How to choose your first fountain pen

If there’s one question I get asked more than any other, whether I’m chatting with folks at a bustling craft fair or replying to late-night emails through the website, it’s always this one:

"I’ve never owned a fountain pen before. Where on earth do I start?"

It’s a brilliant question. And if you ask it at my stand, I’ll never answer by pointing to the most expensive shiny thing on display. Instead, I usually turn the tables and ask a few questions of my own. What are you planning to use it for? Do you write every day, or is this for special occasions? Is it a treat for yourself, or a gift for someone milestones away? Or do you simply want to fall in love with the act of writing again?

The truth is, there’s no such thing as the ultimate, universally "perfect" first fountain pen. There is, however, the right fountain pen for you.

Why Bother with a Fountain Pen Anyway?

Let’s be honest: for most of us, handwriting has become a bit of a lost art. We use it for the mundane stuff, scrawling a quick shopping list, signing a birthday card, or jotting down frantic notes during a work meeting.

But using a fountain pen changes the entire experience.

People are always surprised by how effortless it feels. You don't need to press down hard as you do with a cheap biro; the ink flows naturally onto the page, and suddenly, writing feels less like a chore and more like something to savour.

I’ve had people buy a pen from me at a weekend fair, only to come back a few months later just to tell me they’ve taken up journaling simply because they loved the feel of the pen so much. I always get a massive kick out of hearing stories like that. It reminds me that a good pen isn't just a possession; it’s a companion.

Don't Worry, It Doesn't Need to Cost a Fortune

One of the biggest misconceptions out there is that your first serious pen needs to cost hundreds of pounds.

It really doesn't.

A well-crafted pen with a quality steel nib can give you an absolutely beautiful writing experience, and for many people, that’s all they’ll ever want or need. Of course, gold nibs are lovely and have their place among collectors, but if you're just starting out, I’d much rather you discover the joy of writing before spending a small fortune.

Choose a pen because it feels right in your hand, not because of the price tag.

Demystifying the Nib

The nib is the absolute heart of the pen. You don’t need to overthink it, but it helps to know the basics before you leap:

• Fine Nibs are ideal if your handwriting is quite small and neat, or if you find yourself writing mostly on standard, absorbent office paper. It gives you a really controlled, precise line.

• Medium Nibs are the classic all-rounder. It’s the one I recommend most often because it suits almost every writing style and glides across the page beautifully.

• Broad Nibs are perfect if you love bold, expressive handwriting or want to see the rich character and shading of your ink. Just keep in mind they lay down a bit more ink, so they prefer better quality paper.

If you're stuck sitting on the fence, a medium nib is always a safe and happy place to start.

Wood, Resin, or Acrylic?

The material you choose won't change how the ink hits the paper, but it completely changes how the pen feels in your hand and how it looks sitting on your desk. Because I hand-turn these pens myself, I get to see the unique personality of each material.

Wood has a natural warmth and soul to it. Every single grain pattern is distinct, meaning no two pens will ever be identical. Some woods are beautifully understated, while others feature dramatic, wild figuring that catches the light whenever you move your hand.

Resin and Acrylics offer something totally different. The colours can be incredibly deep, vibrant, and almost holographic. They have this wonderful quality called chatoyancy, where the colours seem to shift and dance just beneath the surface as you turn the pen.

My best advice here? Forget the technicalities. Just pick the one that makes you smile when you look at it.

Cartridges vs. Bottled Ink

Should you go for the ease of cartridges or the romance of a glass bottle? Honestly, there’s no wrong answer here.

Ink cartridges are clean, convenient, and completely fuss-free when you’re just finding your feet. On the other hand, using a small mechanism called a "converter" lets you use bottled ink, which opens up a dazzling universe of hundreds of ink colours.

Most of the pens I make can handle both. You can absolutely start out with cartridges and then upgrade to bottled ink whenever you feel ready for a bit of chemistry.

The Things You Can't See Online

Whenever someone picks up one of my pens at a craft fair, the first thing they usually comment on is the balance. That’s something that is incredibly hard to convey in a photograph.

A fountain pen shouldn't feel like a heavy, awkward weight in your hand. It should sit comfortably in the web of your thumb so that writing feels effortless, whether you're scribbling a post-it note or filling pages of a notebook.

Because everyone’s hands are shaped differently, I always encourage people to hold a pen before they buy if they can. But if you’re browsing online, don’t panic; just drop me an email. I’m always happy to chat through the options to help you find the right fit.

Giving a Story, Not Just a Gift

A lot of the pens that leave my workshop end up as gifts for major milestones, retirements, big birthdays, graduations, or weddings. People usually come to me because they want something a bit more meaningful than a standard bottle of wine or a generic gift voucher.

A handmade pen carries a story. It represents hours of someone meticulously shaping, finishing, and testing it by hand until it's just right. That’s what makes it memorable.

A Little Bit of Pen TLC

People sometimes worry that fountain pens are high maintenance, but they're actually incredibly resilient. A few simple habits will keep your writing beautiful for decades:

• Stick to good-quality fountain pen ink.

• If you're changing ink colours, give the nib a quick, gentle flush with clean water.

• Try not to leave ink sitting unused in a drawer for months on end.

• And please, give it a safe spot to travel in when you're on the move!

A View From My Workbench

One of my absolute favourite moments in the making process is fitting the nib.

Up until that exact second, it’s just a beautifully sculpted piece of wood or resin. But the moment that nib slides into place, it transforms into a living writing instrument.

Before any pen leaves my workshop, I personally ink it up and test it on paper to ensure it writes flawlessly. It’s a behind, the, scenes step that my customers never see, but it matters immensely to me. I want the very first line you write to feel just as magical as the thousandth.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, picking your first fountain pen shouldn't feel intimidating. Forget the rules, ignore the snobbery, and don’t worry about buying the most expensive option. Just look for something that feels comfortable, matches your style, and genuinely makes you want to put pen to paper.

If that first pen inspires you to write just a little bit more often, then it’s done its job perfectly.

And who knows? Like so many of the wonderful people I’ve met at craft fairs over the years, you might just be the start of a lifelong obsession.