I really, really love handwriting but my hand isn't so much a fan after the dozen or so pages I've written today (mostly journaling, need to sort out some head stuff lol)
Replies
What kind of pen do you use?
sep 10, 2025, 10:58 pm • 0 0 • view
gel pens, sharpie gel pens mostly. I've a terrible habit of using my shoulder for writing and tensing up which in turn makes my hand tense up. I've tried to change how I write but it's hard 😰
sep 10, 2025, 11:01 pm • 0 0 • view
Have you tried changing the pens? You might not be aware of how the pen itself is affecting your endurance. Instead of a very narrow and feathery-light gel pen, try a large and thick fountain pen.
sep 10, 2025, 11:03 pm • 0 0 • view
What I have discovered as a writer is that most people who use gel pens or ballpoint pens are almost completely unaware of the stress they are putting on their hands and wrists by having to apply pressure to the pen just to get it to write. Fountain pens barely need any pressure at all.
sep 10, 2025, 11:06 pm • 2 0 • view
I've tried fountain pens before but stopped using it when it fell apart on me. lol. I'll look into to getting a fatter/more expensive one when I have the budget. But I'll just keep resting my hand until then. Thanks for the advice, I never even thought of fountain pens!
sep 10, 2025, 11:14 pm • 1 0 • view
Try pens like the $80 TWSBI Diamond 580, which can hold up to 2mL of ink and requires bottled ink. It doesn't have to be taken apart just to be filled. Simply twist the thing at the top to fill it and empty it.
sep 10, 2025, 11:17 pm • 0 0 • view
You also don't need to limit yourself to the TWSBI bottled inks. Any bottled fountain pen inks will work.
sep 10, 2025, 11:18 pm • 0 0 • view
The TWSBI Diamond 580 is nearly twice as thick as a Pilot G2 gel pen and can hold nearly twice as much ink, but the difference is because it relies on bottled inks, you don't have to wrestle with cartridges, so it's more environmentally friendly.
sep 10, 2025, 11:20 pm • 0 0 • view
Do not keep ink inside a fountain pen. Always empty them and flush them before putting them in storage or taking them on a plane.
sep 10, 2025, 11:22 pm • 0 0 • view
Because of their size and their larger ink capacity, fountain pens are noticeably heavier than gel pens but also don't require much pressure at all to get them to write, and so are the often-recommended go-to pens for those with arthritis or carpal tunnel.
sep 10, 2025, 11:25 pm • 0 0 • view