When non-fountain pen people see someone using a fountain pen, there are often a few reactions: curiosity, interest, confusion and occasionally derision. Whatever the tone of the reaction, there is always an air of, ‘but why?’

Because as funky as modern fountain pens can be (Benu, I’m looking at you!) there is something slightly old-fashioned about writing with one, and they can be more hassle: they can smudge, or leak, and they require cleaning and more maintenance than other types of pen. So a lot of people wonder why anyone would bother to use one over a simple ballpoint pen. 

As someone who only recently got into fountain pens, I can remember thinking this way myself. But now I’ve fallen down the rabbit hole, I can appreciate the many benefits they have, and why you would go to the extra trouble of writing with one 

So here are a few reasons to write with a fountain pen:

A better writing experience.

One of the main reasons to use a fountain pen over a ballpoint or rollerball pen is for the writing experience itself. You don’t need to push as hard (or at all) on the paper with a fountain pen, and it’s a smoother, more enjoyable sensation.

There’s also more of a variety of writing experiences to be had. Different fountain pens have different feels to them, and so it can be fun to try out lots of pens and learn your preferences, so you can have a more tailored writing experience.

Aesthetics.

Fountain pens just look cool! They are visually more interesting to look at than most ballpoint pens, and there’s an endless range of styles to choose from. Plus, there is a certain antiquated air about putting the nib to the paper that I just love! 

Experimenting with inks.

Whilst you can buy regular pens in different colours, the beauty of having a fountain pen is that you can easily swap the ink in the pen, and there is an endless array of inks to try from a variety of brands. Plus, they all behave slightly differently, and so it can be fun to experiment with different inks in different pens. There’s even something satisfying about the inking up process!

They last longer.

Most ballpoint pens you buy you’ll write until it runs dry, and then dispose of it. There are of course exceptions to this rule, but mostly, they are cheap and disposable. And there are certainly cheap and disposable fountain pens out there too. But for the most part, even lower end pens are not expected to be single use: they can be refilled and reused repeatedly. And with a lot of higher end pens, they could last you a lifetime!

Being part of the community.

One thing that has really surprised and delighted me about getting into fountain pens is the discovery of the enormous community around the hobby. From blogs to social media, YouTube channels and podcasts, there are so many people who love fountain pens and are excited to talk to other people about it. And I love it!

It makes writing feel special.

For me, something about writing with a fountain pen just feels special. Whether it’s that antiquated feeling I’ve described, or just how much better and more fun the experience is, it just makes writing more of an event. It makes me eager to pick up my pen, and excited to write, and as a fiction writer with a tendency to procrastinate, getting into this hobby has done wonders for my productivity!

So why do you write with a fountain pen? What do you think makes them better or worse to use than other types of pen?