Not exactly a novel by Jane Austen, this passage is about the instrument known as the pen. Often used to write, sometimes borrowed, frequently lost, sometimes pilfered: The Pen.
It’s my long held opinion that every pen has a definite personality all its own. The way it writes, feels, and looks all contribute to that personality. Although it’s a very common everyday item, the pen is a very uncommon possession, because its personal to the writer.
The ink pen has always been an intimate item for the user. From ancient Egyptian Reed Pens to the first ball points of 1938, all the way to the felt tips of the 1960’s, users have developed their unwavering preferences for the writing implement they favor. Don’t believe me? Go “borrow” your office mate or a co-workers favorite pen without telling them, and let me know how that works out for you.
The funny thing about pens is people have real trouble articulating why they like them. Just ask any scribbler who has a favorite tool. They will tell you that the pen of their choice became the favorite because?
Although it’s simply my humble opinion and personal preference, I select a pen model as my favorite or one of my favorites based on factors like:
- The tactile feel of the pen in my hand. I’m a stickler for comfort so it absolutely has to be comfortable in my hand.
- The ink should never skip. I already have terrible handwriting so using a pen that skips just makes it even more unreadable.
- I prefer an even flow of ink letter to letter with some room for errors in the event I lift the pen off the paper.
From the inexpensive stic pen to the stately gold filled Cross professional pen, a pen should fit your needs and personality. Even in this e-mailing and texting culture, there is no written expression that conveys our humanity more than a hand written note or letter.
Whether it’s Medium, Bold, Fine or Extra Fine tips, the ink pen defines the message we are trying to convey. And the design of ink pens vary almost as much as the diverse messages for which they are intended.
So, if you are ready to begin your search for a pen that is right for you, Here is a good place to start.
