hours upon hours of writing and can be easily replaced or repaired. If you are a heavy-handed writer like me, I can assure you the nib won’t break. Believe me, I’ve tested it!

 Myth 4: Ink will get everywhere.  

Ok, so you’ve seen the old gag where ink squirts people in the eye or gets all over someone’s shirt pocket, well that’s just to make you laugh. The mechanics of the pen, which I won’t go into detail about here, are such that it won’t leak. If your pen leaks, then there is something wrong with the pen. As for refilling your pen with ink, that’s not difficult. Start with a pen with a universal cartridge that you just snap in and gradually move to ink bottles as you get more comfortable using the pen. Also, the ink dries quickly so you don’t have to worry about it smudging. Even lefties can use them!

In another post, I’ll help you figure out what pen to use, but if you’re ready to take the plunge then check out a Lamy Safari or Kaweco Classic Sport. With easy-to-replace ink cartridges and a pocketbook-friendly price they are excellent starter pens. Stop by the store to give them a test drive and learn more about how to incorporate a pen into your everyday life too!