Favorite writing pens, pencils, fountain pens or markers. What do you use?

I totally agree. I love the joined look of handwriting, and I use a font on my computer that looks similar to handwriting on all of work. It is partially ironic, because I tried to write in handwriting and I cannot remember because I have never been forced too or needed to! I think I'm going to look up a book on handwriting and practice it over the summer.

Oh my. Thank you both! Truly! But what a sign of our times. I have heard that handwriting is going to no longer be taught in our schools. I find that so tragic. As much as I like using my PC and laptop I still like the beauty of a hand written letter or card. I cannot believe some schools are dropping it. I once tried tutoring a young boy of twelve and I was shocked to see that at twelve years of age he could not write and his spelling was terrible! He was too dependent on using his computer and its spell checker/grammar checker to write with. He was not dumb at all, but I wonder now how he is going to manage when he grows up, but still writes like a five year old.

I had the talk with my oldest son to make sure he pays attention in English class. He stated he wants to be a writer, and I know how important spelling and grammar are, but handwriting is definitely a dying art, though I plan to practice it more, because it's one of those skills that shouldn't be lost.

Yes, I can see your point. My argument in the past used to be "Well, you need to learn how to write and write well because you can't carry your PC in your pocket like you would a pen, right?!?" Well, nowadays you can. It's called a smartphone, Ipad, Iphone, Blackberry, etc... and they do the job for many things except print. But now there are small portable printers too. But think about this: In this day with so many people laid off, retired, fired and out of work for some reason or another, can you afford to get and use such devices when it would be so much less expensive to use a stick pen or pencil? And when you are trying to do business and impress a client or win that job and the company asks you to fill out a job application or work out a contract in writing, how will your writing look? Like a five year old? I am not trying to condemn anyone here. I appreciate what you are talking about. I do! I am just throwing out my thoughts in this discussion, o0jopak0o. I do agree with you about the speed of a keyboard over writing. I do. But I still don't think writing is totally unnecessary... not yet. =)

Obviously you don't live in my neck of the woods. I work from home now but years ago when I went looking for work around here in Lake Havasu, AZ. I was very surprised that many businesses didn't care about my nicely written and printed resume and insisted I take an application form to fill out by hand. I was dumbfounded! I guess they wanted to make sure I could read, write and spell. LOL! Isn't that interesting? I was totally amazed by this. You made some good points and I was surprised by what you said except for the part about "writing while walking in a park, sleeping in your bed or just sitting in some car." I can see how this can be done easily with a notepad or notebook but how can you do this with a computer? Do you mean using a smartphone/iPhone/Blackberry or a tablet that lets you write with it? I had a Blackberry and now have a smartphone and I have files put in them for reading while waiting at the doctor's office or waiting for a bus. But I don't see how you can type quickly and easily on any of those things. I tried to write using my new smartphone and it is very slow and tedious to do. Handwriting on a notebook is much much faster for me. Maybe you can type 50+ words a min. on a tablet or smartphone, but I can't. And if you are talking about using a laptop, well, my battery would wear down after about an hour and it's harder and heavier to carry around a laptop than a pen and notebook. I also keep a lot of notebooks, blank books, journals, and pads of paper for whenever I need to write. I have small booklet to carry in my purse so it's light and always ready to use. I take my laptop to motels with me when I travel but went I am out, I leave it home. Is that what you meant by the above quote?

Awwww, oOjopakOo! {{{HUGS}}} I didn't mean to sound like we were arguing because I am not. This is a discussion forum and all I am doing is discussing this with you. I find your opinions and thoughts fun and challenging! =D Yes, even if we don't agree! And just for the record, I still don't agree with you. ;D But this is all good and I DO agree with you on this: Whatever works the easiest and the fastest for a writer, THAT'S what is best for him or her. :) Far from arguing, our discussion has taught me something also: That netbooks and notebooks last longer than than 3 hours. I have a 4 year old laptop and I have it plugged in ALWAYS because in the times I have tried using it unplugged the battery only seemed to last about 2 hours even though the manual says its supposed to last 3. But maybe I should look into getting a newer model where the battery lasts much longer. Thanks for this engaging discussion, o0jopak0o. {{{HUGS}}}}

You know, I have always thought about writing, even before we had a computer. It wasn't until I had a computer for a few years and when it crashed, I felt empty and with my life in turmoil at the time, a story popped up in my head and it never went away, so I wrote it down.. Oh, I hope when I write my second one that it doesn't take my computer crashing to get the story out..

I can certainly understand that, Carmel. I hope so too, my friend. =)

Good for you, Carmel. Isn't it awful to lose your PC or laptop? We have become so spoiled with the ease of doing all our work on these complicated but wonderful machines. I don't mean to sound negative about computers. Far from it! I love my PC and my laptop. And now I also enjoy my new toy: an android smartphone. But as much as I enjoy these great mechanical toys, I still enjoy creating the old fashioned way by writing and painting by hand. And isn't it wonderful that libraries now have computers for you to use for free? I am so glad you were able to get your story down and then transfer it to a PC later. And no, I didn't know your story was written while your computer was down, Sweetie. Congrats on your story! [[[]]]

I wtite my letters and notes to friends. Don't text. That is so impersonal. I use calligraphy in some letters. Usually use the refillable pens. I had a Mont Blanc but lost it in a move a few years back. Their prices have gone up to where I can't afford another one.

Yes, I do agree. I don't have texting on my smartphone for that very same reason. Haven't needed it up until now and so why get it now? Besides, I have been around people who texted during meals and conversations and find it very rude. So why would I want any part of that? I also think it's great you practice your calligraphy by using it in letter writing. Awesome! =D

When you say "writing", Yoyo I am assuming letter writing? Note writing? I don't enough of that these days but when I do it depends on how fast I need to get the message to an individual. Email is fast, of course, so I use that for letters or messages that I need to send. I still don't use texting. I don't like it at all. I still prefer to hear a friend's voice than read a short message. But if there is no hurry I prefer handwriting and mailing letters, cards and notes. Calligraphy is fun also. Do you write poetry or notes using calligraphy? Have you ever used it for artwork? What kind of pens do you use? Dipping pens? Quills? Modern calligraphy pens?

Calligraphy is so pretty but I just don't have a nack for it. Not artistic at all.

Oh, Celtic! I remember those erasable pens! I do! =D I don't see them around in the stores anymore though. Maybe it's because of what you were saying about them. They sound a bit like gel pens that look great but seem to clog after a short time. I love those, but they do frustrate me. And fountain pens are rare these days also. I found mine at antique stores and flea markets. Calligraphy is just a matter of getting a good book or kit and practicing. It's something you need to be interested in to learn it well. The same way you had to learn how to handwrite in script is basically the same when it comes to calligraphy.

Gosh! I feel like we are kindred spirits, PageTurner. I can see that you do understand the "connection" to the past and to others when we use certain pens and writing tools to write with. I almost never use a mechanical pencil unless I know or believe I will be changing what I am writing. But for free writing or letters I only use ink. I only have one fountain pen but several fine tipped calligraphy pens to write with. I also have a lot of different colored gel pens and although they are nice and smooth to write with, they tend to clog badly. It upsets me so to throw them away when they are full of ink gell but unusable. =( Do you have a tip or two on how to keep them from clogging or what to do if they do clog?

I have no idea how to keep them from clogging, leafygreens08. I store them so that the point is facing upward. Most of the time I don't have to worry about clogs, but from time to time it happens. One of the things I like about fountain pens is that I can easily clean them and then replace the ink cartridges. Also, I use different color inks from time to time. Sometimes I buy bottles of ink and use these instead of ink cartridges -- this way I have a much greater variety of color. Plus, the whole exercise of loading the ink, etc., is soothing and fun.

Oh my! =) I totally agree. My fountain pen has one of those little plastic reservoirs that you squeeze to load with ink. This way I can change ink colors. Then I have the other pens that use the cartridges that are easier to load and unload. Thanks for trying to help about the gel pens, PageTurner. I will manage as usual with them. Some are really neat to use as they are not only colorful but some have little micro glitter particles that add to the appearance of the writing.

In my home, I have tall coffee mugs full of a variety of ball point pens, various markers of different tips, highlighters, mechanical pencils, gel pens, and colored pencils. As an amateur calligrapher I also have various types of quills and nibbed pens, bottle of ink and tools. I guess this is all because I enjoy drawing and writing by hand. Do you write in journals or blank books with your pencil and pen? Do you still write handwritten notes, cards and letters too?

Yes, very true. Dora. And you find many so call "stick pens" almost everywhere... for FREE! Most businesses such as motels, hotels, casinos, stores simply give them away. Crafters use polymere clay to create wonderful decorated stick pens. I have collected some embedded with colored stones, mirror glass and beads. I have one that is shaped like a red and yellow dragon. Another is a gargoyle sitting at the top of a castle tower. The detail is amazing. And one more thing: When the ink runs out, you just pull out the empty nib and tube and insert a new one with a pair of pliers. Very easy to do. I have several mechanical pencils when I anticipate I will need to erase my writing. I like have a constant sharp point and never needing to sharpen them. They are great for sketching and cartooning also. =)

Very well put, Beloved. I do agree that for personal correspondence, use your handwriting and nice paper or journal, but for business it's best to use a PC/laptop or typewriter. A mechanical pencil are pencils not made of wood but plastic and the lead is very fine so your always get a sharp end to write with. You usually just push a button on the barrel of the pencil to lower more lead down as you use it writing. You can also buy little plastic containers of leads as refills for these types of pencils.